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Growing Through Every Seat in the Dealership | Ben St. Ours | Carter Myers Automotive

June 18

10 mins

Episode Description

Ben St. Ours didn't start his automotive career in the manager's office. He started washing cars at 14 years old after a chance encounter with a dealer changed the course of his life.

Twenty-six years later, after growing through nearly every seat in the dealership, Ben reflects on the lessons that shaped his journey—from focusing on today's job to developing the next generation of automotive leaders.

Sometimes the most important career decisions happen long before we realize it.

For Ben St. Ours, that moment came at 13 years old during a trip to the Florida Keys. While spending a week with a successful dealer and his family, Ben asked a simple question: "What do you do for a living?" The answer sparked a vision that would shape the next 26 years of his life.

In this ASOTU Unscripted conversation recorded at ASOTUCON 2026, Ben shares the story of how that experience led him to the automotive industry, where he started washing cars at 14 and worked his way through sales, finance, management, and dealership leadership. Today, he serves as General Manager and Managing Partner at CMA's Valley Honda and General Manager at CMA's Valley Volkswagen.

What stands out most isn't the titles or milestones—it's the mindset. Throughout his career, Ben stayed focused on mastering the job in front of him instead of chasing future rewards. Whether cleaning cars, selling vehicles, or leading teams, his philosophy remained the same: be great at today's work and let tomorrow take care of itself.

The conversation also explores what success looks like after you've achieved many of the goals you set for yourself. For Ben, the answer isn't found in personal accomplishments. It's found in helping others grow. His current mission is to develop future leaders within Carter Myers Automotive and create opportunities for people to go even further than he has.

This episode is a reminder that careers are rarely built through shortcuts. They're built one opportunity, one relationship, and one day at a time.

Timestamped Takeaways

00:00 – Live from ASOTUCON 2026

01:09 – Meet Ben St. Ours and his role at CMA

01:44 – The Florida Keys trip that sparked an automotive career

02:57 – Deciding at 13 to work in the car business

03:14 – Starting at a dealership washing cars at age 14

04:20 – Why inspiring people matters more than material success

05:14 – Family influence, ambition, and finding your own path

06:24 – Focusing on today's job instead of tomorrow's rewards

07:24 – Growing through sales, finance, and dealership leadership

08:03 – Developing the next generation of automotive leaders