Customer Spotlight

Customer Spotlight: Dick Garber Garber Automotive Group

Dick Garber is one of the most respected and admired leaders in the industry. We sat down with him for an in-depth conversation about his priorities, people, philanthropy, and more.

How have your priorities changed from when you started in the business to now?

I became a dealer in 1980 at a volatile time – there was high unemployment in the U.S. and a struggling world economy. In those early years we didn’t have many resources and the focus was on survival. Today we are blessed with resources to be much more strategic and deliberate. What hasn’t changed is our commitment to our values, our people and our community.

Speaking of people, what is your philosophy when it comes to your employees and your culture?

I’m not a car guy, I’m a people guy, so it has always been about people in our business. What we do is centered around values- honesty, respect, empathy, integrity, pride and work ethic. When you live your values, you create an environment that contributes to people wanting to come to work and do their best work because they feel respected and empowered. We also invest a great deal in our people and in our leaders. We focus heavily on development and offer equity opportunities to our managing partners.

We have very low turnover and significant longevity among our staff. 75% or our leaders are promoted from within the company. We’ve had 10 dealerships selected for Automotive News Top 100 to Work For in 2021, with 13 of our dealerships earning this distinction since 2013, and several are five-time winners. I attribute all of these achievements to delivering on our values for our people, customers, and our community.

In total the organization has 23 dealerships in six states, 48 used vehicle locations badged RightWay Automotive, and its own finance company, Gateway Financial Solutions; annual sales exceed $1.3 billion.

How do you view and respond to change in the industry?

We’ve been through tough times and very good times. Our stability comes from staying true to our values and using them to guide our actions. That means we always do right by our staff, our customers, our community and our manufacturers. I have been described as a lighthouse in a storm. I don't get wrapped up in things I can't control.

Garber Automotive values:

Honesty: Truthful at all times. Respect: To show consideration and honor for each other Empathy: To be able to understand another’s position. Integrity: To be of good sound moral principle, trustworthy, sincere Pride: Sense of self-worth. Making a difference in people’s lives Work Ethic: Working as a team to meet or exceed expectations.

You own a major junior hockey team, what are the similarities between running a hockey team and a mega dealership?

There are tremendous similarities between success in business and in sports. First, it’s critical to put the right people in leadership positions. When the right coach or leader is in place your people and players develop and the results improve. It’s really no more complicated than that. In business and in sports, you must be committed to get better every day. It’s the only way to keep or strengthen your competitive advantage.I became a dealer in 1980 at a volatile time – there was high unemployment in the U.S. and a struggling world economy. In those early years we didn’t have many resources and the focus was on survival. Today we are blessed with resources to be much more strategic and deliberate. What hasn’t changed is our commitment to our values, our people and our community.

Great leadership and coaching elevate the individual performance that drives the collective success.

What inspires you to be so generous with your time and resources?

I was blessed to grow up with community / civic-minded parents. My mother supported the Arts, my father and grandfather were involved in nonprofits. I was raised with the thinking that it is part of our responsibility as a member of the community to get involved and give back. I don’t believe businesses have the right to take from the community without giving back. Its Conscious Capitalism- business needs to be good for all stakeholders, not just for shareholders. We want our communities to be healthy and vibrant and they need the support of local business, like car dealerships, now more than ever.

We also encourage our staff to get involved. One of the things I am most proud of is we have staff that sit on 30 nonprofit boards in MidMichigan. They do this because they care and want to give back, not because I ask. We support over 200+ local organizations and donate over $1 million to local charities annually.

Another thing close to my heart, both my parents died of Leukemia, and I’m very proud that in the last 5 years we have raised $1 million for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. Zurich has been a gracious support to the cause, for which I am most grateful.

I hear ‘thank you’ from the community on a consistent basis. Philanthropy has become a big part of our Garber brand. It represents the best of what we do and we’re grateful to be in position to make a difference.

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7    DEALER PRINCIPAL