Twenty Groups: BHPH Super Group Holds First Meeting

Nine dealers with more than 150 years of combined experience in the retail automotive business gathered in a Sarasota Ritz-Carlton meeting room last month for their first meeting of the Leedom BHPH Super Group.

Chris Leedom, moderator of the Super Group, said he was impressed with the caliber of the dealers in attendance.

“This is an impressive group of dealers,” Leedom said. “They have come to us from other groups, and most became acquainted with our group through their participation with Leedom Financial Services (LFS).”

Mike Smith, owner of Central Florida Auto Wholesalers in Leesburg, Fla., said he’s been in this business for 30 years. He is in the process of opening a second location in Ocala, Fla.

“I’ve attended the school of hard knocks for many years,” Smith said, “so I’m really looking forward to the shared knowledge that comes from these meetings.”

Smith currently sells 25 buy here-pay here units a month and has a portfolio of about $1.8 million. He’s been ramping up his business slowly because of capital constraints for the past three years, and is looking for a growth spurt as a result of his new line of credit from LFS.

Mike Miller has operated Auto Now in Overland Park, Kan., for the past 13 years. The “family business’ now has four locations.

“I really wanted to see what others are doing and get a feel for the benchmarks in this industry,” Miller said. “By knowing what the real numbers are in this business, you can better assess what you are doing, change what you must, and ultimately make more money and have more fun.”

Christine Van Burkleo is the owner of Cars on Credit in McAllen, Texas. She is a self-professed “car guy.” She has a Lincoln-Mercury and Jeep franchise. The stores aren’t as big as they once were, and sell about 100 new and used vehicles a month.

Her husband died three years ago, and she has been the dealer principal ever since. The Van Burkleo Motors has been in the buy here-pay here business since 1991. Christine was a member of the Lincoln-Mercury Twenty Group, and saw the formation of the Super Group as good move.

“I see BHPH as a huge opportunity right now,” she said. “Very few people realize just how fabulous this business is, and I want to surround myself with people who understand this and want to improve on what they already have.”

Cars on Credit has secured a line of credit from LFS, and growth for the foreseeable future will be slow, but steady.

“I was thrilled to be asked to join this group,” she said. “I brought my two sons. They both recently graduated from college, and I want them to be exposed to this busi-

ness.”

Darr Heath, is the general manager of Public Auto Sales in Dallas, Texas. The family owned buy here-pay here business has been in operation for 50 years. The five locations move285 units a month and have 95 employees.

“Our company had not been in a Twenty Group and I had participated in one in the past,” Heath said. “I understand the value and importance of being in a group, and pushed for us to join the Super Group.”

Heath said the importance of fresh ideas can never be underestimated. He said he has heard the excuse from others that they can’t get away from their store, but doesn’t agree.

“If you can’t get away from your store to get ideas and discuss your business with like-minded businesspeople,” he said, “then you have got real problems. I believe you can learn from anyone.

Sure, they will want to know what I’ve learned and want me to implement worthy ideas. That’s accountability, and as a manager that comes with the territory.”

Leedom said this Super Group has about 10 more openings, since one new member has been added since the charter meeting.

“We’re looking for players who have longevity in this business,” Leedom said. “We need members who have sizeable operations and are looking to grow even more.”