a letter from mr. hudson

JHNews, Nov 2011
Volume 2, Issue 1
CONTENTS
A LETTER FROM MR. HUDSON
The Holidays are upon us, and at the end of a difficult year like this, they could never be more
welcome. We’ve been through some tough times in 2011, from a shaky economy and widespread
unemployment to natural disasters and conflict overseas. With all that’s happening around us,
it’s easy to lose touch with what is truly important, and there is no better time to bring those
things back into focus than during the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays.
For my family, this is the only time that we can seem to come together with all of our aunts,
uncles, nieces, nephews, and cousins. Despite our best intentions, it always seems impossible to
gather the dozens of members in our extended family for any other purpose, but once a year, we
manage to set aside our busy lives to enjoy one another’s company in the way we always should.
It is too easy to take these simple gatherings for granted. I believe it is vital to stop for a moment
and acknowledge the importance of our families, our greatest source of support, comfort, and
inspiration.
When you are surrounded by loved ones, all of the stress of everyday life becomes much more
manageable. We must remember that, no matter how harsh our lives may seem, there is always
someone out there who is enduring greater hardship. We live in a wonderful nation, one that
allows us the freedom to choose our own path and strive for the happiness that we ultimately
desire. Our brave men and women in the military fight tirelessly to protect those freedoms, and
because of that, we can continue to celebrate during these Holidays and enjoy the moments we
have together.
My family, along with the entire Jim Hudson Automotive Group, has much to be thankful for,
Front Page—Introduction
A Letter from Mr. Hudson
Contents & Submissions
Page 2—Editorial Information
CRM Contacts
Newsletter Credits
Page 3—Jim Hudson Buick/GMC/Cadillac/Saab
Investing in SC’s Future
Welcome to New Employees
Page 4—Jim Hudson Lexus of Columbia
Lexus Moves to Killian Road
Behind The Scenes
Page 5—Jim Hudson Lexus of Augusta
Community Projects
Volunteering Helps Everyone
Page 6—Jim Hudson Toyota-Scion
A Customer Really Never Forgets
Shoe Drive Success
Page 7—Jim Hudson Hyundai
Visit Our New Pre-Owned Center
Congratulations to Newlyweds
Page 8—Jim Hudson Ford
Making Lexington Our Home
Corporate Chaplains
and we constantly feel humbled by the success that our communities have allowed us to have. It
is our pledge to continue giving back to our community. With our long-standing relationships
with Oliver Gospel Mission and Harvest Hope Food Bank, we hope to deliver our care and
concern to those who may be less fortunate than ourselves. By sponsoring community events and
maintaining constant awareness of the needs around us, the Jim Hudson Automotive Group will
contribute in every possible way to keep the Holidays special.
Once again, thank you for making us part of your family, and we are honored to have you as part
of ours!
Sincerely,
Keith Hudson
SUBMISSIONS WELCOME!
If you have stories to share or
information that you would like to pass
along, please feel free to send letters or
emails to our editors!
See next page for a complete list of Customer
Relations Managers and Newsletter Staff >>>
Page 2
Wayne DuBois
General Sales Manager, Jim Hudson Buick/GMC/Cadillac/Saab
wdubois@jimhudson.com
(803)783-0110
Cheryl Hayes
Customer Relations Manager, Jim Hudson Lexus of Columbia
chayes@jimhudson.com
(888)240-6309
Angela Hillesland
Customer Relations Manager, Jim Hudson Lexus of Augusta
info@lexusaugusta.com
(888)216-3033
Dave Ellison
Customer Relations Manager, Jim Hudson Toyota
dellison@jimhudsontoyota.com
(888)448-4893
Carli DiPietro
Customer Relations Manager, Jim Hudson Hyundai
cdipietro@jimhudsonhyundai.com
(877)732-0404
Madison Gantt
Customer Relations Manager, Jim Hudson Ford
mgantt@jimhudson.com
(803)359-4114
NEWSLETTER EDITORIAL STAFF
Project Lead: Dave Ellison
Chief Editor: Joshua French
Assistant Editor: Chris Murdaugh
Special Thanks to Jay Yarnell & FedEx Office®!
