Team Bret Petersen

Bret joined Open Road Capital from a successful career as a dealership operator, consultant, and automotive executive with over 40 years of experience in the retail automotive industry. Throughout his career, Bret has held leadership roles across a wide range of dealership platforms, bringing deep operational expertise and a proven ability to drive strategic growth and performance.

Bret spent 11 years with AutoNation, where he served in both dealership and corporate capacities. During his tenure, he played a key role in enhancing operational performance, leadership development, and executing strategic initiatives across multiple markets. Following his time at AutoNation, Bret became a Honda dealer, leading one of the brand’s top-performing franchises for 9 years. Under his leadership, the dealership consistently excelled in customer satisfaction, profitability, and overall performance.

With nearly three decades of General Manager experience, Bret has successfully led operations for medium, large, and multi-store platforms across domestic, import, and premium luxury brands. In addition to his operational leadership, Bret has worked as a consultant to dealership groups nationwide, advising on profitability, operational efficiency, and long-term strategic planning.

Bret began his career in automotive retail and has developed a practical, ground- up understanding of the business. His experience spans both privately held and large-scale corporate dealer groups, giving him a well-rounded and insightful perspective on the challenges and opportunities facing the industry today.

Bret lives in Colorado Springs, Colorado, with his wife and two children.