Meet the New Owners of Chico’s Courtesy Automotive Center By Kacey Gardner | Photos by Frank Rebelo
You learn, you earn, and you serve — those are the values
Diane’s background is in marketing; before coming back
Jerry and Diane Pajouh were raised with, the principles they’ve
to California she had been selling radio for WSNE. When she
built their previous successes on, and the culture they hope
moved back to Fresno, she worked as an account executive
to create as the new owners of Courtesy Automotive Center
with the Spanish television network Univision for five years
in Chico. We met them for the first time in person last month,
before becoming a partner in her own Spanish-language
and it was plain to see that this philosophy is one they truly
advertising agency, with big-name clients such as Longs Drugs
believe in. It comes across clear as day in their passion and
and Gottschalks.
professionalism when speaking about what they do. But these
Jerry, on the other hand, has been in the car business
are words you don’t have to speak to believe — the proof of
for 38 years. Originally from Fresno, he started at a Chrysler
them is in the past, in the story of the Pajouhs’ life before this
dealership there, selling cars out on the front line — meeting
new Chico chapter.
and greeting customers and helping them find the right car.
LEARNING
Chrysler.”
Diane and Jerry Pajouh have been married for more than 18
From there, he worked his way up at various high-line
years and have two children, Nikolaus, almost 18, and Jesika,
dealerships in the area, including serving as the general sales
10. They met in Fresno when Diane returned to her hometown
manager for a Porsche, Audi, and Ferrari store and for a local
after attending college and working in Rhode Island for 10
Volvo dealer. It wasn’t long, though, before he caught the eye
years.
of the local BMW dealership and was solicited to run their
“She actually came all the way from Rhode Island to find me,” Jerry says. 56
“Believe it or not,” he says, “it was called Courtesy
UPGRADEDLIVING.COM SEPTEMBER 2015
store. In April 1987 he joined Weber BMW as the general sales manager — the first move in a storied run with the luxury brand.