THE NEWEST MEMBER OF OUR EDITORIAL TEAM
Congratulations to our Chief Editor Joshua French
and his wife Rui on the birth of their baby girl!
Sophia Rei French was born at 8:24 am on November
18th, just hours before the newsletter went to press.
Sophia weighs 6.5 lbs. and measures 18.5 inches!
Page 3
720 Garners Ferry Road, Columbia, SC 29209
Phone: 803-783-0110
INVESTING IN SOUTH CAROLINA’S FUTURE TECHNOLOGY LEADERS
Jim Hudson Buick-GMC-Cadillac was proud to sponsor the first-ever South Carolina Robotics Invitational and Workshops, or SCRIW for short.
SCRIW saw seventeen teams that compete in the FIRST Robotics Competition bring their 2011 robots for one last shot at this year's game. FIRST
(For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) aims to inspire students to take up careers in science and engineering through
programs like their flagship robotics competition, where
teams create 120-pound robots in just six weeks to play
a game that changes each year. This time, LogoMotion
required teams working in alliances of three to pick up
and hang various inner tubes on the elements of FIRST's
logo, with smaller robots racing up a pole at the end of
each match. SCRIW, created by the teams from Richland
One and Lexington/Richland Five, is one of several offseason competitions organized by teams after the FIRST
Championship in April, and it is the first such event to
happen in South Carolina.
After eleven matches each, the winning alliance was led
by team 2751, SPARK, from Pendleton, who finished
undefeated; 1319, Flash, from Mauldin; and 1554, the KC
Revolutionists' B-team from Lugoff.
WELCOME NEW EMPLOYEES
THANKS TO OUR ACCOUNTING STAFF
We are pleased to have new additions
to our dealership staff. Welcome to
Larry Crossett, Ryan Mayo, and Chris
Tucker for our sales department, Robert
Laymon and Jay Pomnitz for service,
and Thomas Lowder for parts. Also, we
are honored to have Stacey Whitaker as
our new parts manager. It’s always
exciting to see fresh faces who bring
new skills and experience to our diverse
team of professionals.
Some of the most important tasks in our dealership are
handled by the unsung heroes of our back office. Our
accounting professionals may spend most of their day
out-of-sight, but they are never out-of-mind. Our team is
made up of Jennifer Turner, Kim Suddeth, Robin
Cunningham, Amber Dillon, Carole Holland, pictured below.
Not pictured are receptionist extraordinaire Wendy
Stephens and cashiers Meranda Mathias and Katie Albright.
We appreciate all that you do for us!
DEALERSHIP INFO
General Sales Manager: Wayne DuBois
Service Manager: Charlie Gibbs
Parts Manager: Stacey Whitaker
http://www.jimhudsonsuperstore.com
http://www.facebook.com/
JimHudsonGM
http://twitter.com/JimHudsonBPGS
EMPLOYEE SPOTLIGHT:
WENDY STEPHENS
Wendy Stephens' name tag may
say Receptionist, but Juggler may
be an equally-fair job title. In
addition to greeting guests and
answering the phones, Wendy
also handles tasks for our
accounting department. Wendy
has been working for Jim Hudson
for 13 years, filling several roles in
accounting over the years. Wendy
grew up in Columbia, graduating
from Airport High School, and is a
die-hard Gamecock fan. She is
married to her husband of 11
years, Sparkey, and has one
daughter, 9-year-old Sydney.
Page 4
328 Killian Road, Columbia, SC 29203
Phone: 888-240-6309
JIM HUDSON LEXUS OF COLUMBIA HAS MOVED TO A NEW LOCATION
EMPLOYEE SPOTLIGHT:
In the last newsletter, we previewed Lexus of
Columbia’s upcoming move to Killian Road, and
now the vision for that new dealership has been
realized. The 50,000 square-foot facility has 24
service bays, a luxury waiting lounge, and plenty
of other amenities to help us serve our customers
better. We hope that everyone will come visit us
in our beautiful new home!
