Dear Ford MDA members,
It is my pleasure to introduce to you our first electronic newsletter. In this time and age we feel it is not only important to communicate with you but also do it a fast and efficient manner.
It has not been an easy road to travel, but it was a necessary trip to make. Our combined membership is now over 100 members which makes us the largest minority dealer association line group in the U.S. We will face some challenges, but the entire board is committed to move our agenda forward.
Our board and members are also involved with the National Ford Dealer Council (NFDC), National Automobile Dealers Association (NADA) and National Association of Minority Automobile Dealers (NAMAD) and I have asked them to keep you informed on the latest developments.
We have included articles in this issue from some of our vendors that will continue to support our new association, so please take the time to review their products.
Sincerely,
Eddie Corley, Jr.
Chairman
Ford Minority Dealers Association
Ford MDA Business Plan – Five (5) Strategies
For the last ten months the board of directors and Ford Motor Company
representatives have been working on the Ford MDA Business Plan. The process
being used is similar to the way the National Ford Dealer Council approach issues
affecting dealers. Five committees were formed to discuss the following strategies:
1. Improve Dealer Membership and Communications
2. Sustain and Strengthen Existing Dealers
3. Develop Dealer Investment Program
4. Develop a Candidate Awareness Process
5. Improve Marketing to Minorities
The committees have bi-monthly conference calls as well as quarterly conference
calls to discuss progress. We also have bi-annual committee reports with the Ford
executives in Dearborn.
Ford MDA Board of Directors
OFFICERS
Chairman – Eddie Corley, Jr., Albuquerque Lincoln Volvo
Secretary – Michael Martin, Vision Ford Lincoln
Treasurer – Fernando Varela, All Star Ford
BOARD MEMBERS
Mark Douglas, Avis Ford
Isaac Lizarraga, Rancho Ford Lincoln
Gus Palmar, Superior Ford Lincoln
Jose Pozos, Wichita Falls Ford Lincoln
Nathaniel Sutton, Sutton Ford Superstore
DEALER COUNCIL
Randy Henderson, Henderson Family Ford
EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS
AV Fleming
Osvaldo Garcia, Jr
ADP – Tony Valdivia
ADP is proud to introduce a new Service Operations Department Product:
“ADP’s Service Edge”
ADP ServiceEdge is a single service workflow tool to give your customers a superior service experience – from online appointments through service write-up to vehicle inspection. Gone are the days of relying on one vendor for appointments, another for reception, and yet another for mobile walk around and technician inspections.
ADP ServiceEdge – Redefines Every Step
ADP ServiceEdge arms your fixed operations team with the innovative tools they need to efficiently and profitably service customers throughout the ownership lifecycle while maintaining the highest degree of customer satisfaction.
Appointments
Harness appointment entry from all avenues with complete control and synchronization. It allows for Customer appointment scheduling via Dealership website, MyVehicle Customer Portal, and as a Sales person. All of this can be done with complete visibility and accountability
Lane
Give Service Advisors the ability to meet your customers as they drive into the lane. Perform walk around with your customer in the same time it takes most systems to pull up the customer. Take pictures of damage, note concerns and upsell services with a tap of a finger.
Inspect
Automates the entire inspection, approval, and Parts procurement process. Parts and labor integration, powered by Mitchell®, combined with a state-of-the-art direct DMS interface, packs a powerful 1,2, 3 punch.
Only ADP ServiceEdge combines the power of appointments, Lane, and Inspect into a unified set of tools that can help you create a seamless service selling system to drive customer pay and keep customers coming back time after time.
If interested, please call your local ADP Sales Rep or email Tony Valdivia at: tony.valdivia@adp.com
CrossCheck – Charles Dortch III
Electronic Check Processing right for your dealership?
Electronically processing and depositing check payments with a Remote Deposit
Capture (RDC) service provides convenience, time savings and operational efficiencies.
RDC can also save your dealership money in labor and transportation costs.
Ask these questions to find out if RDC is right for you:
- How many checks do you receive per day?
- How long does it take to prepare deposits?
- Do you make deposits during your business day or when it is convenient to you?
- How many trips to the bank do you make each week?
- What does it cost to travel to and from the bank?
- How long does it take you, or a staff member, to travel to and from the bank?
- How much time do you spend in the bank, on average?
CrossCheck’s C.A.R.S. program is an RDC service for auto dealers with guarantee, multiple check and COD features. Checks are authorized for deposit using a PC and imager.
Contact Charles Dortch at CrossCheck for special Ford MDA pricing and information on loaner equipment at charlesd@cross-check.com or call (800) 665-2100, ext. 2500.
DealerTrack – Ernest Lattimer
Ford Minority Dealers Association Recommends DealerTrack eCarList.
In an effort to continue to provide our dealers with the tools and information to help make them more profitable, the Ford Minority Dealers Association is pleased to announce our endorsement of DealerTrack eCarList.
The new DealerTrack eCarList brings together the in-depth reporting and rich historical analysis of AAX and the innovation, cutting-edge mobility, live retail market data, and merchandising capabilities of eCarList into the industry’s leading inventory management solution. DealerTrack eCarList helps dealers appraise, price, and merchandise vehicles quickly and efficiently with tools to keep their dealership in sync.
For more information, contact:
Ernest Lattimer
(516) 547-2242
Earnest.lattimer@dealertrack.com
American Financial Services – Lenny Myers
American Financial
& Automotive Services, Inc.
800.967.3633 / www.AFASinc.com
Complimentary Dealership Evaluation for Ford MDA Dealers
Maximize success and profitability with customized dealership evaluation.
American Financial’s expert consultant will:
- Evaluate all areas of the dealership
- Develop and implement standardized processes
- Ensure compliance throughout the dealership
- Personally review analysis with Dealer Principle
- Set forth recommended plan of action
Take advantage of this opportunity no later than November 31, 2012.
Contact one of the American Financial representatives listed below to schedule your complimentary, no-obligation dealership evaluation today.
| Demetrios Lahiri | Lenny Myers | Carlos Alvarez |
| 214.727.5041 | 904.607.0614 | 678.758.8933 |
| DLahiri@AFASinc.com | LMyers@AFASinc.com | CAlvarez@AFASinc.com |
A Word from the Executive Directors
Dear Members,
As your Executive Directors, we are pleased to provide you with up to date information concerning Ford Motor Company. We have been working with the Board and Ford to ensure that your voice is heard. With our combined efforts we will be able to communicate with you more on a timely basis. Further, we will be making visits to your dealership so that we may get a better feel for your market and community that you serve.
We will continue to look for ways to improve your bottom line and provide you with the technical assistance and tools that are available in the marketplace. Further, your feedback to us is highly important as well. We need to hear from you, the dealer on what is needed from your association and what should be the strategy that we use to accomplish our goals. We understand that communication is the key and we plan on keeping you abreast of issues that concern our membership body.
As always, please feel free to contact us for any assistance you may need.
| Dr. AV Fleming | Osvaldo Garcia Jr. |
| 248- 557-2500 | 956-565-0522 |
| 260-417-3043 | 956-227-0212 |
| avfleming@aol.com | ogarciajr@msn.com |