Despite a 14.48% decline in its 2008 revenues, Wade Ford Inc. remains the second largest African American auto dealer in the metro Atlanta region. Steven Ewing, the dealership’s president, is the first African American to acquire the franchise in its 75-year history.
Over the past seven years, Ewing has built his brand by establishing himself as a leader in the community. In 2006, the innovative businessman organized a street team and bought a 45-foot motor coach adorned with the Ford Motor Co. logo and a design of the Atlanta skyline. With the help of his volunteers, Ewing traveled across the community hosting health screenings, community clean-up efforts, as well as clothing and canned food drives.