2013

Jenell Ross earned a B.A. in sociology from Emory University and immediately returned to Dayton to work alongside her father at his automotive dealership.

Ross now operates four franchises: Buick, GMC, Mercedes-Benz, and Fiat. The Ross family pioneered minority ownership of luxury car dealerships, becoming the first African-American owned Mercedes-Benz dealership in the country in 1979 and Jenell’s other dealerships are the only ones owned by an African-American woman in their brand.

Ross has received multiple individual awards and recognitions and has served on numerous local and regional boards. In 2013, she assumed the role of chairwoman of the American International Automobile Dealers Association, representing Mercedes-Benz. Ross is also the face and force behind the Norma Ross Pink Ribbon Driven team that raises money for breast cancer research through the American Cancer Society.