DEALER Magazine Awards Henry Primeaux

Henry Primeaux owner and operator of Henry Primeaux’s Crown in Bristow, and long-time supporter of the CareerTech system, is the recipient of the 2004 Automotive Youth Educational Systems (AYES) Fueling Tomorrow Dealer of the Year award.

All nominees for this award were evaluated based on their number of years working personally with AYES, the number of interns and trained mentors sponsored by the dealership, membership on local business and education councils, community work and additional activities supported by their dealership. According to the February 2004 issue of DEALER magazine, Primeaux’s philosophy on AYES (and life in general) is “give back to the community and the community, in turn, will take good care of you.” The newly established annual award recognizes auto dealer principals for their grass roots efforts to promote automotive technology careers to local students. Mike Roscoe, DEALER magazine publisher and editor, Jim Leman, managing editor, and Larry Cummings, AYES president announced the award.

Left to right: Matt Boyles, Oklahoma AYES Manager, Henry Primeaux, and Steve Rankin, President of Oklahoma Automobile Dealers Association

This award recognizes individuals who have had a long-term relationship with technical training and efforts in support of educational endeavors in the automotive industry, according to Orville Manuel, CareerTech automotive program state advisor.

“Henry has long been an active partner with Oklahoma’s CareerTech system, playing a critical role in the launching of the original AYES, formerly called GM (General Motors) YES program in the mid 90s,” Manuel said. “He and his staff continue in an advisory capacity on individual technology center advisory teams, as well as by providing internship opportunities to students.”

In 1991, at the age of 50, Primeaux began to run his first dealership in Tulsa, taking it from a negative to a very positive business. Even before AYES came along, Primeaux could see the lack of dealership loyalty among technicians, so he created a program giving young people an opportunity to work in his dealership. Although it came at a cost, Primeaux saw the benefits – the students were competent, and they were loyal.

When Primeaux heard General Motors Chairman Jack Smith speak about an initiative involving young people (soon to be AYES) in 1995, he recognized it as what he had been already doing at his Tulsa dealership. He was one of the first to be appointed to AYES' National Advisory Board in 1998.

Since 1996, his dealerships have sponsored 13 AYES interns, along with their 13 mentors. Primeaux also sits on the Oklahoma's Workforce Development Council working closely with the CareerTech and higher education systems.

In 2000 Primeaux sold his Tulsa dealership and moved to the smaller community and dealership in Bristow. He took his AYES philosophy and way of doing business with him, establishing the same relationship in this community that he had achieved in Tulsa.

Technicians from Primeaux’s dealerships serve on both Tulsa and Central Technology Centers’ Automotive Advisory Council. Primeaux is currently serving on the AYES National Board representing dealers across Oklahoma and the nation that are partnering with schools and technology centers.

Today, the AYES initiative can be found in 18 technology centers in Oklahoma. Together, AYES and Oklahoma have created a national model now serving 44 states, with the projection of serving all 50 states by 2004. Since AYES was founded by General Motors, 11 other automobile manufacturers have partnered supporting AYES, including Audi, BMW, Daimler Chrysler, Honda, Hyundai, Mercedes-Benz, Mitsubishi, Nissan, Subaru, Toyota and Volkswagen.