David Parkhill is President and CEO of Sullivan-Parkhill Holdings, Inc. He was elected as the 2023 Chairman of the Illinois Automobile Dealers Association (IADA) during its annual meeting for the election of officers, held in November 2022. Previously, David served as IADA Vice Chairman, Treasurer and Secretary. David has served on the boards of the Don Moyer Boys and Girls Club, The Community Foundation of East Central Illinois and the Champaign Country Club. He is a founding member and Chair of NCM 20 Group and former Chair of NADA 20 Group GC06.

David will be married to his wife, Katie, for 35 years in June of this year. He has two children: Joseph Parkhill in Denver, CO, and Rachel Sanvidge in Champaign, IL, and also has a grandson Brodie. He has many hobbies: skiing, mountain biking, hunting and golf, to name a few.

We had a chance to sit down with David and talk about his life, career and thoughts on his chairmanship. We enjoyed getting to know David and hope you do as well.

Education and Career

David grew up in Champaign, IL, and fondly remembers his first job: “I grew up in the auto business, and at 12 years old, I had my first job at the family dealership. I earned $2.00 per hour and always had money in my pocket for a soda or an ice cream cone.”

In 1984, David graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Finance from Indiana University and began a career in the banking industry, but plans changed. David missed the auto industry, and in 1991, he returned to Champaign. “I wanted to run a business and own a business, and this was an opportunity for me,” David said. “I had grown up here and liked the car business, what I knew of it, so I moved back.”

David had been back for seven years when the next challenge arose. General Motors wanted dealerships in the same market to consolidate. Sullivan Chevrolet was the only compatible partner in town, but it had Volvo, which Chevrolet didn’t want in one of its stores. And, “Oldsmobile and Cadillac did not want Mercedes-Benz in there,” David remembered.

“We had to pivot as a company. We spent a lot of time figuring out how we were going to do that,” David said. In the end, it was decided that the merger of the two would create Sullivan-Parkhill Automotive, Inc. at 440 West Anthony Drive, the region’s largest Chevrolet, Oldsmobile and Cadillac dealer, and Sullivan-Parkhill Imports, Inc., selling Mercedes-Benz and Volvo vehicles from 401 West Marketview Drive. The two companies merged. David, his cousin John and Kevin Sullivan took the reigns, and history was made. Sullivan-Parkhill Automotive, Inc. is 25 years old this year.

Carrying a Family Legacy Forward

David is a fourth-generation dealer and carries forward a legacy rich in history, as this year marks 100 years since the opening of Parkhill Motor Sales.

Parkhill Motor Sales, Champaign’s longest-running car dealership, was started by David’s great-grandfather, T.D. Parkhill in 1923. The world was much different at that time; David shared, “If you wanted a drink after hours, you were out of luck, as it was the fourth year of Prohibition. If you wanted a new suit, Jos. Kuhn & Co. had some on sale for $37.50. If you were looking to pick up dinner on the way home, a pound of pork chops would run you around 20 cents at Abbott & Wells on Main Street. If you wanted a new Chevrolet Superior Utility Coupe — with its extra-wide doors, high hood, and single seat with room for two, all for the low, low price of $680 — one could head on down to the Flatiron Building on North Hickory Street, home to the new Parkhill Motor Sales.”

The family business has had to adapt time and again, surviving a world war, the Great Depression, 12 other recessions, two oil crises, 17 presidencies, General Motors filing for bankruptcy, and more recently, a global pandemic. The family has persevered, and in David’s words, “Things couldn’t have turned out better.”

Industry Insights

Looking ahead to what this year will bring and the challenges that the industry faces, David said, “Dealers face a number of issues; one being direct sales by the OEM’s which is in violation of the state laws of Illinois.” David firmly believes that dealerships are the best way to sell cars and are able to provide a level of service that the consumer cannot receive from the direct sales model. Dealerships provide choices for products and services that benefits the consumer.

The second challenge David brought up was the FTC Rules — which some think are unfair and an overreach of the federal government, “making it difficult for the consumer to buy a car online and use the digital process.” He continued, “It’s just not well thought out, so we’re trying to get the FTC along with every other dealer in the country, every other state, to rethink some of what they’re trying to do and what they’re proposing for all of us to do.” The FTC Rule was supposed to go into effect this past December, but it’s been suspended for six months to get a better handle on what needs to happen and what’s practical going forward.

The third challenge he foresees is consumers’ adoption of EVs and how dealers service and maintain cars going forward. “EVs will create a whole industry of batteries — trying to extend the life of batteries and getting better range for the consumer to alleviate some of the range anxiety — and there’s going be more infrastructure that needs to be built to help facilitate the charging out there,” David stated.

Leadership

“My father, Bergen Parkhill, was the IADA Chairman in 1998 and was always a great supporter and asset to the Illinois dealership industry,” David reflected. “He set a good example, and I have been an active member and supporter of the association for many years, so it only makes sense it’s my turn to lead and contribute.” David went on to say that he wants to help the association in any way he can, and “leadership seems like the logical next step.” He knows that the franchise system is essential to the success of Illinois dealerships, and supporting IADA and what they stand for is paramount to the future.

“We need engaged members who are willing to contact their legislative representatives and discuss issues,” he stated. “Representatives don’t realize the severity of some of these issues, so it’s crucial that members make their voices heard and discuss the issues that are directly affecting them. Together, we can properly bring the issues to the representatives’ attention.”

David is looking forward to engaging with members this year and hopes that the membership becomes well-versed in the issues and makes their voices heard. He went on to say, “The IADA team is very good at knowing the issues and helping people understand those issues” and “IADA wants to help dealers in any way they can.”

In Conclusion

David has learned many things throughout his experiences with dealerships and the industry. If he had to pick three pieces of advice, he would say:

1. There are always two sides to every story; know both sides before making a decision.
2. Every big decision has unintended consequences, so be prepared.
3. Do not confuse effort with success.

David shared “that it’s a real privilege to serve as IADA Chairman and to contribute to history — being part of this organization is important to me and the future success of IADA is something that I care about.”