2004 – Rochester, Michigan
Gail Duncan is President of Jerome-Duncan Ford in Sterling Heights, Michigan, a business of 48 years with over 300 employees. “After earning my bachelor’s degree, I intended to work at my father’s Ford dealership only until a position in social work opened up. It didn’t take long for me to realize that I had fallen in love with the automobile business and decided to make it my life’s career”. Initially Parts and Service Director, Gail became Vice President of Operations in 1985 and in 1991 was appointed President. She oversees the day-to-day operations of the dealership and its related businesses and is responsible for developing new strategies to take her companies successfully into the 21st century. Gail is a woman committed to her company, to her employees, and to the public she serves. She believes relationships are at the heart of her mission. “Relationships must be nurtured at every level. There must be solid trusting relationships among those of us at our corporation and mutual respect for our associates. We must continually build relationships with our customers and make them feel so good about the treatment they receive that they call on us for all of their automotive needs”. She lives in Rochester with her husband, Shashi Tej Paul, and her two daughters, Kristin, 17 and Whitney, 14. While she enjoys traveling, reading, attending cultural events and golfing, the vast majority of her personal time is spent with her girls. “I certainly find my career rewarding, but even more so is time spent with my daughters. I am very fortunate to have found a great balance in my life”. Gail has a Bachelor’s Degree in Child Development from Central Michigan University and a Master’s Degree in Guidance and Counseling from Oakland University.
