SALT LAKE CITY — For years, Greg Miller built a solid reputation in the local community shepherding the business empire started by his late father Larry H. Miller.

Now he wants to try his own hand at entrepreneurism.

Miller announced Wednesday the acquisition of his first automobile dealership with the purchase of Bob Baker Toyota in San Diego, California. The dealership will be independent of the Larry H. Miller Group of Companies and renamed Greg Miller Toyota under a newly created enterprise — Greg Miller Automotive San Diego.

“It has been a dream of mine for nearly 30 years to have my own dealership,” Miller said. “When an associate at Toyota approached and encouraged me to pursue this opportunity, I realized this was a win-win ­­— a way to fulfill my dream and to continue to be a part of the community I love here in Utah.”

Miller said he will continue to be actively involved on the LHM Group board of directors and in serving as the Utah Jazz representative on the NBA Board of Governors. He plans to maintain his Salt Lake City residence and continue serving in several religious and civic capacities, including on the board of the Utah Office of Tourism.

30 years experience

Having started sweeping floors at the lot at his father’s first car dealership — Toyota of Murray — Miller has more than 30 years of experience in the car business in a variety of capacities, including management at dealerships within the Utah-based LHM Group.

“I’m excited to begin this new venture in San Diego with Toyota, a brand I have decades of experience and familiarity with,” he said.

Because the LHM Group already has established Toyota dealerships within the region, Miller said he had to look outside of the area to find a store that was for sale — though not too far.

“I didn’t want to fly more than a couple of hours,” he told the Deseret News. “California was attractive to me.”

Not long ago, Miller said he received a call from a business associate alerting him of the chance to purchase a dealership that was coming up for sale.

“I jumped on a plane the next day,” he said.

Living out of a suitcase

With the purchase now officially complete, during the initial phase of ownership, he said he plans to split time between his home base in Utah and in Southern California.

“We bought a small (condo) a few minutes from the dealership and close to the airport, so I can get back and forth efficiently,” Miller said. “I’ll have to live out of a suitcase for a while.”

While he is spreading his entrepreneurial wings with the new venture, Miller insists he has no plans to distance himself from his Salt Lake roots.

“Our family’s commitment to Salt Lake City and the state of Utah is as strong as it’s ever been,” he said. “This is just the natural evolution of things for me in particular.”

Welcome departure

Running his own dealership, he said, will be a welcome departure from the responsibility of leading a multibillion dollar corporation.

“It is more exhilarating to me to be in a position where I’m running one little dealership, where every decision I make can have an impact on the outcome of the business — for better or worse,” he said. “That’s exciting to me.”

Miller stepped down as CEO of the Miller Group in March of last year after nearly seven years at the helm. At the time, the privately owned enterprise comprised more than 80 businesses operating in 46 states with about 10,000 employees and total assets valued at $2.6 billion — including 52 car dealerships and other properties that generate annual overall revenues of around $4.3 billion, according to the company website. During his tenure as CEO, revenue and income for the LHM Group more than doubled.

Those kinds of results — particularly during the recession — give family matriarch and LHM Group owner Gail Miller great confidence that her son will do well as the head of his own personal enterprise.

“Greg’s new venture allows him to embrace his entrepreneurial side while remaining deeply committed to his LHM Group board position and the Utah community,” she said. “He has the family’s and my full support as he pursues this opportunity.”

She said he has always been a voracious student of learning about business, and is meticulous about taking notes and absorbing knowledge.

“Greg is totally prepared,” she said. “There will be areas that he hasn’t had to deal with before, but he has what it takes to do (well) and he will find a way to make things happen.”

Gail Miller noted that California is a highly regulated state that could present some challenges to a new business owner. But the LHM Group already has a Toyota dealership in Corona, California, so her son should be able to navigate those issues as they arise.

“Toyota came to Greg when they knew he was looking for a place (to purchase),” she said. “They have confidence that he can be the kind of dealer that they need there. To me, that’s really a plus.”

She added that she believes her late husband would be pleased about his son branching out on his own.

“He’d be thrilled,” she said. “That’s what he trained the boys for and taught them to be in control of their own lives, make correct decisions and use your talents to go forward.”

As a mother, watching her oldest son embark on a new endeavor is especially rewarding.

“I admire him for taking this step,” she said. “He is fully capable of doing things that will make him a success. I’m just really proud of him.”

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