Findlay family dynasty celebrates 50th anniversary

When Pete and Mary Jo Findlay decided to leave their home in the Nevada farming community of Panaca and move to Las Vegas to open a car dealership in 1961, they undoubtedly had no idea of the path they were about to blaze.

With three children in tow that included sons, Cliff and Ed, and daughter, Karen, the family stormed into the small community of Las Vegas when the population at the time was only about 75,000 residents.

Now, more than 50 years later, Findlay Automotive Group has grown into one of the largest privately owned companies in Nevada, in spite of the worst recession in the state's history.

Pete Findlay opened his first dealership, Pete's Used Cars, at 1600 E. Fremont St. The family became a major dealer in the Las Vegas Valley when it was awarded the Oldsmobile franchise on May 21, 1961. In 1963 the dealership relocated to 3024 E. Fremont St., which now houses Findlay Auto Body.

To date the company has 23 dealerships in Arizona, Nevada, Utah and Idaho, representing 17 vehicle franchises.

A new dealership, Findlay Volkswagen North at 7500 W. Azure Drive, will open later this summer in the northwest next to Findlay Honda. Additional dealerships are also being planned.

At least one of the kids -- current Findlay CEO Cliff Findlay -- didn't want to move from Panaca, where he was already an athletic star in various sports at the age of 12.

"I really didn't want to leave," Findlay said. "It was hard for me to leave my friends in Panaca, which had only about 300 people at the time."

Today, Findlay and his three sons -- Justin, Robby and Nathan -- are entrenched in the family business.

"We are all very blessed to have what we have," Findlay said. "My parents took a big chance more than 50 years ago, and we all just want to carry on the legacy they created."

Justin Findlay, operations director for Findlay Chevrolet, Findlay Volkswagen and Audi Henderson, added, "I am so grateful for the courage that my grandparents showed when moving to Las Vegas. Their ambition to create something that would outlive themselves is awesome, but the truly unique thing is watching their plan materialize exactly as they dreamed. I wish that Grandpa Pete (who passed away in 2005) could see what the Findlay Auto Group has blossomed into under my dad's leadership. I can imagine the smile that would be on his face and the sense of pride that he would hold in his heart."

Nathan Findlay now serves as general manager of Findlay Lincoln, while Robby Findlay serves in the same capacity at Findlay's three dealerships in Flagstaff, Ariz.

What the Findlay group has grown into is a company with more than 1,100 employees generating nearly 22,000 car sales in 2010, according to figures supplied by Chief Financial Officer Tyler Corder. Corder, a 17-year employee of the group, said that the family aspect has played a big part in the overall success.

"We are really tied into the community," Corder said. "Being so entrenched in Southern Nevada has definitely helped the business prosper during the good times and also during the recent economic downturn."

Corder pointed out that the company has several employees who have remained with the company for more than 20 years.

"We definitely have great longevity," he said. "Our upper management employees, like our general managers, have all been with us for many years and in fact, we simply don't have any turnover in those positions."

Charlie Davis, who has worked for the Findlay family for many years, has fond memories of his employment with the company, especially considering that he helped move the family to Las Vegas.

"I was only 23 years old when I started working for Pete," he said. "They needed someone to detail new cars, and I walked all the way to the dealership from the unemployment office in downtown Las Vegas for the job. I think I made $95 a week. It seems like yesterday when I started. One thing is for sure. I'm not going to try for another 50."

Gary Ackerman of Gaudin Automotive Group in Las Vegas has an interesting tie with the Findlay family, since he and Cliff Findlay grew up together and are now competitors.

Ackerman said his dad, Don, and Pete Findlay were among the first family-owned car dealers in Las Vegas back in the 1950s.

"I think Cliff and I share a bond, as we both grew up in tight-knit families that both happened to be in the car business," Ackerman said. "Our parents were great couples that were very focused on their families and their communities. Both dads worked very hard and put in lots of hours. We had great role models.

"We also had the great luck to stay in this wonderful city all of our business lives. It would be hard for me to put a value on that one fact. To this day, we work together when we see the need to further our industry and our community. Make no mistake, we love to compete with each other, but when the chips are down, we always find a way to put that aside and work together.

"It is one of the very longest relationships. I have both professionally and personally valued it very much."

Will Findlay Automotive be around for another 50 years?

"That's the plan" Corder said. "We've built a really solid foundation for continued success. We expect to be serving Southern Nevada for a long time."