[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 52 (Thursday, March 29, 2012)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E501-E502]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 COMMEMORATING THE INDUCTION OF PHILIP P. SMITH INTO NOVA SOUTHEASTERN 
              UNIVERSITY'S 2012 ENTREPRENEUR HALL OF FAME

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. ALCEE L. HASTINGS

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, March 29, 2012

  Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize an 
exceptional entrepreneur and my dear friend, Philip P. Smith. As the 
president and chief executive officer of Phil Smith Management, Inc., 
he is better known as the founder of Phil Smith Chevrolet, a successful 
General Motors (GM) dealership in my Congressional district that serves 
the greater South Florida area from Palm Beach to Broward and Miami-
Dade Counties. On April 18, 2012, Phil will be inducted into the 2012 
Entrepreneur Hall of Fame at the H. Wayne Huizenga School of Business 
and Entrepreneurship at Nova Southeastern University (NSU) for his 
longstanding business leadership and community involvement.
  The NSU Entrepreneur Hall of Fame was established in 1990 to honor 
the lifetime achievements of outstanding entrepreneurs who contributed 
not only to the growth of a phenomenal entrepreneurial business, but 
have also demonstrated a willingness to contribute time, effort, and 
financial resources to programs and activities that enhance the quality 
of life in the communities in which they live. For more than 30 years, 
Phil has been serving the South Florida community as a business leader 
and philanthropist. His first equity venture was in a Toyota dealership 
in Homestead, Florida in 1980. With a direct hands-on sales and 
management approach, Phil has since built his organization from the 
ground up and now operates 14 auto dealerships throughout Florida, 
Georgia, and North Carolina.
  Phil is responsible for the overall operations of Phil Smith 
Management, Inc., including working with the equity partners at all 
locations and orchestrating its acquisitions and growth strategies. 
Thanks to entrepreneurs like him, GM has again become the world's top-
selling automaker. Phil Smith Chevrolet has consistently ranked as one 
of the top dealerships in Broward County in a variety of GM categories, 
including customer satisfaction, service, and vehicle fleet and GM 
parts sales. Furthermore, in recent years, Phil Smith Chevrolet has 
proven to be a true economic linchpin to distressed areas in Broward 
County. Phil takes great pride in the fact that most of his 104 
employees have worked for the dealership for many years and live in and 
have strong relationships with the surrounding community.
  The Phil Smith Automotive Group has received numerous awards, 
including the J.D. Powers Quality Dealer Award, Toyota President's 
Award, Ford Chairman's Award, and Acura Dealership of Distinction 
recognition. Phil is also past chairman of the Southeast Toyota Dealer 
Council, a past member of the National Toyota Dealer Council, past 
president of the South Florida Auto-Truck Dealers Association, and a 
past director of the Florida Automobile Dealers Association.
  Raised in South Florida, Phil is well-known for his civic and 
charitable involvement. He is actively involved with the Cystic 
Fibrosis Foundation, Humane Society of Broward County,

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American Cancer Society, Make a Wish Foundation, and other 
organizations. In addition, Phil is Co-Chairman of the South Florida 
Super Bowl Host Committee and has board positions with the Orange Bowl 
Committee and the Broward Workshop, a nonprofit organization that 
represents the interests of 100 Broward businesses and professions.
  Mr. Speaker, it is my distinct honor and privilege to recognize Phil 
Smith on this special occasion. His business leadership and commitment 
to the South Florida community is a testament to American 
entrepreneurship, and I can think of no one more deserving than Phil to 
be admitted to Nova Southeastern University's Entrepreneur Hall of 
Fame. I am so pleased to pay tribute to my dear friend, and wish him 
great success for many years to come.

                          ____________________