Brett Sutherlin is thinking big with his latest purchase.

The owner of Sutherlin Automotive Group announced he has acquired McKenna Subaru in Huntington Beach, Calif., aiming to turn it into the nation’s largest Subaru store.

“This is more than an acquisition,” Sutherlin said. “It’s a statement of intent. Southern California is the most powerful car market in the country and Huntington Beach offers both the scale and the potential to redefine what a Subaru dealership can be.

“We didn’t come here to participate. We came here to lead — and we will make this the number one Subaru dealership in America. That means setting a new bar for sales volume, but more important, delivering a customer experience that sets the standard for the industry.”

To reach his goal, Sutherlin said he will double the size of the service and parts department to make it one of the largest in California, while investing in customer amenities such as mobile service and pickup-and-delivery options.

The dealership also plans to stock the state’s largest selection of Subarus, with more than 300 new units and more than 250 used vehicles on site. The expansion is expected to create more than 75 new jobs in sales, service and support roles.

Eric Brower, who previously led Sutherlin Subaru in Knoxville, Tenn., will head operations in Huntington Beach.

“California Subaru customers are about to see a whole new way of buying and servicing cars,” he said.

The dealership is Sutherlin Automotive’s first in California — it also operates locations in Alabama and Tennessee, having sold stores in Florida and Georgia over the past two years.

In a news release, the company said the addition of a California location is the beginning of “a bold westward expansion into the nation’s most competitive car market.”

Sutherlin is reinforcing that commitment to the region by relocating his company’s base to the Huntington Beach dealership. A company spokesperson said Sutherlin Automotive is currently in talks to purchase a second store in Huntington Beach and is also looking to acquire dealerships in the Southwest.

Sutherlin said the purchase is one of the largest transactions to date for a single-point Subaru dealership. The seller was Danny McKenna of McKenna Cars, which operates three locations in the Los Angeles area. Pinnacle Mergers & Acquisitions Mike Sims advised Sutherlin on the deal.

“Because we’re family-owned, we can move faster and make bolder decisions — that’s how we seized this Huntington Beach opportunity so decisively,” Sutherlin said.

Girl Scouts honor Rita Case with philanthropy award

Once a Girl Scout, always a Girl Scout.

Rick Case Automotive Group president and CEO Rita Case proudly wore her Girl Scout cap and sash to receive the Lifetime Achievement Award for Philanthropy from the Girl Scouts of Southeast Florida during this week’s Emerald Awards luncheon at the Four Seasons hotel in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.

The event, which honored female leaders in Broward County, raised more than $110,000 to support programs designed to inspire girls to build courage, confidence and character and become changemakers in their communities and the world.

Case was among five women recognized for their professional achievements and community service that distinguish them as role models and leaders for young women. Her award cited her achievements as an entrepreneur, philanthropist, author and jet pilot “whose decades-long legacy of leadership and service has transformed South Florida.”

Case, who oversees 12 dealerships in South Florida and Georgia as head of the nation’s largest female-led retail automotive group, has been a Horatio Alger Award recipient, the 2024 TIME Dealer of the Year and winner of the National Association of Minority Automobile Dealers’ Lifetime Achievement Award.

With her late husband Rick Case, she has headed fundraising initiatives that have generated more than $100 million for local organizations. She has co-founded Rick Case Bikes for Kids, Rita Case WOMEN Build with Habitat for Humanity and 4EveryKid with Soles4Souls, initiatives that continue to provide support to children and families. The award noted Case has supported ”countless causes,” including the Boys & Girls Clubs, American Heart Association, Broward Health, Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital and United Way.

“These outstanding women are an inspiration, leading with vision and heart,” Girl Scouts of Southeast Florida CEO Lisa Johnson said. “We all want our daughters to find their voice, dream big and become confident, strong women who create meaningful change, and they will do just that through the Girl Scouts.”

Koons offers help for furloughed workers during government shutdown

With the federal government shut down, Koons Motors is offering a little help for the government workers left out in the cold.

The dealership group, which operates Ford, Lincoln and Mazda stores in the Washington D.C. area, has implemented two emergency relief programs for federal employees affected by the shutdown.

Koons is offering free oil changes, tire rotations and inspections for furloughed employees who own a Ford, Lincoln or Mazda vehicle, performed by certified Koons technicians at the employee’s home. The vehicles do not have to have been purchased from a Koons dealership.

The service includes a full oil change, tire rotation, multi-point inspection with technician video and a digital winter-readiness inspection report, the company said.

“We know how difficult and uncertain shutdowns can be for federal families,” Koons CEO Alex Perdikis said. “This is our way of saying thank you, and taking care of the people who keep our region and country running.”

Koons said it will also cover the monthly car payments for new or used vehicles purchased during the shutdown from one of its locations by a furloughed federal employee until the government reopens.

Buyers must present a valid federal government ID.

“We are part of this community,” Perdikis said. “We’ve been here for over 65 years, and we’re not going anywhere. We will always be here for the people who serve our country. These same people have been the loyal clients that fostered our growth over the decades.”

McGee Automotive Family moves into New York

McGee Automotive Family, which operates 13 dealership locations in Massachusetts, Vermont, New Hampshire and Connecticut, has added another state to its footprint.

The company has acquired a Chevrolet dealership in Greenwich, N.Y.., now known as McGee Chevrolet of Greenwich to “bring the McGee tradition of excellence to New York state,” dealer principal Rob McGee said. “Our customers can expect the same commitment to transparency, integrity and going the extra mile that has defined McGee for more than 50 years.

“We are proud to be invested in the communities we serve. As a family-run dealership group that builds lasting relationships, our customers will see the difference in how we treat them, from honest conversations to service that goes beyond what’s expected.”

McGee said the new strengthens its regional presence, noting it plans to revamp the service center with certified factory-trained technicians and maintain an extensive inventory of new and used vehicles.