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Evolution of The Winner Automotive Group Flipbook PDF
Michael Hynansky, second generation Winner Automotive Group president and CEO shares his story.
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Audi Wilmington and the Evolution of The Winner Automotive Group Michael Hynansky was exposed to the automotive industry at an early age. His father, John Hynansky, started the Winner Automotive Group in 1976 with the purchase of his first dealership, Holiday Lincoln-Mercury (see related story on page xx) While most kids were spending their free time from their studies playing with other children, Michael spent his adolescence following his father around, listening to and learning from him and making the rounds to the various dealerships in his growing auto group.
commercial and industrial real estate firm in Philadelphia—Cushman and Wakefield. After two successful and rewarding years, he took the opportunity to join his father’s company as a sales consultant in Dover, Delaware, where he was able to add to his automotive experience from childhood.
In a short time, Michael rose through the ranks, eventually holding the position of general manager of Winner Ford, Lincoln-Mercury and Mitsubishi in Newark, Delaware, which was nearby his good friend He also spent time as a and current University lot attendant and service Michael Hynansky President/CEO Winner Automotive Group and Whist Club Member writer as well as a Hommy Poursaied of The summer in Ukraine during his father’s early years in Martin Group. Michael fondly recalls those years as Ukraine as an automotive distributor. some of the most rewarding and challenging of his career. Competition was in full swing, the market was After high school, Michael obtained his Bachelor of performing at all-time highs and the operators on Science from Boston College where he majored in Cleveland Avenue were pushing the envelope to gain economics. From there he joined an international market share. 15
After nearly eight years as a general manager in Newark, Michael received a promotion to become the president of the Winner Automotive Group U.S. in its entirety. His father’s growth in Ukraine had continued unchecked and as his time commitments overseas expanded so did Michael’s in running the U.S. side of the group.
Audi’s fairly new and state-of-the-art facility until 2019 and is currently in the middle of a multi-million dollar renovation, which will expand and modernize Audi Wilmington with the addition of a six vehicle covered service drive, dedicated vehicle handover, café, sport and performance customization lounge and virtual racing center.
Construction began in early 2014 and in just over a year, operations began in the all new Winner Ford.
In 2012, not content with the current franchises under his belt, Michael began conversations with the former owner of then Dover Subaru and Volkswagen, Art Carlson, to purchase his two dealerships and underlying real As Ukraine expanded exponentially, Early in 2013, Michael purchased estate. After only a few months of his father decided to pass the torch Winner Ford and Winner Hyundai along negotiations, Michael had the more completely and in 2010, with the underlying real estate and began dealerships and real estate under Michael was successfully awarded to make plans for a massive overhaul of contract in July 2013. the position of dealer principal by the sales and service facilities. Winner As soon as the ink was dry on the Audi of America and became the Hyundai received a complete top to purchase, the clock was ticking on owner of Audi Wilmington bottom facelift and the existing Winner his latest agreements to build two alongside his sister Alexandra Ford facility was razed in order to make new brand-new dealerships. Hynansky-Vadas. room for a 40,000-square-foot brand new sales and service facility. Michael continued to operate in
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Left Paul Kempinski, president of Nemours/Alfred I. duPont Hospial for Children; Erika and Michael Hynansky; Freeman Miller, M.D.; Robert Atkins, M.D.; Natalia Bracaglia; and Roy Proujansky, M.D., executive vice president/chief executive of Delaware Valley Operations for Nemours.
Over the course of the next few years Michael completely remodeled the former building which had housed both franchises for Subaru, expanded the property lot by three acres and built an all new 25,000square-foot Volkswagen facility.
Winner Dover Collision Center.
Photo Courtesy of Nemours.
Today, Michael continues his role as owner and president of In 2015, Michael donated $1,000,000 to Nemours Hospital the dealerships previously mentioned under the umbrella, for Children to create the Winner Automotive Group, Nicholas T. Bracaglia Cerebral along with sitting on the Palsy Research Endowed Fund in honor of his cousin, Nicholas, corporate board of Winner Group Ukraine as a minority By the close of 2015, Michael who died in 2006 at the age of shareholder. was operating in four brand new 14 due to complications from state of the art facilities in Dover cerebral palsy. He quickly He also holds an interest in a as Winner Ford, Winner followed this up with an addilarge egg farm and owns several Hyundai, Winner Subaru and tional donation of $500,000 in other non-automotive companies Winner Volkswagen. 2019 to fund the Cerebral Palsy in real estate, insurance, and warranty underwriting. Additionally, Michael continued Endowed Chair position at Nemours. his operations in Wilmington at He generally spends his time at Audi Wilmington along with In total, Michael has donated The University and Whist Club owning two large body shop more than $2,000,000 since enjoying a meal and cocktails operations in both Wilmington establishing his foundation in with his father and and Dover known as Winner 2015 to various causes catching up. Premier Collision Center and supporting his stated mission.
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