Pub. 1 2018-2019 |Issue 1

19 I learned that I am a “people person.” I like people. I like helping them get what they want, helping them succeed. Are there any specific individuals that had a major impact on your career? Yes, Ellis Ivory. Ellis was my mission president in England. When I was just about ready to be released, he called me in his office and asked what my plans were. I told him that I was thinking about something in dentistry, because my dad was a dentist. He laughed. He told me that he thought that was just crazy, and I should consider sales. He said, “go home and sell, it’s something you’re naturally good at!” Also, Stephen Wade. I worked for him early on in my career, and I learned so much from him about running a quality dealership. What is the most rewarding part of your career? For me it’s been all about developing talent. Over the years, I’ve worked with literally hundreds of people and watching them grow and accomplish their goals personally and professionally, just never gets old. What do you think will be some of the dominant trends within the auto industry in the next 5-10 years? I think the real question is what will happen to cars. With the newer models, I think it’s shocking in regards to how close they are now to self- driving. There’s a lot of talk within the industry on how these self-driving cars will impact the entire business model, from how cars are made, to how they are used and how they are sold. I think that there will be some disruptive innovations and some settling of the marketplace. The car business has been pretty traditional in the past, and that may change. I think that anytime there is change there is also opportunities. What is the biggest impact of being an NCDU member? What makes it beneficial? We’re an industry that brings together a lot of moving parts, from the manufacturers to the consumers. We’re such a moving target. The NCDU is vital in running a dealership. NCDU stays on top of the many legal and legislative issues, and keeps us informed of what’s is happening in the industry. They are a great source of educational opportunities, as well as networking opportunities. The NCDU is a such a tremendous resource for dealers. Have you served within the leadership of NCDU, and if so, what inspired you to serve, and why do you feel involvement is important? I have gone through the chairs of the NCDU. I started as Secretary and moved on up to President and then of course, Past President. It was important for me to get involved with the NCDU and serve where I could because giving back to an organization that has benefitted me, was and is, important. I didn’t come from “a car” family. I didn’t learn this industry because I grew up in it. I learned the business from other dealers who were willing to mentor me, my colleagues and educational opportunities within the NCDU. It’s a great organization. Are you involved in any civic or charitable organizations? I am. I served on the State Board of Regents for many years, which was a Governor appointed position. I currently serve on GOED (Governor’s Office of Economic Development Board), which has been very rewarding, as we’re responsible for incentivizing businesses and filmmakers to bring jobs to Utah. A passion of mine has been in supporting those charitable organizations that focus on education. Over the years, I’ve supported Utah Valley University and Snow College, and I’m very active within the Provo School District. One of my favorite activities is the East Basket Auction, which raises over $200,000 dollars for the Provo School District each year. Every year we have local businesses donate items and money to fill Easter baskets, which are then auctioned off. Over the past 16 years, we have raised over $2 million. If you look back at your career and life, what would be three things that you have learned, that you would pass onto a younger member within the auto industry? The first two, I learned from my mom, who was just an amazing woman.