Georgia Automobile Dealers Board (GADA) is pleased to welcome Lehman Franklin, III of Franklin Automotive in Statesboro as its 2022-2023 Chairman of the Board. His term began on July 1, 2022. Franklin has served on the GADA Board since 2015 and held the position of Secretary-Treasurer in 2020-2021.
Franklin Automotive History
Franklin Automotive was established in 1940 by H. Lehman Franklin, Sr. and currently holds Chevy, Buick, GMC and Toyota franchises in two locations. Franklin's first experience in the automotive industry began in high school when he washed cars at the dealerships. He graduated from high school in 1993. Franklin obtained a bachelor's degree in Business Administration at the Citadel Military College in Charleston, South Carolina. He then earned a Masters in Business Administration from Georgia Southern University.
After earning his Masters degree, Franklin was a missionary in Argentina. Later, he helped establish Marine Reach Ministries in Europe and worked for 4 years as a Commercial Marine Captain and Ministry Director. Upon returning home, he went back to work for Franklin Automotive Group. He is now the Vice President of the group and is the General Manager of the Toyota dealership.
Franklin is a member of the Statesboro Rotary and has served on the Board of Directors. He is also the Georgia House Representative-Elect for House District 160 and will serve in the Georgia General Assembly beginning in January 2023. Franklin resides in Stilson, Georgia with his wife Lorie.
GADA Chairman of the Board
Franklin's goal as Chairman is to continue to share the benefits of the franchise dealer system to lawmakers and the public and to ensure that they understand the importance of dealers to consumers and communities.
Congratulations to Lehman Franklin on his new role as Chair and to all of the 2022-2023 GADA Board members!
To learn more about Lehman, please visit www.lehmanfranklin.com.
