challenges by focusing on the big picture and adapting. My family has survived difficult times because of flexibility, confidence, hard work and preparation for the future. What has your family learned from everything that has happened since the dealership opened? You have to surround yourself with the right people to succeed for so long. Good salespeople will make our customers want to purchase from us again, good service techs mean our service customers will come back every time their car needs to be serviced, and a great body shop team ensures that customers will turn to us when they have an accident. We believe in continuous improvement. Who has your main mentor been? My father. We share an office, which can sometimes be difficult; however, I feel lucky to have him here to spitball ideas and ask questions. He is a wealth of knowledge and loves the business, although he might tell you otherwise. He gives me the support I need to make decisions. I learn by doing, and he encourages and supports that. I heard a statistic from NADA about the success rates of successions at dealerships; the first to second generation has a success rate of 33%, the second to third generation has a success rate of 11%, and the third to fourth generation’s rate is 6%. I have my father to thank for keeping the business alive and passing on the opportunity. Are there any other people who have had a significant impact on your life that you would like to tell us about? Dr. Mike Stern and Bridget Mullen. Working with them was my first experience working with a husband-and-wife duo. He is an oral surgeon, and she runs the office. They have mastered working together, and they are a great example of how you can be successful with that. What do you think about the Ally TIME Dealer of the Year Nomination? I am very flattered by the nomination, and I feel fortunate to receive the honor. Still, the nomination isn’t about me. I didn’t create anything. It is really about the entire team carrying on a family legacy. The dealership was already here and doing well, and it just needed a face-lift. We want to progress and make a good thing better by making improvements. Ally donates $1,000 from each nominee to a 501(c)(3) charity you select. The charitable donations for finalists are $5,000, and the winner’s donation is $10,000. You already support many charities. Which charity did you select for this honor? Why? I chose the Children’s Home Society of Parkersburg, which is well-run and well-rooted in the community. There are different locations all over the state, but my dad started to help this one more than 20 years ago, and I wanted to continue the tradition as a tribute to my family. Also, now that I have a child of my own and one on the way, it is a little more near and dear to me to give back to children in need. We host a food drive for them several times throughout the year and are always looking for ways to help them in their mission. Why should WVADA dealers join the association? How does membership benefit its members? WVADA is a great support system for dealers. They work closely with us to accomplish our needs and wants, and they help us solve our issues. The association offers education and communication with the legislators and a fabulous legal staff that understands the ins and outs of our complex business. Their support is vital to our success. Without WVADA, we wouldn’t have the foresight to make business decisions that keep us in a good position to serve our community to the best of our ability. Continued on the following page Issue 4 2021 15 WVADA
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