Pub. 2 2020-2021 Issue 2

wvcar.com 8 WVADA Getting to Know Incoming Chair Roberta Olejasz How do you pronounce your last name? OH-lee-ash. My husband’s family is Polish. According to LinkedIn, you have a couple of degrees: a bachelor’s degree from Virginia Commonwealth University and an MBA fromWest Virginia University. Tell us about your education. What’s the most valuable lesson you learned? I really enjoyed my time at VCU; going to school away from home allowed me the opportunity to grow outside my comfort zone. Playing basketball while going to school taught me time management. I would say that is the most valuable thing that I learned and have used throughout my entire life. After graduating from Virginia Commonwealth, I took a year off from school to work for my father, Bob Robinson, in the dealership. I took the long way around and eventually found my way to West Virginia University, where I earned my MBA. I went to NADA Dealer Candidate Academy. This teaches you about every department in the dealership. It is specific to your dealership, and you work in every department in your store while attending the academy. This was instrumental in preparing me for my current role. You played basketball! How have sports helped you as a dealer? Everything is a competition, right? The dealership just provides a different way to compete. That’s kind of what we do in our stores. We find a way to compete in a friendly way at every level, the same way we do on the basketball court. It helps us improve and get better every day. Did you always aspire to be in the auto dealer industry? What has your career path been? Our parents encouraged my brother and me to be attorneys, we both got our graduate degrees at WVU, and we both have our MBAs. The two of us are third-generation automobile dealers. Although, I did marry an attorney (she said with a little laugh). Before becoming automobile dealers, the Robinson family were coal miners. My grandfather, Bill Robinson, bought Robinson Motors in Ritchie County, West Virginia. In 1963, he moved his family to Wheeling, WV, where he purchased an Oldsmobile Cadillac dealership and later acquired a Subaru store. In 1978, he gave up Subaru for Toyota. In 1975 my father bought the Chevy store in New Martinsville, WV, and later added Chrysler, Plymouth and Dodge to his franchises. We lived in Wetzel County for 13 years. My dad actually retired for a short time. Then, in 1988. it was time to head home. We moved back to Wheeling, where my dad purchased my grandfather’s Cadillac, Oldsmobile and Toyota dealership. At this time, my brother Jim was a WVU Mountaineer and had expressed interest in the business. I was a sophomore in high school and had just begun my amazing journey as a Wheeling Central Maroon Knight. We have three stores that comprise Robinson Auto Group: Bob Robinson Chevrolet, Buick, GMC, Cadillac; Jim Robinson Ford Lincoln; and Jim Robinson Toyota. • My dad works every day. His famous quote is, “He works half-a- day, 8 to 8.” • I am a Chevrolet Buick GMC Cadillac dealer. • My brother Jim has the Toyota and Ford Lincoln store. There have been some others along the way, but that’s what we have currently. It’s been a fun ride. Who have your mentors been, and what did they teach you? My dad and my brother are my primary mentors. Also, there’s a dealer out of Parkersburg, Dan Wharton, Sr., who recently passed away. He was instrumental in growing me in the WVADA. My father taught me everything I know. My father, my mother and my brother Jim have really inspired me to be the best I can be throughout my whole life. We have several statements we focus on during challenging times in our business and our lives: 1. You can do anything for six months. 2. Don’t let them beat you. 3. Tell me what I CAN do. My family and close friendships have taught me that it is very important to surround yourself with positive people. Don’t let the naysayers drag you down. continued on page 10