What if a single hill covered in cars could completely change how people buy automobiles for over a century? Jones Junction turned that exact dream into reality, growing from a tiny 1917 operation into one of the largest privately owned dealership groups in the area. Setting trends early, the company established what is now Maryland’s oldest Toyota dealership in 1967, well ahead of the modern destination-dealership model.
Co-owners Danny Jones (CEO) and Bryan Kilby (President) continue pushing that momentum forward today. Signature initiatives like Jones for a Lifetime and Jones for a Cause reinforce that growth never has to come at the expense of personal service. The operation spans more than 70 acres in Bel Air, Maryland, and serves as an all-in-one automotive hub, proving a century-old business can scale massively, adapt to industry shifts, and still keep a personal, family-first standard at the heart of the showroom floor. Bryan says, “What we’ve created here at Jones Junction is probably not replicable. It’s one of a kind.”
Danny brings a family legacy spanning three generations to every decision while investing significant resources in the community Jones Junction has called home for more than a century. In 2024, Danny and his wife, Gail, made a transformational $20 million gift to the University of Maryland Upper Chesapeake Health, the largest gift in the health system’s history. Bryan also serves on the health system’s Board of Directors, reflecting Jones Junction’s continued engagement with the organization and the broader community. Their contribution will support a range of community health services, including expanded access to primary care through centers located throughout Harford County. Jones Junction also supports the health system throughout the year through events and manufacturer partnerships that promote the health and well-being of its neighbors. Bryan complements that strong community focus with disciplined operational leadership, guiding the company’s expansion into luxury brands and advancing its use of digital technology while keeping day-to-day operations running efficiently.
Stepping into Big Shoes
Standing beside his father Vernon, looking out over the hill at Belair and Harford roads in the early 1970s, an eighteen-year-old Danny heard a question that changed everything. Could he picture that entire hill covered in cars? Turning that vision into today’s multi-brand automotive leader took far more than sitting in a corner office. He and his business partner Bryan learned the business from the ground up, long before either assumed an executive leadership role. Danny joined the business full-time in 1968 under his grandfather C.M. and father Vernon, and learning their rule that anyone running the show had to know every bolt on the shop floor.
Bryan took the same trial-by-fire route around 1980, sweeping floors as a high schooler before joining forces with the Jones family in 1983 and working his way through every aspect of the business, from sales to operations, finance and service.
Coming up through the ranks gave both men an unfiltered look at what keeps the business running. Danny focuses on deep local roots, philanthropy, and supporting the team, while Bryan brings financial discipline, dealership technology, and scalable growth as president. They both understand the importance of building a team whose members not only serve customers but also become part of the Jones Junction DNA. As Bryan puts it, “Our employees are really the key to everything we do.”
Uniting these complementary skill sets is what keeps Jones Junction moving. Rather than managing from a distance, both leaders are on the showroom floor and in the service lanes where the action happens. They remain accessible to customers and employees and closely connected to what is happening throughout the organization. Danny often points out that “People stay with us because we do what we say we’re going to do.” A reputation built over decades boils down to those daily promises, and they carry that weight for every employee, family, and driver counting on their name.
Fueling the Next Century
Sustaining an operation that is more than a century old demands constant innovation rather than reliance on past success. Danny took the helm as the company’s third-generation leader and was nominated for the 2024 TIME Dealer of the Year Award. His leadership has focused on preserving the values established by earlier generations while preparing Jones Junction to succeed in a changing industry.
As president and co-owner, Bryan has helped guide the business through economic downturns, the pandemic and supply-chain disruptions while also supporting its expansion into the luxury market with Genesis of Bel Air.
Through each challenge, Bryan has emphasized the importance of identifying issues early and addressing them before they grow. As he often reminds the team, “If you let the little things build up, they eventually become the big things.” Under his watch, the dealership group landed on the Automotive News Top 150 list and locked in major manufacturer honors, setting up strong systems to power the company straight into its second century.
Hands on the Wheel, Eyes on the Horizon
Leading an organization of this size requires Danny and Bryan to focus their attention where each can have the greatest impact. Danny helps ensure that major partnerships, investments and growth decisions remain consistent with the company’s values. He maintains close relationships with longtime employees, manufacturers and community leaders, while helping ensure that expansion never compromises how customers or employees are treated. For Danny, accessibility and personal relationships remain essential to the company’s leadership culture.
Bryan oversees the complex daily operations of multiple automotive brands, service departments, collision centers and administrative teams. He develops strong managers, reinforces accountability, and closely monitors performance, inventory, market conditions and emerging technology. His responsibilities also include maintaining strong relationships with the company’s manufacturers, bankers and lenders—partnerships that help support continued investment and long-term growth.
Whether he is reviewing customer feedback, monitoring results or deciding where to invest next, Bryan connects daily execution to the company’s larger strategy. His operating philosophy can be summarized simply: “Every detail matters.”
