What are you most proud of?

My dad, Richard Inukai, founded Dick’s in 1985 and now my brother, Scott Inukai, and I own the business. Traditionally, auto dealerships were small, family-owned and operated. But today, many have been combined into large, public corporations. Scott and I realized that we needed to grow to succeed, to capitalize on economies of scale and to offer our customers the range of auto choices they want. I’m proud that we’ve been able to do that, but stay a family-owned business that’s a true part of our community. We offer our customers the best of both worlds.

You’re pictured with your assistant, Teresa O’Reilly, and your controller, Pam Carpenter. Why are these women so central to your success?
In an industry that’s typically so dominated by men, it’s great to have women in these important roles that I can rely on. For women working in any male-dominated industry, it’s beneficial to have female role models and support from other women. Though it’s encouraging that there are so many more women in this field today than when I started 30 years ago. Now the National Automobile Dealers Association conference has a dedicated track to serve women in the industry. So things are better, but we still have a way to go.