Meet Jim Moran
 MISSION: The Jim Moran Institute works to nurture the growth and development of entrepreneurship in the global marketplace through practical assistance, applied education, and public recognition.
JIM MORAN INSTITUTE:
The Jim Moran Institute (JMI) was established in 1995 through generous donations from automobile industry legend Jim Moran and his wife, Jan, and JM Family Enterprises, Inc. The donations were matched by the State of Florida, creating a fully funded endowment. This has enabled JMI to provide a wide range of services to the entrepreneur at no charge.
JIM MORAN: (August 8, 1918 - April 24, 2007)
From modest beginnings in Chicago, Jim Moran's entrepreneurial spirit came alive when he began selling soda pop at sand lot baseball games at the age of seven. As he neared adulthood in 1939, he saved $360 to buy a Sinclair gas station, soon turning it into the highest volume and most profitable Sinclair station in Chicago. His skill and innovation in advertising and marketing helped him build his Hudson and then Ford dealerships into the world's largest. He was a pioneer in the use of television to sell cars, and came to be known as "Jim Moran the Courtesy Man." He became the only automobile dealer ever to be featured on the cover of TIME magazine on March 24, 1961.
Jim Moran was presented with the prestigious Horatio Alger Award in 1996. FSU awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters to him in 1997 to recognize his marketing talent and skills. On October 11, 2005, Jim Moran was inducted into the Automotive Hall of Fame in Dearborn, Michigan. It is the highest honor bestowed in the international motor vehicle industry, and is reserved for those who have significantly influenced the automotive industry and are distinguished for their creativity, toil and genius.
Jim Moran's desire to give back to the community led to the creation of The Jim Moran Foundation in 2000. Its mission is "to improve the quality of life for the youth and families of Florida through the support of innovative programs and opportunities that meet the ever-changing needs of the community."
Jim Moran was the founder of the most successful automobile distributorship in the world, Southeast Toyota Distributors, LLC (SET), with the rights to distribute Toyota products in the Southeast United States. SET's parent company, JM Family Enterprises Inc., is ranked by Forbes as the 22nd largest privately held company in the U.S. and is currently ranked No. 23 by FORTUNE® as one of the 100 Best Companies to Work For, its 10th consecutive year on the list.
For more information, visit www.jimmoranfoundation.org and www.jmfamily.com
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Location & Hours
850/644-3372