How do you pronounce your last name?
OH-lee-ash. My husband’s family is Polish.
According to LinkedIn, you have a couple of degrees: a bachelor’s degree from Virginia Commonwealth University and an MBA from West Virginia University. Tell us about your education. What’s the most valuable lesson you learned?
I really enjoyed my time at VCU; going to school away from home allowed me the opportunity to grow outside my comfort zone. Playing basketball while going to school taught me time management. I would say that is the most valuable thing that I learned and have used throughout my entire life. After graduating from Virginia Commonwealth, I took a year off from school to work for my father, Bob Robinson, in the dealership. I took the long way around and eventually found my way to West Virginia University, where I earned my MBA.
I went to NADA Dealer Candidate Academy. This teaches you about every department in the dealership. It is specific to your dealership, and you work in every department in your store while attending the academy. This was instrumental in preparing me for my current role.
You played basketball! How have sports helped you as a dealer?
Everything is a competition, right? The dealership just provides a different way to compete. That’s kind of what we do in our stores. We find a way to compete in a friendly way at every level, the same way we do on the basketball court. It helps us improve and get better every day.
Did you always aspire to be in the auto dealer industry? What has your career path been?
Our parents encouraged my brother and me to be attorneys, we both got our graduate degrees at WVU, and we both have our MBAs. The two of us are third-generation automobile dealers. Although, I did marry an attorney (she said with a little laugh).
Before becoming automobile dealers, the Robinson family were coal miners. My grandfather, Bill Robinson, bought Robinson Motors in Ritchie County, West Virginia. In 1963, he moved his family to Wheeling, WV, where he purchased an Oldsmobile Cadillac dealership and later acquired a Subaru store. In 1978, he gave up Subaru for Toyota.
In 1975 my father bought the Chevy store in New Martinsville, WV, and later added Chrysler, Plymouth and Dodge to his franchises. We lived in Wetzel County for 13 years. My dad actually retired for a short time. Then, in 1988. it was time to head home. We moved back to Wheeling, where my dad purchased my grandfather’s Cadillac, Oldsmobile and Toyota dealership. At this time, my brother Jim was a WVU Mountaineer and had expressed interest in the business. I was a sophomore in high school and had just begun my amazing journey as a Wheeling Central Maroon Knight.
We have three stores that comprise Robinson Auto Group: Bob Robinson Chevrolet, Buick, GMC, Cadillac; Jim Robinson Ford Lincoln; and Jim Robinson Toyota.
- My dad works every day. His famous quote is, “He works half-a-day, 8 to 8.”
- I am a Chevrolet Buick GMC Cadillac dealer.
- My brother Jim has the Toyota and Ford Lincoln store.
There have been some others along the way, but that’s what we have currently. It’s been a fun ride.
Who have your mentors been, and what did they teach you?
My dad and my brother are my primary mentors. Also, there’s a dealer out of Parkersburg, Dan Wharton, Sr., who recently passed away. He was instrumental in growing me in the WVADA.
My father taught me everything I know. My father, my mother and my brother Jim have really inspired me to be the best I can be throughout my whole life. We have several statements we focus on during challenging times in our business and our lives:
- You can do anything for six months.
- Don’t let them beat you.
- Tell me what I CAN do.
My family and close friendships have taught me that it is very important to surround yourself with positive people. Don’t let the naysayers drag you down.
Our culture is a very strong team atmosphere, and we treat our businesses much the same way as we treat sports.
What is the work culture like at your dealership? Which principles are most important to creating a great work environment?
Our culture is a team atmosphere, and we treat our businesses much the same way as we treat sports. We build relationships and have friendly competitions. We believe you win and lose as a team. Our team members have been with us for a very long time. We know them, we know their families and vice versa. We’ve watched each other’s children, and now grandchildren grow up.
Great people work with us, and their excellence is absolutely the key to the success of Robinson Auto Group. I feel fortunate to work with such phenomenal people.
Do you have plans to expand?
We always look. We might expand if the right opportunity arises.
What have you done as a dealer to improve diversity?
I’m a woman in the car business, right? I am a dealer, and I hope that my example encourages other women to follow a similar path because my existence demonstrates a possible route for them.
My family and our business keeps our focus on doing the right thing. We just hire the right person for the job. That’s how we’ve always done it, and that’s how it ought to be. It’s part of who the Robinsons are. Nothing about that changed or will ever change.
What do you think other dealers could do to improve employee diversity?
Do the right thing, hire the right person for the job, and provide opportunities for all people in your communities.
What are your goals as the incoming chair?
