First of two parts

LAYTON — The oldest son of the late Larry H. Miller started learning the ropes of what is now a sprawling business empire at a young age.

Greg Miller, now 43, can say he has been working for nearly 30 years. At the tender age of 13, he started in the family business by sweeping the parking lot, placing name plates on vehicles, and doing other assorted chores.

Later, he worked in the parts and sales departments of that dealership, later moving on to “nearly every facet” of the now far-flung business. He addressed several hundred business people and civic officials during the Davis Chamber of Commerce Business Expo at the Davis Conference Center, last week.

Miller has worked for the finance and insurance companies related to the 26 dealerships, Miller Family Real Estate, president of the old Golden Eagles franchise, general manager of his dad’s original Toyota dealership, Larry H. Miller Toyota in Murray, where it all started.

“It was April 29, 1976, when my dad signed to purchase his first dealership,” Miller recounted. Then a young boy of about 9, he was on hand on that fateful day, he told the group.

“We lived in Colorado at the time, and were in Utah visiting my grandparents. My dad kept asking this guy if he would sell him the dealership,” he said.

“They scratched out the deal on the table of the (El Farol) restaurant,” Miller said.

Some 30 years later, he was asked to move to the family management company, on the 10th floor of Jordan Commons. The family’s four brothers all have jobs there, while his lone sister has pursued other interests in the Tremonton area.

“It was a lot less defined and was frustrating initially,” Greg Miller said of moving to that corporate atmosphere. He had always learned and assumed very defined responsibilities – the day-to-day management of a particular operation.

That stint was followed by three years at the helm of the Miller Sports Park in Tooele County. Then, with his dad’s health failing, Greg Miller was asked by his dad to assume CEO over the family business interests.

“My dad knew what he wanted and would get it. He led the charge,” his son said. “Ultimately, it’s still my decision” on major dealings, he said. But Greg Miller prefers taking input from the 12-member board of directors.

“I like to let their energy and creativity flow,” he said of board members and the employees he works with. “It’s been really neat to see people rise to the occasion.

“I like to eliminate obstacles, provide people with the resources they need, and let them go to work,” Miller said.

That faith in employees and their obvious ability was aptly demonstrated, recently. Two dealerships were sold, one for $17 million and the other for $24 million.

“I was able to delegate deals of that magnitude,” he said with satisfaction.

Miller likes to keep grounded by visiting as many of the businesses as he can, interacting with the nearly 8,000 employees in the business empire, which stretches into 11 Western states. It generates revenues of $3 billion on more than $2 billion in assets.

“I’ve been to 23 of the dealerships. It’s fun to rub shoulders with our employees. The most important thing to me is to express gratitude for a job well done,” he said.

“I would like to crank up the intensity. We’re doing more work than ever,” Miller said. “Our CFO said that rate used to be set by my dad’s ability to process. I like seeing everybody rise to the occasion.”

tbusselberg@davisclipper.com