Ellen Pritchard Sedlock, Director of Retail Operations at Pritchard Family Auto Stores, was named one of Automotive News’ 2026 40 Under 40 honorees. The annual program honors 40 high achievers at new-car dealerships who are under 40 years old. In its profile of Ellen, Automotive News highlighted her role in integrating dealership acquisitions and improving performance across existing locations. Her work includes helping integrate four Iowa dealerships acquired in 2023 and 2024, establishing a centralized reconditioning operation that improved quality and reduced warranty claims, and overhauling Pritchard Family Auto Stores' finance and insurance operations, which has nearly tripled F&I gross profit per vehicle since 2025 We asked Ellen five questions about the recognition, what she's learned during her career and where she sees opportunities ahead for automotive retail. 1. What does being named one of Automotive News’ 2026 40 Under 40 honorees mean to you, both personally and professionally? Honestly, it’s really humbling. I’ve grown up around this business, and automotive has always been a big part of my life, so to be recognized like this is pretty special, but I also know I didn’t get here by myself. I’ve had a lot of people who have given me opportunities, challenged me, supported me and taught me along the way. And we have a really good team of people who care a lot about what we’re building. So yes, I’m proud of it personally, but I also see it as a reflection of a lot of people and a lot of work that has happened around me. 2. What experiences throughout your career at Pritchard Family Auto Stores have had the biggest influence on the leader you are today? I think getting exposure to so many different parts of the business has probably shaped me the most. The more areas you work in, the more you realize nothing in a dealership really happens in a silo. A decision you make in sales can affect accounting, service, F&I or parts. And something that seems really simple from where you're sitting might not be simple at all for the person who actually has to execute it. I've also learned that I don't always have to have the answer. Sometimes my job is to ask the right questions, listen to the people who know it better than I do and then help us get to a decision. 3. What trends or changes do you believe are having the biggest impact on automotive retail and the dealership customer experience today? I think customers just expect things to be easier. They've already done a lot of research before they ever call us, submit a lead or walk through the door. They don't really care what system we're using or what department owns what part of the process. They just want it to work. We also have more technology than we've ever had, which can be a great thing, but I think we have to be careful not to add technology just for the sake of adding technology. If our employees aren't using it or it isn't making things easier for the customer, then we probably haven't solved anything. 4. As the automotive industry continues to evolve, where do you see the biggest opportunities for dealerships to improve the experience for their customers and employees? We've added a lot of systems, processes and steps over the years, usually for good reasons. But at some point, you have to stop and ask whether all of those things are actually making us better. For the customer, I think there is a huge opportunity to make things more transparent, communicate better and respect their time. And for our employees, it's pretty similar. Give people clear expectations, good training, the right tools and an understanding of where they can go within the organization. I really believe the employee experience and customer experience go together. If we take care of our people and make it easier for them to do their jobs well, they're going to take better care of our customers. 5. What advice would you give someone beginning a career in automotive retail who hopes to eventually move into a leadership position? Be curious and don't get too focused on the title. Ask questions. Spend time with people outside of your own department. Understand what happens before something gets to you and where it goes after it leaves you. And don't shy away from the hard stuff. The assignments you don't necessarily want are usually the ones where you learn the most. More than anything, take care of people. You don't have to know everything to lead people well. You have to listen, be willing to make decisions, admit when you get something wrong and help the people around you be successful. If you do those things consistently, the opportunities usually come. About Automotive News' 40 Under 40 Automotive News' 40 Under 40 program recognizes the next generation of leaders making a meaningful impact in automotive retail. According to Automotive News, the 2026 honorees are "driving results, bringing fresh ideas to their dealerships and making a difference in the communities they serve." Read Ellen Pritchard Sedlock's full Automotive News profile
