By Elsa Maxey
Classic Chevrolet Sugar Land has been awarded GM dealer of the year, a top honor reserved for leaders of the car industry. Owner Don Kerstetter accompanied by his entire local workforce was formally presented with the award last week by Chevrolet Regional Director David Notton of Dallas during a luncheon ceremony at the dealership on the Southwest Freeway. “I just want to thank you for what you do for Chevrolet, every day,” said Notton, “it’s about how well you take care of your customers.” He told the local Chevrolet staff that the luster on that bowtie, referring to the make’s recognized trademark emblem since 1913, “is your contribution to Chevrolet.”
Classic Chevrolet Sugar Land was acknowledged for continuing to meet rigorous standards of operations that not only include sales and customer satisfaction, but also long term commitment to their customers among other criteria. Since Kersetter’s ownership of the dealership, its place in the community has also earned it a rating as an A+ Rated Business from the Better Business Bureau.
Kerstetter refers to the dealership’s accomplishments as team awards. This most recent one, the GM Dealer of the Year award, involved nationwide competition for only those eligible to participate. Only 10 in the region of about 800 earned the award. Accompanied by sales and customer satisfaction, Classic Chevrolet’s award also factored in their sales, which exceeded those of the entire region.
“Relax and enjoy the difference,” that’s the local dealership’s motto, and Kerstetter says it is not just a slogan, “but what we live by here at Classic.”
Kerstetter, who works alongside his staff, has been principal in turning around the image of the former operations at the same location before he took over the dealership in February 2009. His commitment to the industry has also earned the local dealership the Chevrolet Service Hero Award for the second straight quarter.
As for relaxing and enjoying the difference, the sales and service experience at Classic Chevrolet is rather novel supported by Kerstetter’s dress code of jeans and boots in the winner and shorts in the summer, all part of their relaxed atmosphere.