AMBERLY
MCLAUGHLIN
Amberly McLaughlin has been the
Warranty Administrator and Title
Clerk for the past 8 1/2 years at
Jim Hudson Lexus of Columbia. “I
hear rave reviews from the Lexus
organization on Amberly’s skills,
and they considered her one of
the top warranty administrators in
the organization. I feel blessed to
have her working for me,” states
her supervisor TK Keane.
“I enjoy helping and answering
customer’s questions and concerns involving their vehicles and I
find myself learning something
new and exciting every day,” says
Amberly.
BEHIND THE SCENES WITH LEXUS ACCOUNTING
This quarter, we are highlighting the accounting experts in our administrative office, and at Lexus
of Columbia, we are confident that our team is one of the best in the business. We don’t get
enough chances to properly thank our office employees for their hard work, and we are proud to
have such reliable professionals in this role. With the new dealership in full swing, their jobs are
more important
than ever!
Thanks to
Amberly
McLaughlin,
Melissa Keeling,
Judy King, and
Stephanie Byrd.
You’re all
awesome!
MAKE $100 FOR REFERRALS!
Send a friend to buy their next vehicle from
Jim Hudson, and we’ll return the favor!
DEALERSHIP INFO
Partner / General Manager: Pete Olmstead
General Sales Manager: Matt MacIntyre
Service Manager: T.K. Keane
Parts Manager: Mel Musgrove
http://www.hudsonlexus.com
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Jim
-Hudson-Lexus-ofColumbia/198969366781287
Page 5
3520 Washington Road, Augusta, GA 30907
Phone: 888-216-3033
VOLUNTEERING HELPS
STAYING ACTIVE IN OUR AUGUSTA COMMUNITY
EVERYONE
This Fall, Lexus of Augusta was involved in a wide range of community endeavors. At the Arts in
the Heart Festival, we coordinated Jim Hudson Lexus Guest Services stations to give our
customers and potential patrons a chance to ask questions and meet our personnel. Lexus
supported the Augusta Rose Society’s Rose Show, as well, which
benefits The Lydia Project, a special initiative for breast cancer
survivors. We also participated in this year’s Halloween with a
Heart, which allows disabled children to enjoy a safe
Trick-or-Treat experience. Guest Services Team Leader Dapheny
Wells (pictured) helped coordinate the event, and she even got
in the spirit of Halloween with a Flintstones costume, which the
kids loved. A special thanks to her and Rosanne Guedea for
helping the children have a fun Halloween! And last but not
least, we held a month-long food drive to support the Golden
Harvest Food Bank. At Lexus, we believe that staying active with
events like these is vital, as it allows us a chance to give back to a
community that has supported us through many successful years
of business.
Here in Augusta, Lexus helps drive
community involvement in many
ways, but one of our largest and most
successful initiatives is Volunteer
Augusta, a website and companion
Facebook group that partners with
the Mayor’s office, Chambers of
Commerce, and United Way to
coordinate volunteer work for a
variety of local needs. We continue
to encourage anyone in our area to
visit this online resource and become
active in their communities.
We also have many team members at
Lexus who contribute their time and
talents on a regular basis. For
example, Pre-Owned Internet
Manager Frank Gibbs, Jr. is the
immediate past chair of the local
sports council. And Joyce Thomas,
from our detail department,
volunteers at the Food Bank. Service
to our guests and to those in need is a
commitment we embrace, and it is
our honor to do so.
DEALERSHIP INFO
General Manager: Bill Gibbs
Service Manager: Jose Tovar
Parts Manager: Warren Spooner
http://www.augustalexus.com
http://www.facebook.com/
JimHudsonLexus
http://twitter.com/JimHudsonLexus
MEET OUR ACCOUNTING TEAM
At Lexus of Augusta, there is always an expectation of
top-notch quality, and while that is constantly apparent in
the way our sales and service departments serve our
customers face-to-face, the daily operations that happen
behind closed doors must also reach this high standard.
Fortunately, we have a wonderful accounting team that
exemplifies the Lexus quality of work. Thanks to Susan
Goodson, Tammy Delph, Laura Rollins, Alice Pulliam, Christy
Dean, and Kenyelle Norman for raising the bar on
administrative service!
