Bob Johnson encourages minority business owners at RBBA event By Dave McCleary
Thu, Nov 29, 2007 Robert “Bob” Johnson, former owner and founder of Bob Johnson Chevrolet, was the keynote speaker at the Rochester Black Business Association (RBBA) 2007 Annual Showcase and Luncheon, Monday at the Hyatt Regency hotel.
The event was dubbed “Forging a Critical Link: Understanding our Role in Economic Development,” and drew more than 200 local business and political leaders.
Johnson, now retired and living in Florida, spoke about his experiences as an entrepreneur and encouraged black businesses to work together to help each other succeed.
"It's up to us as business owners, especially if we're successful, to try to help as many others as we can to be successful," he said.
Johnson said he was a beneficiary of affirmative action programs, but built his business through hard work and vision. In 1978, he left a lucrative career as an insurance agent to enter General Motors’ training program for minority dealers.
At the time, he was making $75,000 a year working for Allstate Insurance Co. and, although the two-year training program with General Motors only paid $18,000 per year with no guarantee that he would own a dealership, Johnson said he had always sought an opportunity to be an entrepreneur and be able to “make his own decisions” and be rewarded based on his abilities.
Johnson reminisced how when he opened his first dealership in Buffalo, his financiers limited his income to $30,000 per year. “I had managers who were making more than I did,” he said, adding “they never knew how much I made… I was paying them the going rate in the marketplace and I wanted to be competitive with the other dealers."
Johnson relocated to Rochester in 1985 when he purchased a Chevrolet dealership on Stone Road in Greece and later moved the dealership to its current location on West Ridge Road.
He became one of the most successful and respected business leaders in the area and was very active in the community, serving on numerous boards including the Urban League of Rochester, St. Joseph’s Villa, and the Fair Business Council. He retired in 2002 when he sold the dealership.
Randy Henderson, owner of Henderson Automotive, told how Bob Johnson mentored him as a young entrepreneur. “He never looked at me as competition but took me under his wings and helped me in any way he could”.
During his speech, Johnson said he was glad to be back in Rochester and joked that he was ‘cold’ and would be leaving later in the evening but would be back over the summer for two weeks. Attendees laughed as someone in the audience shouted “that’s as long as our summer lasts.”
RBBA president, Timothy McCauley, said he was pleased with the progress of the association but wants to do more to support minority businesses. “My vision is to see minority businesses become a catalyst in making things better today,” he said.
McCauley, owner of Hope Advertising, began a two-year term as president of the association in January and says minority businesses don’t have to try to reinvent things but must build upon small successes. “We are all connected,” he said. “The association is not about separation, we are about bringing people together for the common goal of building and enhancing our community.”
During the event, McCauley announced a new partnership between the RBBA and the Rochester Business Alliance (RBA). Starting in January, all RBBA members will get a free six month membership in the RBA.
McCauley also presented the “Beacon Award” to Randy Henderson for his leadership and contribution to the community.
The association holds monthly “meet and greet” events at various locations around the area. McCauley says they are striving to build relationships with other organizations and are collaborating with organizations like the Rochester Black Bar Association and the Rochester Black Journalist Association.
“I’m inviting all minority business owners to join our efforts. Together we can make a difference,” he said.
|
