Stacey Gillman Wimbish Stacey Gillman Wimbish - Media ...

Raymond Palacios:President of Bravo Chevrolet Cadillac Dealershipsin El Paso and Las Cruces. These communitieshave been a true blessing for meand my family.”Palacios was recently appointed toserve on the board of the Texas Departmentof Motor Vehicles. His goal is tohelp to ensure that the Texas Departmentof Motor Vehicles provides necessary servicesto the citizens of Texas in the mostproductive and efficient ways possible.“I believe it is our duty as boardmembers to review practices within eachdepartment of the DMV,” said Palacios.“We need to ensure that these practicesdo not unnecessarily hinder commerce.Instead, our focus should be on facilitatingcommerce and growth for Texas.”After visiting downtown Houston andseeing the countless business peoplein suits and ties, a 15-year-old RaymondPalacios, Jr. knew he wanted toattend college and become successful.Today, he is President of Bravo ChevroletCadillac dealerships in El Paso and inLas Cruces, employing more than 150people. Through this leadership, he worksto improve the quality of the lives of hisemployees and their families. To Palacios,that is the very definition of success.“Success isn’t just about one person; it’sabout everybody,” said Palacios. “If youcan’t bring anybody up, then to me, youhaven’t been a success.”Palacios earned a degree in accountingfrom the University of Houston andfirst worked as an auditor for a nationalaccounting firm, before joining PerryHomes, a Houston-based homebuilderand land developer, where he worked for10 years as a CPA and financial officer. Inthat time, he had become vice president ofthe company, but Palacios felt that it wastime to venture out and run his own businessin the automobile industry. The ideawas something he first thought about asa college student.“Back then, one of my jobs was workingthe grave yard shift as a security guard ina large car dealership in Houston,” saidPalacios. “I remember walking aroundthe lot thinking about how cool it wouldbe to own a dealership.”In the mid-90s, Palacios entered theGeneral Motor’s dealer developmentprogram, which eventually led him toEl Paso and Las Cruces, New Mexico.He worked as a car salesman, used carmanager and eventually general managerof a dealership.Palacios left Houston in 2000 to ownand operate a Cadillac Oldsmobile dealershipin El Paso.“Houston was home for me and myfamily,” said Palacios. “We never imaginedthat we would leave; however, as itturns out, our greatest opportunities werePalacios is a past district director of theTexas Automotive Dealers Association.He has also served as past president ofthe El Paso New Car Dealers Association,past vice chair of General Motors’Minority Dealer Advisory Council, anda past member of the National ChevroletDealer Advisory Council and the HummerDealer Advisory Council.In regards to his membership in TADA,Palacios says, “We are fortunate to havevery dedicated and competent TADAdealers in leadership positions and staffmembers who work tirelessly and fightfor the interests of its members. TADAis not only a voice of franchised dealers,but is a strong and effective advocate forour industry.”Palacios and his wife Kathy have twosons in college — one at Oberlin College inOhio and one at Northwestern Universityin New York. 30