Huntington Alum Mike Brown Supports Alma Mater
Michael Brown has always been there for his alma mater. The 1987 Huntington High School graduate is always ready to step up when the phone rings, from supporting student scholarships to helping school related organizations with their fundraising endeavors.
Mr. Brown has never forgotten where he came from. Now a partner/owner of Atlantic Auto Group, which owns 22 car dealerships across Long Island, the former Blue Devil track and field and football team member is never too busy to pitch-in when needed.
“It’s important to keep connected with the community where you came from,” Mr. Brown said. “How can we get to where we are without people helping us? Now it’s my turn to do the same.”
Following his high school graduation, Mr. Brown attended Boston University, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in the School of Management. He later obtained a graduate degree in management consulting at BU.
Mr. Brown worked his way up the ladder in the family business, starting as a sales consultant at Sportique Motors in 1993 and becoming president in 1998 when the business was sold to a Japanese company. He stayed on until he was recruited by United Auto Group (a Penske Corporation) to run four dealerships in Fairfield, Connecticut.
After two years on the job in Fairfield, Mr. Brown was promoted by Penske to run a group of 14 dealerships in Rhode Island, where he stayed for four years until his wife, Renee gave birth to twin girls. The couple decided to move closer to their families and returned to Long Island. The Huntington alum landed a position with Atlantic Auto Group, which today generates more than $1 billion in annual revenues and has about 2,000 employees.
Mr. Brown has supported the Huntington Alumni Association’s annual scholarship awards as well as PTA fundraising efforts. This year he plans to assist the Huntington Foundation for Excellence in Education’s gala by providing a car to be raffled off in February.
Mr. Brown’s company represents Lexus, Audi, Chevrolet, Dodge, Cadillac, Toyota, Honda, Hyundai, Chrysler, Jeep, Volkswagen, Scion, Ram, Infiniti and Nissan. Challenging economic conditions have put his extensive experience and education to good use.
During his years at Huntington High School, Mr. Brown was all-conference in the 400m hurdles and all-county in the 4 x 100m relay under then head coach Dennis Walker. The Blue Devils won the conference title during the alum’s senior year.
Mr. Brown was a receiver and defensive back on the Blue Devil football team as a junior and senior and he got along well with gridiron coach John Paci, Jr. The team reached the post-season.
Mr. Brown’s favorite teacher was Dr. Robert Leonard of the English department. The now deceased faculty member opened his student’s eyes to being more creative and applying himself. Mr. Brown spent his free time helping students in the learning center using Dr. Leonard’s writing practices.
Now retired math teacher Judy Gleicher, was another one of Mr. Brown’s favorites. He thought now retired English teacher Chris Cusamano was terrific in the classroom and as the Key Club’s faculty advisor. While at Boston University, Mr. Brown walked onto the football team and rapidly gained the respect of everyone associated with the squad. He was given a scholarship in his second year there and was the starting place kicker for three seasons.
After spending two years in several NFL camps and playing arena football for two years, Mr. Brown decided it was time to put his college degree to work. He started working at Sportique Motors.
Several years ago Huntington alum Kevin Thorbourne was asked if he had a connection that could help the Huntington High School Parent-Teacher-Student Association obtain a new car to be raffled off in conjunction with the organization’s Don’t Text and Drive initiative. “It was truly a collaborative effort between the PTSA and NY Auto Giant in making such an important event a success,” said Alice Marie Rorke, then the PTSA president and now the Huntington Foundation’s president. “Three years later his support continues, touching the lives of so many Huntington students.”