3 minute read
LEADERS OF COBB
Since its establishment more than 180 years ago, Cobb County has been defined by its people. Some of these individuals have made their mark by becoming pioneers of business, captains of industry and heads of state.
And if you’re reading this, you likely know why Cobb is attractive to so many. It hosts exceptional schools, is within close reach to the world’s busiest airport, has all of the convenience of proximity to the big city and is fertile ground for entrepreneurship. The list goes on, but it always comes back to the people who have built this county into what it is.
On the following page we have profiled an individual who is among Cobb’s premier leaders. We wanted to find out about his job, delve into his personal life, and gain some words of wisdom. And of course, we asked: Why have you picked Cobb County?
THE STORY: My childhood growing up in Florida was rough. We struggled financially, moved frequently, and experienced a lot of instability. I did know at a young age that I wanted to be a Marine and serve our country. Instead of enlisting in the service, I found myself with legal issues at the young age of 17. I dropped out of high school and started working in construction; my high school football coach was not okay with this decision. He found me on a job site and encouraged me to return to school. He made arrangements for me to take night classes and ultimately, I graduated on time.
This was the first step in turning my life around. I overcame my background and previous mistakes, moved to Atlanta in 1992 and started my career in construction. Shortly after, I met my soulmate and life partner, Dana, and we were married in 1993. This is when everything changed as I embarked on my journey in the automotive business, first working in sales for the Ed Voyles Automotive Group (where I’m still employed as a General Manager) and then as business owner. I started Open Roads Complete RV in 2014. WHY I CHOSE TO LIVE IN COBB: I met the love of my life, Dana, in Cobb County in 1992. We fell in love with the Cobb County community and decided it was the perfect place to start our lives together and raise our family.
WHAT DO YOU LOVE MOST ABOUT YOUR
JOB? I believe I have a servant’s heart when it comes to helping people in any way possible. I truly believe that my success in business and my personal life comes from the true desire to help others. I have always lead by example and have taught my management team to do the same. To be a leader, I analyze how things can be improved and push my managers and employees toward a better vision. I work to make their vision a reality while putting people first. Being a motivator isn’t always enough; leaders must be able to find common ground to truly be successful. I believe that empathy, humility, and diversity are the keys to strong leadership. LEISURE TIME: I love spending time with my wife, son, daughter, son-in-law, six grandsons and granddaughter on my farm in Waleska, Georgia. I am blessed when it comes to family; everything that I do is for them. BEST ADVICE: For me, I put God first, followed by family and supporting our community. I am involved with many boards/ chambers, including Fellowship of Christian Athletes, Operation Appreciation, Kennesaw State University, Chattahoochee Technical College, and First Baptist Church of Woodstock. WHAT’S NEXT? In February 2020, I partnered with the Voyles family (first partnership outside of their family) in acquiring Voyles Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram in Birmingham, Alabama, as well as opening our first restaurant (September 2020), Siete Tacos & Tequila. I am looking for continued growth in the automotive and RV industries in 2021, with acquiring more dealerships, while continuing to be a leader in serving our community.
