By the numbers
Since taking over his father's Columbus, Ga., Chevrolet dealership in 1961, Bill Heard Jr. has assembled one of the country's largest dealership groups. Here are some key figures about Bill Heard Enterprises Inc.
10: Ranking among Automotive News' top 150 dealership groups in 2006
46,683: Total new retail sales in 2006
$2.19 billion: Group revenues in 2006
15: Number of dealerships. (One Cadillac-Saab and 14 Chevrolet stores)
7: States with Bill Heard dealerships (Georgia, Tennessee, Florida, Alabama, Texas, New Mexico and Nevada)
3,700: Number of employees
Sources: www.billheardchevrolet.com, Automotive News Data Center, Georgia Trend magazine
Bill Heard calls himself "Mr. Big Volume," and the title seems appropriate.