EMPLOYEE SPOTLIGHT:
SUSAN GOODSON
Jim Hudson Lexus is proud to
feature team member Susan
Goodson, who manages all of the
deals that come through the accounting department! Susan does
an amazing job for us. She is
efficient, courteous, helpful and
responsive. She has been a part of
the team for over a year. Susan is
a single mom with two kids, Mercedes and Tanner. They are very
active in sports and school activities, including travel soccer,
drums, alto sax, speed stacking,
math club, and pep squad. Susan
was born in Honolulu, Hawaii and
her nickname is Buggs, after her
childhood hero Bugs Bunny.
Page 6
970 Columbiana Drive, Irmo, SC 29063
Phone: 888-448-4893
A CUSTOMER REALLY NEVER FORGETS
Dear Mr. Hudson,
I can’t thank you and your staff enough for the wonderful visit I had at the Toyota store. John Rectenwald was my
salesman and Nate did the finance work. These two men did a pro job for me. Never any pressure, just pro.
service. I bought a Toyota Corolla 2011 S model. A truly well-built and beautiful car. I love it already! It looks like it
is running 100 mph when it is sitting still.
I have been a barber for 46 years. You used to come in Parkland Barber Shop, and Willie would shine your shoes.
Dennis Hendrix would cut your hair. You were going to USC. You had a nice wife and two boys at that time. You
drove a 1963 Chevy 4-door Bel Air. I worked the fourth chair. I was 20 years old and just getting started in my new
job. Dennis and Joe Hendrix were the best people I have ever worked for. As long as I did my job well, they never
said a word to me! The reason you have made it Big is because you treat people like you want to be treated. They
are a person, not a number. I believe we are brothers in Christ Jesus, he will never let you down!!! Thank you again!
May God Bless You and Yours!
Tommy E. Teague
West Columbia, SC
EMPLOYEE SPOTLIGHT:
JESSALYN CRANE
Jessalyn started her career with Jim
Hudson in July 2002 when she was only
18 years old. She first worked as a
receptionist and cashier at Mitsubishi
before moving to accounting and
payroll at Toyota in 2005. Jessalyn
thinks of the people at Jim Hudson
Toyota as family, and she appreciates
how Mr. Hudson shows such respect to
all of his employees. As dedicated as
she is, it seems like Jessalyn is always at
work, but she says that she also enjoys
white water rafting!
TOYOTA’S ADMINISTRATIVE EXPERTS
SHOE DRIVE SUCCESS
It takes an army of intelligent and hard-working people
to make a dealership run smoothly, and that’s
especially true for our enormous Toyota-Scion store.
Accounting and reception are among the most
demanding positions in the dealership structure, and
we have some amazing young ladies that make it all
look easy. From warranty work and payroll to phone
calls and customer correspondence, these diligent desk
workers deserve more thanks than we can ever give
them.
More than 40 pairs of shoes donated
through the Columbia East Rotary Club went
to deserving middle school students at Camp
Gravatt in Aiken, where they spent a very
special weekend. Thanks to all who made
the effort a complete success!
Pictured below are Cassie Thiele, Ashley Maricle,
Steffanie Cottrell, Erica Hutto, Laura Brummett, Lourdes
Sirin, Jessalyn Crane, and Amanda Carey. Thank you for
being a constant driving force in our daily operations!
DEALERSHIP INFO
General Sales Manager: Scott Trotter
Service Manager: Edgar Alewine
Parts Manager: Greg Foster
http://www.jimhudsontoyota.com
http://www.facebook.com/
JimHudsonToyota
http://www.twitter.com/
JimHudsonToyota
Page 7
310 Greystone Boulevard, Columbia, SC 29210
Phone: 877-723-0404
JIM HUDSON HYUNDAI OPENS ITS NEW PRE-OWNED CENTER
We are thankful this holiday season for the opening of the Jim Hudson Pre-Owned Center. The
new parking lot and building remodel have given us the opportunity to expand our pre-owned
inventory and create an inviting atmosphere for our customers. The project is part of an
ongoing effort to improve operations and expand Hyundai’s facilities.
The potential for growth in the New Year is exciting and something that Kip Skipper, Used Car
Manager, is very enthusiastic about. “We are glad to be a part of the Jim Hudson Automotive
Group family and look forward to the opportunities ahead,” he says.
