Pub. 2 2019-2020 |Issue 2

17 What is the biggest impact of being an NCDU member? What makes it beneficial? I think that NCDU is the glue that holds our local industry together. Young guys grow, old guys die, and our local car industry thrives because of NCDU and the dedication the staff has to provide the information needed to run a better business. We have an ally in NCDU; they have our back in every kind of environment. I think the training opportunities are top-notch. In this business, you couldn’t ask for a better organization to partner with. Craig Bickmore and his staff are exceptional. NCDU is also very well respected all across the country. Their reputation is stellar, and I couldn’t be more proud to be involved with this group. Are you involved in any civic or charitable organizations? Heavens, yes. I think it would be a rare dealer who isn’t involved in giving back to their communities. I think dealers give unbelievable amounts of money to their communities. Every day, a new opportunity to get involved in something comes across my desk. I think we have a responsibility to be good corporate citizens, but I also think it’s part of the franchise DNA, if you will. If you look back at your career and life, what would be three things that you have learned that you would pass on to a younger member within the auto industry? Well, first, this is a career that takes time, and it’s one that takes dedication. There’s no second chance to show honesty and integrity to employees or customers. Working at a dealership can give someone a career where the financial aspects can be exceptional, but again it takes time and dedication in the development of skills. At the same time, it is also a career that requires balance. Sadly, many in this industry lose sight of that. One of the things that Alton Griffin taught me and his son, Rod, early on in his detail shop, was the importance of balance. He showed us how to put on a spare tire on a car, and I remember him telling us that if you don’t put the correct weights on the tire, it will be out of balance. He said that life needed to be equally balanced with family, work and church. There were a dozen other things in there as well, such as exercise and diet. But the lesson was about balance. The car business is a wonderful career, but it does require balance. What are some professional moments that make you the proudest? That’s a tough question to answer. I think, for the most part, we’re all our own worst critic. But I left my business for three years to serve another mission for my church, and in doing that, I left the employees I had trained and taught in charge. When I came home, I was so proud to see how well they had done. The business was still intact. I remember feeling so very proud of them. Was there an “aha” moment in your career that defined you? I’m not sure there’s been only one “aha” moment. We all receive life lessons in all sorts of forms, and how we grow and learn from them can be that “aha.” When I started to recognize that I could choose to help another human being — someone who was needy or incapable within their circumstances — that had a big impact on me, and I am grateful for the opportunities I have had to help others since then. Describe your all-time favorite vehicle (it can be one you’ve owned or something on your wish list). What are you driving today? I drive a Chevrolet Tahoe, but I like to drive Corvettes in the summer months. At one point, I was a Porsche dealer. My all-time favorite car to drive is a Porsche. What is your favorite way to spend your free time? Any unusual hobbies? Nothing unusual. I collect and restore cars; I have some really fun ones. We own a ranch in East Canyon, and I love to go up there with my wife, Sherrie. I love watching her giggle and fish. The quiet moments that we have up there are wonderful. Tell us about your family. I first met my wife Sherrie in junior high, we started flirting a bit, we dated through high school, and in 1974, we were married. She is my best friend. We have five children, Cory, Cameron, Kylee, Jessie and Jordan — four sons and one daughter. We have 21 grandchildren. My family is everything to me. The importance of family can’t be understated. 3