Salisbury, N.C., July 23, 2017 — Team Auto Group, a Chevrolet-Buick-GMC-Cadillac dealership in Salisbury, N.C., today announced that Kristin Dillard, a partner with the group, was recently honored by Automotive News and named as one of 40 up-and-coming retailers under age 40. The leading North American source of business news compiles this who’s who of future leaders on an annual basis.
Dillard originally started in the auto industry to spend more time with her father. She quickly learned that if she wanted to see more of him, she needed to work with him in his store. “Once I entered, I fell in love with the challenge that each day brings — a new target to reach, a new process to build, a new life to touch,” said Dillard. “I love that our business allows endless opportunity for all who enter so long as they are willing to work hard and stay committed. We as a dealer body are innovative, crave growth and love our teams as a family. You can’t find this in any other industry,” Dillard continued.
According to Dillard, her father continues to be her mentor and role model to this day and both parents have always supported her career path, “I am endlessly grateful to both my father and mother for always believing in me and being a constant source of support,” Dillard stated.
Starting at the bottom in detail and reception at age 15, Dillard worked her way through every department, crediting her father for showing her how to be a strong leader. She became the general manager in 2014 and prepared the store for the changing market ahead.
In July of 2015 Dillard moved the store’s entire marketing budget to digital. While at first the drastic change was scary for the store, the shift to digital marketing helped increase sales volume and control costs, since employees could efficiently target in-market customers and measure results and consumers have increasingly shifted much of the research and purchase process online. “From the first moment Team Automotive opened its doors, we have been on a course to be at the cutting edge of available technology. In a nutshell, we aim to provide almost every service available at our physical location, online,” said Dillard
Dillard is also passionate about the automotive industry as an excellent source of careers for other young people. In 2009 she helped start the North Carolina Automobile Dealers Association’s Next Gen group for younger dealers and general managers. Later this year she will also begin working with the local Chamber of Commerce and County Commissioners to bring more awareness to high school students about the opportunities in vocational fields, particularly automotive.
Dillard is proud of how well Team Auto Group is doing and thankful for the loyal business of the local community, which is driving sustained growth for the group. It is on track to grow by between 15 – 18 % in new vehicle sales this year while maintaining outstanding customer service scores.
“I would personally like to thank our local community for their continued support of Team Auto. Our customers have always been and will continue to be our number one priority and I look forward to many more years serving the community that I truly love.”
For more information visit http://www.teamchevync.com.
