2026 March YP Lunch with a Leader featuring Stephen Cavender

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Join us for March Lunch with a Leader featuring Stephen Cavender!

About Stephen: 
CEO/President of Cavender Auto Family
 Stephen Cavender is a third-generation car dealer whose career spans over 35 years in the automotive industry.   He is the Dealer Principal at most dealerships currently comprising the Cavender Auto Family and serves as the company’s President and CEO.   The Cavender Auto Family currently operates 16 dealerships employing over 1,800 associates representing 12 manufacturers.  In 2025, the company posted revenues of $1.8 billion with sales of over 33,000 new and used vehicles.  According to the most recent ranking of dealer groups by Automotive News, the Cavender Auto Family was the 59^th largest automotive group in the country. 
Prior to leading the Cavender Auto Family, Stephen served as the General Manager for Cavender Toyota building the dealership to become the highest volume dealership in the San Antonio market.  Last year, out of 1,241 Toyota dealers nationally, Cavender Toyota ranked #10 in new car volume and #1 in Toyota Certified Used Car volume. 

Stephen and his wife Kelly have enjoyed 38 years of marriage and have two children, Kate and Brooks.  Kate is currently active in the business and serves as the Director of Manufacturer Relations for the dealer group.  Brooks is a licensed architect with Gensler Designs in San Francisco. 

Kelly and Stephen are busy grandparents to Jamie (3 years) and Liza (1 year) and love to travel to the Texas Hill Country and South Padre Island.    Kelly is an active community volunteer in San Antonio currently serving on the Board of the Charity Ball association.  She is also a masterful entertainer, chef, mother and grandmother.

Stephen currently serves on the Board of the Greater San Antonio Chamber of Commerce as well as the Sunshine School for Deaf Children. He is also an active supporter of the Bexar County United Way, St. Mark’s Episcopal Church and the Texas Cavaliers’ Charitable Foundation.   In years past, he has served as Board Chairman of Respite Care of San Antonio, The San Antonio Auto Dealers, The Texas Auto Dealer Association and the Texas Cavaliers.

When not at work, Stephen Cavender enjoys golf, hunting, fly fishing, and family get-aways to South Padre, and Leakey, Texas (Hill Country).