Pub. 1 2019 Issue 2

How did you become a car dealer? Did you always aspire to be part of the automotive industry? I always had a liking for the auto industry. I was raised around it. I did pretty much anything and everything in the business grow- ing up. My dad, Jack Parks, was a dealer, and while I loved my dad very much, I never really wanted to work for him. Randy Parks Board Member CFADA GETTING TO KNOW Randy Parks I worked as a property and casualty agent for a while — had my own agency — and worked with a lot of dealers. I enjoyed it, but I was still intrigued by the auto industry. I felt very strongly that if I entered the auto industry, I wanted to do it on my own. In the fall of 1979, with some friends and partners, I purchased Longwood Lincoln Mercury. That was 40 years and 11 locations ago. I can’t imagine a better career. Do you have family members in the auto industry? My brother, Ron, works in the family dealership. My dad passed in 2012. My son works with me and has for about five years. Describe your education background. What did you study? I have a BBA from the University of Miami, School of Business, and an MBA from Rollins College, Winter Park, Florida. Are there any specific individuals who had a major impact on your career? My dad, Jack Parks. I learned a lot from him. What is the most rewarding part of your career? I would say improving people’s lives. Seeing their growth from entry-level positions to management is very rewarding. It’s a daunting responsibility to be an employer, and it’s something that I have never taken lightly. What do you think will be some of the dominant trends within the auto industry in the next 5-10 years? There are a lot of industry disruptors right now. There’s a lot of discus- sions as to what it all means and the dealers place in all of it. I believe in the franchise system – I think it makes sense. The auto industry is en- trepreneurial at its core, and I think that whatever comes, we’ll be here selling it. Issue 2 2019 17 CFADA.ORG