Beyond his responsibilities at Jones Junction, Bryan serves on several local and automotive industry boards, broadening his perspective while strengthening the company’s relationships within the community and across the industry.
Bryan also leads Jones Junction’s regular operations meetings, bringing together leaders from across the organization to examine performance, customer experience, service operations and emerging opportunities. These meetings offer a practical window into how the company operates, combining detailed analysis with direct accountability and collaborative problem-solving. As longtime Director of Sales Jheury Moran has observed, “It’s all about people and process.”
Powering Big Ideas Across Every Bay
Gone are the days when simply stocking inventory was enough to stay ahead in the automotive marketplace. Today, success depends on keeping every single team member moving in sync. Danny and Bryan look at innovation as a total package, blending updated tech and refreshed facilities with sharper training and smoother ways to serve folks on the lot.
Jones Junction encourages employees to keep learning through factory certifications, professional education and industry groups—and backs people with the potential to grow into leadership roles. Larry Kropff, who began washing cars after school, recently celebrated 50 years with the company and serves as the company’s General Manager. Chief Financial Officer Debra McCollom began as a night clerk, rose through the organization and marked 40 years of service in 2025. Those milestones reflect a broader culture of longevity. Among Jones Junction’s workforce of more than 630 employees, one in four has been with Jones Junction for at least a decade, and several have served for more than 40 years. Danny and Bryan view that continuity as a point of pride and a key contributor to the company’s sustained success and continued growth. As Danny has said, “Without the right people, it would never happen.”
Instead of letting franchises run like isolated islands, leadership keeps the doors wide open between departments. The size of the campus gives them room to test fresh ideas in one spot and roll out the wins everywhere else, sharing investments across sales, service, collision, and operations.
Recent investments provide tangible examples of that approach. A six-acre expansion will increase capacity for service, repair, vehicle preparation, training and other operational needs across the organization. Jones Junction has also launched mobile service vans for CDJR and Hyundai, with more brands to follow, extending selected services beyond the dealership campus and providing greater convenience for customers.
Leaders stay dialed in to frontline workers who spot problems first, because as Danny likes to say, “Everyone has to row the boat in the same direction.” When talking about the necessity of adapting to modern changes across every bay, Bryan reinforces that mindset by reminding the team that strong execution depends on following established systems: “The process that we follow leads to results. You have to follow the bouncing ball.” That shared drive lets them roll with industry shifts while keeping their workforce and customers first.
Keeping the Engine Humming On and Off the Lot
Running an outfit this big means the clock rarely stops at five. However, no one crosses the finish line alone. Danny and Bryan share the leadership helm, dividing up the workload based on where each man shines best. They built a top-tier management team that feels more like family than colleagues, giving them full faith to step away when personal health, family events, or community calls need their full attention.
Instead of chasing some mythical formula for perfect daily balance, they stay agile and roll with the punches. Danny pours his heart into family and deep-rooted philanthropy, proving that “Supporting local organizations that care for kids, families, and neighbors isn’t an initiative for us—it’s simply part of who we are.” Bryan brings that same commitment to his community and industry involvement, guided by the belief that “When our community is strong, our business is strong.”Â
Bryan’s wife, Janie, also helps carry that commitment into the community, regularly volunteering and representing Jones Junction at events and initiatives throughout Harford County. That same spirit extends across the workforce, with Jones Junction employees volunteering through school partnerships, charitable programs and community events.
When life throws a curveball at an employee, leadership steps up to help out. Treating employees as real human beings sets the tone for the entire organization, keeping business goals tied right to the people who power them.
Steering Through the Heavy Headwinds
These two stalwarts are well aware that growing a hundred-year-old outfit into a modern enterprise means facing down every storm the economy can throw at you. They have pushed through supply chain snarls, inventory droughts, economic slumps, and a pandemic that flipped normal business upside down. On top of that, they have faced the daily challenge of keeping up with fast-changing car tech and digital buying tools, all while preserving the family touch across multiple manufacturer franchises and hunting down top talent in a tight job market.
When the road gets rough, Danny and Bryan tackle problems by staying right on the floor next to their workforce and customers. They keep communication quick and direct, relying on performance numbers to identify challenges before they become larger issues. Instead of dumping every burden on one person, they lean on experienced managers, frontline workers, and industry peer networks to solve hard problems.
During market upheavals, they rely on transparent service and personal relationships rather than aggressive tactics to navigate uncertainty. When discussing how trust carries them through volatile markets, Bryan emphasizes, “Word of mouth is everything in this business.”
Listening to their people and adapting on the fly keeps the business growing. Most importantly, they protect the company name by keeping their promises when times get tough, proving that honoring your word matters most when the pressure gets turned up.
