Delaney Automotive Group will be honored with the Distinguished Family Business Award by the Indiana University of Pennsylvania Center for Family Business at the annual awards ceremony on September 26, 2016.
The ceremony will be held at Eberly Auditorium, inside the Eberly College of Business and Information Technology at IUP. It begins at 5:00 p.m., and is open to the public.
The award is given annually to a family that has achieved excellence in its industry, contributed significantly to its community, and successfully succeeded ownership and management to the second generation or beyond. The business is chosen by Robert Camp, dean of the Eberly College of Business and Information Technology, and committee members. This recognition was created to increase awareness of the importance of family-owned businesses, which employ more than 62 percent of America's work force and produce 64 percent of the gross domestic product.
Jack and Susan (Snell) Delaney opened Delaney Chevrolet in downtown Indiana on July 19, 1971. Since then, the business has grown to include several more locations in Indiana, including Hyundai and Subaru franchises in White Township. The Delaney family also purchased a Chevrolet dealership in Greensburg in 1983 and converted it into one of its own, and later added Nissan and Volvo to its inventory.
The original Delaney Chevrolet business opened with five employees. As of this year, the business group employs more than 360 people across its locations.
The Delaneys have three children—sons Jack and Tom, who are the dealer operators at the Indiana and Greensburg locations, respectively, and daughter Beth, an attorney living in Philadelphia. They have six grandchildren, with a seventh on the way. Susan Delaney is a 1964 graduate of IUP.
Jack and Susan have been active supporters of IUP students and athletics throughout the years. Susan has been a longtime member of the IUP Council of Trustees.
Previous winners of the Distinguished Family Business Award include: 422 Home Sales; Benzel Pretzel Bakery; Colonial Motor Mart; Diamond Drugs; Gorell Enterprises; Howard Hanna Real Estate Services; Indiana Printing and Publishing Company; James Industries, Slinky Toys; Keystone Foam Corporation; McLanahan Corporation; Seven Springs Mountain Resort; Snyder Associated Companies; Wayne S. Lockard Family; Sheetz Convenience Stores; and the Reschini Group.
A tree is dedicated with a permanent plaque and installed in the Allegheny Arboretum at IUP in the family's honor.