Megan Sinclair grew up playing on the showroom floor of her family’s car dealership. Now, as the dealer principal of Dave Sinclair Lincoln in St. Louis, she watches her own kids doing the same.
As the first woman in her family to lead the dealership, Megan brings a fresh perspective and a deep respect for her roots to make her mark on the business that her grandfather started nearly six decades ago.
Her journey from childhood connection to the family business to becoming its dealer principal marks a significant milestone—not just for the Sinclair family but also for women in the automotive industry.
A Family Legacy Spanning Generations
Founded in 1966 by her grandfather, Dave Sinclair, the Sinclair family business has been a staple in the St. Louis automotive community for generations. When Megan’s father, James Sinclair, took the reins, he expanded the family’s reach, leading both the Ford and Lincoln dealerships.
Megan grew up surrounded by this legacy, absorbing the lessons of business and hard work from a young age. She started working in the dealership around age 13 as a file clerk, working her way up through every department en route to becoming the general manager and finally, the dealer principal as of August 2024.
Now, as the first woman in the Sinclair family to hold such a prestigious role, Megan brings a unique approach to leadership.
“I’ve worked my way through every part of the store, working as a rental clerk, then rental manager, a receptionist, and a service advisor. I even served as the service manager, which is something unique to me because most general managers in the car dealership world come from the sales side, not from the back of the house,” Megan says. “That was my dad’s idea because that’s what he did, and that experience makes me a lot better at my job because I understand each unique perspective.”
Megan’s father played an instrumental role in her path to leadership. More than just a mentor, James instilled in Megan the core values that have been the backbone of the Sinclair family: integrity, service, and hard work.
As a mother of three young children—including twin toddlers and a 7-month-old—Megan’s role is not just about managing the dealership but also managing her life.
Being a young mother in a leadership role within the auto industry is no easy feat, and Megan is well aware of the unique challenges she faces. She embraces this responsibility with grace and determination, crediting much of her success to the support that she receives from her husband, Tim.
“It truly takes a village,” she says, referring to the network of support that she relies on daily. “I want to be there for my kids in a lot of the same ways that my mom was there when I was growing up, but that means relying heavily on my husband and our families.”
This approach extends beyond her personal life into her professional role, where she fosters a collaborative environment within the dealership as well.“We have a real team mentality at the dealership, and that has always been important to me,” Megan says. “We’re a small dealership where people wear multiple hats, but we all have the same goal of keeping customers happy and selling cars. But at the end of the day, my last name is Sinclair so it all comes back to me, and I’m very, very lucky to have a team that does their best to keep my job simple.”
Dave Sinclair Lincoln’s Vision for the Future
While honoring her family’s legacy, Megan is also committed to bringing her own vision to Dave Sinclair Lincoln. She aims to modernize the dealership and embrace innovation, all while preserving the values that made the Sinclair name a trusted one in the community.
Megan’s commitment to elevating the customer experience at Dave Sinclair Lincoln is evident in her strategic focus on mobile service and the pickup and delivery (PDL) program. With the new store dedicated exclusively to sales, she has opted to create a specialized service center rather than the traditional model that combines both sales and service under one roof.
This deliberate separation allows her team to focus on two core aspects of the business with enhanced efficiency and expertise. By maintaining a dedicated service center, Megan ensures that clients receive top-tier maintenance and repair services tailored specifically to their vehicles’ needs, free from the distractions of the sales environment.
Furthermore, the mobile service option and PDL program exemplify a forward-thinking approach to customer convenience, designed to accommodate the busy lifestyles of their clientele.
Whether it’s routine maintenance or addressing an issue, customers no longer need to schedule time out of their day to visit the dealership. Instead, Lincoln-certified technicians come directly to their homes or offices to perform necessary services. For more extensive repairs, the PDL program allows clients to enjoy the luxury of having their vehicles picked up and delivered back to them after service is completed, with no need for them to leave their home.
This concierge-level service not only distinguishes Dave Sinclair Lincoln from competitors but also aligns with a broader vision of luxury, ease, and customer-first innovation. The specialized service center and mobile service offerings ensure a seamless, stress-free ownership experience, reinforcing their commitment to making every interaction with Dave Sinclair Lincoln exceptional.
These are just some of the ways that Megan is carving out her own path as the first woman to lead Dave Sinclair Lincoln, blending the traditions of her family’s past with a forward-thinking vision for the future.
With a strong support system behind her and a clear sense of purpose, Megan is not only shaping the future of her family’s business but also inspiring a new generation of women in automotive leadership.
This post was created by SLM Partner Studio on behalf of Dave Sinclair Lincoln. To learn more, visit davesinclairlincolnsouth.com
