Zach Garrison, 31

General Manager

Pendleton Tire Co.

When the former owner of Pendleton Tire Co. asked Zach Garrison to start working while attending Clemson University, little did Garrison know he’d make a career out of it.

Today, Garrison has many jobs, from his general managing duties to working as a salesman from time to time. “We are a smaller place and do a little bit of everything,” he says.

During his time with Pendleton, Garrison has helped the tire dealer break more into lift kits, wheels and truck accessories for the mudding crowd, including incorporating bigger all-terrain and mud tires.

“My favorite part is the customization,” he says. “We do a lot of customization kits. I really like the customized big, aggressive-looking trucks.”

For Garrison, if the customer is happy, it’s been a successful day. He says he embraces change and challenges instead of fretting over things.

“My dad told me a long time ago that worrying is like a rocking chair. It moves, but doesn’t get you anywhere,” he says.

In 2008, Pendleton was bought by a new partner, which Garrison says was one of the best experiences of his career.

“To see the growth of the business that he and the owner did just showed me that this could be a very, very successful business. And I kinda found my niche in the tire business.”

FUN FACT: Garrison wishes he had invented the little plastic things that go on the end of shoe laces.