Family-Owned Business Recognition Dinner

Description

The Regional Chamber, in collaboration with Sapientia Ventures, Huntington, HBK and Brouse McDowell, will honor 20 family-owned businesses at the Valley’s third annual Family-Owned Business Recognition Dinner, to be held March 1 at The Lake Club in Poland. This event is a continuation of the Family-Owned Business Program, an informative panel series that launched in 2021 and culminated in the inaugural recognition dinner.

 The program was designed to help family businesses of all sizes and industries with succession planning, including maximizing value, understanding tax implications and myriad other aspects during the transition of a business. The dinner event showcases the successes and importance of family-owned businesses in our community, and at our 2024 event,

Rob Cochran, president & CEO of #1 Cochran, will address our nominees and audience with a keynote presentation. 

Of the 20 selected honorees, one will be chosen from each category as the recipient of a special award.

About Rob Cochran: 

As #1 Cochran’s Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Rob Cochran is the driving force behind the largest automotive dealer group in Western Pennsylvania and Northeast Ohio. A second-generation owner, Rob joined the company as executive vice president in 1987 and assumed the role of president/CEO in 1992. He transitioned to chairman/CEO in November 2023.

Under Rob’s leadership, the company has grown to include more than 35 new-vehicle franchises representing 19 brands across seven PA counties and two in Ohio. Through its various sales, service, parts, collision and administrative operations, #1 Cochran employs more than 1,800 team members.

Widely recognized as an industry innovator, Rob was one of the first automotive retailers in the country to create a radically transparent business model, eliminating consumer pain points and engendering trust among buyers. He also led the company’s efforts to become a first mover in automotive e-commerce, enabling customers to complete any or all of the buying steps online.