Henderson Ford president named Minett Professor

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Randy Henderson

Randy Henderson, president and chief executive officer of Henderson Ford in Webster, N.Y., was recently named this year’s Minett Professor at Rochester Institute of Technology. He joined the university the week of Oct. 27 and will serve as a community advocate and student mentor with RIT’s Division for Diversity and Inclusion.

The Minett Professorship brings distinguished Rochester-area multicultural professionals to the RIT campus to share their professional knowledge and experience with RIT’s students, faculty and staff for one academic year. Recommendations for the position are made by past Minett alumni. Since 1991, there have been 18 appointees. Appointments are then made by RIT President Bill Destler and Kevin McDonald, RIT’s vice president and associate provost for diversity and inclusion.

“Mr. Henderson is a well-respected member of the Rochester community who will bring his rich knowledge of the area and his staunch commitment to educational access for all to our organizational efforts around the Rochester City Scholarship program,” said McDonald. “His presence and warm demeanor is bound to be both infectious and transformational, as he has already started mentoring a few of our students.”

In his role as Minett Professor, Henderson will have two focus areas, specifically as a mentor to several individual students and with MOCHA, the Men of Honor and Ambition Program, the Division for Diversity’s newest mentoring program. He also will be a community advocate to increase awareness of, and participation in, the Rochester City Scholars Program, as well as other RIT community initiatives.

“I hope to assist in strengthening the relationship with RIT and the community in general,” said Henderson. “Specifically, I’m looking to work with the university and community to help increase participation in the Rochester City Scholars program. It’s a blessing to have this great resource in a major, nationally ranked university that is committed to the community and increasing diversity among its student population. We have many gifted, talented students attending the city schools, and the two have not yet connected at the level I believe is attainable. I am excited to be part of making the connection.”

Henderson is best known as a successful businessman in the automotive industry as well for his advocacy for youth-based initiatives in the Rochester area. This past October, Henderson received the Signature Citizen of the Year Award from Rochester nonprofit organization Action for a Better Community. He has been a long-time member of ABC’s advisory board and served as a volunteer on committees and community projects with the group.

A native of Richmond, Va., and alumnus of Duke University, Henderson is president and chief executive officer of Henderson Ford and proprietor of Quick Lane Tire and Auto Service Center, all based in Webster, N.Y. Since 1982, he has managed and acquired numerous automotive organizations that have been recognized regionally and nationally as centers of influence in their communities.

As the co-founder of a local not-for-profit organization, A New Day Now, he leads efforts to support local youth groups, charities and faith-based youth programs. Henderson Ford and its partners have been one of the area’s largest contributors to Toys for Tots during the Christmas season and have donated thousands of books to School No. 52, an elementary school in the Rochester City School District, over the last several years.

Henderson is also an ordained minister and has served, or currently serves on, numerous local and national boards, including the Webster Chamber of Commerce, Roberts Wesleyan College Board of Trustees, Milestone (an intervention program for at-risk youth) and oversees the youth jail ministry through Church of Love Faith Center. He is also treasurer of the Ford Motor Company National Dealer Council and on the board of the Minority Dealer Association and the National Association of Minority Automobile Dealers.