PC(USA) - Women's Ministries: Norma J. Ross


Norma J. Ross Women of Faith Award Recipient

Norma J. Ross	Norma J. Ross is president of Bob Ross Dealerships of Centerville, Ohio, which includes Buick, GMC and Mercedes-Benz franchises. Upon her husband's death five years ago, she took over the thriving business and made it even stronger. She is the only African American female owner of a Mercedes-Benz franchise in the world and sales in her Buick dealership rank tenth nationally. In 1999 her dealership was ranked 154th among the top 500 woman-owned companies by Working Woman. In 2000, Bob Ross Dealerships was recognized by Black Enterprise as the minority dealership of the year. Her business was the first in southern Ohio to receive a Governor's Award for Worker's Compensation. In 2000, Mrs. Ross was one of four women to receive the Ohio Governor's Award for Women's Excellence in Enterprise.

At the Bob Ross Dealerships Mrs. Ross fosters a sense of community amongst the 144 employees, bringing each employee a sense of belonging. With Norma's training and guidance, her daughter is dealer principal and her son is in charge of field operations for the dealerships. Her respect for community extends to Dayton and beyond. She and Bob Ross Dealerships sponsored the first minor league baseball team in Dayton and organized a Junior and Senior High All-Star Game to afford the opportunity for scouts to recruit for college and professional teams. In the fall of 2000, she was elected to a four-year term on the Board of Trustees of Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary. Mrs. Ross's business accomplishments and civic contributions have been widely recognized. She sits on the steering committee of the National Minority Business Council. In 2002, Earlham College bestowed the Outstanding Alumna Award on her. Norma J. Ross is a member of Trinity Presbyterian Church in Dayton, Ohio. She lives in Centerville, Ohio.


How My Christian Faith Influences My Work

As a woman, African American and one of only a few female owners of auto dealerships, I am a threefold minority. I pray daily that my actions will demonstrate how blessed I feel to have another day to experience. My faith gives me the confidence to deal with the concerns of each day. Many days I do not know if the choices I make are the best, but I am always willing to work through the demands made of me and the consequences of my decisions. Since the choices that I make affect many people, I give serious thought to all decisions.		Norma J. Ross. Photo by Danny Bolin.

I practice Christian principles in my role as president of the Bob Ross Dealerships. I follow General Motors and Mercedes-Benz procedures that govern the franchise. If I feel the need to question these procedures, I seek answers that take into account the operations and persons that are affected. During these times I am still and listen for God's directions. I have faith in my staff to manage our business and I believe that each person is an integral part of our operation. National economic predictions govern many of my decisions locally. As long as we do our best to provide the highest quality service, we will always be one of the top auto dealers in the nation. God has guided me these five years as I have been blessed to maintain my husband's successful business. We have expanded the business and have received national awards in retail sales, customer satisfaction, and community involvement. Our daughter, Jenell, and son, Robert Jr., both love the automotive business. It is a blessing to have children who want to continue our family legacy. While there are many advantages to operating a family business, we are faced with many challenges. Our faith is continually tested as we interact with our dealership family. I have no doubt that as long as we work hard, God will continue to direct us as to how our business can profit from all of our efforts. —Norma J. Ross



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