Bruce Bendell, CEO
Bendell started buying cars for re-sale while earning his B.A. in economics at Queens College.
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What one factor is most important to success?
You have to have very good character among your employees.
What do you look for in an employee?
Longevity, and taking pride in what they’re doing. The ability and desire to better themselves is also an important characteristic.
What’s the best way to save money?
Providing tools for your employees to be more productive.
What’s the best way to spend money?
Select marketing.
What’s your greatest pleasure?
Having kids and watching them grow. Their ages are 12,15, and 18.
What’s the first thing you do when you wake up in the morning?
I check the clock to make sure that I didn’t get up too early.
How do you deal with stress?
I take things one day at a time and hope everything goes well.
What one lesson do you hope to pass on to your children?
Realize the value of hard work and hold a deep love for family.
How do you bounce back from adversity?
Take a step back and figure out a way to fix whatever went wrong.
What’s your favorite thing about Queens?
I like the diversity within the borough, the number of businesses. Plus, there’s always something to do.
Business runs in the Bendell family. After taking charge of Long Island City-based Major Automotive Group in 1985, brothers Bruce and Harold have turned their car dealership from a $10 million, single-point operation to a $180 million, 190-employee, six-franchise car retailing kingdom. Bruce attributes that success to a solid core of workers and savvy business deals.