We had our annual convention June 13-16, 2021. We discussed a host of topics we would like to get accomplished during my tenure. I believe we will narrow it down in the coming weeks and have a more finite plan.
These are challenging times. Post pandemic, there is going to be a lot of work for the association. One question is, how are we going to work with the manufacturers to get cars? The microprocessor chip shortage is a real issue because you need the chips to build new vehicles. Manufacturers stopped making the chips when COVID-19 shut down the country, including car manufacturers, and then General Motors Corp. started producing ventilators. Car manufacturers are currently getting their microprocessor chips from China, which leaves them at China’s mercy.
How will your past experiences help you?
I was the association’s chair in 2015 and 2016. I left the room after that, but they let me back in again, and I think I can draw from some of those previous experiences.
I have good relationships with the other leaders in our association, and our dealer body is phenomenal. Jared Wyrick, the association president, is tremendous. Chris Miller, T.R. Hathaway, Mike and Tim Matheny, Bill Cole, Paul Astorg, Richard Stephens, J.R. Toothman, Bob Moses, and Wally Thornhill are just a few who are always ready to jump in for anything and everything. Wherever I lack, those guys always pick me up.
How did your dealership do during and after the pandemic closedown in March 2020? What lessons did you learn, and how did the many product shortages affect your business?
We were very fortunate. We are thankful to Gov. Justice because he deemed dealerships as essential in West Virginia. We remained open throughout the entire pandemic.
As a dealer body across the state, we discovered where we had some overlaps in our stores, and we were able to streamline processes in our dealerships. The pandemic made businesses pivot very quickly, and it was a new way to work. As a dealer body, we proved up to the task. It was quite impressive, really.
The effects of the pandemic will linger for months to come. The product and personnel shortages are the main issues at this point.
We will sell what we have to sell. We love to sell vehicles, and we are very excited about electric ones. Car dealers are always enthusiastic about the new, latest and greatest things that come along. Always.
How does your dealership serve the community?
Just to name a few, we support almost everybody who asks, even some who don’t. Some we sponsor are:
- YMCA
- WV Elite
- Wheeling Symphony
- Youth baseball
- High School Basketball, coach and travel
- WV Economic Development Board
- Driving for a Cure
- Raise your Game
- Drug-free programs
- Every local school program
- The Miracle League
- West Virginia University
We don’t put our names on the industries we support; we do it because it is the right thing to do and not to get credit. I think more than the monetary donations, just as valuable is the donation of our time to all the activities we sponsor. We are passionate about so many things in our communities and our state. We think it is so important to invest in the Ohio Valley and give back to the great state of West Virginia.
What are the significant issues facing West Virginia dealers in the next 10-15 years?
Direct to consumer sales is a big issue. There is always a threat to franchise dealers. West Virginia has a franchise law in place that needs to be upheld. Electric vehicles are coming, and it is our job to sell them. The infrastructure will have to catch up. We will sell what we have to sell. We love to sell vehicles, and we are very excited about electric ones. Car dealers are always enthusiastic about the new, latest and greatest things that come along. Always.
Electric vehicles are not supposed to need as much service. That is what everybody is reading, and that is what is being said. But we’ve had people bring in their Volts, and we’ve had some service work to do for them. However, service doesn’t concern me yet. I’ll reserve comments about service on EVs until I see how it works out.
What are your personal interests? What do you do for fun?
I love to spend time with our family; that’s my joy. I like to go boating, my children like to surf behind the boat, and we spend time on the lake. Anytime I can be with my family and extended family, that is where I choose to be. I love to watch our children play basketball. My parents live just around the corner, and my mom and I are very close. We talk at least three times a day. My brother’s family and my family try to have dinner at my parents’ house at least once a week. We love our Mountaineers, WVU football, and most importantly, WVU basketball games are a huge part of our lives. Our children have been going since they were in car carriers.
Tell us about your family.
My husband, Michael, is a judge in the First Circuit Court of West Virginia. We met at a WVU football game when he was in law school. We have been married for 18 years last month. We have two children: Reagan, our daughter, is 16 and a junior in high school. She is an amazing student and a great athlete. I am fortunate enough that I get to coach her at my alma mater. Max, our son, just turned 14. He is in eighth grade at St. Michaels Parish School, where he plays football, basketball and golf. I get help coach his middle school basketball team and his travel team. As you can see, sports are a big part of our lives.
Is there anything else you would like to talk about?
Our dealer body in West Virginia is a phenomenal group of individuals. I consider myself lucky to spend time with them when I do, and Jared Wyrick, the association president, does a wonderful job. They all make my job very easy.
