I recently had the privilege of interviewing Rita Case. Not only is she the president and CEO of Rick Case Automotive Group, and one of the founders of the Ft. Lauderdale International Auto Show, she was very recently named the 2024 TIME Dealer of the Year!
When I asked her about winning the award, her face lit up.
“For 45 years I’ve gone to NADA … and I’ve always seen the portraits lined of all the nominees that were going up for the national award. And I used to say, ‘One day, my portrait’s going to be on there.’ And here it is 45 years later, and Florida nominated me and I just was so happy to bring home the gold to Florida!”
In our interview, she details her incredible history in automotive starting when she was a little girl working at her dad’s Honda dealership — the very first one in the United States — to her “automotive love story” with her late husband Rick Case to today as the president of her own automotive group.
And the many stops in between are amazing! The industry firsts she’s been a part of will blow your mind. Hyundai, Isuzu, Acura and more.
“We didn’t buy dealerships; we pioneered new brands,” she said.
She also highlights the many philanthropic efforts she, Rick and the company have proudly been involved in over the years, and provides down-to-earth advice for women thinking about entering the industry.
And she and Rick wrote a book, which she will send free to dealers — just email her.
Her story is incredible and inspiring. I hope you’ll watch. Just click HERE.
And after you do, I hope you’ll be inspired to consider the women at your dealership, or at one of the vendor companies you work with, as one of our 2024 Women at the Wheel honorees. The nomination process is simple. Just go to www.autosuccessonline.com/women-at-the-wheel.
