In 1908, the American automobile that would “put the world on wheels” — Henry Ford’s Model T — was assembled at the Piquette plant in Detroit.
Just 16 years later, on August 23, 1924, Steward C. Holman signed a contract with the Ford Motor Co. to become a dealer in Merchantville, N.J. Holman went into business with his financing partner, Charles M. Rice, opening Rice & Holman Ford to sell Model T, Model A and the first V-8 models.
Fast forward three generations and Holman offers a diverse range of automotive related services to customers around the world. The company now consists of seven business segments, with more than 9,000 employees across North America, the United Kingdom and Germany. Not only is Holman one of the largest family-owned automotive services organizations in the world, it is also one of the largest privately owned dealership groups in the United States, with 59 dealerships across nine states.
“One hundred years ago, my grandfather laid the foundation for our company when he opened Rice & Holman Ford with an emphasis on both customer care and community involvement,” says Mindy Holman, Steward’s granddaughter and chair of the board at Holman. “As I reflect on this milestone, I’m incredibly grateful to our people, who are responsible not only for our growth and success but also for creating an exceptional organizational culture. I know Dad and Granddad would be equally proud.”
Sustained Growth & Success the ‘Holman Way’
The success of the initial dealership led to several new and exciting opportunities with Ford, including a Lincoln-Mercury dealership, which opened in 1939, and the creation of an authorized Ford powertrain remanufacturing business in 1946.
Mindy’s father, Joseph Holman, joined the family business in July 1950, and oversaw the tremendous growth for the next 69 years. During that period, Holman evolved from a single Ford dealership in New Jersey into one of North America’s largest automotive organizations, providing a wide range of services and solutions, including industry-leading fleet management; commercial vehicle equipment manufacturing; powertrain distribution and logistics services; and insurance and risk management services. The company even launched a venture capital funding division in 2019.
On the retail side, in addition to selling a variety of cars and trucks from dozens of manufacturers over the years, Holman also sold several unique vehicles – such as tractors, ambulances and farm equipment – during different periods. Meanwhile, the company’s commercial vehicle equipment manufacturing division has transformed hundreds of thousands of vans and trucks into complex vocational tools for a variety of industries.
But ask anyone at Holman what the most enduring and memorable aspect of the organization has been over the last 100 years, and the resounding answer will be – “our people.”
“Holman’s 9,000-plus employees truly embody the essence of our long-standing values and principles, continuing to prove time and again that our company’s greatest strength is our people,” Mindy Holman says. “It is the lives they touch – both at work and across the communities that we call home – that have the greatest impact on Holman’s legacy. Holman’s employees foster the remarkable culture that defines our organization; a workplace culture that will continue to guide our business as we embark on our second century in business.”
A Commitment to Community
An important part of Holman’s legacy is giving back to the communities that have supported the business over the last century. “To this day, philanthropy and community service are among the core tenets of this corporate philosophy and continue to be fundamental to who we are as an organization,” Mindy Holman says.
Each year, Holman donates a percentage of its annual operating profits to hundreds of non-profit organizations throughout the regions in which it operates in North America, the United Kingdom and Germany. These donations have exceeded $1 million each year since 2010 and more recently, have eclipsed $4 million annually.
In addition to the company’s standard community grants, Holman also distributes a number of impact grants each year, consisting of a $300,000 commitment to select non-profit organizations, which are dispersed over a period three years.
Additionally, Holman employees spend more than 5,000 hours each year volunteering to support a variety of non-profit organizations that are important to them. Some notable community partners include United Way and UrbanPromise along with more than 400 local organizations throughout the communities in which Holman operates.
It’s all part of the company’s corporate philosophy – “driving what’s right.”
Throughout 2024, Holman has celebrated 100 years of driving what’s right with a series of events for employees and their families across the various regions in which the business operates. Among the highlights of Holman’s “100th Anniversary World Tour” was a concert in New Jersey where nearly 7,000
attendees enjoyed a performance by Carrie Underwood and the Barenaked Ladies.
“Our purpose as an organization is simple but incredibly important; together we seek to provide
a rewarding career and a better life for us and our families,” says Holman CEO Chris Conroy. “Simply put, this is the Holman Way; it shapes our culture and how we work together to guide our business.”
