Executives from the Grappone auto group spoke to a small group of Plymouth State University Students on Tues., Oct. 14. The event was part of the ongoing “Live, Work and Innovate in N.H.,” series.
The “Live, Work and Innovate,” series strives to enlighten PSU students to lucrative job opportunities in N.H. “[Live, Work and Innovate] connects students with businesses across the state,” Peter Laufenberg, PSU’s Business Liaison Officer said while introducing the speakers for the event.
The Grappone family has owned Grappone, a business based out of Concord, since 1924. The company is currently in the hands of the fourth generation. The Grappone companies operate Toyota, Honda, Ford, Hyundai, Mazda and Scion dealerships. They also operate a collision center.
The company started in 1924 as a gas station, “Eighty years later, we are one of N.H.’s largest family owned businesses,” Larry K Haynes, The President and C.E.O of the Grappone Companies said. It is rare for businesses to remain in one family’s possession for four generations, “This makes us rare in both N.H. and the U.S.,” Haynes said.
Haynes is PSU alum, he also serves on the Board of Trustees for PSU, “All of you have one thing in common-you made a great business decision by coming to PSU,” Haynes said in his opening remarks to the crowd.
Haynes stressed the point that when it comes to careers in the business world, life plans do not always work out, ” When I left PSU I had no idea I would end up in the automotive industry,” he said.
Currently, N.H. auto retail industry is doing well despite the economic downturn, “Our sales are up double digits,” Haynes said. Between thirteen and seventeen million autos are sold in the U.S. every year. This adds up to a 693 billion dollar a year business in the U.S. alone.
N.H. currently contributes about four billion dollars per year to the auto retail industry in the U.S. annually, ” A lot of money goes in-a lot of money goes out,” Haynes said. He cautioned that the auto industry is, “A volume businesses,” with only about a one percent return on individual car sales. This means that car dealerships have to sell a large quantity of vehicles in order to see a profit.
Haynes went into the more specific mechanics of the auto retail industry, “Feb. through Oct. are generally the peak season for car sales,” Haynes said. He added that in the auto industry business partnerships are made with some of the largest industries in the world, but the business is not completely global, “We are strong believers that the community made our business successful,” Haynes said.
Lynda Krieger, Accountant and IT manager for the Grappone Companies offered advice to college students who may face the working world in the near future, “Sometimes the best way to get a job is with your mouth,” Krieger said. Too often, applicants just send resumes via email, but never make actual face-to-face contact, “Word of mouth is more impressive than electronic resumes,” Krieger said.
The “Live, Work and Innovate in N.H.” program will continue to bring N.H. based companies within reach of PSU students during the course of this year. For more information on upcoming events, check the my Plymouth portal.