FLORIDA DESIGN’S

LAUDERDALELIFESTYLE & DECOR

FORT

fortlauderdaleprofileLeft: Craig Zinn, president and CEO ofCraig Zinn Automotive Group, stands infront of one of the company’s extraordi-nary Spyker C8 Laviolette models withwife Martine, seated.

This automotive magnateand family man balancesbusiness savvy with acharitable sprit for onesolid combination thatequals success.

Recognized in the car sales and services industry for his renowned work ethic and attention to detail, Craig Zinn, president and

CEO of the Craig Zinn Automotive Group, has earned his spot at the top. Growing up in North Dade County, he learned the

automobile business from the ground up, starting work as a child in his father’s Toyota dealership, which opened in 1966.

Working in the parts department, detailing, servicing and selling vehicles, Zinn grew to have a passion for the business and

gained a strong work ethic from his father and grandfather. “They taught me the value of a day’s work,” he says. ►

THE DRIVING FORCE BEHIND THE

CRAIGZINN AUTOMOTIVE GROUP

Text by Kevin Lane | Photography by Peter Langone

fortlauderdaleprofile

CRAIGZINN

98 Fort Lauderdale 2-3

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ABOVE: Set to open in May, the new eco-friendly Lexus of NorthMiami showroom will feature a total of 1 million plus square feet,116 service bays, room for 2,000 automobiles, and a LexusLifestyle Center with facilities for time and health consultations, andfirst-class amenities.

Right: Martine and Zinn stand amidst a bevy of beautiful cars inone of Zinn’s many showrooms

Below: Zinn embraces the idea of “kaizen,” a Japanese philoso-phy that focuses on continuous improvement throughout allaspects of life, and encourages his associates to do the same.

Continuing the family legacy, Zinn had the opportunity to purchase

his own dealership in 1981 and today, the company generates about

$750 million a year with locations ranging from Hollywood and

Pembroke Pines to West Palm Beach, and includes top manufacturers

such as Lexus, Acura, Pontiac, Toyota and Scion. Zinn is passionate

about his associates; communicating with them while getting to know

their daily lives – an aspect that Zinn feels is imperative to success. “You

will find that management now becomes another tool in the toolbox to

help your people be more successful instead of being an obstacle to

their success,” he says. “It’s simply a matter of being positive with your

people.”

For Zinn, a positive environ-

ment equals a positive payoff,

and client appreciation is the ulti-

mate goal. His motto: “It is the

mutual responsibility of the deal-

ership and its associates to

embrace the traditions of quality,

honesty, integrity and excellence

in both personal and profession-

al relationships.” This philosophy

has proven successful and is

exemplified by high client scores,

long-term associates, a distin-

guished list of awards and unde-

niable growth.

Philanthropists Zinn and wife Martine are active members of the

Anti-Defamation League and the Jewish Adoption and Foster Car

Options organizations, as well as the Young At Art Children’s Museum,

where they have established an art contest to teach children about fuel

efficiency in transportation. “We are thrilled to be involved with our com-

munity’s green initiative,” Zinn says. “With the construction of our new

eco-friendly Lexus dealership underway in North Miami, we strive to

encourage South Floridians to work toward making out world a health-

ier place.”

Zinn is confident that by doing what he’s doing – putting client

service first and supporting his associates – the Craig Zinn

Automotive Group has a bright future, summing this up with an old

success maxim, “…winners tend to keep winning.” L