Time and Ally Financial Honor Gilbert Auto Dealer
"We have the best employees in the world," nominee Brown said. "They believe that our customers are always right – even if they are wrong, they are right."
Brown, a 1963 graduate of Mesa High School in Mesa, Arizona, studied business administration at Arizona State University in Tempe and at Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah. He also served in the United States Army and the Arizona National Guard.
A third-generation dealer, Brown led the company started by his grandfather in 1927. "I bought my father out of the business in 1986 and sold my four dealerships to AutoNation in 1997," he said. "I was totally lost being out of the retail automotive world, so after my non-compete obligation was completed, I acquired dealerships with investment partners." Today, in addition to his Gilbert store, the Henry Brown Auto Group includes Henry Brown Chevrolet and Henry Brown Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram, both in Casa Grande, Arizona.
Providing a secure livelihood for his employees is important to Brown. "I have been able to hire back most of the employees who worked for me before I sold to AutoNation," he said. "I have also been able to reconnect with many customers who have done business with my family for generations." His wife and eight of his nine children also work in the car business. "And I'm delighted that I get to see three of my children every day as they work in the dealership," Brown said.
He added, "I love the nature of the automobile business. It has changed a lot over the years, and our dealerships are working closely with customers to help them understand all of the technologies available in cars today. Our delivery department lets customers experience the unique aspects of the vehicle before they leave the store."
Active in his state association, Brown has provided leadership to the Arizona Automobile Dealers Association as a board member, secretary/treasurer and chairman. He has also served on the national dealer councils of Chevrolet, Buick-GMC and General Motors, where he is currently a member of General Motors executive board.
Brown was nominated for the TIME Dealer of the Year award by Bobbi Sparrow, president of the Arizona Automobile Dealers Association. Henry has 8 sons and 28 grandchildren. He and his wife Melinda have a daughter.
