challenge currently facing dealerships in the next three to five years, and how dealers can successfully deal with that challenge. He told us the biggest challenge will be adapting to the market and still being able to make money. “There’s an old saying that individual dealers have to adapt to market changes or die, but if you watch the market, it will tell you what you have to do to survive. Dealerships can’t compete with the depth and breadth of Amazon, but we can select a segment and strive to be the best in that segment that we can.” We asked him, as he looked back on his life if he had ever experienced an “aha” moment? He had, and he told us about it. “My ‘aha’ moment was when I was a trucking company billing clerk and met the traveling business executives.” And we wanted to know more about him personally, such as what he enjoys when not working. “I love to cook, eat, and cook what I want to eat,” he explained. “I like trying new things, and I learn from my failures. On Saturday, I get some inspiration from the store and decide what I’m going to make. On Sunday, I start cooking after church. Close friends bring their drinks and come over at 4 p.m. to my experimental kitchen. “I also enjoy hunting and shooting, but I don’t kill for sport. I eat what I hunt, and I don’t kill unless I can eat it or it’s a threat.” We asked if he had a favorite car, and what he currently drives. His favorite? “The Navigator we sell. I started driving them in 2005 or 2006 before I became associated with the Lincoln store.” Additionally, he told us he drives vehicles off the used car lot, usually for less than a week. “That shows me how well my team is preparing the car for sale, and I also learn about the cars themselves.” Good research. We asked him about his family, and you could hear the smile in his voice, “I have a great wife,” he said, “We’ve been married for 20 years now. She is a professional financial officer and a CPA. “We have two children from a previous marriage and three German shorthair pointers. My son and my daughter each have two children, and we have one great-grandchild. Everyone lives in different parts of Tennessee, and we see them several times a year.” And finally, we asked Elliott if he wanted to share any last words. “I like what I do. I’ve been incredibly fortunate in my life, and I’m grateful for that. I’ve had many experiences that I absolutely never thought possible.” ONE LAST THING ... Did you know that you can enjoy your association news anytime, anywhere? Scan the QR code or visit: accelerate.thenewslinkgroup.org Check it out! The new online article build-outs allow you to: • Stay up to date with the latest association news • Share your favorite articles to social channels • Email articles to friends or colleagues There is still a flipping book for those of you who prefer swiping and a downloadable PDF. Pub Yr 2 | Issue 4 29 CFADA.ORG
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