Cliff Findlay sons all GMs in Findlay Automotive Group

            If Findlay Automotive Group President Cliff Findlay seems proud nowadays, there is good reason.

            The father of three sons, Findlay sits atop one of the nation’s largest private-owned chain of automobile dealerships. Each son is now a general manager of a dealership within the Findlay Automotive Group.

            His oldest son, Justin, 36, is the GM at Findlay Chevrolet; Nathan, 32, spearheads operations at Findlay Lincoln Mercury in the Valley Automall and Robby, 29, heads Findlay Toyota in Flagstaff, Ariz.

            In fact, the sons all being a part of the car business marks the third generation of Findlay family members to enter the industry. If ever there were proof that a family that works together stays together, this has to be it.

            The story began more than 50 years ago when Pete Findlay started buying and selling used cars while operating a small car lot in Panaca, Nev. about 160 miles north of Las Vegas.  A true visionary, the elder Findlay moved his family and his business operations to Southern Nevada in the late 1950s to open what was called Pete’s Used Cars on Fremont Street, and a true tradition began in the local car business.

            And while so many other family names have disappeared from the car business thanks to buyouts by corporate-owned conglomerates, the Findlays have grown by leaps and bounds; and now have 21 dealerships in Utah, Nevada, Arizona and Idaho.

            “You bet I’m proud,” says Cliff Findlay of his sons. “Each one of the boys has earned his way and I’m confident in their decisions as heads of their dealerships. They all have excellent managerial skills. While any one of them could have gone on to do something else, they chose to join our company and I’m tickled to death that they did.

“All four of our kids have graduated from college. Robby went to Brown University, Nathan went to UNLV and Justin graduated from USF.”

            Especially interesting is that each of sons started out working in either automotive sales or as a lot porter before being elevated to their GM positions.

“It’s great going to work everyday knowing the place you work at bares your last name and we take pride in that fact,” said Robby Findlay, who has been a GM at the Findlay Toyota store in Flagstaff for about 18 months. “Our family is a tribute to the car business and we love working together.”

Robby Findlay entered the car business working for Justin Findlay at Findlay Volkswagen in 2003. He originally planned to be an attorney.

“I actually majored in political science and once I started working I realized that it was more fun interacting with people than it was sitting in a classroom for the next three years. The car business is great and our organization is also doing very well.”

            “I feel blessed to have the opportunity to actually be a general manager and one day an owner,” said Nathan Findlay. “Our parents made us go through the different steps to earn our way. We had to graduate from college to be considered for a general manager position while also gaining a general understanding of any given store’s different departments.’’

            “The thing I enjoy about working day to day in the Vegas car business is that I always run into people who share stories of their past experiences with my grandfather and my dad,” said Justin Findlay. “We are blessed with two great role models that paved the way and set great examples for us. We look forward to serving Las Vegas for many years to come.”

            Other Findlay family members include Cliff’s wife of nearly 38 years, Donna; and daughter, Marisa who has a degree in marketing and works for Fox Sports.

Findlay Automotive Group President Cliff Findlay, seated, is shown with sons, from left, Nathan, Justin and Robby. The sons are all general managers at stores in the Findlay Automotive Group.

Contact: Mike Henle, The Idea Company Public Relations, 702-279-3483.