The Pohanka Legacy: A Century of Automotive Excellence

Geoffrey Pohanka shares the remarkable story of Pohanka Automotive Group, founded by his grandfather in 1919 and now spanning 22 dealerships across three states. He reveals how the company's focus on service excellence helped them survive the Great Depression and World War II when many dealerships failed.• Third-generation dealer whose grandfather was a jockey before starting the business in 1919• Promotes from within - including a former switchboard operator who will become NADA chair• Believes customer convenience drives service department success with extended hours• Owns multiple EVs personally but advocates for consumer choice rather than mandates• Working to address technician shortages by funding community college automotive programs• Maintains collaborative relationships with manufacturers while representing dealer interests• Foundation donates millions annually to community initiatives and financial literacy education• Family legacy continues with two of his three children working in the business• Started all three children as mechanics to learn the business from the ground upThe Pohanka philosophy remains consistent after 106 years: "The customer can fire all of us. I've got to take care of the customer and so do you, because they'll fire us if we don't."Thanks for tuning in to this episode of Executive Profile with Jim Fitzpatrick. For more interviews with the leaders shaping retail automotive, visit CBTNews.com and subscribe to the show on your favorite podcast platform. If you enjoyed the episode, please rate, review, and share it with someone in the industry.