Pub. 1 2019 Issue 2

If you look back at your career and life, what would be three things that you have learned that you would pass onto a younger member within the auto industry? I’m a big believer in making your own luck and get- ting out of your own way to do it. I went to college for seven years, got a law degree and changed careers im- mediately. I think a lot of people wouldn’t have walked away from that kind of time and money investment in their education, but I saw an opportunity, and I took it. I think a lot of people let their perceptions of how things should be limit their abilities in terms of how things could be. I would encourage young people to take a chance on the opportunities as they come. I am proud to be a car salesman. I may be a dealer, but I am a car sales- man at heart. Car dealers are doers. They have to be. They “do” for a lot of people. They are very giving people, and I couldn’t be more proud to be part of the ranks. And then, I would encourage people to take life more as it comes. Learn to play the hand you’re dealt — but play it well. I think that’s the key. What are some professional moments that make you the proudest? In 2002, I became the first person in Florida to win the Time magazine Quality Dealer of the Year award, which is probably the most prestigious award a dealer can earn. That was a moment I was very humbled. I was just named a Northern Illinois University Husky Legend. I received the award last week. I was honored on the football field. It was raining, but it was one of the best moments. Was there an “aha” moment in your career that defined you? There have been lots of moments. Life is a culmina- tion of moments, I think. I am driven by accomplish- ments. I never did anything for money. I want to be the best at whatever I do. I want to know that I did the best I could. Describe your all-time favorite vehicle (it can be one you’ve owned or something on your wish list). What are you driving today? Well, today I’m driving a used Equinox. My favorite car was the Corvette I drove when I couldn’t afford it. What is your favorite way to spend your free time? Any unusual hobbies? Nothing really unusual. I play some golf — not as much as I used to or would like. And I sell cars. Tell us about your family. My wife, Ann, passed away when she was 38 years old. Way too young. I am still single. You have been the Chairman of the Orlando Auto Show for many years; what are some of the changes you’ve seen over the years? I’ve been involved with the show for about 25-30 years now. You know it’s the show that helped us build the training center. There were many individual contribu- tions — large ones, and we worked with our vendors, but the auto show was a big factor in getting that center done. What are your thoughts on the popularity of auto shows? I think it’s a mixed bag. I hear the comments, but people like them. If the auto show is good, people will come. I think the displays have gotten better over the years; the videos are definitely better. There are lots of things to entertain the customers. I think the concept cars are waning. I haven’t seen a really good one in years. You can have movie stars, you can have singers and dancers, but at the end of the day, it’s about the cars. People like to see the cars. They want to sit in the cars, touch the cars and see themselves in the cars. Orlando’s show is in the top 20 — we’re 18th in the country. I think we have a good show. One of the things that I am most proud of is the ten and a half million dollars our association raised for our automotive training center, the Barbara Miller Central Florida Automotive Training Center at Seminole State College. I think we all know that we are facing a terrible shortage of trained auto technicians, and 10 years ago, we decided to do something about it. Issue 2 2019 23 CFADA.ORG