Rita Case has been working as a Chief Executive Officer at Rick Case Automotive Group for 18 years. At age 29, he owned and operated a multimillion-dollar chain of motorcycle stores and later became the worlds largest-volume Honda, Kawasaki, Yamaha, Suzuki, Vespa motorcycle dealer throughout the 1970s. We just hung out and did what we could to make him comfortable. A celebration of life event will be scheduled. In 1962, Rick Case established his first auto dealership in his hometown of Akron, Ohio. But when he spoke to BSO deputies three weeks later, he made a choice. These include sitting on the board for 35 years of The Boys & Girls Clubs of Broward County, 20 years on the board at Nova Southeastern University and 15 years on the board of the Broward Workshop. He was truly so optimistic. Rita Case, widow of South Florida auto sales magnate Rick Case, will assume the role of CEO of Rick Case Automotive Group, the company announced Wednesday. Case, the founder and CEO of The Rick Case Automotive Group, got his start in selling cars at a young age. Rick was not just a great competitor but more importantly a good friend, said Marc Cannon, executive vice president of Fort Lauderdale-based AutoNation. They married in 1980 and made South Florida their home in 1985. Rick Case and his wife, Rita are shown Thursday, May 17, 2001 outside the Jim & Jan Moran Boys & Girls Clubs in deerfield Beach, FL. Within the numerous awards received, The Rick Case Automotive Group received the highly prestigious Honda President's Award Elite in 2017 which recognized their ability to not only sell volume but also to uphold top standards of customer service. The Rick Case Bikes for Kids program is in its 28th year. Automotive Pioneer Community Philanthropist - Rick Case In 1962, Rick Case established his first auto dealership in his hometown of Akron, Ohio. Records show Paul C. Jankowski Jr. and Lisa M.Jankowski purchased the five-bedroom, 6,050-square-foot home at 949 Hillsboro Mile. His desire to win and be "the biggest at everything.". Being recognized for awards and success in business is a consistent benchmark for. It's a numbers game, a shot-in-the-dark statistical fight against the small chance of terrorism. Rick Case Automotive Group is part of the Automobile Dealers industry, and located in Florida, United States. local Journalism in South Florida. Lines and paragraphs break automatically. Customers who walk into a Rick Case dealership are greeted by a manager and get both the managers card and the dealership owners card, including cell and home phone numbers. Additionally, their Rick Case rewards program earns customers rewards points with every purchase that they can use to save hundreds even thousands of dollars on future purchases of vehicles, service, parts and accessories. Its just about me and my wife trying to give back to a community thats been good to us, Case says. Everyone knows our brand, says Rita Case. ft.; Volkswagen is eight stories high and 328,000 sq. 'The community just lost a pillar.' Auto magnate Rick Case dies at 77 When the couple moved to Ft. Lauderdale, Florida in 1985, they opened the first. The Smiths 02PN20 metal detector shows a visual readout each time a passenger walks through, indicating how much metal he's carrying. Retail Market Good If Not Great, Cox Analyst Says, Busy Days in Hyundai and Kia Dealers Service Bays, Auto Tech Startup Funding Surviving Financial Downturns, 2023 Informa USA, Inc., All rights reserved, Volvo Cars Rides BEVs to Robust First-Quarter 2023 Results, Dodge Retakes Top Spot Among Most-Seen Auto TV Ads, 5 Sales Strategies to Succeed During Lean Inventory Times, Autoline Daily 2023: Top Industry News for April 27, Continental Partners With Aurora to Develop Self-Driving Truck Tech, More Juice? The Rick Case Automotive Group has been serving South Florida since 1985. Even before Honda produced its first car for the American public, Case had a hunch it would be a winner. in Sunrise, Florida. Somebody had taken something important to him, and even though it had been returned to him, he wasn't letting the issue go. Ron Hurtibise is a reporter for the South Florida Sun Sentinel. Allstate: The ABCs of maximum F&I effectiveness, Ally All Ears Podcast Episode | The next evolution in virtual F&I, Ally All Ears Podcast | How F&I is driving dealership profits, Ally All Ears Podcast | building customer loyalty during challenging times, Ally All Ears Podcast | reducing friction in the purchase process, Ally: All Ears Podcast | Building trust to attract and retain customers, Ally: All Ears Podcast | Staying competitive with vehicle acquisition, Ally: All Ears Podcast | practices you may incorporate into your F&I department, Ally: All Ears Podcast: Building a culture of inclusion at your dealership. Its been