WORDS: Scout Motors IMAGES: Apollo Davis & Scout Motors
ong before Apollo Davis worked on automation systems, he grew up watching those close to him spend hours under open hoods, turn wrenches, and bring vehicles back to life. He was fascinated from the very beginning.
He doesn’t follow brands closely or know much about what’s under the hood. What interests him is how the industry works, and the people who keep it moving.
“I enjoy the pace and complexity of automotive as well as the cultural obsession with continuous improvement,” John said. “I love the people and the work ethic that you find.”
That appreciation runs in the family. His dad worked in lean manufacturing, and John explored the field through internships in college. He expected to spend his career walking manufacturing lines and finding ways to improve processes.
Then he made a few fancy spreadsheets.
They worked well enough that people began bringing him more computer-based projects. Over time, he found a place where his interests in operations, problem-solving, and technology came together.
Today, as a Sr. Specialist, Information Process Planner, on the Logistics team, John helps connect the systems and information that will support the flow of parts to our Production Center. Behind that work is a motivation to help people do their jobs with fewer frustrations.
Finding His Way to Scout Motors
Before joining Scout Motors in May 2025, John worked remotely from North Carolina for a Tier 1 automotive supplier that made components such as airbags and seat belts.
Him and his wife had fallen in love with the Carolinas and wanted to stay. The opportunity to join Scout Motors allowed him to do that while taking on a new challenge. The Scout® history caught his attention. So did the chance to move from a supplier to a vehicle manufacturer for the first time.
"I knew that it would raise the expectation and push me to learn and contribute at a higher level than I had before"
“I knew that it would raise the expectation and push me to learn and contribute at a higher level than I had before,” he said.
After starting, he quickly found colleagues who had made similar decisions to try something new. Many had relocated to help build the company. They brought different experiences, along with a willingness to adapt as plans and processes took shape.
John enjoys that environment. Things move quickly, questions don’t always have established answers, and there’s opportunity to help determine what comes next.
Taking the Pain Out of the Process
John works on technology-facing projects within Logistics, focusing largely on inbound logistics and the connections between Scout Motors, suppliers and carriers.
Much of that work centers on electronic data interchange, or EDI, which allows companies to exchange information between their systems. At Scout Motors, that includes communicating demand to suppliers so they can plan what to ship and when. John helps establish those connections and integrate carriers into the process, so the companies transporting parts have what they need to coordinate deliveries.
He’s motivated by making work easier for others. To help his team manage EDI onboarding for all Tier 1 suppliers, he recently developed tools and dashboards to track progress, along with templates and supplier training sessions.
“This helps keep our work organized so that we can spend less time trying to remember what is next and more time doing the actual work,” he said.
One of his proudest moments so far came during Logistics Supplier Days, where he presented our approach and heard positive feedback from the partners who will help put it into practice.
Supporting people is just as rewarding to John as improving a process. This summer, he mentored Robby, a Logistics intern, and their weekly one-on-ones became his favorite part of the experience. They talked through Robby’s projects, answered questions, and explored topics he might not encounter in school. Having completed six internships himself, John knew how much that support could matter.
“I benefited greatly from the people who mentored me,” John said. “I was grateful to be able to pay it forward to someone else.”
Learning to Enjoy It
The Scout Way value that resonates most with John is Enjoy It. Although, putting it into practice has taken some intention.
In the past, he found that his drive to get things right could allow perfectionism to turn into pessimism. He recognized the toll that outlook took on him and decided to approach his work differently.
“I have made a concerted effort at Scout Motors to enjoy the journey, trust that things will work out, and enjoy the ride!” he said.
That means finding satisfaction in the work as it happens, even while there are still problems to solve and details to define. He says the effort has been worth it, and he appreciates working somewhere that makes enjoyment an official value.
Outside work, John and his wife enjoy discovering new places, close and far.
Earlier this year, they traveled to Munich, Austria, and the Swiss Alps. A visit to Füssen, Germany, is a favorite travel memory, with its “striking blue water and a castle unlike anything I’d seen before.”
Next year, they’re planning a Mediterranean cruise. Closer to home, they enjoy road trips to Tennessee, the Blue Ridge Mountains, and coastal North Carolina.
“A good trip for us typically includes seeing and eating something new,” he said.
And when it’s time to relax at home, he’s happy to settle in with some comfort shows like Friends, Parks and Recreation, or his wife’s latest binge, Prison Break.
John’s career has taken him somewhere different from the manufacturing lines he once pictured. But the interest that started him down that path remains. At Scout Motors, that might mean connecting a supplier’s system, helping a colleague solve a problem, or making time for an intern’s questions.
Each gives John a chance to make an impact on someone’s day, and a reason to enjoy his own.
Disclaimer: Scout Motors celebrates the legacy of Scout vehicles and the passionate community that keeps them alive. However, Scout Motors does not sell, restore, or provide parts or services for vintage Scout vehicles. Any modifications or restorations featured are the work of individual owners or third-party specialists.
The next chapter of an iconic American brand is being shaped by the people bringing it to life every day. Whether you’re a builder, problem-solver, creator, or innovator, your work can help shape what’s next. Join us and help shape the future of Scout Motors.
