Last November, myKaarma sponsored a Tech Video Shootout where Techs from franchise dealers across the nation shared tech video skills for a chance to win a gift card.
MyKaarma is an automotive service software platform that allows comsumer easy access to their auto dealership service department. Andrew McArthur, a technician from Park Place Motors, was declared one of the five winners of the myKaarma contest in the nation.
Congratulations Andrew on your outstanding achievement!
From January 1 to December 31, 2023, Lisa Mullenberg from Bloomington Acura Subaru competed in the Subaru Fixed Operations Summit. This competition is designed to recognize the top-performing retail ServiceManagers in the country. To compete, Service Managers must satisfy all requirements each quarter regarding First Maintenance Complete (FMC), Service Net Promoter Score (NPS), Fixed Right the First Time Score, and must be Master or Senior Master training certified each month.
For the year 2023, Lisa was a Top Zone leader and moved up to the national level. She then finished 3rd in the nation for Customer Pay & Warranty Repair Order Volume, in addition to meeting all other program qualifiers. “Great achievements like this are never done by one person, they are done by a team. I feel accomplished, lucky, and proud of my team for helping me get there,” said Lisa. “I’m excited to represent Bloomington Subaru during the fixed operations summit trip to Cabo San Lucas this year!”
Congratulations, Lisa!
In 2023, Park Place Motors service technicians Logan Simon and Josh Coddington competed in a national Dealer Skills tournament. The tournament consists of three training portions – two online and a regional testing in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Sales associates, parts and service technicians, and advisors are welcome to participate in this annual competition.
This year, Logan competed for the title of national champion technician, and Josh competed in the coach category. Both Logan and Josh passed the first two rounds of training, then headed to Florida to compete in nationals.
Josh took third place in nationals for coach, and Logan took home a gold medal as a National Champion Volkswagen Technician. Luther Automotivecongratulates you both on your wild success and new titles!
Four Luther team members celebrate 46 years of automotive industry work this quarter. We want to congratulate and thank Wayne Rocek, Mary Egan, George Johnson, and Dan Pederson for their dedication and commitment to Luther Automotive for nearly five decades.
Years at Luther:
46, I started at Schram’s Toyota, then David Luther bought it five years later, and I’ve stayed ever since.
Has your position changed throughout the years?
I’ve always been a mechanic.
Why have you stayed all these years?
It’s a really good organization to work for. The environment is user-friendly and inviting, and I enjoy the people I’m around and the job that I do.
What do you like to do in your free time?
I like to hang out with my wife and kids; I also enjoy woodworking, fishing, and hunting.
Years at Luther:
46, I started at Hopkins Dodge before Luther owned it. Then, I was grandfathered in.
Has your position changed throughout the years?
I started as a receptionist, and then moved to a cashier, accounts payable, and eventually on to billing.
Why have you stayed all these years?
I’m an old-timer. If I’m okay with the place – happy – then I’m going to stay put. I really enjoy the people I work with.
What do you like to do in your free time?
I like to bake and crochet – I have enough yarn for a yarn store.
Years at Luther:
46, I started at Pontiac downtown, then moved here 17-18 years ago.
Has your position changed throughout the years?
I started as a car runner when I first became involved in the automotive industry.
Why have you stayed all these years?
I don’t like change. I found a place I enjoy working for, so why change it?”
What do you like to do in your free time?
I enjoy woodworking, working around the house, and hanging out.
Years at Luther:
46, they brought us here in June 1977.
Has your position changed throughout the years?
I have been in sales since the start.
Why have you stayed all these years?
I found a comfort zone and have been treated fairly all these years.
What do you like to do in your free time?
I enjoy fishing, hunting, watching sports, and spending time with my family.
Congratulations Q3 Employees!
Thank you for your years of dedicated service and commitment to the Luther Automotive Group! We greatly appreciate you and everything you do to make Luther Automotive what it is today!
