Pub. 1 2019-2020 Issue 4

Issue 4 2020 17 WVADA We tried to protect our dealers from some things that our manufacturers wanted to do to us. MIKE: I am 75. Unlike Teddy Roosevelt, I don’t carry a big stick, although some - times I’ve had to be firm. I am not a dic - tator. I try to do the right thing and earn people’s respect, and then they do the right thing and earn my respect. I don’t have to work quite as hard as I did, but I can still be a resource to my son and my employees. I am approachable. We can solve problems by working together. TIM: I think I’ve realized that as the days go by and you think it can’t get any worse, sometimes it does, but our employees have done a remarkable job. We are an essential workplace with trucks going up and down the road and taking food to people. Being open and taking care of those customers is something to be proud of in a tough time, like what we are going through now. We have to hang in there and get through it. In our geograph - ic area, I see the light at the end of the tunnel. There is nowhere to go but up. As a leader within the local auto industry, how did you approach helping dealers face challenges at their dealerships? MIKE: I am a past president of the asso - ciation, and I was a board member for 37 years. During my time of service, I tried to visit as many dealerships as I could. I got to know a lot of dealers. When I was president, the Ford dealers were having a real problem with Ford. (Fortunately, there weren’t many situa - tions like that.) Some dealers wanted to do things one way, and others wanted to go another way. I was a GM dealer. There was no problem with me being a GM dealer trying to help them. We sat down and tried to develop a resolution that would be agreeable to both sides as they helped themselves. Our biggest concern was our relationships with the manufac - turers and the franchise laws. We tried to protect our dealers from some things that our manufacturers wanted to do to us. TIM: Some of the dealers have gotten together in recent months. We’ve talk - ed about keeping employees safe, what our hours of operation were and how we were trying to navigate through problems. By listening and sharing ideas, we’ve been able to help each other out in that regard. If you look back at your career and life, what would be three things that you have learned and that you would pass onto a younger member within the auto industry? MIKE: First, don’t overreact. Think about the situation before you react. Make re - sponsible decisions. Second, listen to your employees and associates. Consider their input, but always act responsibly to