Blazing the Trail, Setting the Standard
Pioneering the modern dealership requires both vision and a willingness to evolve. In 1967, Jones Junction established what is now Maryland’s oldest Toyota dealership. Over the decades, the company expanded its automotive partnerships and developed a 70-plus-acre campus offering multiple brands along with comprehensive sales, service, collision repair and vehicle-support operations. Jones also maintains several of the nation’s longest-running dealer-manufacturer relationships. Its portfolio of brands includes Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, RAM, Toyota, Subaru, Nissan, Hyundai, Kia and Genesis, along with a pre-owned superstore, demonstrating the value of giving customers extensive choice and long-term support in one location.
Launched nearly 20 years ago, Jones for a Lifetime helped extend the traditional dealership relationship beyond a single transaction. Since then, hundreds of thousands of customers have enrolled in the program, expanding its reach and fostering continued service, ownership benefits and long-term customer relationships. Danny emphasizes that this personal connection remains one of the company’s greatest strengths: “People feel that we genuinely care, because we treat them like family.”
Jones Junction has proven that significant scale and the personal character of a family business can coexist. The company supports customers throughout the ownership experience with service, collision repair, thorough vehicle inspections and preparation, and leaders who remain accessible when concerns arise.
Danny and Bryan combine technology and performance data with direct personal engagement, while the company’s manufacturer recognition and community support through Jones for a Cause further reflect its commitment to customers and the region.
Pedal to the Metal, Eyes on Tomorrow
Steering this giant operation into its second century means constantly building up the engine without losing its soul. The goal is steady expansion, bringing new technology into the fold while keeping classic franchises running at peak efficiency.
Together, Danny and Bryan are creating clearer career pathways so employees can build lasting careers at Jones Junction. They are also incorporating technology and AI tools that support employees and improve operations without diminishing personal interaction.
As high-tech electric vehicles hit the market, facilities and bays keep getting upgraded to handle complex repairs. Bryan considers these rapid changes an essential opportunity rather than an obstacle, maintaining, “We have to embrace it and adapt to it.” Every step forward is gauged by employee growth, community backing, and buyer loyalty, showing the whole industry how a historic family icon evolves while staying true to its roots.
Passing the Wrench to the Next Generation
Building a lasting future rests entirely on finding great talent and lifting them up. Bryan’s own path shows what happens when someone rolls up their sleeves, delivers real results, and earns trust from the ground up. Long-tenured workers hold the institution together, helping pass down deep operational know-how to newer recruits across sales, finance, collision, and marketing. As vehicles turn into rolling computers, technical training and dealer peer networks prepare promising employees for increasingly sophisticated roles.
Danny and Bryan invest heavily in physical facilities and specialized education, aiming to hand over a company run by skilled leaders who grasp both the financial numbers and the everyday human relationships that make the business tick.
Leaving More Than Footprints on the Lot
A true legacy is measured by the lives you touch, not just the square footage of your property. For Danny, that means honoring the foundation built before him. “We are striving to follow in our forebearers’ footsteps in maintaining the same standard of excellence so many people have come to expect from the Jones name,” he explains.
Bryan focuses on honoring the confidence placed in him, building tight systems and strong teams that keep the business sharp without ever feeling cold or corporate. They don’t judge success solely by sales figures or inventory volume. They gauge their mark by whether employees build solid careers, customers feel like family, and the community prospers alongside the dealership for generations to come.
Advising the Next Generation: No Shortcuts, Just Honest Sweat
For anyone looking to leave a genuine mark in business, the core rules remain unchanged. It takes sweat, staying power, and treating people right. Danny and Bryan know from experience that building something that lasts means keeping your word and taking care of the people around you. These two industry veterans earned their stripes by diving in headfirst, proving that anyone looking to lead needs to understand every moving part of the operation and respect the people doing the daily heavy lifting. As they often tell rising talent, “Start at the bottom when necessary and never consider any job beneath you.”
Building an exceptional team comes down to looking past a resume and finding people who fit the culture of the business. The pair always advise leaders to “Hire for character and attitude, then invest in training and development.” Once you have the right people in place, keep your door open, listen before making big moves, and let data guide your path without forgetting the human beings behind those metrics. Real progress means making the whole organization stronger while protecting the culture as fiercely as the bottom line.
Above all, when tough calls come up, Danny and Bryan stick to one unbreakable rule: “Do the right thing, even when it is not the easiest or most immediately profitable choice.”
Crossing the Bridge, Owning the Future
Surviving over a century in the automotive world is a rare feat. Nevertheless, the real story is how the leadership managed to rebuild the entire enterprise around them without sacrificing an ounce of their original character.
Danny and Bryan act as a unified engine, standing as the living bridge between that rich past and the horizon ahead. One carries a deep-rooted, multigenerational family legacy, while the other was entrusted to carry that torch into the modern era. Side by side, they keep Jones Junction agile enough to adapt to a changing industry, strong enough to invest in and care for its workforce, and personal enough to make every customer feel part of the Jones Junction family.
