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Witham Returns To Alan Jay

Sue Ann Carpenter/Highlands Today

From left: Micheal Witham and Alan Jay Wildstein at the Sebring corporate office.

Sue Ann Carpenter

Published: September 16, 2007

SEBRING – When initially meeting anyone, that first impression is always important. This is especially true in business because that first encounter may be the last opportunity to convey the trust and confidence necessary for a lasting relationship.
This is of utmost importance to Michael Witham, the returning chief operating officer at the Alan Jay Automotive Network since August. He believes every employee makes an impact with a customer, and each impression is important whether it's the receptionist, detail person or courtesy driver. He wants employees to decide the right thing to do. And by empowering them, their actions are decisive in satisfying the customer.
Witham is the third generation growing up in an automobile dealership family. He remembers pulling weeds, washing cars, emptying trash and doing whatever needed to be done at a dealership even before he was able to drive.
"I've always been a car guy," he said. In 1986 he attended Northwood University in Midland, Mich., one of the few schools in the country that educates for the automotive business.
That's where he originally met Alan Jay Wildstein. They became close friends and shared an apartment while working on their degrees. After Witham graduated with a bachelor's degree in marketing and management and a minor in automotive marketing, he worked in North Carolina as a finance/loan officer for a dealership.
Wildstein and Witham worked closely as a team from 1992-2005 to grow Alan Jay Automotive
Network by treating customers fairly and giving back to the community.
"The nearly 14 years in Sebring were the longest I've ever lived in any one place," Witham said.
He's proud of what he achieved in sales during that time. His present function as COO is to oversee the entire Alan Jay Automotive Network and its associates.
In 2005 there were 200 team members. Now upon his return there are two more locations with 300 team members.
He's excited not only about the growth and changes in Sebring but also with the company. Witham and Wildstein are excited to be working together again. They are focusing on making every aspect of the business the best it can be.