At first glance, Chariot Automotive Group might look like a traditional dealership. Spend five minutes inside, though, and you realize it’s anything but traditional. This is a company intentionally designed around people development, community impact, and a bigger vision of what a business can be.

CEO and founder Rex Gingerich shared the story behind Chariot, starting from washing cars and working his way through the business. Along the way, Rex developed a much bigger vision…one rooted in people, purpose, and long-term impact. That vision is baked into everything Chariot does, from their intentionally designed brand to their guiding belief that a company can’t grow unless its people do.

We also heard from Steve Parrott, who started at Chariot just 10 days after graduating from Purdue. Thirty-six years later, his journey is a powerful example of what happens when opportunity meets commitment, and when leadership truly values its people.

What stood out most was how deeply Chariot invests beyond sales and service:
• Leadership and people development programs
• Education pathways for high school students and aspiring auto techs
• A commitment to community through service-focused initiatives
• A culture built on relationships, growth, and leaning into the hard things

Chariot lives its brand promise—Driven to Serve—by creating opportunity, developing leaders, and building something that lasts. It’s a reminder that the strongest businesses are built when passion, integrity, and people come first.

Thank you to Rex and the whole Chariot team for an inspiring and insightful visit.