Jeff Wyler

Jeff Wyler (born April 1, 1941) is the Founder and CEO of the Jeff Wyler Automotive Family, a Cincinnati, Ohio based retail organization that markets new and used vehicles. The Jeff Wyler Automotive Family operates dealerships in Cincinnati, Springfield, and Columbus, Ohio, along with Frankfort, Louisville, and Northern Kentucky. From its beginning in 1973 with 12 employees and 180 car sales, it has grown to one of the country's 30 largest private dealership groups employing over 1,300 people and retailing over 40,000 new and used vehicles annually.

Early Life

Wyler was born in Cincinnati, Ohio and at age six he began moving with his mother and stepfather, a General Motors executive, around the country. He lived in other areas of Ohio including Sidney, Bellefontaine, and Urbana prior to moving to Phoenix, Arizona, Albuquerque, New Mexico, and finally graduating high school in El Paso, Texas. Wyler briefly served in the United States Army. After leaving the Army, he enrolled in college at Ohio State University for one year. Realizing he couldn’t afford his expenses and continue school, he moved to Colorado to live with his mother and stepfather. There he enrolled at Northeastern Junior College in Sterling, Colorado. He stayed there for a year and eventually went back to Ohio then attending The University of Cincinnati for three years. He worked three jobs at times in order to pay tuition and finish school. Finally, in 1965 he graduated with a degree in Finance.

Career

Immediately upon graduation, Wyler began working for the Chevrolet Division of General Motors and then for an independent Chevrolet dealership. He worked in several positions including Sales Trainee and District Manager. By 1972, he progressed to the title of General Manager for a Chevrolet dealership in Newark, Ohio. By the time he was 32, Wyler opened his first Chevrolet dealership in Batavia, Ohio on November 1, 1973. Wyler’s dealership had 6 service bays, 20 parking spaces, and a large inventory of new vehicles (that only got 9 miles per gallon). Unfortunately, his dealership opening was simultaneous with a fuel shortage that hit the United States in 1973. As his first dealership reached success, Wyler opened a second dealership, and eventually began to open more dealerships throughout southern Ohio. Today, the The Jeff Wyler Automotive Family operates 15 dealerships in Cincinnati, Springfield, and Columbus, Ohio, along with Frankfort, Louisville, and Northern Kentucky. It is one of the country's top 30 largest private dealership groups employing over 1,300 people and retailing over 40,000 new and used vehicles each year.

Personal Life

Wyler and his wife Linda (nee Schellenbach) reside in Cincinnati, Ohio. Wyler has four children (Julie Bristow, J. David, Jessica, and James Wyler) and six grandchildren.

Wyler served as Chairman of the Board of Trustees at the University of Cincinnati from June of 2006 until January 2009. He is a minority owner of the Cincinnati Reds, where he once worked as a college student selling tickets to pay for his education. In 2007, he became one of the founding members of CBANK, a de novo commercial bank in Cincinnati. He currently serves on its board of directors.

Philanthropy

Since the beginning of his first dealership, Wyler has always taken an active role in serving his community. Wyler has served as President of Batavia Rotary, Clermont Chamber of Commerce, and Clermont YMCA. He has served as Campaign Chair for United Way of Clermont County, Chairman of UCATS, Vice Chair of University of Cincinnati Foundation, and Chairman of the Health Alliance of Cincinnati Cincinnati's largest hospital group. Wyler also held charity golf events and fundraisers each year. As a result of these events, and to more formally address the need for management of charitable contributions, The Wyler Family Foundation was founded as a 501(c)(3) in 2009. The Wyler Family Foundation serves as the steering organization for all charitable giving by the Jeff Wyler Automotive Family. He was awarded an Honorary Doctorate from the University of Cincinnati in 2011.