Don Flow

Winston-Salem, NC

Don Flow is chairman and CEO of Flow Automotive Companies, operating over 40 automobile dealerships in North Carolina and Virginia. Motivated by a deep understanding of a business leader’s responsibility to society, Mr. Flow has built a successful purpose-driven and people-centric enterprise that invests in the well-being of its over 1,500 employees and in the broader community of every city in which they operate. In addition to his community involvement through Flow Automotive, Mr. Flow is a driving force in the economic and cultural revitalization of his hometown of Winston-Salem, having led and invested in seminal real estate development, education, and cultural landmark projects that have elevated the city’s national profile. He is chair of the Winston-Salem Open, chair of the Winston-Salem Alliance, vice chair of the Golden Leaf Foundation, and a member of the Executive Committee of Piedmont Triad Partnership. He also co-founded Winston-Salem Starts, a nonprofit working to retain young college-graduates and help local startup businesses in the city.

Mr. Flow earned his B.A. from the University of Virginia, a diploma in Christian Studies from Regent College, and an M.B.A. from Wake Forest University. He has served on and chaired numerous nonprofit boards. His decades-long service to Wake Forest began when he joined and later chaired the business school’s board of visitors. First elected in 2005, Mr. Flow is a current member and former chair of the board of trustees. He is also vice chair of the board of Wake Forest Baptist Health and past chair of the Health Sciences board. In 2017, he was awarded Wake Forest’s Distinguished Alumni Award.