President & CEO Phil Smith Management, Incorporated (Deceased) – Lighthouse Point, Florida
For the past three decades, Smith has been recognized as a community leader and a top entrepreneur in the automotive industry. He operates ten automobile dealerships with 24 franchises throughout the Southeastern United States, earning him consistent Automotive News Top 125 Dealership rankings. Smith’s passion for the automotive industry began in the late 1960’s while working at an automotive dealership as a finance and accounting major at Florida Atlantic University. This experience led to the purchase of his first Toyota dealership in Homestead, Florida in 1980, with subsequent franchise acquisitions including Toyota, Acura, Ford, Lincoln Mercury, Mitsubishi, Kia, Chevrolet, Scion, Nissan and Hyundai. Smith has received a variety of automotive industry awards including the J.D. Powers Quality Dealer Award, the Toyota President’s Award, the Toyota Leadership Board, the Mitsubishi Diamond Quality Dealer Award, the Toyota Customer Service Advisory Award and the Ford Chairman’s Award. Exercising his business management expertise, Smith purchased the Coral Ridge Country Club in 2004. He became dedicated to preserving the golf course that Robert Trent Jones called home, while also revitalizing the Club’s services. As a result of his efforts, Coral Ridge Country Club has become South Florida’s premier club, was honored with The Florida Golf Course Owners Association’s 2009 Florida Golf Course of the Year award. Smith is a passionate community advocate. He and his wife Susan enjoy giving back to the community through volunteer work with the American Cancer Society, Broward College, Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, Florida Atlantic University, Humane Society of Broward County and Make a Wish Foundation.
