Houston’s Ford dealership has been recognized by Ford Motor Co. with a major award.
On the strength of performance in both sales and customer satisfaction, Romines Motor Co. earned the “President’s Award” for 2014. The 82-year-old, family-owned firm was one of less than 10-percent of the approximately 4,500 Ford dealerships nationwide to receive the honor, and the only one in its 60-dealer “zone.”
Kevin Klossner, regional manager of sales, parts and service for Ford’s Kansas City region, visited Romines (on S. Sam Houston Blvd.) last week and presented ownership a commemorative plaque and a letter signed by Ford’s vice president of U.S. marketing sales and service, Mark LaNeve, and president of the global customer service division, Frederiek Toney.
“Winning this puts them in an elite group,” Klossner said. “This doesn’t just happen – everyone has to work at it.”
The President’s Award was created in 1998, but there were originally separate awards for sales and service. Romines earned one for sales in 2001, but this year’s was bigger because it represents “quality business practices” in both areas.
“It’s a huge honor to us,” said co-owner Don Romines. “But to me this says we have excellent employees. It’s all based on how they perform their jobs. It’s not me or the other owners, it’s the employees.”
Romines said it’s good for a business to have visible ownership.
“I’m a firm believer that if you don’t take care of people, they won’t take care of you,” he said. “I think these big-box stores with their silent or absentee owners are missing the boat, because nobody cares more than an owner who works directly with his business. They’re more in-tune with their customers and do what’s right so people come back.”
Romines put earning the President’s Award in perspective.
“This award doesn’t pay the bills,” he said, “but by the same token, if you have satisfied customers, they will pay the bills.”
“This award doesn’t pay the bills, but by the same token, if you have satisfied customers, they will pay the bills.”
– DON ROMINES
For more about Romines Motor Co., call 417-967-4134 or log onto www.rominesonline.com.