Frederick Albury recently received the Lighthouse Award from the St Augustine's Alumni Association (SACA) for "Alumni Achievement in Business" from SACA reps O. Moxey and J. Coakley-Thurston
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Former longstanding president of the Bahamas Motor
Dealers Association (BMDA) L. Frederick Albury recently received the
Lighthouse Award for his achievements in business by the St. Augustine's
College Alumni Association (SACA).
He
currently heads the Auto Mall Group of Companies with his brother Jeff.
It includes Executive Motors, dealers of the Toyota and Lexus brands;
Quality Auto, which promotes Hyundai and Suzuki vehicles; and Omega
Motors established in 2011 (headed by his son Lionel James), which
covers the BMW and Mini brands. The company also has a branch in
Freeport, Grand Bahama. In 2003, Quality Auto Sales Ltd and Nassau Motor
Company came together to start Abaco Motor Mall Ltd to represent both
companies in the Abaco market. The Auto Mall group of companies also
offers used cars, but due to the rise in used Japanese car imports and
changes in the market, it is focusing less on its used car sales.
Meanwhile, its fleet of hybrid vehicles continues to expand, and it is
the leader in hybrid auto sales in the country. The company offers a
parts and service section. Today, the umbrella company supports around
100 employees.
(l-r) grandson Isaac Fox, daughter Adiza Anne, Frederick Albury, wife Daisy, daughter Natasha and son Lionel James
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SACA gave Albury the
award noting that he was able to build an empire in the industry that
remains one of the biggest and reliable to date. The association noted
that his achievements were to be commended, considering that life was
not easy for him and he had to start working at the age of 12, making
just $2 a day at Nassau Bicycle Company. He went on to become a packing
boy at a grocery store before he began working after school, on weekends
and holidays for Kenneth KC Cartwright at his used car sales lot, in
which his elder brother had also invested as a partner. Eventually, he
and his brother were able to start selling cars of their own at a gas
station lot. He learned everything he could about cars inside out and
also learned about marketing, accounting, and other aspects of running a
business.
"With a St. Augustine's College high
school diploma in hand, a love of cars in his heart and determination
to boot, Fred Albury turned his dream of owning a car business into an
automobile dynasty," said Jannifer Coakley-Thurston, SACA
representative.
"It is for this reason that he
was awarded SACA's Achievement in Business Award. His business acumen
cannot be refuted... the proof is in the pudding, as we say. The Automat
is a very successful, well known venture, not only in automotive
circles, but in the business world as a whole."
Albury's
wife, Daisy was on hand to support him as he received the award, along
with his grandson Isaac, son Lionel James, and daughters Natasha and
Adiza.
He considers the keys to his business
success to include working with passion, putting in extra hours,
continuously learning and keeping up with new business trends, paying
yourself a salary and sticking to it instead of milking the company's
profits, and always considering the welfare of the consumer.
