Team Chevrolet of Valparaiso is part of a network of “Team” dealerships that spans the Region and that put a focus on culture. It is not just a dealer; it is a hometown dealership according to General Manager David Brubaker.
“Our culture is about growth, not just of the store, but as people,” he said. “It’s all about the people. It’s a family environment, and we try to keep it that way, helping people get better at their roles in the team and looking at how we can be better people, better husbands, wives, brothers, sisters, and members of the community.”
The Team Chevy crew treats the name as more than lip service, Brubaker said. It is intentional, a signpost meant to show its values and how they are echoed at its sister stores around the Region.
“The team name ties right into that philosophy,” he said. “It’s more than a name; it’s how we feel and how we work. It gives us a whole platform where we can refer customers to our sister stores and know they’re in good hands. If we don’t have what they need, we don’t have to let them walk out of here not knowing which direction to go.”
The key to crafting a people-first culture starts with the hiring process. When Brubaker looks at a résumé, previous experience selling cars, or selling anything, is not a necessity. What he looks for are strong, personable communicators; people who care about listening to their customers.
“I’m not necessarily looking for someone with sales experience, I’m looking for someone who provides top-level customer service, whatever the field,” he said. “Whether it be a waiter or waitress or someone like I recently hired: a young man that was an appliance salesperson at Best Buy. Everybody that walks through the door is looking for something different, so we want people who can make sure everyone they talk to has a great experience.”
Brubaker knows that car dealerships sometimes come with shaky reputations, with some dealers aggressively pushing sales or leaving car buyers in the dark on important financial details. Part of the “Team” philosophy is to break those expectations – the goal is to help customers, not to make a sale.
“There are customers who walk in intimidated or nervous because they’ve had a bad experience at another dealership,” he said. “We’re not that kind of store, and we’re not those kinds of people. We want to turn that experience around even if it doesn’t turn into a sale because everybody’s needs are different. Sometimes people just need information to make an educated decision on their next steps.”
That is an approach shared by the owner of Team Chevy and the Team network, the Gurley Leep Automotive Family. A business that started as a small, hometown Dodge dealership in Highland back in 1973 now oversees 36 automotive retail franchises at 22 dealerships and over 1,200 employees. The key to that growth was never wavering from the lesson learned decades ago–always put people first.
“It’s a family business, and it’s always run that way even as it’s grown,” Brubaker said. “Everyone from the ownership to the corporate staff tries to go above and beyond for everybody to make sure that we have a great place to come and work and that everything we have is the newest and best in the industry.”
Gurley Leep offers a number of incentives to its team members. One is the President’s Club, where high achievers in sales are recognized and awarded at an annual celebration, Team Chevy had five qualifiers last year. Some employees even get the opportunity to take paid destination vacations on Gurley Leep’s behalf.
“The President’s Club is incredible; you’re in a room full of winners and people who have been doing great things all year long,” he said. “They even took 150 people on a trip to Cancun: 75 employees and 75 partners. The biggest thing about Gurley Leep is that it gives back to both the employees and the communities that it serves.”
Employees can also set aside a small chunk of their paychecks, up to $1,500 each year, which Gurley Leep will match as a bonus. Brubaker noted that all of those benefits are about fostering a culture that’s centered on that one word in his dealership’s name–“Team.”
“I think what I like the most goes back to our name,” he said.”Everyone is on the same team, and everyone’s on the same playing field. Just because I’m the manager doesn’t make me better than anyone else. We’re all on the same page, we’re all-in to serve the customers that come through our doors.”
To learn more about Team Chevrolet of Valparaiso, visit www.chevyon30.com.
