Michael Angelo Grieco
“Winners never quit, and quitters never win". These words are engraved on a plaque that sitson Michael Grieco's desk. It is a quote fromVince Lombardi that exemplifies Michael's lifeand career. Michael Grieco was born on November 28, 1949 in Providence. His parents,Elvira and Dominic were immigrants from Italy. Modest would be the best way to describe theirlives. Elvira was a textile worker at WorcesterTextile, and Dominic, a foreman for Maloney andRuben Construction Company.
He and his sister, Carmela, learned the value of hard work at an early age.Throughout high school, he worked at Almac's Supermarket. As a constant reminder of where he began, Michael keeps his rusted, old Almac's name tag on his desk to this day.
Michael attended Rhode Island Junior College where he studied Business Administration. As part of a training program, he began working at Auto Damage Appraisers where he learned to assess damaged vehicles. It was at ADA that Michael discovered his passion combining his love for cars with his love for business.
Michael married his childhood sweetheart, Catherine Capaldi in1970. They have three sons; Michael Jr., Domenic and Robert..jpg)
Throughout their 40 years of marriage, the most important part of Michael's life has always been the family. To this day his family gatherings and Sunday dinners remain constant. Michael credits much of his success to his family for providing him with support, strength, and resolve. In 1975, he established Universal Claim Service. This was his first venture as an entrepreneur. Universal Claim Service became the largest independent appraisal service in Rhode Island and surpassed even Michael's expectations. During the blizzard of 1978, Universal Claim Service appraised over 5,000 vehicles in only three months. In 1979, Michael opened Vantage Motor Sales where he sold pre-owned cars. Striving to go even further in the car industry, in 1992 he opened Route 44 Auto Body which today is a full service , state-of -the- art facility known as Metro Collision Center. With his unwavering drive and determination, all businesses thrived.
Eager for a new challenge, Michael's dream of owning a new car dealership became a reality. In 1995, he founded Metro Honda located on Hartford Avenue in Johnston. Since then, Metro Honda has grown into the #1 volume Honda dealer in Rhode Island. Together with his three sons, Metro Motor Group was launched. Along with Honda, ten additional dealerships opened in Rhode Island, Massachusetts, and Florida. Today, Metro Motor Group has grown to include Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep/Ram, Fiat, Ford, Mazda, Kia, Volkswagen, and Nissan .
Michael's accomplishments are not limited to automotive dealerships. Michael is also extremely successful in real estate, construction and development as President of Garwaine Realty. In addition to constructing all his dealerships, Michael has numerous development projects in RI, MA, and FL which include condominiums and subdivisions. His vision, determination, and fearless spirit have made him a respected and admired businessman. .jpg)
Among his many commitments, Michael manages to make time for important causes such as being an active member of the RI Chapter of St. Jude Children's Research Hospital for over 20 years. He also is devoted to his faith as a practicing Catholic at The Church of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary serving on its' executive board. He inspired his young boys to be altar servers encouraging them to grow with their faith. These young boys have grown into remarkable young men who he is so very proud of. Another great cause that Michael is deeply passionate about is his involvement with Big Brothers of RI. For the past six years, he has been a "Big Brother" to Dante, a young boy he hopes to instill the same values that he had been brought up with.
Ambition, drive, and perseverance are three simple words that say so much about Michael Grieco and what he has achieved. When one looks at the accomplishments of this man, the sacrifices he has made, and the obstacles he has overcome, one cannot but admire, and respect what he has achieved.