tough. All the dealerships are located in West Broward County along I-75 in Davie, Florida. Case sits on the board of the Boys & Girls Clubs and each year comes up with the fund-raising events, overseeing every aspect from entertainment to guest list. Some people carrying no metal at all are also selected for extra screening by the machine, at seemingly random times. Rick Case, CEO of Rick Case Automotive Group, died Sept. 21 from cancer. He opened some of the first U.S. dealerships for brands such as Toyota, Honda, Acura, Hyundai and Kia. These giant dealerships stand out as you drive along I-75 in West Broward County. His legacy is that he has made a difference," said Organ. Hodor declined to comment. is not only the largest dealer in Florida for 25 years in a row, but also the only dealer in Florida to ever win this national award. The details are secret, following the Homeland Security protocol for Sensitive Security Information. Join the New Times community and help support independent She was trained for the business, she went to college for it, and she started working at her parents company as soon as they allowed it. At the Boys & Girls Club of Broward County, co-CEO Matt Organ said the organization would be nowhere near its present-day status without the efforts of Rick Case. They helped the organization expand from three boys clubs to 12 boys and girls clubs serving 12,500 at-risk youth. Rick Case Automotive Group announced Wednesday that Rita Case will succeed her late husband as the company's top executive. Wow Classic 2h Fury Build, Your email address will not be published. Rick and Rita Case of The Rick Case Automotive Group, based in South Florida. Its important to show associates a career path is possible in the company, says Rita Case. To this day he still holds the world record for selling the most Honda cars in one month; 1,222. Rick and Rita Case quickly became a force in the industry, building an automotive empire of 16 dealerships across Florida, Georgia and Ohio over four decades. Please select at least one newsletter to subscribe. Rick Case and his wife, Rita, are a constant force behind many fund-raising initiatives to benefit needy children in Broward County. Concentrix: How can customer data drive a better automotive CX? In 1970, he sustained third-degree burns to much of his body after he tried putting out a fire that had started in one of his service departments. South Florida auto magnates Rick Case and his wife Rita have sold their waterfront Hillsboro Beach estate for $6.5 million. He entered the center security lanes of the Terminal B TSA checkpoint with his wife, Rita, a dark-haired woman who met Case at a Honda dealers' convention in 1978 when both of them were building car-dealing empires. It doesnt matter if youre in 14 states or your backyard, we have consistent systems that have carried our message and (fueled) our success, says Rita Case. Comedian Jay Leno remembers his friend Rick Case - Sun Sentinel By age 29, he had formed a chain of motorcycle stores. Yes, I'd like to receive email communications on editorial features, special offers, research and events and webinars from Automotive News. Regardless of the different brands being sold, a process can be very consistently managed, she says. He had the intensity, the passion and the positive attitude, Rita Case said. Rick Case, the founder and CEO of The Rick Case Automotive Group, died at age 77. The first month in business, these dealerships became the largest in the nation selling more than any other dealership in the United States for Honda in March 2002; Fiat in June 2009; Volkswagen in December 2013 and Alfa Romeo in May 2014; Maserati in December 2015. Case opened his first dealership in 1962 in Akron, OH. He was known for his relentless positive. He spent hours every day educating himself on the latest information about the auto industry and I learned from him every day," his wife Rita said in a statement. Rick Case, CEO of Rick Case Automotive Group, died Sept. 21 from cancer. If economic momentum for the area around Orlando Sanford International Airport is taking off, then the 450 acres of developable land on airport property is taxiing on the runway and not far behind. The Alliance - Forward Motion - South Florida Trailblazer Rita Case The Rick Case Bikes for Kids program is in its 28th year. Growing up in California, Rita Case worked in her parents Honda of Santa Rosa dealership. celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2012. David Lyons is a reporter for the South Florida Sun Sentinel. Being recognized for awards and success in business is a consistent benchmark for The Rick Case Automotive Group. The 21st Annual Celebration of Excellence honored Rita and Rick Case with the President?s Award for Excellence in Community Service at the Nova Southeastern University Celebration of Excellence gala. In 2011, Rick and Rita Case were honored as National Medallion Award Winners by the Boys and Girls Club of America, the highest honor given by the organization to any individual. It became the nations largest-volume Fiat store in its first month. Ways to do that include: Near and dear to the couples hearts are their charity efforts. By 1965, Case saw the demand for motorcycles growing and jumped into that industry as well as opening the first Toyota store in 1966. dealership in the United States - both have been the top selling dealers in America. 