P O W E R
P L A Y E R S
Auto Dealers
America is a car culture. Ever since Henry Ford started rolling Model T cars off an assembly line, the word has been GO. Innovations have turned a car into an art, into a muscle, into a magnet, into a lifestyle decision, into a political statement. We are our cars. (And trucks and SUVs.) Most everybody remembers the first car they ever owned — it’s like your first kiss. That feeling can linger for a lifetime. From affordable to luxurious, from domestic to import, from basic to loaded with bells and whistles, a wide range of automobiles on the streets of Memphis can be traced back to the POWER PLAYERS who fill these pages. And when it comes to getting around our city from point A to point B, these are the folks who get the wheels — and heads — turning. We go to them when that magnet and muscle start drawing us in. DAVID S. ANDREWS Founder and CEO, City Enterprises, LLC, parent company for City Auto Sales, Dealers Auto Auction Group, City Auto Finance, Pace Financial, and City Leasing. City Enterprises operates in two states with over 600 employees. Crystal Award for Corporate Philanthropy, Association of Fundraising Professionals. Supporter of ALS, American Cancer Society, St. Jude, Le Bonheur, Porter-Leath, and a host of other organizations. Member, Board of Directors for the Better Business Bureau, National Independent Automobile Dealers Association. Advisory Board, Wells Fargo and Triumph Bank. MARK GOODFELLOW Owner, It’s All Good Auto Sales. Community service includes adopting Westwood and Kirby High Schools, the Red Day Program with Keller Williams, and Porter-Leath. “Favorite Used Car Dealership,” The Commercial Appeal, Memphis Most. Was a four-star athlete at Marion High School in Arkansas, excelling at basketball, baseball, football, and tennis. With Devin Donaldson, won the 2010 United States Tennis Association’s 7.0 Mixed Doubles National Championships in Arizona.
RUSSELL GWATNEY President, Gwatney Mazda of Germantown, Gwatney Saab of Memphis, and Gwatney Mazda of Jackson. B.A., Arkansas. Finalist, 2005 Time Quality Dealer of the Year. Recipient, Andrew Jackson Award, and 2000 Tennessee Volunteer of the Year, Tennessee Society of Economic Development. Board Member and former Chairman, Tennessee Motor Vehicle Commission. Member, Tennessee Automotive Association Insurance Trust. Former Chairman, Greater Memphis Chamber and Memphis Youth Initiative. TRUDY HIGGINBOTHAM-MOODY Owner, Mercedes-Benz of Collierville. B.A. in Psychology from the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill. Also owns Mercedes-Benz and Porsche of Jackson, Mississippi; Winner of “Best Mercedes-Benz Dealership to Work For”
in nation, Mercedes-Benz “Best of the Best” Dealer, Porsche “Premier Dealer” winner. Involved with the Blair E. Batson Hospital for Children and the Mississippi Animal Rescue League. HENRY A. HUTTON President/Dealer, Chuck Hutton Chevrolet, Chuck Hutton Toyota, Scion, Mid-South Accessory Center, and Chuck Hutton Co. Graduate of the University of Tennessee with a degree in business, the Tennessee Banking School at Vanderbilt University, and the Banking School of the South at LSU. Board Member, Greater Memphis Automobile Dealers Association. President, Mid-South Chevy Dealers Local Marketing Group. Board Member, Memphis Zoo. JAMES J. KERAS JR. President, Jim Keras Automotive Group. B.S., Business Administration, University of Tennessee. Familyowned business since 1949. Became dealer principal in 1978. Recipient, “Circle of Excellence,” General Motors “Select Dealer,” and “Mark of Excellence” awards. Member, Board of Commissioners, Memphis-Shelby County Airport Authority. Former President, 100 Club of Memphis and Greater Memphis Automobile Dealers Association. Volunteer pilot for Angel Flight missions. ERNIE NORCROSS Owner/General Manager, Volvo of Memphis. Bachelor of Business Administration, University of Tennessee at Martin. Board Member and Past President, Greater Memphis Automobile Dealers Association. Appointed to Volvo Retailer Advisory Board, Creative Forum Board, and Volvo Product Advisory Board. Member, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital Memphis Club. Past Member, Houston High School Booster Club. Supports Memphis Union Mission, Make-A-Wish MidSouth, and Alex’s Lemonade Stand.
AL GOSSETT President, CEO, and Owner, Gossett Motor Cars. Company operates 17 auto dealerships in Memphis and is the largest privately owned automotive group in the Mid-South. Gossett Motor Cars manufacturers include Volkswagen, Porsche, Audi, Kia, Hyundai, Chrysler, Jeep, Dodge, Ram, Mazda, Mitsubishi, Fiat, Maserati, and Alfa Romeo. Member, ownership group of Memphis Grizzlies. Board Member, Landmark Community Bank. Director, Sequential Brands Group, Inc.
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