Industry & Services >> CEO Interviews >> September 25, 2000
BARRY SIEGEL, Chairman of the Board and CEO of First Priority Group,
Inc., has been with the company since its inception and will continue to
manage the general direction of the company while seeking new
synergistic opportunities, handle the negotiations with the financial
community and possible mergers, partnerships and/or acquisitions. Mr.
Siegel founded the parent company, First Priority Group, Inc., in 1985.
In 1986, the parent went public through a reverse blind pool acquisition
and raised $1.2 million. In 1995, the parent became profitable and was
named one of America's finest service companies by Inc. Magazine and MCI
in a national competition. In a recent study conducted by Ernst & Young,
it was determined that the parent's services far exceeded Ernst &
Young's 'Gold' standard of performance, which is further evidence of the
parent's outstanding achievements. In 1997 Mr. Siegel raised an
additional $6 million for the parent company. In 1998, sales reached
$14.5 million. Mr. Siegel gained his auto industry expertise as an
executive in the franchised auto repair center business. As a Certified
Sales Trainer, Mr. Siegel was Director of Franchise Sales for Gibraltar
Transmissions from 1980 to 1983. His duties encompassed everything from
site location to finding and evaluating franchise prospects and
assessing their ability to manage a franchise. As Franchise Director, he
opened a new franchise every few weeks, handled all resales and
financial negotiations. Prior to becoming Franchise Director, Mr. Siegel
was the company's national troubleshooter, responsible for optimizing
the results for problematic stores. Profile
its history, developments, markets, and your view of the firm's future
potential?
Mr. Siegel: First Priority Group has
