Mills was 29 and the General Manager of a Dodge dealership owned by Asbury Automotive Group when he had the opportunity to buy a dealership under Ford Motor Company’s dealer development program. His first deal required a sizable investment and a 65% pay cut, causing a lot of uncertainty about the future, but through hard work, faith, and a supportive wife, this father of three persevered and has continued to grow.

Since his first Ford dealership in Smithfield, NC, Mills has grown the brands within the Mills Automotive Group to include Ford, Lincoln, Chevrolet, Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, Ram, Fiat, Nissan, Toyota, Alpha Romeo, Maserati, Bentley, Honda, Porsche, and the acquisition of Tysinger Auto Mall in Hampton, VA, which has a campus containing Mercedes Benz, Audi, Hyundai and Genesis. After that came the acquisition of Bentley Highpoint, Honda of Harvey and Jaguar Land Rover Columbia. His focus on finding the best talent for his stores is guided by the five pillars: character, integrity, work ethic, teamwork, and performance. With those guiding principles, Mills has expanded his brand from his first dealer development store to 23 dealerships in six states.

His vision is to grow the Mills brand by increasing the number of brands the Mills Automotive Group is privileged to represent. Mills chooses inclusion rather than exclusion that incorporates vast diversity with the dealership platform. This inclusion advances the opportunity of an ever-changing American landscape while helping distinguish the Mills’ way for both its employees and the growing number of customers that are served.