Getting to Know Tyler Kirk NextGen Dealer Spotlight Tyler’s story reflects a lifetime spent in the automotive industry, grounded in family values, hard work and a commitment to serving both customers and employees with integrity. In our conversation, he shared insights into his early beginnings in the dealership, the legacy his family has built and his vision for the future of their growing organization. Tell us about your background in the car business and the role you hold today. I’m 30 years old and truly a lifelong car dealer’s son. I started working at our dealership when I was 9 or 10 — pulling weeds in the lot, working in the detail shop, washing vehicles and eventually learning to change oil and brakes by age 14. My parents figured out I liked to talk, so they put me in sales, and the rest is history. Today, I’m the vice president of our group. I run several of our stores and oversee day‑to‑day operations. With 11 stores in your group, what sets Kirk Auto Group apart and has contributed to its success? My grandfather started our group in 1973. He grew up with nothing, worked in construction and eventually began selling cars. He and another salesman bought the Ford store we still operate today. He worked extremely hard his whole life and made a tremendous impact on everyone around him — customers, employees and community members. He sadly passed away in early February, and more than a thousand people attended the visitation. He was a man of strong faith, and he passed that on to us. I believe our difference lies in the culture he established: treating customers and employees the way we would want to be treated. That principle guides every decision we make. What training or education have you pursued, and who have been your most influential mentors? On top of being a Northwood University graduate, I’m also a NADA Academy graduate and an NCM Institute graduate. NCM’s General Management Executive Program is very similar to the NADA Academy program. In the way of dealer training, I’m about as trained as one could be, but the real knowledge comes from being hands-on in the business! My biggest mentors in life have been my grandfather and father, and Alan Eagles, a dealer in upstate New York whom I consider a dear friend and confidant. I also want to mention my 10
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MTg3NDExNQ==