WVADA recently sat down with Incoming Chair Charles Rashid to get to know him a little bit better.
Charles Rashid currently has two dealerships, Charleston Mitsubishi and Clarksburg Mitsubishi. He is the dealer principal at Charleston, and his preferred job title is “entrepreneur.”
Charles was born and grew up in Charleston, West Virginia. He earned a B.S. in marketing from West Virginia University but has said he still attends the school of hard knocks. He loves reading books and learning new things. The following is a recap of our conversation:
How did you get into the auto dealer industry?
I had always dreamed of being in the car business, and in 2007 I could finally pull it off financially — I purchased Logan Chrysler Jeep Dodge Suzuki.
Are you a first-generation dealer?
Yes.
Who have your main mentors been?
My father, Richard, and my Uncle LeRoy have been the two most influential people in my business and personal life.
What are the three most important lessons you’ve learned?
- Work hard and never ask someone to do something you aren’t willing to do.
- Keep your head up no matter how bad it gets, and NEVER give up!
- If you give someone your word, keep it.
What is your most important business success so far?
I’ve been blessed with many businesses, but my most important success has been surviving the 2009 financial crisis and still being able to be in the car business after losing two dealerships to manufacturer bankruptcies.
How did you become involved in WVADA?
When I get into a new business, I like to learn everything there is to know about it, from attending meetings to working in every dealership department. Being on the board of WVADA is just a natural extension of knowing what’s going on in our industry, being tuned in and adding input when necessary.
How long have you been involved?
It has been 15 years.
What do you want dealers to know about you?
I love our state and creating business and opportunities from nothing. I enjoy teaching and helping others succeed.
What are your plans as the incoming chair?
I’d like to make a meaningful impact on the future of our industry.
What do you think about the current direction of the industry?
I believe we are in a time where we have the opportunity to reimagine the direction we are going and how it will look in the future.
What are the most important trends, and how will they affect dealers?
I am concerned about the direct-to-consumer model because I don’t see how it will benefit our communities and customers. It all sounds great now, but I see some major pitfalls ahead.
Please tell us about your family?
My wife, Stacy, and I have been married for 21 years. We have two daughters. Sofia is a junior at the University of Kentucky, and Charlie is a high school sophomore. Both daughters are accomplished equestrians.
We are a very close Lebanese family, and we treat our extended family as our nuclear family.
What advice do you want the people who read this article to remember when they are done?
If you want to fulfill your dreams, never give up. The road will be hard, but the effort is worth it in the end.
