Can I give one more? Pay it forward. My success has never been measured by money. I only need what I need; my motivation is to give it away. Again, it goes back to the Churchill quote. Why is it important to be a CFADA member? What makes it valuable for the dealers? I think the most important value of any trade association is in monitoring the legal landscape and keeping members informed. You don’t know what you don’t know, and CFADA plays such an important role in keeping our members abreast of the laws. CFADA is such a valuable resource. The next and most immediate benefit for me has been camaraderie. Sitting in a room with peers and gaining knowledge from bright and accomplished business people is a big benefit. My takeaways are so valuable: other ways they do things, how to resolve industry issues in ways I haven’t thought of, and the list goes on. Peer mentorship is valuable and has made an impact on my success in this industry. You are involved in many civic and charitable organizations. Many notable people have said that philanthropy has to be taught and instilled while young. What are your thoughts, and what motivates you to give to the extent you do? I came from a family big on giving back; it was instilled from a young age. It’s top down. The people around you need to practice it for it to make an impact. We all learn by example. I have been so blessed – it’s more fulfilling to give. I get joy from giving, not just financially but with time and experience. Things that others may not get to experience in everyday life. To bring something new to someone brings me a lot of satisfaction. My daughters joke that it takes me two hours to fill up my car with gas. I have a penchant for exotic cars – l love them. So, when I pull into the gas station, a lot of kids (and some adults) want to see the car. Many have never seen or will see the type of cars I drive. Those cars are great to drive, but taking people for rides is far more fun, and I have opened up someone to an experience. And who knows where that will go. That’s the exciting part. I also think that anyone can learn to do good. I don’t believe that philanthropy is something for the upper echelons, if you will. We can all give back to our communities. We can all learn, and we can all do. You make a living by what you get. You make a life by what you give. If you could choose one charitable cause that will be your legacy because it meant the most to you personally, which one would it be? For my local community, it’s the United Way. Our local United Way partners with 17 or 18 agencies, and all money they take in stays here, in Highlands County. It’s a chop-wood-carry-water approach to local needs. The United Way supports a battered women shelter, Habitat for Humanity, and the Boys and Girls Club, to name three. Our dealership group also supports other community programs we initiated, such as Wheels for As. It’s a lottery. Every A gives students a pull to win one of the 80 cars we give away. We also offer a scholarship program for the kids of our employees: $1,000.00 toward tuition. I think being involved in your community is essential, and I genuinely believe that when our employees see the focus we have on giving back, it’s something they embrace on their own. We have a pay-it-forward approach. For me, however, much of the most meaningful philanthropy work I do is anonymous. If I have to tell you, I am not doing it for the right reasons. I 32 Pub Yr 2 | Issue 4
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