Jim Sotolongo

Jim Sotolongo did not coin the phrase "You create your own luck," but he has certainly lived his professional life by that maxim. Since founding and being the General Manager at Century Motor Financial ten years ago, he has watched the operation grow and bloom into something inconceivable during its humble beginnings.

The staff was originally just Jim and his partner, working with little inventory and the minimal capital available. Through perseverance, commitment, and a little bit of luck, the operation has grown drastically in size. Today, there are 12 employees between Century Motor Financial's two locations (Winter Park & Daytona Beach on International Speedway Boulevard), with the average sales increasing to over US $12 million annually.

Mr. Sotolongo likes to be involved with his operation in any way that he can. Besides his general responsibilities of profit and budget calculations, marketing/advertising, hiring and training new employees, he is involved in developing and implementing the company's sales techniques and bonus programs. He regularly networks with other auto industry leaders-he is a member of the Florida Independent Auto Dealers Association and the National Independent Auto Dealers Association-in order to seek new ways to capitalize and stay innovative through ideas such as Internet sales.

Even with his sumptuous success, Jim Sotolongo has never lost focus on the community that he works and lives in. He is personally affiliated with charities such as the Nature Conservancy, Doctors Without Borders, UNICEF, Habitat for Humanity, American Cancer Society, and BETA for Women and Children. He also provides reduced cost housing to several lower income families in need, and donates vehicles to other disadvantaged families.

Jim's hobbies include fishing, boating and scuba diving. He enjoys watching the Miami Dolphins and reading books by Robert Kiyosaki.