Don's son, Brian Fleming, continues the family business and the values that have defined Valencia Acura for nearly 30 years.

Don Fleming was a force.
For those who knew him, there may be no better way to describe the Texas native with the unmistakable drawl, boundless energy and ability to bring people together and get things done.
Over nearly three decades in the Santa Clarita Valley, Don became far more than the owner of Valencia Acura with his wife, Cheri. He was a business leader, community advocate, fundraiser, volunteer, mentor and friend. Whether he was sitting at a boardroom table, working to resolve a community issue or taking the microphone as a lively auctioneer to raise money for a local nonprofit, Don brought the same determination: make a difference and leave things better than he found them.

From Texas to Santa Clarita
Born and raised in Texas, Don served in the US Marine Corps before making his mark in Southern California. In 2013, he received one of his proudest honors: the Semper Fidelis Award from the Los Angeles County Chapter 1st Marine Division.
In 1997, Don and his wife, Cheri, purchased Valencia Acura.
The dealership they took over was struggling. Together, Don and Cheri transformed it into one of Acura's highest-ranking dealerships for customer satisfaction, sales penetration and customer loyalty.
Along the way, Valencia Acura earned national and local recognition, including multiple Acura Precision Team Awards, Acura Financial Services Council of Excellence honors,
J.D. Power Dealer of Excellence recognition and repeated honors as Santa Clarita's Best New Car Dealership. The Santa Clarita Valley Chamber of Commerce named Valencia Acura Medium Business of the Year in 2001 and Large Business of the Year in 2016.
But for Don, success at the dealership was never simply about selling cars. It was about relationships.

A Force for Santa Clarita
Don believed successful businesses had a responsibility to the communities that supported them and he lived that philosophy through decades of civic leadership.
He was a driving force behind the Santa Clarita Auto Dealers Association, serving as president since its formation in 1998. His influence extended throughout the Valley through leadership roles with the SCV Economic Development Corporation, West Ranch Town Council, Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff's Foundation, Henry Mayo Newhall Memorial Hospital Foundation, Santa Clarita Valley Chamber of Commerce, Child & Family Center and numerous other organizations.
Don could also be a bridge when people disagreed. His approach was characteristically Don: get the right people together, keep talking and work toward a solution.

Giving Back was Personal
Some of Don's most meaningful work happened away from the dealership, serving on numerous foundation boards and executive committees for Santa Clarita nonprofits.
That commitment to service brought Don numerous honors over the years, including Santa Clarita Valley Man of the Year, the American Cancer Society's Legacy of Hope Award, the Boy Scouts of America Leader of Character Award,
Los Angeles County Sheriff's Foundation Volunteer of the Year and College of the Canyons' Silver Spur Award for Community Service. He was also selected as an Olympic Torch Bearer after being nominated for his community service.
Yet the awards tell only part of the story. Don's real legacy can be found in the organizations he strengthened, the causes he championed, the people he helped and the friendships he formed along the way.

A Legacy that Continues
Don and Cheri built Valencia Acura together, creating a business rooted in friendship, loyalty and community. Following Cheri's passing in 2020, Don continued the legacy they had created. Today, the dealership remains a reflection of the principles Santa Clarita's power couple established nearly three decades ago.
And throughout Santa Clarita, Don's influence can be found far beyond the dealership on Creekside Road. It is found in the businesses that benefited from his leadership, the nonprofits strengthened by his generosity, the young people given greater opportunities and the countless friends and colleagues who were fortunate enough to share a conversation, a project, a cause or a laugh with him. Don Fleming spent a lifetime making things happen.
He will be deeply missed, but the difference he made will live on.