Jenell R. Ross - Keeper of the Legacy

Created on Thursday, 09 February 2012 21:14

Keeper of the Legacy

Jenell R. Ross

President

The Bob Ross Auto Group (Buick, GMC, Mercedes-Benz, Fiat)

“I want to continue to provide our customers and employees with the best type of environment, either to do business with us, or to work with us in our business.”

­–Jenell R. Ross

By Donald James

For Jenell R. Ross, president of the Bob Ross Auto Group in Centerville, Ohio, going to work every day is more than just a job; it’s the continuation of an incredible legacy. The legacy, which began with her father, Robert (Bob) P. Ross, Sr. and mother, Norma J. Ross, has positioned Jenell to oversee all operational departments and functions for four automobile franchises: Buick, GMC, Mercedes-Benz, and now Fiat. Jenell is the only African-American woman in the world to own a Mercedes-Benz dealership, and is believed to be the first African-American woman in the United States to own a new Fiat Studio (dealership). In addition, she heads one of only two African-American women owned Buick-GMC dealerships in the United States.

While many would be overwhelmed with such responsibilities, for Jenell, the lessons of success in automotive sales were taught well. Her father started Bob Ross Buick, Opal, and International Harvester in 1974, thus becoming the first African American to own an International Harvester dealership. In 1979, he opened a Mercedes-Benz dealership, and in the process became the first African American to own a Mercedes-Benz dealership. In 1982, he opened a GMC dealership, which was another historic venture for an African American.

Soon after her father’s death in 1997, Jenell, brother Robert, Jr., along with their mother, Norma, partnered as the dealerships’ executive management team. Norma J. Ross passed in 2010, leaving many well-documented accomplishments, not only in the family-owned automobile business, but also as a champion of education and a humanitarian in community/civic affairs throughout the greater Dayton area, and the nation.

Under Jenell’s executive leadership, the Bob Ross Auto Group continues to soar. The Buick franchise has been a perennial number one dealership in Ohio for retail sales for nine of the last 12 years, and has been a top-20 dealership nationwide. The GMC dealership continues its long-time ranking as a top-20 leader in sales for the North Central region. The Mercedes-Benz dealership, whose facility recently underwent a total renovation, continues to be a sales leader in the Central region. The Fiat Studio officially opened in December 2011. “The resiliency of standing here today, I attribute to my parents in terms of what they sacrificed and the obstacles that they had to overcome in being African-American pioneers in the automobile industry,” says Jenell, who holds a bachelor’s degree in sociology from Emory University, and has completed the National Automobile Dealer Association Dealer Candidate Academy. “I don’t take that lightly. So I want to continue to build on their foundation, and maintain and grow our dealerships.”

In addition to her role as president, Jenell serves on numerous boards, foundations and community-service organizations. She is a board member for the Dayton Convention and Visitors Bureau, the Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland-Dayton, Central State University Foundation, the Minority Business Partnership via the Dayton Chamber of Commerce. In 2013, Jenell will serve as chairwoman for the American International Automobile Dealers Association. “I’m honored that I have the opportunity to work with our leaders in Congress and represent all international name plate automobile dealers,” says Jenell, who will be the first African American to hold the position. “Ensuring that we advance opportunities necessary for all international name plate manufacturers to sustain and grow successfully in the United States is my goal.”