Pub. 1 2019 Issue 2

new dealer was beyond tough — in fact, words like “tough” and “hard” don’t do the years between 1979 and 1982 justice. It was brutal. There were many days that I didn’t know if there was going to be a tomorrow. But what I did know was that failure wasn’t an option. We took each day as it came — and every day was pretty much an eight-alarm fire drill. I look back at those years, and there was little fun or enjoyment. Calling those years the worst eco- nomic times in memory seems pretty trite and trivial to many of us who ran dealerships and came out the other side. In the mid-80s, “Reaganomics” kicked in, and when interest rates finally fell below 15%, we all felt we could breathe easier. If you could describe your best day in this business, what would it look like? Anything that doesn’t resemble the years between ’79 and ’82! Was there an “aha” moment in your career that defined you? I think the elusive “aha” is a moving target. I think this business is too humbling to get too comfortable. Describe your all-time favorite vehicle (it can be one you’ve owned or something on your wish list). What are you driving today? I think this is going to sound a little strange, but I’m not really a car enthusiast. I am more of a widget and peo- ple kind of guy. But I will say that my first car, a 1969 Ford Galaxy 500, was pretty cool. What is your favorite way to spend your free time? Any unusual hobbies? I play golf at a fairly high level. I am an avid sports enthusiast in general, but in the end it’s all about family time. Nothing unusual. I take every opportunity I can to spend time with my family. Tell us about your family. My wife Linda and I have two children, our daugh- ter Cameron, who is married and expecting our first grandchild next month. It’s a boy! Cameron works as an attorney. Canden, our son, is single and works with us at our Parks Motor Group. Linda is a tax CPA and owns her own practice. And no, I don’t get my business returns done for free, I am a paying client. What is the biggest impact of being a CFADA member? What makes it beneficial? CFADA provides a level of security in a capital-intense business. As dealers, we have invested substantially into our businesses — we have everything on the line in many cases — and knowing that CFADA is there, along with our state and national association, is very comforting. Our industry has a lot of moving parts beyond just running a business. We’re heavily regulated. The industry requires training to keep up with new laws and mandates. Our franchise rights are constantly under attack and being scrutinized. CFADA provides that level of security and advocacy that we as dealers need to be successful. Issue 2 2019 19 CFADA.ORG