TOP 100 MAGAZINE

Terishka Franco

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Defying the Odds in a Male-Dominated Arena

 

In an industry long defined by male dominance, Terishka Franco has carved out a rare distinction: she is one of only 70 women in the nation to own and operate franchise dealerships. As a dealer principal and COO of Granite Automotive Group, she commands five thriving franchises in South Dakota, each a testament to her ability to transform underperforming stores into market leaders. Out of 17,700 dealerships nationwide, her achievement is nothing short of extraordinary.

 

From Bank Loans to Showrooms

 

Terishka’s story began not in a showroom, but in a bank, managing lines of credit for businesses and car dealers while still in high school. When a dealership owner spotted her potential and recruited her into finance—and eventually sales—she discovered her natural gift for connection. She wasn’t just selling cars; she was solving problems, reading unspoken needs, and building trust.

 

Life would demand even more grit. As a single mother, Terishka transitioned to the manufacturer side of the business, where steady hours allowed her to balance motherhood with career ambition. There, she orchestrated national teams, developed marketing strategies that outpaced manufacturer plans, and mentored a generation of young professionals, many of whom now lead at the highest levels of the automotive industry.

 

Reclaiming Retail—and Redefining Success

 

In 2019, Terishka returned to retail with the resolve of someone who had seen every corner of the business. By 2023, she purchased five franchises that were struggling to stay afloat. Within months, she revitalized them, instilling discipline, vision, and a culture of accountability. Under her ownership, revenue and profitability soared 78%, and Granite Automotive Group cemented its place as a top-performing district leader with a loyal customer base built on trust and service.

 

The Intuitive Leader

 

What sets Terishka apart is not just her experience, but her unshakable drive. “It was never an option for me to not be successful,” she says. That determination is paired with an almost uncanny intuition—an ability to see the misaligned pieces in a dealership and rearrange them with precision. Whether it’s identifying the wrong person in a key role, spotting inefficiencies, or implementing systems that restore order, she thrives where others see chaos.

 

Terishka’s leadership extends beyond dealerships. She has nurtured young women entering a field where role models are scarce, guiding them with the same conviction that carried her forward. One of her protégées is now senior vice president at Toyota USA; another is a marketing director for a major dealer group.

 

Power, Presence, and Purpose

 

Terishka’s influence has not gone unnoticed. She has been featured on Women in Power, a national television program spotlighting her role as a trailblazer in automotive retail. With a bachelor’s in communications, certifications in social media marketing and Google, and even credentials as a life coach and fitness trainer, she is proof that success is not defined by one lane—but by the courage to drive full throttle into every opportunity.

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Terishka Franco
Dealer Principal/COO
Granite Automotive Group
Website: www.drivegranite.com

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/terishkafranco

Facebook: www.facebook.com/terishkaF

Instagram: www.instagram.com/terishka1