AJ Cortez

Chicagoland, Illinois

Armando J. Cortez

Sales & Operations Leader

I bring 10+ years in sales and 4+ years leading teams across Apple, Starbucks, and Life Time. I run the floor from the numbers, coach teams to a standard they can repeat, and have been trusted to support multiple locations and help open new ones.

Selected impact

Apple

#1 in same-day iPhone sales, every quarter.

Led my Apple store in same-day domestic iPhone sales every quarter I worked the Product Zone. Exceeds Expectations two years in a row.

Starbucks

Trusted across 15+ locations.

Sent to support 15+ Starbucks district locations during the morning peak, responsible for drive-through times, labor, cost of goods, and inventory.

Life Time

15–25% above target. Two grand openings.

Beat monthly sales targets by 15–25% at Life Time and was selected to help open two new clubs.

Why Tesla

I've owned a Tesla for over two years and use FSD every day. One night it avoided a collision before I could react. I believe in this product, and I want to help lead the teams who sell and deliver it.

Experience

Apple Retail — Main Place

Lead

Naperville, Illinois · With Apple since July 2024

I lead across the Product Zone, Genius Bar, and Repair Room at a top store in Market Team 22 and Apple's American region. I advanced from Product Specialist, where I ranked in the top 5% for business performance, and led the store in same-day domestic iPhone sales every quarter I worked the Product Zone. I've earned Exceeds Expectations two years in a row. I review the store trends report and help review the store P&L daily against year-over-year and quarterly results, covering sales, labor, inventory, and backstage runtime. I also mentor new hires, serve as Closing Captain, and have contributed to eight visual resets.

Starbucks

Senior Supervisor & Coffee Master

July 2022–January 2025

Recognized as a performer the district could rely on, I was sent to support 15+ locations during the 7–9 AM peak. I was responsible for drive-through times, labor, cost of goods, and inventory ordering, one level below the store manager. I standardized what worked and coached teams to hold that standard under pressure.

Life Time

Senior Account Manager

October 2015–June 2021

I managed hundreds to thousands of members a year, plus business and corporate wellness clients, as their ongoing point of contact. I beat monthly sales targets by 15–25%, built 100+ corporate wellness accounts, and was selected to help open two clubs in Gaithersburg, Maryland, and Oak Brook, Illinois, traveling across the US.

Cortez Trucking Inc.

Partner

Chicagoland · July 2018–Present

I coordinate scheduling, customers, and fleet readiness for our family-owned Class A and Class B subcontracting fleet, which has operated for more than 20 years.

US PACK

Commercial Driver (CDL Class B)

June 2020–June 2022

Safe, on-time commercial delivery and vehicle readiness.

I build tools too.

I've designed and built iOS and web apps for my own planning and workflow.

iOS app

TextTiles

A searchable library for reusable text, with a custom iOS keyboard.

TextTiles iOS screens for the saved-text library, theme picker, and custom keyboard.

iOS app

Compass

Daily planning, capture, and reflection.

Compass iOS screens for Today, Plan, and Reflect, with a North Star, action items, outcomes, and daily review.

Get in touch.

For sales, operations, and leadership opportunities, email me.

Download resume

Based in Chicagoland, Illinois. I read and write Spanish.