Kicking Horse Ford is being recognized on a national level. Kicking Horse Ford Dealership has earned the 2011 President’s Award by Ford Motor Company of Canada, LTD.
The top 10 per cent of Ford dealerships in Canada win the President’s Award but the local Ford dealership also won a second tier to the President’s Award called the Diamond Club Award which is a new award from the company this year.
This was the eighth time the Ford dealership in Golden won a President’s Award and the people who work at the dealership could not be happier said Dan Maisonneuve, Kicking Horse Ford’s dealer principal and general manager.
“Only the top two dealers in each group win this award. There are five different sized dealer groups and the top two in each win the Diamond award which we won this year,” Maisonneuve said.
The award, which recognizes Lincoln and Ford dealerships for their customer service and market share annually, notified Kicking Horse Ford of their achievement last week.
“It is all about the staff. It is a complete team effort and I want to make sure everyone knows that. It is really gratifying to know that it is your customers who helped you win this award,” Maisonneuve said. “It really says that we are doing something right and our customers are recognizing that.”
Even though they have won the award Maisonneuve said, “It is great, but now we have to look at ways to stay on top. Like every other business things change from year to year and we want to improve.”
Customers have the chance to fill out surveys which go directly to Ford for their sales and work experience. Ford then grades the scores and compares them to the other dealers.
Maisonneuve explained that the surveys are something they track on a daily basis to ensure they are doing everything they can to satisfy their customers.
“We do our best and we want them to know that if we are doing something wrong, please let us know so we can correct them,” he said.
As for the staff, Maisonneuve said he was very lucky to have a great group working at the business.
“They are out with the public every single day. It is a lot of pressure. It can be a difficult job,” Maisonneuve said.
He also had a special message to the customers who come to Kicking Horse Ford.
“We appreciate the support of the town, the local businesses and people. We give back to the community as much as we can. I feel that it is money well spent and is the right thing to do,” he said.
