Lee Carney, 38
General manager, All Star Automotive Group
Though he has an accomplished career in the automotive business, Lee Carney says the vehicle to much of his success in business and life has been basketball. Being a standout on the Belaire High School team led him to attend Southeastern Louisiana University, where he lettered on the basketball team for four years before being the first person in his family to graduate from college in 2001. He eventually started his career with All Star Automotive Group, working his way up from finance, sales and service, to being named a general manager at the age of 32. Today, he oversees five dealerships, balancing the demands of his job with spending time with his wife and two children. For the past three years he has served on the executive committee and investor development boards of the Baton Rouge Area Chamber, and is active in many of the charitable organizations that All Star is involved with.
NAME THREE MAJOR PROFESSIONAL ACCOMPLISHMENTS
- Playing college basketball.
- Being the first person in my immediate family to graduate college.
- Becoming a general manager at All Star at age 32.
TELL US ABOUT YOUR VOLUNTEER & COMMUNITY AFFILIATIONS AND INVOLVEMENT.
Baton Rouge Area Chamber executive committee and investor development boards.
NAME ONE BOOK THAT HAS INSPIRED YOU PROFESSIONALLY.
How Good Do You Want To Be? by Nick Saban.
WHAT WAS YOUR FIRST JOB, HOW OLD WERE YOU AND WHAT DID YOU LEARN FROM IT?
Lee Michaels Fine Jewelry. I learned responsibility.
WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE PLACE FOR A BUSINESS LUNCH IN BATON ROUGE, AND WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE DISH THERE?
Gino’s Restaurant; seafood cannelloni.
WHAT DO YOU CONSIDER YOUR GREATEST ACHIEVEMENT?
My wife and my children.
WHAT HAS BEEN THE MOST FULFILLING MOMENT IN YOUR CAREER SO FAR?
When I was promoted to a general manager at All Star, because all my hard work paid off.
WHAT WAS YOUR PROFESSIONAL “AHA MOMENT?”
When I realized my boss, Matt McKay, trusted my opinion.
WHAT IS YOUR BEST PRODUCTIVITY HACK?
Late at night after everyone is asleep, I think my best then.
WHAT HAVE YOU LEARNED THE HARD WAY?
That nothing in life is going to be given to you.
HOW DO YOU TYPICALLY DRESS FOR WORK—CASUAL? PROFESSIONAL? BUSINESS CASUAL? OTHER?
Business casual.
WHAT PART OF YOUR JOB DO YOU LOVE? WHAT PART DO YOU HATE?
Every day is going to present a new challenge. It’s never going to be the same.
WHAT IS THE BEST COMPLIMENT YOU’VE EVER GOTTEN FROM A COLLEAGUE OR BOSS?
When people ask for my advice or opinion about something, because that means they respect and value what I am doing.
MAC OR PC?
Mac.
HOW MANY TEXTS DO YOU SEND ON AN AVERAGE DAY? HOW MANY EMAILS?
50 to 75 texts, and 100 to 200 emails a day.
ARE YOU ACTIVE ON SOCIAL MEDIA? IF SO, ON WHICH PLATFORMS ARE YOU MOST ACTIVE?
I am not active at all.
HOW LOW WILL YOU ALLOW YOUR REMAINING PHONE BATTERY LIFE GET IN % BEFORE YOU HAVE AN ANXIETY ATTACK?
1%.
HOW MANY UNREAD MESSAGES ARE IN YOUR INBOX RIGHT NOW?
82.
WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE APP AT THE MOMENT?
ESPN.
WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE TECHNOLOGICAL ADVANCEMENT OF THE PAST DECADE?
DVR.
WHAT TECHNOLOGY DO YOU WISH WAS NEVER INVENTED?
Text messages. It keeps people from talking or interacting over the phone, or face to face.
WHAT TIME DO YOU GET UP ON WORKDAY MORNINGS?
7 a.m.
BREAKFAST AT HOME? BREAKFAST ON THE GO? BREAKFAST AT YOUR DESK? NO BREAKFAST AT ALL?
Breakfast on the go or no breakfast at all.
WHEN DID YOU REALIZE YOU WERE “GROWN UP”?
When my son was born.
WHAT WAS THE BEST VACATION YOU HAVE EVER TAKEN?
Barcelona, Spain, with my wife, Kristen.
FAVORITE GIFT YOU WERE GIVEN AS A CHILD?
My first basketball goal and ball. Because of basketball I had many doors opened for me.
WHAT’S A NICKNAME YOUR FRIENDS OR FAMILY MEMBERS HAVE FOR YOU?
Leebo.
FAVORITE DRINK?
A nice glass of red wine.
WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE MOVIE?
Remember the Titans and Braveheart.
WHAT SCARED YOU AS A CHILD, AND WHAT SCARES YOU NOW?
Snakes.
IF YOU COULD GO BACK IN TIME, WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE YOUR 18-YEAR-OLD SELF?
Give everything you do 100% in life and with your family.
PETS?
American bulldog, Duke.
TELL US ABOUT A MOMENT THAT CHANGED YOUR LIFE.
My wife and I were in a bad wreck together and that changed my life more than anything.
WHAT’S THE NEXT BIG PERSONAL OR CAREER CHALLENGE YOU PLAN TO TAKE ON?
I don’t have anything planned, but I will attack anything that comes my way 100% and with a positive attitude.
WHAT WOULD BE YOUR ADVICE FOR FUTURE FORTY UNDER 40 HONOREES?
You’re only going to be as good as the people around you. Help make others successful and you will be successful.
DO YOU PLAN TO BE IN THE CAPITAL REGION FIVE YEARS FROM NOW? WHY OR WHY NOT?
Yes, of course. I was born and raised here. We love Baton Rouge.
WHAT IS YOUR GREATEST HOPE FOR BATON ROUGE?
That Baton Rouge will continue to prosper and grow.
