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.