In 2004, John Paul founded the version of Strong that exists today. He has grown the agency from its original 8 employees and 12 clients to today’s figures of more than 150 full-time employees and over 400 dealer clients. The company has received numerous accolades for workplace satisfaction and holds the prestigious Google Premier Partner title. Additionally, Strong has forged exclusive partnerships with Meta, ESPN, and nationwide media conglomerates to secure premium features and availability for its clients.

Armed with the acumen gained from decades in the automotive industry, John Paul became an owner of Hunter Ford in December of 2022. He continues to serve as Strong’s top executive and has mobilized the agency’s resources to actualize a successful rebrand of the Ford dealership. 

In addition to the day-to-day of agency and dealership leadership, John Paul authors the Next Day Traffic series of blogs, with more than 1,500 automotive-focused articles published to date. He has also authored three editions of the Next Day Traffic book. His career success has been recognized in the Birmingham Business Journal’s 2013 “Top 40 Under 40.” In 2018, John Paul was named CEO of the Year by the BBJ.

John Paul earned a bachelor’s degree in communication studies and advanced public speaking from the University of Montevallo. John Paul is also a namesake donor of the university’s new communication building, Strong Hall. Once in the workforce, John Paul went on to further his education via Harvard Business School’s Executive Education Program.

A resident of Birmingham, Alabama, John Paul and his wife, Amy, live with their four children – Lilly Grace, Anne Charlotte, Hudson, and Ford.