Front Row (left to right): Jerry Hollifield (CFO – Modern Automotive), Gayle Anderson (President & CEO – Winston-Salem Chamber of Commerce), Rob Fowler (President – Modern Automotive), David Fowler (Manager – Modern Automotive)
Second Row (left to right): Dan Joyner (Owner – Signs By Tomorrow), Terry Barber (Director of Catering – Twin City Quarter), Rodessa Mitchell (Vice President, Education & Workforce Development – Winston-Salem Chamber of Commerce)
Third Row (left to right): Ron Stephens (Director of Marketing – Twin City Quarter), Bob Swenson (Area Managing Director – Twin City Quarter)
The country was in the depths of a depression when Modern Chevrolet in Winston-Salem first came into being in 1933. The founders, O.T. Fowler and R.E.L. Morefield, Sr., began operations in a leased building on N. Main Street. In 1947 the company moved into a new building on W. 4th Street.
In 1977, the Fowler family purchased the ownership interests of the Morefield family. By the late ‘70’s, O.F.’s sons, Fred and Rob, had taken over management of the company. In 2004, Modern Chevrolet was relocated to its current facility on University Parkway.
Modern has lived up to its name by keeping pace with changes in the automotive industry, marketplace, and the needs of its customers. Since opening its flagship store, the group has grown to include Modern Nissan, Modern Toyota, and Modern Infiniti in Winston-Salem, Modern Infiniti in Greensboro, Modern Nissan and Modern Hyundai of Concord, Modern Nissan of Lake Norman, Modern Toyota and Modern Subaru of Boone.
Today, Fred’s sons Omnia, West and Bradley, and Rob’s sons, Lewis and David, have joined them, representing the fourth generation of Fowlers at Modern. Modern currently employs more than 700 people and sells more than 15,000 new and used cars annually.
The Fowler family remains trendsetters with innovative facilities and state-of-the-art services. And most importantly, the Fowlers continue to put primary emphasis on integrity and customer service. No matter how other things change, Modern’s commitment to its customers stays the same.
