Greenville Technical College Photo
Left to right: Les Gardner, Greenville Tech, William and Annette Bradshaw and Keith and Heidie Miller.
William attended – Macon Junior College – while working. He later transferred his credits to Georgia College of Milledgeville, where he studied accounting.
As he completed his degree, an instructor encouraged him to apply for the office manager position at a local Chevrolet dealership. That position was his entry into the automotive business, and he soon set himself a goal to become a dealer by the age of 30. When William was 29, he and Annette sold their home, and using the proceeds along with some savings, they purchased a small Oldsmobile/Cadillac dealership in Greer.
From that start, the business has grown to include four dealerships and seven different franchises employing over 300 people.
“Since I attended a community college while working, I understand how challenging it can be to support yourself while trying to reach your goals,” said William. “Our hope with this gift is to reduce financial challenges and assist deserving students. We believe that Greenville Technical College does a great job, and we’re very pleased to be a part of the effort.”
“We are very grateful to William and Annette Bradshaw for using their success to benefit others. They are excellent role models for the way they have set goals and worked diligently to exceed them and also for their efforts to give back to the community,” said Keith Miller, president of Greenville Technical College.
William has served on the Greenville Technical College Area Commission and on the board for the Greenville Tech Foundation. He and Annette helped establish the Bradshaw/Alumni Endowed Scholarship Fund with gifts over $85,000. They are also active supporters of the Greenville Children’s Museum and Upstate Safe Kids.
William has been recognized as South Carolina Auto Dealer of the Year, and was selected as a Time Quality Dealer and a national finalist for that award. In 2006, he served as national chairman of the National Auto Dealers Association that represents over 17,000 new car dealers across the nation. In 2008, he was named the American Import Automobile Dealer Association/Newsweek Dealer of the Year.