Fred F. Emich, III

Fred Emich, III is a third-generation automobile dealer with more than 47 years of experience. He worked in every department of his father’s Ford dealership in Joliet, Illinois in high school and again after college graduation.

He credits his father as his mentor and from whom he learned that employee and customer satisfaction are the keys to success. Fred’s motivation to enter the automobile business came from his desire to buy and sell exotic cars.

In 1975, Fred moved to Colorado with his uncle to open Emich Oldsmobile, Inc. Starting with one location and 40 employees, the business expanded to nine locations, ten franchises and more than 500 employees.

In 1997, the dealerships joined AutoNation, Inc. Fred was the AutoNation district president from 1997-2004. He was awarded the company’s Tim Ping Award, AutoNation’s highest recognition to one employee for leadership, teamwork, dedication and integrity.

In 2006, Fred re-entered the retail auto business with son Fred Emich, IV and Bob Colbert, when they bought Luby Chevrolet and Mountain States Volkswagen.

Throughout its 45 years in business, the Emich Automotive Group has won numerous awards, including the GM Mark of Excellence and the Wolfsburg Crest Club.

Being inducted into the Colorado Automotive Hall of Fame is the pinnacle of Fred’s career. He was Colorado’s nominee for the 1998 TIME Quality Dealer of the Year award. He is a strong supporter of many community organizations, including the West Jefferson Chamber of Commerce, the Arvada ART Center, and Red Rocks Community College Foundation.

Fred has donated trucks to deliver expired food from grocery stores to the needy. He also sponsors the Emich Golf Tournament each year and gives all proceeds to one family dealing with a catastrophic event.

Fred believes people will always have cars, but how they are powered will evolve.