Founder and executive chairman of Warren Henry Auto Group honored for five decades of automotive leadership, family legacy, and commitment to people-first business
Northwood University honored Warren Henry Zinn ’77, founder and executive chairman of Warren Henry Auto Group, as a member of the 2026 Class of Outstanding Business Leader (OBL) Award honorees during the 46th OBL Awards Gala on April 18 at the Henry Ford Museum in Dearborn, Michigan.
While Warren Zinn was unable to attend in person, the moment became a meaningful celebration of family, enterprise, and Northwood legacy. His son, Larry Zinn — a 2008 Northwood alumnus and the executive general manager of Warren Henry Auto Group — accepted the award on his father’s behalf, representing both the family business Warren spent decades building and the next generation of Northwood-educated leadership helping carry it forward.
Warren Zinn’s 50-year automotive career began at age 21 and includes building one of South Florida’s premier automotive groups while carrying forward a family legacy that began in 1965, when his father opened Florida’s first Toyota dealership. Today, Warren Henry Auto Group includes six franchise locations spanning Key West to Naples and is powered by more than 400 employees.
“Warren Henry Zinn’s story is a powerful example of The Northwood Idea in action,” said Northwood University Advancement Vice President Murray Kyte. “He has built a remarkable career by combining entrepreneurial vision, personal responsibility, and a deep commitment to people. What made this recognition especially meaningful was seeing that legacy represented by his son, Larry — another Northwood graduate who is helping lead the family business into its next chapter.”
Larry joined the family business in 2008 and now helps lead the organization his father spent decades building. Warren’s daughter, Katy, also serves the company as director of brand standards, events, and merchandise, making Warren Henry Auto Group a multigenerational family enterprise rooted in shared values, service, and a commitment to people.
Larry was introduced by Bella Smylie, a Northwood University data analytics student from Clare, Michigan, who was selected through a competitive student speaker process that drew more than 50 applicants this year.
“Larry Zinn, Warren’s son, isn’t a substitute — he is proof of a living legacy,” Smylie said during her introduction. “The next generation didn’t just inherit a company. They inherited a philosophy.”
That philosophy has helped shape a workplace culture known for superior products, exceptional service, and long-term employee commitment. Warren Henry Auto Group has an average team tenure of more than 12 years, and several employees have served the company for more than 30 years.
Zinn’s approach to leadership is rooted in the belief that “business has a soul” — a phrase highlighted during his student introduction at the gala. For Zinn, success is not measured solely by the number of dealerships owned, but by the way growth is used to serve clients, strengthen employees, and support the broader community.
His commitment to service extends well beyond the automotive industry. Zinn has supported numerous philanthropic organizations, including Mount Sinai Medical Center, March of Dimes, the Alzheimer’s Association, and the Greater Miami Jewish Foundation.
His professional excellence has been recognized with several prestigious honors, including the TIME Magazine Quality Dealer Award, the J.D. Power of Excellence Award, and a No. 1 ranking in Automotive News’ “100 Best Dealerships to Work For.”
Since 1981, Northwood University’s Outstanding Business Leader Awards have recognized exceptional business leaders whose lives and careers reflect the university’s mission to develop free-enterprise leaders who drive global economic and social progress. Other notable Outstanding Business Leader Award recipients include Roger Penske, Arnold Palmer, Richard M. DeVos, William Koch, John Hennessey, and Jean Nidetch. Proceeds from the annual gala support the Outstanding Business Leader Endowed Scholarship Fund, which expands opportunities for students preparing to lead with purpose, character, and conviction.
“The Outstanding Business Leader Awards are about more than honoring career achievement,” Kyte said. “They connect our students with leaders who have built meaningful careers, created opportunity for others, and lived the values Northwood seeks to instill. Warren Henry Zinn’s story is especially meaningful because it shows how leadership, family, culture, and service can work together to build something that lasts — and how a Northwood education can help carry that legacy from one generation to the next.”
This year’s honorees represented an array of industries, including entertainment, entrepreneurship, construction, manufacturing, motorsports, and automotive retail. Prior to the gala, honorees and representatives met with Northwood students during a roundtable conversation designed to provide direct access to mentorship, career insight, and real-world leadership lessons. To learn more about the Outstanding Business Leader Awards, visit our page on the awards.
