They say first impressions are everything, especially when making a big decision like where to buy a new car.
On Wednesday evening, Currie Motors Ford of Valpo left attendees with a stunning first impression at the Grand Reopening celebration of its new, state-of-the-art facility.
“Getting to this point was extremely painful and took its toll on our clients and staff. When you look at the final completed project, it left us all in awe. The dealership is now ready for our customers and staff. These are really exciting times” said Currie Motors Ford of Valpo General Manager Leo Sfikas.
“With the construction project now behind us, the entire staff is enthusiastic to come into work every day,” Sfikas said.
Originally built in the 1970s, the dated facility now boasts the most state of the art Ford showroom in NWI. The enhancement also includes the most energy efficient LED lighting throughout the entire facility.
According to Sfikas, most of the improvements were created by partnerships with local union tradesmen. Everything from the architectural design, concrete, electrical, plumbing, painting, flooring and data enhancements were done with the help of local business and union partners in the Region.
“It was a great feeling to be able to partner up with all of these local companies to do this enhancement, and we feel it is a great way to network and to support business within our community.
The updates also prepare Currie Motors Ford of Valpo for upcoming Ford technology advancements, like the electric Mustang that will be available to order later this year.
“We have some very cool products coming,” Sfikas said. “Along with that comes a need for charging stations and our infrastructure is now more than capable for the new age of vehicles that Ford Motor Company is in the process of creating.
Planning for the acquisition of Barile Ford started many years ago by Steven Jankelow, CEO of North American Operations of the International Currie Motors dealer group. When Jankelow first took notice of this Ford franchise years ago, he knew that it would be a great fit for Currie Motors.
“We love this area and the people within this market. Valparaiso is a beautiful town, with a bustling downtown area and wonderful schools and parks. We felt it was a great market for a domestic franchise,“ Jankelow explained.
Jankelow would take time writing former owner, John Barile. He would write Mr. Barile hand written letters expressing his interest in acquiring Barile Ford. He took the time to write these letters annually for almost a decade, he explains. His letters outlined Currie Motors dedication to customer service and his company’s mindsets with regards to supporting communities.
Shannon Evans, Events Coordinator at Currie Motors Ford of Valpo, worked diligently for over 6 months to organize, plan and create Wednesdays ribbon cutting celebration.
“It was a lot of planning and a lot of hard work,” Shannon said “We wanted to include the Chamber of Commerce and all of its fellow members, our clients, family and friends. As our events coordinator I feel like our involvement with Folds of Honor, Valpo Parks, Valpo Events, car clubs, and supporting school districts are vital to our growth and continued success.
Nikki Gaieck, Business Development Director for Currie Motors said, “Being able to show off this dealership to the community and share it with everybody who helped us get here is really meaningful,”
Currie Motors Ford of Valpo family and friends, local business owners, and regional dignitaries spent a fun evening mingling and touring the new facility.
To find out more about services, sales and the enormous automobile inventory available at Currie Motors Ford of Valpo’s new facility, visit their website at www.fordofvalpo.com.
