Owensboro residents Amber Beehn and Dr. Suzanne Rashidian, along with business partner David Vatland of Florida, are set to take ownership of the Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram dealership in Owensboro after winning a court-supervised bankruptcy auction for Davis Auto Group.
According to court documents obtained by Owensboro Times, 3’s Company Auto, LLC — the group led by Beehn, Vatland, and Rashidian — secured the winning bid of approximately $7.65 million in the March 4, 2025, auction. The dealership will be rebranded as Vass Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram with a new logo, signage, and website, and a renewed focus on customer service and transparency, according to the new owners.
The sale remains subject to final approval by the U.S. Bankruptcy Court, with a hearing scheduled for March 13, 2025. Additionally, Stellantis, the parent company of Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, and Ram, must approve the transfer.
Beehn, who has spent 20 years in the auto industry and most recently served as general manager of Jerry Ray Davis CDJR, called the acquisition a “dream come true.” The dealership will be among the few woman-owned auto dealerships in Kentucky and Owensboro, a milestone Rashidian emphasized as significant during National Women’s Month.
Vatland, a 31-year industry veteran who owns Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram and Honda dealerships in Vero Beach, Florida, said he is eager to bring a positive culture to the Owensboro location, emphasizing customer trust and transparency.
“The car business is always about tweaking processes and procedures,” Vatland said. “Suzanne touched on how she doesn’t like the car buying process, and it doesn’t feel fun. So, we want to change that. We want to make it fun. We will be transparent and open. We’re going to take care of customers — they come first.”
Since the transaction was structured as an asset sale, all employees will technically be laid off by Davis Auto Group before potentially being rehired by Vass Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram. Beehn assured that the new ownership intends to bring back the entire staff, adding that employees were “overly excited” about the transition.
“There’s a sense of relief,” Beehn said. “A lot of employees have thanked us, saying they finally see light at the end of the tunnel. They’re ready for guidance and leadership.”
The dealership will remain at its current location.
The new ownership group has expressed a strong desire to integrate into the Owensboro community. Vatland and Beehn emphasized that they plan to be hands-on, ensuring that both employees and customers feel valued.
“We want to build a culture where employees enjoy coming to work,” Beehn said. “Trust will be huge, from service to sales, so that no matter who a customer talks to, they receive the same answer.”
The dealership also intends to increase its involvement in local sponsorships and events.
“Whether it’s baseball, basketball, or big community events, we want to be an integral part of the community,” Vatland said.
Davis Auto Group, which operated under the name Jerry Ray Davis Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in January 2025 amid a legal dispute with the dealership’s minority owners, Matthew Hayden and the Estate of Jack T. Wells. They accused majority owner and manager Jerald “Jerry” Ray Davis of self-dealing and mismanagement, including the failure to fulfill tax obligations and misuse of company funds for personal expenses. Davis filed counterclaims in that case.
As part of the restructuring following the bankruptcy filing, Davis provided a $400,000 emergency loan, known as a debtor-in-possession (DIP) loan, in January to keep the dealership operational.
In a message to OT, Davis said he ended up loaning the store an additional $300,000 through his own funds. It remains unclear whether he will recoup those funds, as secured creditors with legal claims on specific assets are typically paid first.
Court documents show that three bidders participated in the auction: 3’s Company Auto, OWB CDJR OpCo, LLC, and Steve Jones Automotive LLC. 3’s Company Auto emerged as the highest bidder, offering a package that includes the dealership’s new and used vehicle inventory, parts, merchandise, intellectual property, and lease rights to the current location.
Davis will have no affiliation with Vass and 3’s Company. In reflecting on the sale, he said he was pleased with the outcome.
“I felt really good about the dealer who won the bid,” he said. “They will be a great asset to the community and continue taking care of the employees and customers. That’s all I wanted.”
While the sale is expected to be finalized in the coming weeks, Vass Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram will continue to operate under the Jerry Ray Davis CDJR name until all approvals are secured. If any issues arise, the backup bidder, OWB CDJR OpCo, LLC, would assume control, according to court documents.
Hayden declined to comment.
