Three Northwood University Alumni Named to Automotive News forty Under forty Retail List, Northwood News
Three Northwood University Alumni Named to Automotive News forty Under forty Retail List
Three Northwood University graduates recently landed on the distinguished Automotive News forty Under forty Retail List. Published annually, the listing highlights forty up-and-comers who already are making their mark in dealerships across the United States.
For the past four years, Automotive News has honored rising industry starlets and spotlights “these youthful achievers” in its special forty Under forty Retail section. To be considered for the two thousand fifteen honor, candidates must work at a dealership in North America; have a significant business achievement and be junior than age forty on July 13, 2015. They also needed to receive a nomination from someone other than themselves.
Northwood University alumni honorees on this year’s list include:
Michael Abbondanza, possessor/general manager of Newton Nissan of Gallatin, Gallatin, Tennessee. Abbondanza graduated from Northwood University in one thousand nine hundred ninety nine with a degree in Marketing and Management. He and his playmate, Bill Newton, acquired the dealership in 2009. At the time, it was selling less than forty fresh and used vehicles a month. Monthly sales today top 240. In December 2013, the pair acquired a 2nd store in Shelbyville, Tennessee, growing monthly sales volume from seventy to one hundred thirty in less than two years.
Jason House, general manager, Rick Hendrick Chevrolet-Buick-GMC, Richmond, Virginia. House, a two thousand five Northwood graduate with a degree in Automotive Marketing and Management, became general manager of his dealership in the fall of two thousand fourteen when by Hendrick Automotive Group acquired the business. He set to work to improve throughput at the store, growing sales by thirty percent and becoming Hendrick’s top-performing, domestic-brand dealership. He comes from an automotive retail family. They own House Chevrolet in Stewartville, Minnesota.
Michael Weinert, general manager/managing playmate, Garber Buick-GMC of Fort Pierce, Fort Pierce, Florida. A one thousand nine hundred ninety nine graduate of Northwood University’s Automotive Aftermarket Management degree track, Weinert left a high-volume Michigan Chevrolet dealership in two thousand fourteen to run a fresh store in Florida for Garber Automotive Group, a company that operates fourteen stores in Michigan, Florida, Fresh York and Illinois. The store has been under construction since Weinert’s arrival and had been losing money when he embarked, selling only twenty to thirty fresh and used vehicles per month. Sales losses have turned around and monthly sales already have almost doubled.
“At Northwood University, we take fine pride in our alumni and their accomplishments because they are part of our family,” says Northwood University President and CEO Keith A. Pretty. “As the school of choice for future automotive industry professionals, we appreciate having been an integral part of these individuals’ journeys to a thriving, distinguished career. Our genuine congratulations go out to Michael, Jason and Michael for this honor and a job well done.”
About Northwood University
Northwood University is committed to the most private attention to prepare students for success in their careers and in their communities; it promotes critical thinking abilities, individual effectiveness, and the importance of ethics, individual freedom and responsibility.
Private, nonprofit, and accredited, Northwood University specializes in managerial and entrepreneurial education at a full-service, residential campus located in mid-Michigan. Adult Degree Programs are available in numerous states and online. The DeVos Graduate School offers accelerated, evening and weekend programming in Michigan and Texas. The Alden B. Dow Center for Creativity and Enterprise provides system-wide expertise in family enterprise, entrepreneurship, creativity and innovation, and fresh business development. International education is suggested through probe abroad and in Program Centers in China (Changchun and Wuxi), Malaysia and Sri Lanka.