JACK SALZMAN

lkn MEN! JACK

SALZMAN

Most successful people understand that passion is a powerful force in accomplishing anything you set your mind to. Jack Salzman, co-owner of Lake Norman Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram/Carolina Custom Wheels Tires & Accessories, is no exception. It is his passion for entrepreneurship that led him and his wife, Robin, to purchase the dealership in 2003; it is his passion for winning that has been the driving force behind his success, and it is his passion for his family and his dogs that has kept him grounded and brought him the most happiness.

Jack grew up in Sarasota, Florida, and it was in the Sunshine State that he started his career in the automotive industry as the sales manager at an Orlando dealership. After achieving quite a bit of success in that role in only a few years, he was hooked. When the Lake Norman dealership became available in Cornelius, Jack and Robin drove up from Florida to take a look. “We fell in love with the area immediately,” Jack recalls.

The couple purchased the dealership, and Robin, who was an awardwinning market manager for CBS Radio, retired so that they could partner in their new endeavor. “We have worked tirelessly together over the past 18 years,” says Jack. Their efforts have paid off, with the

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dealership winning numerous awards along the way, including the 2018 Time Dealer of the Year. Chosen from a field of over 16,500 other franchised auto dealership owners in the nation, Jack and Robin were recognized for their accomplishments both at the dealership and in the Lake Norman community, where they support a number of nonprofit organizations.

When asked about their success, Jack is quick to credit Robin and her leadership. But when pressed, he also humbly acknowledges his passion for winning, stating, “Whether it is in business or in my personal life, I enjoy putting in whatever effort is required to win and be successful.” For Jack, that effort has meant outworking everyone else. “I was never the smartest,” he explains, “so I was able to be successful by working like someone was coming behind me to take it all away. Fear of failing is a huge motivator for me.”

Never was that fear more acute than in 2008 when the great recession wreaked havoc on the auto industry worldwide. “An acquaintance recommended that we find a good bankruptcy attorney because Chrysler was going to go under,” Jack remembers. Since failure was not an option, Jack and Robin turned to what they knew best instead: working harder than anyone else. And not only did they come out the other side big winners, so did their employees, not one of whom was laid off during the economic crisis.

While Jack is proud of how his passion has fueled the dealership’s success over the years, it is his passion for Robin, their three children, their eight grandchildren, and their fur babies that really make his eyes light up: “A perfect day for me is spending it wherever Robin, the kids, and the dogs are. They are what make me smile.” w