the University of North Carolina School of the Arts Foundation for five years, on their board of trustees for nine years, including five as the board chairman. I also chaired the search committee during this time for multiple deans and chancellors for the school, an honor I took very seriously. Additionally, I have served two terms on the Kia National Dealer Council, the Mitsubishi National Dealer Council, the Hyundai National Dealer Council and two terms on the Mazda National Dealer Council, including serving as chairman of the council one of those years. Our dealerships have been the corporate sponsor for the Forsyth Humane Society Furr Ball, the main fundraiser for our local Humane Society, for the past eight years, raising over $2.5 million to increase community awareness of the need for fostering and adopting the animals in our community. My wife, Kristen, and I are the lead corporate sponsors for the Smiley Kids for Kids Triathlon, the No. 1-ranked kids triathlon in the United States. I also spend a great deal of time on the Grandfather Community Foundation Board serving Avery County. This foundation raised $2.7 million for hurricane relief in a short three-month period and is committed to educating the less fortunate in the Avery County area. I understand that when it comes to leading and in order to get things done, one must first learn to figure out what people really want and why they want it. Oftentimes, understanding the why is the catalyst for moving forward with an action plan. What are you focusing on during your term as chairman? We need to continue to protect the franchise model. Throughout the history of automobile sales, OEMs that have decided to build and sell cars have been epic failures. Ford tried to sell cars at Sears, Roebuck and Company; it didn’t work. However, when Ford switched to the franchise system, it became highly successful. Again, in the 1990s, Ford and General Motors tried to sell direct by owning auto dealerships — the formation of the Utah Auto Collection proved disastrous. This was a joint venture between Ford Motor Company and a group of 13 local Ford dealers. The aim was to operate the dealerships under a single name and marketing agreement, reportedly to reduce competition among Ford dealers and improve business. The model proved unpopular with dealers and customers. My focus will always be on protecting dealers and their investments first and foremost. We have to make sure that we take care of our members and the citizens of North Carolina. Additionally, we’ve already worked with legislators on moving titling to an electronic method in the future. But again, moving the DMV is kind of like moving the Queen Mary and asking it to be nimble. Some things just don’t happen as quickly as you need them to happen, but we will keep working on them. How do you manage to balance your professional responsibilities with your personal life? I am of the mindset, “Work hard, play hard, but be present.” If I’m having a conversation with you, I don’t need to be thinking about where I’m going to be tomorrow. I need to be 100% present. Today, having had a lengthy professional career, my family remains first in my life, and I try to maximize time together with my wife and children, making as many memories together as possible. 22
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