Joseph “Joey” Huang, co-owner of the Great Lakes Auto Group, is a 1988 graduate of Western Reserve Academy in Hudson, OH. Huang studied biology at The Ohio State University in Columbus, graduating in 1992. He also earned a D.D.S. at The Ohio State University College of Dentistry in 1997. Joey feels fortunate to have had a strong support system and family that believed that education is essential in providing a strong foundation for one’s professional and entrepreneurial success. It was a summer job selling autos that changed his career trajectory. During his junior year in dental school, Huang opened a small used-car lot next to his father's doctor office in Ashtabula, OH. Huang was on track to be a dentist before his passion for the car business took him in a different direction. “My father is a well- respected OB/GYN in Ashtabula, who wanted all of his children to be doctors,” Joey often says. “In fact, both my sister and brother are successful doctors. Back then, my father had a little problem with me going into the Automotive business,” Huang recalls. “But his position has softened over the years. I am happy that I have changed my father's opinion of the auto industry, a profession I truly love. I have been blessed." Huang went on to partner with John Rocco in founding the Great Lakes Auto Network in 1996. Great Lakes Auto Group includes dealerships in Streetsboro, Columbus, Elyria, Findlay and Akron, OH. Today, they continue operate and share ownership of Great Lakes Honda in Akron, OH and Great Lakes Hyundai. Joey has also acquired, and is sole owner of Capital Kia located in Columbus, OH, Great Lakes Honda West located in Elyria, OH and Great Lakes Toyota Subaru in Findlay, OH. During the course of his career, Huang’s dealerships have won numerous awards, including seven President’s Award Honors from American Honda Motor Company. Huang was chosen to represent NAMAD as its representative for the TIME Dealer of the Year Award, one of only 49 dealers out of 16,000 nationwide to be nominated for that prestigious award. In 2017 Joseph Huang was the recipient of NAMAD’s, Distinguished Service Award in recognition of his courage, character and consistency in assisting ethnic minority dealers. During the course of his career, Huang has been involved in numerous philanthropic endeavors, including his service as local chairman of Hyundai Hope on Wheels, a program that raises money for pediatric cancer research. Hyundai Hope on Wheels has raised more than $1 million for Rainbow Babies and Children’s Hospital in Cleveland. Huang and his company also spearheaded an initiative in Ashtabula County called Educar, which offers public schools the opportunity to raise needed funds through raffles. So far, Educar has raised more than $250,000 for schools in Ashtabula County. Huang was honored for those philanthropic efforts, receiving the inaugural Community Impact Award from Cox Automotive in 2015, an award that recognized the impact that Great Lakes Auto has had on education in Ashtabula County. Supporting and serving the communities in which his businesses are located is paramount in insuring that positive change and community growth continues.
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Born and raised in Lake County, OH and never left until the Great Lakes organization opened a dealership in Findlay. Bill has been in the auto business for over 20 years just out of high school doing everything from internet sales to director of operations, and everything in between! His experience spans over multiple brands with Toyota, Subaru, Hyundai, Honda, Kia, Chevy, Buick, GMC and CJDR. Bill has always loved the car business, but especially loves working for the Great Lakes organization. However, his most important role in life is being a father to his two sons AJ and Noah. Bill is a big Cleveland sports fan, especially the Browns and the Cavs and of course, Ohio State football – a true northeast Ohioan!
Graduated Field high school 1995 and started selling cars shortly after at the age 19. A couple years later, Ryan joined the US Air Force from 1998-2002 and served 2 of those four years at Incirlik Air Base in Turkey. Immediately after returning home, Ryan was drawn back into the car business. He credits a lot of this as being due to the fact this his father was in the car business his entire life, so he has always had an interest in the business. Focused mostly on the used-car side, Ryan has been in management since 2014. Outside of work, he enjoys spending time with his blended family consisting of three boys and two girls. Ryan also enjoys running and has completed several half and full marathons in his life and is currently training for a half iron-man!
Paul has been in the car business for over 20 years, and with the Great Lakes organization for almost 15 years. He has worked at three of our different stores, in four different positions working his way up to GM. He has been married to his wife, Kristen for nine years and they have two children, Dominic 7, and Kynlee 5. His passions outside of work are spending time with his family, sports (especially golf and basketball), dancing, singing, writing music, and reading on how to become a better leader and influencer. He is originally from Erie, Pa but has lived in four states and seven cities and has come to realize that home is wherever you are surrounded by and feel the most love. Which is why he considers Great Lakes as his home.
Graduated Bay High school in 1990 and attended University of Cincinnati College of Engineering with a minor in accounting. Xavier has been in the Automobile industry for a total of 25 years. Starting off in the business as a salesperson and working his way over to the service department as an advisor, Xavier spent the majority of his career in finance for 15 years. At one point, he was even a corporate finance trainer across the Midwest. For the last three years, Xavier has served as the GM of Great Lakes Honda West. He is fluent in Spanish and has been married for 25 years. He has two children and two dogs, as well as a cat and a crazy parrot! In his spare time, he loves to have family gatherings and cook.