Joseph D. O’Brien, Jr.
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President & CEO
O'Brien Automotive Team
The son of an auto dealer, Joseph D. O’Brien, Jr.’s passion for the auto industry started early. After briefly attending college, O’Brien started his career as a salesman and worked his way through the trenches, eventually branching out on his own as Vice President and General Manager of Illinois Valley VW/Aui/Mercedes Benz in Peru from 1971-1974. He then rejoined his father as General Manager of JD O’Brien Olds/Cadillac in Streator until 1977 when he founded O’Brien Oldsmobile in Milwaukee, WI, and in 1982 returned to his roots to purchase and assume responsibility of his father’s dealership in Streator.
In the mid 1980s, Diamond Star Motors (a joint venture of Mitsubishi and Chrysler) built a state-of-the-art production plant in Bloomington/Normal IL, prompting O’Brien to apply for and be awarded the first Mitsubishi dealership in Central Illinois. It was with this opening of Parkway Mitsubishi in Normal, IL in 1987 that the O’Brien Automotive Team was established with Joseph D. O’Brien heading the operations as President and CEO.
O’Brien Automotive Team locations now span several cities through Illinois, Florida, Georgia, and Kentucky, following the creed, “We Stand By You,” which represents the philosophy throughout the organization from the top down.