Executive Bios

Carl Knowlton is the President of Metro 24 Wholesale, Inc., where he oversees all aspects of operations, growth strategy, and customer experience. With a career rooted deeply in the automotive aftermarket, Carl’s journey began at just 13 years old, working weekends installing tires at a local junkyard. This early hands-on exposure sparked a lifelong passion and commitment to the industry.

By his early twenties, Carl had already managed multiple retail tire stores, followed by four years leading a multi-state sales program in the wholesale tire sector for a major distributor. His diverse experience across both retail and wholesale landscapes has given him a unique, full-spectrum understanding of the automotive parts business.

Carl's expertise in TPMS (Tire Pressure Monitoring System) technology dates back to 2004—well before it became federally mandated. He built foundational experience in retail tire shops and then formalized his knowledge through industry training, earning his TIA (Tire Industry Association) certification in 2012. His skill and dedication earned him a spot in the highly selective TPMS Testing Program at General Motors' Milford Proving Grounds, where he worked directly with GM engineers to test and advance TPMS technologies.

With over two decades in the industry and more than a decade focused on TPMS, Carl is widely recognized as a subject-matter expert in tire sensors and automotive safety technologies. He is known for his deep technical knowledge, industry leadership, and commitment to innovation.

As Carl often says:

"I’m a true student of the business, constantly learning in this ever-evolving industry of emerging technologies."

Eric serves as the Chief Information Officer (CIO) at Metro 24 Wholesale, Inc., where he leads all facets of the company’s information technology strategy and infrastructure. A humble, service-driven leader, Eric combines deep technical expertise with a broad understanding of business operations, including marketing, finance, sales, and social media.

Before joining Metro 24 Wholesale, Eric held senior IT roles at a $2 billion research and development organization with global operations. In that role, he led initiatives across Network Engineering, Cybersecurity, System Administration, Software Development, Desktop Support, and Physical Security. He also managed global helpdesk teams, ensuring streamlined tech operations across multiple time zones and departments.

Eric’s leadership philosophy is rooted in discipline, teamwork, and selfless service—values he embodies through both his career and military background. A U.S. Army veteran, Eric completed two tours in Iraq, bringing the same commitment and resilience to his civilian leadership as he did to serving his country.

A staunch believer in the principles of freedom and civic duty, Eric is inspired by the legacy of those who have served:

“Millions of Americans have fought and died on battlegrounds both here and abroad to defend our freedoms and way of life… Today our troops continue to make the ultimate sacrifices, and even as we lose troops, more Americans continue to step forward to say, I’m ready to serve.” – Michel de Montaigne
 

Eric's unwavering dedication to service and innovation makes him an integral part of Metro 24’s leadership team, helping drive scalable growth, security, and operational excellence.