For Phil Moore, the automobile business has never been simply a career. Raised around the industry by a father who wholesaled cars, Phil grew up working on vehicles, hauling cars and learning the business from the ground up. He moved to Jackson in 1980, and in 1992 he purchased the dealership that would evolve from Oldsmobile to Saturn and, since 2010, Buick GMC.

At the center of that journey have always been people. Phil speaks with genuine affection for the approximately 50 employees he works alongside, the customers who place their trust in the dealership and the fellow dealers whose friendships have enriched his life. The car business, he says, has given him far more than a livelihood. It has given him relationships, purpose and a deep sense of gratitude.

Now, as MADA’s 2026-2027 chairman, Phil hopes to bring that same people-first perspective to his leadership of the association. His chief priority is straightforward: Encourage more of Mississippi’s dealers to participate, share the issues affecting their businesses and help strengthen the collective voice of all 213 dealership rooftops in the state.

We recently spoke with Phil about his path through the automobile business, the responsibility of a franchised dealer, the importance of MADA and the people who keep his work and life in perspective. This conversation has been edited for length and clarity.

How did you get into the automobile business?

I’ve been in the car business my whole life. My father was in the wholesale car business, so I grew up around cars. He would go up north, buy cars, bring them back and recondition them before sending them to auctions. There were a lot of independent dealers back then who would come and buy from him.

I grew up working on cars, and after I graduated high school, I drove a truck for my father and hauled cars for four or five years. When I moved to Jackson in 1980, I went to work for a dealer in town. Then I went back into the wholesale business, which was what I’d been raised doing.

From there, I dreamed of being in the new-car business. We bought our dealership in 1992 as Oldsmobile. Later, we became Saturn, and we’ve been Buick GMC since 2010. I’ve always loved the car business, and I still love it today.

What does being a franchised dealer mean to you?

Buying a car is a huge investment. It’s a lot of money, but the experience shouldn’t be scary or aggravating. Buying a new car should be exciting and enjoyable, and that’s what we strive for — not just me, but everybody in the car business. That’s what helps us be here tomorrow.

When you buy a car, you’re starting a relationship. You want that to be a good relationship because, sooner or later, you may have a problem. You want someone to be there to take care of you when that happens.

I think that’s what franchised dealers — not only in Mississippi, but across the country — offer that an online retailer can’t. We’re here. The dealer is concerned about the customer, and our future depends on how well we take care of people.

Consumers are more informed than ever, and that is a huge help for us. Dealers have to be transparent about what is being advertised and what we can deliver. If we maintain the honesty, integrity and trust in our dealerships, we’re in a good position going forward.

What has been the most rewarding part of your career?

The most rewarding part has been the people. I’m fortunate to work with about 50 people, and every one of them is a friend of mine. There’s not a person here I don’t enjoy or personally like. I love walking in and seeing the same people every day, and I want people to come here, build careers and stay.

The car business has given me so much more than a living. It has given me friendships and allowed me to be around people with honesty, integrity and character. I enjoy seeing other dealers succeed because I know how hard they worked and that they did it the right way.

For the last 15 years, it hasn’t felt like I’ve had to go to work. I get up, looking forward to coming to the office. What I wanted my whole life — I look up, and it’s here now. But that isn’t because of me. It’s because of the people I’ve been fortunate enough to have around me.

How has your involvement with MADA changed over the years?

To be honest, I wasn’t as involved as I should have been early on. I really didn’t become involved until Marty Milstead took over and started recruiting people. He taught me the importance of being involved with your association and with the state, and he helped me understand the work MADA does for all of us.

I’ve probably been on the board for six or seven years. You are usually on the board for a few years, then move through secretary-treasurer, vice chairman and chairman. Serving in those roles has shown me how much preparation and day-to-day work goes into representing Mississippi’s dealers.

MADA fights a lot of battles for us. I used to take that work for granted and think things just happened. They don’t. It takes a tremendous amount of effort to pass a law, address a regulation or make a change that allows dealers to serve customers better.

Marty is precisely the right leader needed at this pivotal moment to protect Mississippi’s franchised dealers. Board members are involved, but we come and go. Marty and Beth Morton do this 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, and they do a wonderful job. The respect Marty has earned also strengthens the respect people have for MADA and the dealers it represents.

What would you most like to accomplish as MADA chairman?

I would love to see even more dealer involvement. We have a great dealer body and have seen tremendous participation over the last 10 years, but I’d like every one of Mississippi’s 213 rooftops to be represented and have a voice.

Those dealerships employ almost 20,000 people, so this is a huge industry for our state. We have laws being considered, regulations being proposed and issues involving manufacturers, warranties, parts and chargebacks. MADA stays on top of those things, but the association needs to hear directly from dealers about what is happening in their businesses and communities.

Involvement isn’t only about attending conventions. Conventions are a wonderful way for us to get together, but involvement also means telling MADA what is important to you and your store. A dealer in one part of the state may be facing an issue that hasn’t reached me yet, but those issues often work their way around to all of us. When we help one dealer, we’re helping the other 212.

Ultimately, it comes back to what is best for the customer. The car business is about the consumer and making sure people have someone to take care of them. We need to work together so the rules and regulations allow dealers to do that job well.

How do you keep the pressures of business in perspective?

A man told me something many years ago that I’ve never forgotten. We were struggling, and I was upset about everything that seemed to be going wrong. He asked me, “Will money fix your problems?”

I said, “Yes, sir.”

He said, “If money will fix it, it’s not a problem. The things money won’t fix are problems.”

That has stayed with me for 25 or 30 years. When I get aggravated about something happening in the business, I think about it. Money can’t give you health or replace the people you love. The car business is what I do for a living, but Sara and my daughter are real life. That’s what it’s all about.

Tell us about your family.

Sara and I just celebrated our 52nd anniversary. I like to say my mother and daddy brought me into this world, and Sara raised me.

The biggest blessing in my life is Sara. She has stood behind me through all the ups and downs. I just turned 70, and anybody who has lived to be 70, or has been married as long as we have, has been through a lot. Sara has been there with me through every bit of it — good, bad and all of it.

Our daughter, Lauren, lives in Atlanta. She moved there after graduating from college and has been working for the Georgia Chamber of Commerce for almost 17 years. She is currently the vice president of external affairs, and Sara and I are so proud of her. Lauren is engaged, and we look forward to welcoming her fiancé into the family.