EMPLOYEE SPOTLIGHT:
DEBRA O’QUINN
Debra has been a member of the Jim Hudson
family since 1987 and has served as Office Manager since 1998. Born and raised in the Midlands,
Debra graduated from Lexington High School. She
and husband Ric like riding their Harley, camping,
and spending time with their kids (five children
and five grandkids)! Debra also likes painting
ceramics and needlepoint, and even though she
has a ’97 F-250, she says she would love an even
bigger truck.
“When I took over operations at the dealership, I
didn’t know what to expect from existing staff. It
wasn’t long before she became my ‘right-hand
ma’am’,” says General Manager Rob Dunn.
MARRIAGE
ANNOUNCEMENTS
We so happy for our newlyweds!
Congratulations to Vlad and Olga
Rabinov, and best wishes to Lesley
and Adrian Alston.
DEALERSHIP INFO
General Manager: Rob Dunn
Service Manager: Karl Eibling
Parts Manager: Howard Haller
http://www.jimhudsonhyundai.com
http://www.preownedzone.com
http://www.facebook.com/
JimHudsonHyundai
http://twitter.com/JHHyundai
WE APPRECIATE THE HYUNDAI ACCOUNTING OFFICE
If service is the backbone and sales the heartbeat, then accounting is the lifeblood of
the dealership. Jim Hudson Hyundai is thrilled to boast that our accounting department
has 84 years of combined
experience. This
awesome team is made
up of Pat Hoesly, Andrea
Ambrose, Hilary Henry,
Crystal Templin, Letty
Madrid and Debra
O'Quinn.
Thank you ladies for all
that you do, and keep up
the outstanding work!
Page 8
1201 West Main Street, Lexington, SC 29072
Phone: 803-359-4114
MAKING LEXINGTON OUR NEW HOME
Jim Hudson Ford has barely been in Lexington for eight months, but we
are already proud to call it home. Following Ford’s Dealer Executive
Conference, where General Manager Keith Hudson accepted a
graduation certificate from Executive Chairman Bill Ford, we have
continued expanding both our dealership and our community
connections. Lexington residents may have noticed our new parts
delivery trucks on the road, and we recently sponsored the LCLEOA
OktoberFest Bass Tournament off Larry Koon Landing, in cooperation
with the Lexington County Police Department and
the Fishers of Men National
Tournament Trail.
CORPORATE CHAPLAINS
Jim Hudson Ford is proud to welcome
Steve Acree as our corporate chaplain.,
part of a company-wide effort to reach
out to employees, families, and friends
in their times of need. To introduce
Steve to our Ford staff, Jim Hudson held
a Labor Day Kick-Off Breakfast,
complete with catering, prizes, and a
chance for employees of every
department to
come together
as a single
family. We
appreciate
everyone who
makes the
dealership a
daily success!
WE LOVE OUR ACCOUNTING STAFF
The everyday workings of a dealership like Jim Hudson
Ford would be impossible without the hard work of
our dedicated accounting office. They handle our
paperwork, take care of our warranty registration,
write up reports, keep track of our bills to keep the
lights on, and sign our checks on payday.
EMPLOYEE SPOTLIGHT:
The accounting team at Jim Hudson Ford includes
Kelly Ayers, Seabron LeCompte, Niki Davenport, and
Brandi Robinson. We appreciate everything you do
for us!
NIKI DAVENPORT
Niki has been with Jim Hudson
Ford since the beginning, having
worked as a receptionist for Ben
Satcher for more than 8 years
before the change in ownership.
Her diligence was quickly recognized by management, and she
was moved to accounting, where
she posts deals, works on dealer
trades, and handles wholesales.
Niki even met her husband Glen at
the dealership! We’re proud to
have Niki in our offices, and she
says that she feels honored to
have been given a chance to move
into accounting.
DEALERSHIP INFO
General Sales Manager: Joe Pietrobono
Service Manager: Mike Taylor
Parts Manager: Mark Radle
http://www.jimhudsonfordlexington.com
http://www.facebook.com/pages/JimHudson-Ford/162682233783911
http://twitter.com/JimHudsonFord