2013 Rita and Rick Case presented the 2013 All-Star Dealer Award by Automotive News 2019 Rita and Rick Case were presented the 2019 Honda President's Award -Largest dealer in the country to ever receive this award 12 years in a row-Family: Richard (Rick) James Case was born October 22, 1942 in Akron, Ohio to parents Richard and Eva, and the . That number jumps to 18 this year when the Cases will add Alfa Romeo, Maserati and Kia to the fleet in South Florida. In advertisements, public appearances and interviews, Rick and Rita Case were constantly at each others side, promoting the business and their charities. See more newsletter options at autonews.com/newsletters. He also opened the countrys first Hyundai dealerships in Fort Lauderdale and Atlanta the same year. The Cases own the Rick Case Automotive Group, which has 16 dealerships in South Florida, Atlanta and Ohio. Meanwhile, the bags were backing up at the end of the x-ray line. Memorial donations can be made in his honor supporting the Rick Case Educational Scholarship Fund, which benefits the Boys and Girls Club of Broward County. Rita Case, the dealership group's COO and Rick's wife and business partner for 40 years, said her husband was diagnosed with cancer in 2019 and they chose to keep his condition private. They married in 1980, sharing the same passion for the industry. The Cases believe in maintaining staff consistency and processes. They married in 1980,. Those who want to donate can drop off donations at the headquarters in Fort Lauderdale or email gift instructions to Kerry Becker at kbecker@bgcbc.org. I was impressed that Honda had created a tremendous market for its motorcycles in the United States, Case told the South Florida Sun Sentinel in 2004. At 14 he purchased a used car, fixed it up, and put a "For Sale" sign on it in his parent's driveway in Akron Ohio. To inform and empower current and future business leaders by providing the insights, knowledge and connections they need to thrive in a rapidly changing industry. His effect on the car industry is still felt today. Hillsboro Beach, a small town in Broward County, is home to a number of multimillion-dollar mansions. It is very, very rare that you meet an individual, like a Rick Case and a Rita Case, who not only give of their finances, they write the checks, but they are involved. Rick Case believes in wowing customers. All rights reserved. They are among only nine other Honda dealers in the nation to carry this title out of 1,049 total dealerships which compete for the award. First published on September 23, 2020 / 6:23 PM. At age 19, Rick operated his first used car lot all by himself, Moxie Motors in Akron. In 1981 the idea was born for the "Rick Case Bikes for Kids" program. Rick Case, South Florida Auto Dealer Magnate and Philanthropist, Dies But it was Cases relentless devotion to charities such as the Boys & Girls Clubs of Broward County, Habitat for Humanity and the American Heart Association that captured the respect and support of countless business and community leaders, many of whom said Wednesday that there will be no replacing him. The proceeds from these events go to the Boys & Girls Clubs. Rick Case, 77, the founder and CEO of The Rick Case Automotive Group, died Monday at home after a short battle with cancer. They met at a Honda convention in 1977,. December 8, 2011 Kayak Willie: The first man to land a sailfish in a kayak. Including the World's Largest Honda, Hyundai, Kia, and Volkswagen dealerships located in Broward County. In 2019, they were inducted into Nova Southeastern University and Huizenga Business College's Business Hall of Fame. Prior to her new role as CEO, Rita Case served as COO. Admirals Club welcomed Rick and Rita Case and Terry and Cindy Taylor. Headquartered in Sunrise, Rick Case Automotive Group operates 16 dealerships in Florida, Georgia and Ohio, selling Acura, Audi, Hyundai, Genesis, Volkswagen, Kia, Mazda, Fiat, Maserati, Alfa Romeo and Honda cars and motorcycles. in Sunrise, Florida. ft.; KIA is six stories high and is 268,000 sq. He insisted, meeting with Honda executives and showing them how he had built his business throughout the years.