Today, Checkered Flag operates eight dealerships in the greater Hampton Roads region of Virginia, representing 17 different brands. His two sons, William and Benjamin, are the next generation to enter the family enterprise. And his family has a long history of serving customers in the area, as his great-grandfather founded L. Snyder’s Department Store in Norfolk, Virginia, in 1894. Snyder built on his family’s legacy and charted his own course for the company, bringing it forward as the auto industry continues to evolve. “We’ve incorporated best practices and perspectives related to inclusion and diversity,” he said. “In the past 10 years, I’ve seen huge changes as the once maledominated automotive industry shifted to support gender equality and racial diversity. Our top product specialists and the majority of our service managers are women.” In addition, he is committed to employee retention and growth, meeting with his management team annually to identify employees with great potential and to create a plan to help them move forward in their careers. Philanthropy is also a cornerstone of his brand. “Over the past 58 years, my family, the company and our employees have donated millions of dollars to a wide range of charities,” Snyder said. “We feel it is our job to encourage any fundraiser who approaches us and say yes to them, to keep them incentivized in their quest to improve the lives of others.” Checkered Flag has been a major supporter of An Achievable Dream Academies and Access College Foundation, both providing educational assistance to at-risk youth. Snyder, along with Checkered Flag, leads Hampton Roads as one of the major contributors to the United Way of South Hampton Roads. Snyder also donates matching funds, up to $25,000, to the Eastern Virginia Medical School, a public medical school in Norfolk, to fund scholarships, curriculum enhancements, research equipment and more. He is on the board of trustees for the school. He also serves on the board of trustees for the Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center Foundation in Virginia Beach. The Snyder family has long supported the organization and has set up a $2 million endowment fund to provide free admission to active-duty military members and their families for perpetuity. “We’ve made substantial impacts in community health, education and environmental stewardship by providing time, money and awareness for hundreds of local charities and causes,” Snyder said. “We also encourage volunteerism among our staff by giving them paid time off to support local nonprofits, whether they are building playgrounds, cleaning up waterways or reading to the blind.” continued on page 8 7
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