40 years:
John Hass, WVW
Marlin Smedshammer, LFF
Roger Anderson, WVW
30 years:
Michael Huff, TOY
25 years:
Christopher Hogue, ART
Jon Hammer, CAM
Mark Dedecek, HHO
Pablo Tapia, HHO
Randy Adams, WBA
Ronald Murray, MMC
Thomas Reil, NCF
20 years:
Alioune Gueye, TOY
Annette Sinicropi, MMC
Chai Lor, HHO
Curtis Wise, CAD
Deborah Tufts, MMC
Jon Bechtold, LFF
Kenneth Provo, MMC
Stephen Broucek, WVW
Thomas Fletcher, WVW
Tonya Stueven, PLC
15 years:
Andrew Wolff, CAM
Chad Arthur, MMC
Christine Schute, MMC
Erika Rodriquez, WVW
James Hayes, RLT
Jesse Downey, WBA
Julie Heineman, TOY
Maissa Ellis-Hickey, MMC
Phillip Whitworth, ART
Salvatore Castelli, PPM
Shane Lampi, WVW
Tiffani Jorgenson, LBB
10 years:
Adam Heili, LFB
Amber Mistric, ART
Amy Denekamp, LBB
Andrew Bloomquist, LFB
Betty Lee, TOY
Clayton Easter, LFB
Daniel Dingmann Jr., MMC
Erik Campion, BLC
Jessica Burns, HHO
John Hoy, LFT
Jack Stout, MMC
Laura Shelton, ART
Matthew Oquist, MMC
Melissa Garvey, BMM
Nathan Skaw, LNK
Patrick Chiero, BHM
Paula Belland, CAM
Phuong Vu, LAG
Rachel Schreiber, PLC
Randi Nalley, ARK
Ross Stettner, BAS
Ryan Shane, RLT
Steven Haberle, LAG
Tara Rose, IOB
Tyler Williams, RLT
Zachary Gilmore, ART
5 years:
Alan Holida, DTJ
Anthoney Norton, ARC
Anthony Williams, AAS
Benjamin Gage, WVW
Blake Porter, ARK
Blake Knutson, WBA
Blong Lor, RCN
Brett Duit, LMH
Brian Dameron, ANW
Britni Peel, OKC
Bryan Stoppelman, CAD
Chelsea Chhem, BVW
Christian Sturgell,OKC
Christopher Larson, BCV
Connie Brennan, LBB
Cy Bongiovanni, BPH
Dallas Adams, BMM
Edwin Romero, ARC
Erik Harris, SCS
Esmeralda Aragon, ANW
Fanny Martinez, ANW
Grayson Fordyce, ANW
Heath Zimmerman, RCN
Hunter Firestone, OKC
Hunter Kloc, LMH
Jason Olson, BCJ
Jay Smith, WBA
Jeffery Sabacky, HHO
Jeffrey Sticha, MMC
Jeremiah Johnson, HCV
Jeremy Edwards, ARC
Joshua Hussemann, WVW
Joshua Land, MMC
Kathleen Becker, LAG
Kim Yoeum, PPM
Kimberly Genheimer, BCJ
Lindsey Chanhdara, TOY
Lynn Grissom, WVW
Madeline Moore, SCS
Mark Still, ART
Marsha Milliken, BAS
Maxwell Knutson, WBA
Michael Adams, JCC
Michael Nelson, BPH
Michael Wittenberg, RLT
Nhut Phan, LAG
Patrick Gallmeier, BAS
Peter Hizen, JCC
Richard Messina, BCJ
Robert Arbuckle, BVH
S Kim Vang, TOY
Shannon Reyes, WBA
Steven Fischer, BCV
Susanne Sobik, ART
Syrichgy Heng, TOY
Timothy Murray, OCR
Tony Branby, BAS
William Nabors, ANW
Zong Lee, LAG
3 years:
Alex Yablonskiy, TOY
Alex Rensch, BMM
Allison Gustafson, LFB
Alyssa Mccune, CAM
Barry Lindahl, BVW
Bee Vang, TOY
Benjamin Gates, BLH
Benjamin Severson, MMC
Bernardine Boecher, MMC
Bradley Nimz, BCV
Brett Freeman, KCM
Brett Skalisky, BAS
Brett Stejskal, TOY
Brian McDonald, BVW
Bruce Macdonald, WVW
Caleb Velez, KCM
Cameron Schmandt, BCJ
Carter Bemis, CAD
Charles St. Mane, HHO
Chorly Xiong, RCN
Christopher Johnson, ANW
Christopher Kifer, OKC
Christopher Hayes, BVW
Chupusue Vue, BPH
Cody Wickes, JCC
Cody Nelson, ANW
Cole Andrzcyzak, LBB
Dale Teter, BCJ
Dale Decker, PPM
Daniel Johnson, RCN
Darren Lucht, MMC
Darren Shimanski, HHO
Darryl Taylor, RCN
David Garcia-Velez, RLT
Della Guest, ART
Derek Ness, BPH
Drew Johnson, LBB
Eric Dahl, WVW
Evan Church, BCJ
Gabriel Silva Reina, HHO
Gabriel Maruani, LCC
Gabrielle Watters, LFT
Gregory Nicoson, PPM
Humberto Sanchez Omana, IOB
Ilenna Garcia, BAS
Jacqueline Xiong, RLT
Jared Daniel, WBA
Jared Wik, NCF
Jeremy Carnicelli, BHM
Jessica Smith, HHO
John Monson, BAS
Jon White, BCV
Jonathan Lupinek, NCF
Jonathan Van Sickle, LCC
Jordan Yost, LFF
Jose Cadenas, BAS
Joseph May, WVW
Joshua Olmstead, HCR
Kayde Przybylski, WBA
Keegan Pearson, BCJ
Kevin Herbert, WBA
Kirk Leach, OC1
Lauren Gernentz, LFT
Malik Dames, OKC
Mario Marin Luna, RLT
Mario Saldana Galarza, WVW
Mark Sullivan, BVH
Mark Heder, BVW
Matthew Johnson, WBA
Matthew Brandt, WBA
Melissa Luther, MMC
Melissa Meredith, ART
Michael Hickman, AC1
Michael Zickermann, BAS
Michael Martindale, ARK
Michael Clark, SCS
Michelle Town, BAS
Nathaniel Becker, OCR
