Cari Yturri was born and raised in Great Falls. She attended Gonzaga University in Spokane, Washington and received a Business Administration Degree in Personnel Management and Marketing.
After succeeding her father as the Dealer/President of Bennett Motors, Inc. in 1995, she oversaw several dealership land purchases, renovations and franchise acquisitions. In 1994 Bennett Motors added Buick to the Pontiac, GMC Truck and Subaru franchise lines. In 1998 Budget Rent a Car Franchise was acquired and in 2010, VW, Nissan and Hyundai franchises were acquired and the Bennett Motors Import store was opened. In 2014, Cari sold the Nissan and VW franchises and in 2015 sold the Buick, GMC Truck, Subaru and Hyundai franchises along with all the dealership property.
Over the past 30 years Cari has served on numerous boards including the Board of Directors for the Great Falls Symphony, Paris Gibson Square Museum of Art, Business and Professional Women, Great Falls Development Authority, Montana Auto Dealers Association and General Motors Women’s Retail Network. In 2007, Cari chaired the United Way Campaign that raised over $850,000 for local charities.
In 1995, she was selected for the YWCA’s annual Salute to Women as the Business and Professional Leader. In 2008, she received Business and Professional Woman of the Year award. In 2011, she was awarded the Small Business Development Inspire Award. And in 2013, the Great Falls Area Chamber of Commerce Athena Award. Bennett Motors received Montana Small Business of the Year Award in 1996 and was recognized as Montana Small Business Administration’s Small Business of the Year in 2012.
Cari and her husband Jim have a son and daughter attending University of Montana. Now retired, she’s serving on the Board of Directors for The Great Falls Rotary Club, Neighbor Works Great Falls, University of Providence and The Poor Clares of Montana. Her favorite things to do other than enjoying her family and community activities are cooking, reading, snow and water skiing, running, hiking, biking and golfing.
