The seeds of Religion Mba’s entrepreneurial spirit have been planted whereas rising up in Nigeria, however they sprouted 1000’s of miles away in Vermont.

Mba’s journey to proudly owning a Toyota-Ford dealership in New England spanned three continents, starting at a flea market in Nigeria the place he hawked girls’s clothes together with his mom. He labored for a number of years within the Netherlands earlier than coming to the northeastern U.S., the place his spouse was raised.

As one of many few Black individuals in tiny Westminster, Vt., and together with his thick accent, Mba is aware of he stands out. His worldly perspective has taught him to method uncharted territory as a cultural chameleon of kinds.

He discovered to talk Dutch and German within the Netherlands, the place he met his spouse. Coming from a tropical local weather, the 44-year-old says he hates snow — which there’s loads of within the Northeast — however has discovered to ski.

He left jap Nigeria for the Netherlands in 2002 to attend faculty. However after just a few programs, Mba ended up working at his uncle’s Enterprise Lease-A-Automobile department there and sending cash residence to his household in Nigeria. That sparked an curiosity within the automotive enterprise.

“Once I lived in Europe, I attempted to be a Dutch particular person,” stated Mba, whose dealership, Religion’s Toyota-Ford, lies simply over the river from New Hampshire. “Even when I am not white, I attempted to study the language. I believe it is my background that helped me to outlive up north in Vermont.”

His proclivity to adapt and tackle new challenges gave him an edge as he ventured into automobile gross sales in America just a few months after immigrating right here in 2004. Dwelling close to his spouse’s household in Spofford, N.H., he bought a gross sales place at a close-by Kia dealership. His skeptical in-laws wished to know when he would get an actual job. Mba knew it was a danger.

He had by no means bought vehicles earlier than, however he was no stranger to promoting. As a youth in Nigeria, Mba had honed his gross sales expertise pitching his mom’s merchandise to passersby. His expertise at Enterprise was worthwhile as properly.

He traces his need to be a vendor to his Igbo tradition; the Nigerian ethnic group is massive on making a dwelling by commerce, he says. His mom as soon as advised him that if he pursued a profession in gross sales, life would go properly for him.

Mba bumped into a troublesome actuality throughout his early years as a automobile salesman that he could not keep away from as a Black immigrant: Not everybody wished to do enterprise with him.

He recalled one occasion whereas working at a Ford retailer in Brattleboro, Vt., when a person got here to take a look at a pickup. The person introduced his mom to co-sign, Mba stated, so he was prepared to purchase. Mba greeted them and retrieved the car, however after a take a look at drive, they abruptly left. The supervisor was upset, considering Mba had blown the deal. Then the cellphone rang.

The person stated he wished the truck however did not need to purchase from “the Black man.” As an alternative of turning him away, the shop had one other salesperson deal with the deal. The client’s spouse apologized, as did Mba’s supervisor.

However the retailer did not have his again in that state of affairs, he stated, and his bosses later made clear that they would not promote him as a result of they thought his race can be an issue for patrons.

About 10 years later, Mba purchased that Ford retailer.

“The problem of acceptance was there at the start,” he stated, “however it’s a must to discover a technique to combat by.”

The challenges did not cease Mba’s development. He moved on to work for Robert Cartelli-owned Ford and Toyota shops in Greenfield, Mass., about 90 miles from Boston. Cartelli served as a mentor for Mba, who expanded his duties within the firm as a gross sales supervisor, finance supervisor and finance director.

Then a chance arose to work as a finance director in suburban Boston, two hours farther away. He spent the subsequent 5 years commuting 228 miles a day, six instances per week. He bought residence late each night time and typically stayed at a lodge if he did not really feel like making the haul.

By 2016, Mba felt he was able to take the subsequent step. He utilized to turn out to be a Ford Motor Co. vendor and advised the automaker to alert him if it discovered a chance for him. When the Brattleboro retailer the place he used to work turned accessible, his lengthy drives have been over.

Mba acquired a dualed Toyota-Ford showroom in close by Westminster in 2018 and bought his single-point Ford retailer this yr. He is now constructing a 40,000-square-foot facility to deal with his Ford and Toyota franchises.

Mba is getting ready his 13-year-old son, who works within the workplace twice per week, to take over the enterprise sooner or later. His spouse additionally works on the retailer.

Mba stated aspiring minority sellers might have to depart their consolation zones to get their first shops.

“Do not search for that excellent dealership, do not search for that excellent metropolis,” Mba stated. “We can not have the whole lot on the identical time. You’ll be able to develop to make it excellent, you’ll be able to develop to make it your property. Take that religion and run with it. Observe your instincts and search for a spot the place you’ll be able to develop.”