Nicholas Goblirsch, BAS
Nicholas Bell, HCV
Nicholas Johnson, LNK
Nichole Michel, ART
Patrick Boyle, LFB
Racheal Andrade, ANW
Rachel Fox, HCV
Robert Byrd Jr., ARK
Robert Edstrom, BCJ
Ronald Armstrong, BAS
Sabrina Henagan, ART
Seeha Sangwang, WBA
Sergey Gnid, HHO
Seth Anderson, BAS
Shahmeel Khakwani, BHM
Shane Wilson, ANW
Sher Yang, WBA
Shirene Taylor, WVW
Sidney Buckner, ARC
Stephen Gleason, AC1
Steven Mackey, BCJ
Steven Richardson, LFF
Thomas Ploncinsky, BAS
Timothy Stillings, KCM
Timothy Doran, ANW
Timothy Cash, DTJ
Timothy Griffin II, ART
Troy Strasser, LBB
Victor Holloway II, AC1
Wahab Baysudee, BMM
William Codere, NCF
William Monroe, ARK
William Johnson, NCF
Willis Burks III, HHO
Wilma Brock, AC1
This year, we’ve had a few Luther Automotive dealerships build new shops from the ground up. Take a look at a few of our new revamps.
Park Place Motors
In mid-February, Park Place Motors said goodbye to the old and in with the new as they moved into a brand new dealership roughly 100 feet away from the 40+ year old building. The new Park Place Motors is run by Brad Johnson, a highly skilled General Manager.
Since the new dealership was built right next to the old one, there was plenty of land to accommodate a surface pond and have sufficient parking for guests and display vehicles. To make this layout possible, Motors purchased two adjacent properties, making this new location a combination of four separate parcels.
Park Place Motors offers a wide range of vehicles from Audi to Volkswagen and BMW. Because there are three different manufacturers, the new building features three separate show floors to accommodate each of the manufacturer’s needs.
The new dealership boasts some impressive features, such as rooftop solar, the first vehicle photo booth in a new facility, and the first Modula parts storage systems installation. The service area is now air-conditioned and has doubled in size. Inside the dealership, you’ll also find photographs of Rochester landmarks from local photographer, Dean Riggott.
Cadillac
After spending five years in Roseville, on August 7th, Luther Cadillac opened a brand new state-of-the-art dealership off of Highway 61 in Vadnais Heights. The new building is run by Perry Feveal, an experienced General Manager who has spent the last 20 years working for Luther Automotive.
Plans to create this new site began back in 2014 when Luther first purchased some of the land needed to build the dealership. Uniquely, this new dealership is located in two different cities, the building sits in Vadnais Heights and the parking lot in Gem Lake. There were three separate parcels combined to create this site. The project took nearly 1.5 years to complete.
The new dealership boasts a modern design with a retro twist.The showroom and lounge area features floor-to-ceiling windows, cloud lighting, live edge tables, and retro-vintage artwork creating a welcoming space for team members and guests. The showroom also has an impressive customization wall with a 46-inch screen and sample materials for customers to create their own dream Cadillac. “The new space feels a lot more lively – it brings positive energy,” said Feveal.
The new store also features highly advanced technology with EV charging stations and is the only Cadillac dealership in the state that can sell the new 2024 Cadillac Celestiq, the ultra-luxury electric vehicle. The new location also now has a car wash, an air-conditioned service station, an automated parts storage and retrieval system, and a wrap-around lot to display more vehicles.
Starting in January 2024, the Luther Development Center (LDC) will begin hosting a series of continuing education coures on Overcoming Objections/DriveCentric and APS for new and experienced sales consultants. Each course will offer a review and/or next level training for any team member looking to refine or advance their skills.
