Haig Partners Advises Galeana Auto Group on Sale of Multiple Dealerships in Florida and South Carolina
Haig Partners LLC, a premier buy-sell advisory firm specializing in automotive, heavy truck, and RV dealerships across the United States, has successfully served as the exclusive sell-side advisor for Galeana Auto Group in the sale of several of its dealerships. In a strategic move that strengthens the auto retail landscape in both Florida and South Carolina, Haig Partners guided the sale of Galeana Kia of Fort Myers and Galeana Chrysler-Dodge-Jeep-RAM-FIAT of Fort Myers to Bill Nero Automotive Group.
Haig Partners has consistently established itself as the go-to advisory firm for dealership transactions, particularly in Florida, where it has advised on the purchase or sale of 97 dealerships—more than any other firm in the market. In addition to the Fort Myers transactions, Haig Partners also facilitated the sale of Galeana Chrysler-Dodge-Jeep-RAM of Mount Pleasant, South Carolina, in July 2025. This South Carolina dealership was acquired by Jack Salzman and Conrad Letson. Salzman brings extensive industry experience, having previously owned CDJR of Lake Norman and CDJR of Gastonia, while Letson was a partner in several dealerships with Greenway Auto Group. These transactions exemplify Haig Partners’ ability to match dealerships with buyers who have both the financial capacity and operational expertise to maintain and grow their new investments.
Galeana Auto Group traces its origins back more than four decades when Frank Galeana, a visionary entrepreneur, purchased Van Dyke Dodge in the Detroit area. Over the years, the group expanded to encompass seven dealerships spanning Florida, Michigan, and South Carolina. Notably, Frank Galeana was among the first dealers of Saturn vehicles in the United States, underscoring his forward-thinking approach to automotive retail. His leadership and pioneering spirit earned Galeana Auto Group recognition as the fifth-largest Hispanic-owned business by revenue in 1988, according to Hispanic Business Magazine.
Known affectionately by colleagues as “Mr. G,” Frank Galeana began his career as an accountant before establishing himself as a successful entrepreneur. He passed away in 2010, leaving a legacy carried on by his family. Several of his children continue to play integral roles within Galeana Auto Group, including Frank H. Galeana, who serves as President; Carl Galeana, Vice President; Roseann McBain, Vice President; and Rusty McBain, his son-in-law. Despite the recent transactions, the family has retained ownership of Van Dyke Dodge RAM in Warren, Michigan, maintaining a continued presence in the automotive retail market.
Reflecting on the decision to work with Haig Partners, Rusty McBain remarked, “We selected Haig Partners because of the firm’s reputation as the leading sell-side M&A advisor in Florida and the Southeast. Last year, we sold another dealership independently, without the assistance of an M&A advisor. Having experienced both approaches, I can confidently say that Haig Partners made a substantial difference in achieving a better outcome. Selling dealerships involves a significant amount of work, and it was essential for us to have a seasoned team guiding us through the process.”
McBain continued, “Alan Haig and Derek Garber orchestrated two sales processes that drew attention from many top-tier buyers and provided us with expert advice throughout. Their professionalism, deep industry knowledge, and ability to maximize value were evident from the outset, and they earned our team’s respect every step of the way.”
Alan Haig, President of Haig Partners, emphasized the strong market demand that contributed to the successful transactions. “It was a pleasure representing Galeana Auto Group,” he said. “The dealerships attracted significant interest, reflecting the ongoing high demand for dealerships in Florida, which remains one of the most active markets in the country. The Carolinas, too, are highly desirable regions for automotive retail investments. Areas with high population growth and business-friendly policies allow dealerships to generate exceptional returns. We congratulate Bill Nero, a long-standing client with a proven track record in Orlando, and we expect continued success in Fort Myers under his leadership.”
Haig also commented on the Mount Pleasant transaction: “We are equally pleased for Jack Salzman and Conrad Letson of MP Automotive. We had the opportunity to represent Jack and Robin Salzman in the sale of their two CDJR dealerships in Charlotte, North Carolina, two years ago, achieving record valuations for the market. We anticipate similar success for them in Mount Pleasant. These sales demonstrate the importance of maintaining strong relationships with a wide variety of buyers, allowing us to identify the most motivated party for each dealership. In some cases, maximizing value involves selling different dealerships within a group to separate buyers.”
The Fort Myers dealerships, Galeana Kia and CDJR, are being acquired by Bill Nero Automotive Group, headquartered in Orlando, Florida. Mr. Nero, who has over four decades of experience in automotive retail, is widely recognized for his operational excellence and deep-rooted relationships with manufacturers. His management style prioritizes the growth of employees, exceptional customer service, and community engagement. Mr. Nero views this acquisition as an opportunity to build on the existing legacy of the Fort Myers dealerships while driving new levels of performance and profitability.
Jack Salzman, CEO of MP Automotive Group, shared his perspective on the Mount Pleasant acquisition: “I thought my days as a franchised dealer were behind me, but this opportunity reignited our passion. CDJR in Mount Pleasant feels reminiscent of CDJR in Lake Norman 20 years ago, and Robin and I are excited to re-enter the automotive retail business. Maintaining our relationship with Alan and Derek from Haig Partners has been invaluable, and their guidance in presenting this opportunity made the decision straightforward.”
The successful transactions were supported by a comprehensive advisory team. Legal counsel for Galeana Auto Group was provided by John Youngblood of Dawda, while Brian Luallen of Rehmann offered tax and accounting guidance. Legal services for both MP Automotive and Bill Nero Automotive Group were provided by Frank Killgore. Tax and accounting advisory support for Bill Nero Automotive Group came from Jordan Argiz of BDO, and Jim Godfrey of TSS provided similar services to MP Automotive.
With these deals, Haig Partners has now advised on the sale of 38 dealerships in 2025 alone, reinforcing its dominant position in the automotive M&A sector. The firm’s approach emphasizes building deep buyer relationships, identifying the most qualified and motivated parties, and structuring transactions to maximize value for sellers. As dealership values remain approximately twice their pre-pandemic levels, the market continues to offer significant opportunities for both buyers and sellers in the automotive retail sector.
These recent transactions exemplify the ongoing consolidation and growth within the auto dealership industry, where strategic sales and acquisitions enable expansion, operational efficiencies, and enhanced market presence. For Galeana Auto Group, the divestiture of select dealerships represents a strategic step toward optimizing the family-owned business’s portfolio while retaining key assets. Meanwhile, the buyers—Bill Nero Automotive Group and MP Automotive—stand to benefit from well-established operations and a strong customer base, ensuring continued growth and success in the Southeast automotive market.
