How Findlay Automotive Group Drives Positive Change in Las Vegas — And Beyond
For local Las Vegas business Findlay Automotive Group, giving back is just another part of its daily routine like selling and servicing cars.
In 2023 alone, the family-owned business donated more than $2.1 million to local charities and nonprofits. According to Chief Financial Officer Tyler Corder, this dedication to enriching the community is woven into the DNA of Findlay Automotive Group.
“At Findlay, we feel it’s our duty to give back to the communities that have made us successful,” Corder said.
A legacy of giving back to the community
Findlay Automotive can trace its history back to humble origins. In 1961, founder Pete Findlay started the business with a single dealership in Las Vegas — Pete Findlay Oldsmobile.
In the years since, the company has grown to boast 35 locations across Nevada, Washington, Idaho, Utah, and Arizona. It employs about 2,600 people across its company. The rapid expansion of the business first kicked off in the 1990s.
Despite the exceptional growth, the core values on which the company was founded remain. According to company leadership, community is the foundation of the business — and enriching the community is something that comes second-nature to Findlay Automotive Group.
“We’re all about community,” Corder said. “It’s something we really believe in. I just took it from what Pete started back in the 60’s. I have pictures of him with all different kinds of charities. As we’ve grown we’ve multiplied that effort and done our best to give back as much as we can.”
Importantly, Findlay places great emphasis on supporting the communities that support it. From its hometown of Las Vegas to its locations in Spokane, Washington — the company supports dozens of nonprofits. Members of its executive team also serve on the boards of more than a dozen charitable organizations.
How Findlay Automotive Group gives back
Findlay Automotive Group has become well-known for its charitable contributions to a number of nonprofit organizations, especially in the Las Vegas Metropolitan area.
One example is the company’s support of Spread the Word Nevada, which works to improve childhood literacy by placing books in the hands and homes of children throughout the state. Since it was founded in 2001, the nonprofit has distributed 7.2 million books to around 1.1 million students. It currently gives 70,000 books a month to Nevada students.
This year, Findlay made a $100,000 donation to Spread the Word Nevada — but its support doesn’t end at the monetary level. Chad Leavitt, Chief Accounting Officer at Findlay Automotive, also serves on the board of Spread the Word Nevada.
“As a parent you want your kids to be successful and independent. That starts with reading. The ability to read and comprehend makes everything else possible. I’ve been afforded a lot of opportunities in my life and so have my children,” he said. “I really want that for all the kids in our community.”
Some of the other organizations that it has supported range from arts nonprofits to groups ensuring that children get critical medical treatment. The list includes The Boys & Girls Club, The Public Education Foundation, Miracle Flights, Signs of Hope, and A Public Fit Theater, among many others.
Community-centered, from the ground up
The company’s community focus goes beyond boards of directors or financial contributions. Findlay also hosts events where employees volunteer during work hours at local charities like Three-Square, Junior Achievement, Spread the Word and others.
Findlay Automotive Group prioritizes the growth and well-being of its staff members. Over the years, it has made an effort to create a caring and supportive workplace for employees, many of whom have stayed with the company for their entire careers.
“We’ve been able to advance an awful lot of people in their careers. We make every effort to promote from within,” said Corder. “Nearly all dealership general managers held multiple positions with us before taking on that role. We create opportunities from within where people are able to provide for their families and in return, they’ve brought up people that they’ve mentored.”
Additionally, the company also encourages employees to get involved with their local communities, especially to organizations that are especially meaningful to them.
For example, Findlay Lexus of Spokane General Manager Bob Mclean was the former director of Ronald McDonald House Charities. After leaving his post for Findlay, he asked whether he could continue supporting the nonprofit — a question to which Findlay leadership responded with a resounding “yes.”
Findlay Automotive Group is driving change across the West
When you think of dealerships, you probably picture rows of gleaming vehicles and test driving new cars. However, Findlay Automotive Group is proof that the best kind of business is the one that gives back.
Finding business success is one thing, but marrying that success with supporting the community is the ideal. And Findlay Automotive Group is a perfect example of the latter.
For more information, visit the Findlay Automotive Group website.