There will be four courses offered throughout the year, with each course having multiple sessions per quarter and topics changing every few months. Courses will last a maximum of 2-3 hours in the morning, allowing team members to learn something new and return to their valued guests before the afternoon. Here is what you can look forward to in Q1 of 2024.
DriveCentric + Overcoming Objections
This course will focus on overcoming objections using the Listen, Align, Isolate and Overcome strategy for handling objections. This strategy focuses on keeping defenses down, keeping the customer in the dealership and encouraging a decision NOW. The DriveCentric portion will be a deep dive into the importance of our CRM. You will learn to leverage the CRM to create a better guest experience by working efficiently out of your sales pipeline with a focus on working your “hottest” guests first.
APS Products Tour @ APS
This course will focus on the products and services provided by Automotive Performance Studio. You will meet at APS for a tour of the facility followed by an overview of the products provided by APS. Focus will be placed on best practices for selling those back-end products with the goal of maximizing the guest experience by protecting their investment.
In August, Motors Management welcomed a new Customer Relationship Management Sales Specialist, Kate Gallagher, to its St. Louis Park building. Kate focuses her efforts on helping dealerships optimize DriveCentric, a relatively new CRM, she plans to work with every level within the store from Sales Managers to new hires to better utilize DriveCentric, as well as provide new tools to help increase adoption and proficiency.
Kate has an impressive background in the automotive industry. Before moving to the Motors office, Kate worked at Park Place Motors in Rochester for two years in both Sales and Finance. She also was a Branch Manager for Enterprise Rent-A-Car for two years after receiving her degree in Business Management and Leadership from the University of St. Thomas.
Over the past year, the Wayzata Chamber of Commerce celebrated Jon Reyerson from Luther Jaguar Land Rover as the Wayzata Person of the Year 2022.
This award is given annually to someone who is an active member of the Chamber and goes above and beyond to serve their community. Community members will submit names through a write-in campaign to determine who is the most deserving of the award each year.
Reyerson has been a Wayzata Chamber of Commerce member for nearly a decade. “I was introduced to the Chamber shortly after I moved to Wayzata back in 2010. I didn’t know very many people in the area at that time, so this was a good way to become involved and meet people in the community,” said Reyerson.
The first event Reyerson attended that grew his interest in becoming a part of the Chamber was the Wayzata Chilly Open, a golf tournament held e
very winter on Wayzata Bay. After going with his friends in 2011, Reyerson became more involved the following year and eventually became a chairperson for the event for nine years. Reyerson also has volunteered at various car shows throughout the years and is currently in charge of the Rails and Ales Craft Beer Festival and is a part of the Steering committee for James J. Hill Days. “I love being a part of those events and helping out. You can truly put me in charge of anything I’m excited about,” said Reyerson.
Through his connections and volunteer work, Reyerson officially joined the Chamber of Commerce board in 2019. And three years later, in October 2022, the Chamber of Commerce celebrated Reyerson as the Person of the Year at the Wayzata Country Club. “The event was like going to your funeral without having to die,” said Reyerson. “All my friends, family, past and present coworkers were there; we ate my favorite food and listened to my favorite music – it was surreal.”
Nearly one year after the official award ceremony, on September 10th, Reyerson commemorated the end of his term by riding on a parade float during James J. Hill Days. “Being a part of a community that’s driven by volunteers who do it on their own is incredible. I enjoy being a part of something bigger than myself; that’s why I volunteer and give back,” said Reyerson.
Keep yourself, your guests, and your team safe with these safety tips:
Keep Walkways Safe.
Be sure to have plenty of sand or salt on hand to ensure that all walkways are free of ice, as slips and falls are the biggest safety risks we face during the winter season as well as the most common cause of work comp injuries. Ice is also a significant risk in the parking lots as well, so be sure to pay extra attention to lot conditions and drive slowly.
Only use approved space heaters.
Space heaters are very popular and we often see them in use at dealerships at this time of year. While they may be great for keeping you warm, they also pose a significant fire risk when they are not used correctly. Personal space heaters need to be plugged directly into a wall outlet, kept clear of any flammable or combustible materials, and should be turned off and unplugged at the close of business for the day.
Proper ventilation is needed when garage doors are closed.
Since garage doors are kept closed more often in the winter to conserve heat, the amount of natural air circulation, especially in the service department, may be reduced. Some safe practices include running vehicles indoors as little as possible and utilizing car exhaust vacuums whenever indoor vehicle operation is necessary. Also, if your facility has visible wall mounted CO detectors, visually verify they are operable and functioning without error. If you are questioning whether the Make Up Air unit, vehicle exhaust vacuum or CO detectors are functioning properly, check with your manager.