Car crazy: Alumnus’ journey from garage to general manager
Lenny Gordon has been crazy about cars since childhood, when he shadowed his dad at a car dealership.
As a teen, Gordon was tinkering under the hood of his own Chevy Camaro and interning at Monument Chevrolet through a high school auto tech program. It was Monument’s owner, Carroll Smith, who encouraged him to continue his studies at San Jacinto College.
The College’s General Motors Automotive Service Education Program alternated between classes and dealership internship hours. The fast pace gave Gordon plenty of variety and hands-on practice. Dave Norman, the program director, also proved a great mentor.
After completing his Associate of Applied Science in 2006, Gordon earned a bachelor’s
degree in general business administration and management from the University of Houston-Clear
Lake. He continued working at Monument, where Smith — knowing his goal to become a
general manager — rotated him through every department.
At the service counter, Gordon learned how to anticipate customers’ needs and turn a bad experience into a positive one. His most pivotal moment was transitioning from service to sales, from rebuilding cars to building relationships.
“My dad had always been in service,” he said. “That’s all I ever knew. I had no idea how to do sales — I was scared and nervous.”
Gordon not only succeeded in commercial and retail sales but built lasting customer relationships along the way.
In 2019, he transferred to Norman Frede Chevrolet in Clear Lake, which became Fertitta Chevrolet in 2024. Now as general manager, he wants Fertitta not only to become the biggest Chevy dealership in Houston but to lead the industry with a hospitality emphasis.
“We want the experience, regardless of the service, to be like none other before,” he said.
Set your goals early and set them high. Every day strive to get one step closer to that goal.
What does hospitality look like at a dealership? It could be a service technician visiting customers’ homes to change oil. Or Uber dropping off customers at the mall while vehicles are getting serviced.
Under Gordon’s leadership, Fertitta boasts a 4.7 out of 5 Google rating, one of the highest for a Texas dealership. More than seeing the dealership grow, though, he enjoys cultivating his team and taking on the next generation of San Jacinto College auto technician students as interns.
At 17, Gordon determined to become a general manager and never looked back. Today, he focuses on growing not just the dealership but the people.
“I love seeing the success of people below me,” he said. “I love seeing people buy their first car, buy their first house, get married, and have kids. Set your goals early and set them high. Every day strive to get one step closer to that goal.”
Learn more about San Jac's auto tech programs
About San Jacinto College
Surrounded by monuments of history, evolving industries, maritime enterprises of today,
and the space age of tomorrow, San Jacinto College has served the people of East Harris
County, Texas, since 1961. The College is ranked second in the nation among more than
1,100 community colleges, as designated by the Aspen Institute and was named an Achieving
the Dream Leader College of Distinction in 2020. As a Hispanic-Serving Institution
that spans five campuses, plus an online college, San Jacinto College serves approximately
45,000 credit and non-credit students annually. It offers more than 200 degrees and
certificates across eight major areas of study that put students on a path to transfer
to four-year institutions or enter the workforce. The College is fiscally sound, holding
bond ratings of AA+ by Standard & Poor’s and Aa2 by Moody’s. San Jacinto College is
accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
