JIM BURKE EMPLOYEE UPDATE • AUGUST 2008 Building L a s ting R ela tionship s T hrough Gr e a t Cus to m e r S e r vic e Sin c e 19 13 Gary Pelmear Retired July 18th! Thirty-three years of employment with one company says a lot about a man and his company. G ary Pelmear came to work for Jim Burke Ford in October 1975 when the dealership was more commonly known as Haberfelde Ford. He was hired on as a salesman in our Certified Leasing division and became the manager in September 1988. He has had the responsibility of running both the leasing and rental departments ever since. Over the years Gary has received many honors including Salesman of the Year, winning the National Walk-Around competition (dealership level) and becoming a Master Sales Person. He has served on several committees at the dealership including many years on the Operating Committee and the Picnic Committee. His service on both committees will certainly be missed as he was a valuable participant. He most recently was in charge of the set up committee at this year’s picnic and stayed afterward to help clean up! Gary has been a long standing member of the North Bakersfield Kiwanis Club and plans to remain active in that club and maybe other charities as well. Gary has many plans towards enjoying his retirement. Some of those plans are wood working, improving his golf score and surfing…a hobby he has had for many years! He recently became a certified scuba diver and plans to go scuba diving with his son, Robby! He tells us that he will also be “taking over the family business….cooking, cleaning and paying the bills!” We are truly grateful for Gary’s dedication and almost 33 years with the dealership! We wish Gary many happy years of retirement! “Building Lasting Relationships Through Great Customer Service” “Building Lasting Relationships Through Great Customer Service” The Fabulous Ford Drive Smart Drive Safe Drive Green Drive Quality O n Monday July 14th we rolled out the all new Ford Flex in a special showroom event. There were over 2000 invitations mailed out to some of Jim Burke Ford’s V.I.P. customers and the local news agencies. The customer comments were of total amazement on what an outstanding vehicle Ford produced. Customers could not believe that Ford came out with a vehicle that can seat 6 to 7 passengers and still get 24 miles per gallon on the highway! Everyone was thrilled with the awesome new navigation system, advanced interior design, and of course – the amazing exterior presence the Flex exhibits. Just sit in the back seat of a Ford Flex and you will be amazed at how much leg room there is. If you haven’t seen or sat in the new Ford Flex come up to the showroom and prepare to be amazed! Great Customer . . . and Fellow Employee Service! Barry Sullivan, our Facilities Custodian, was recently recognized by another employee for his extra efforts to complete a task. Below is the recognition letter received by his supervisor. This morning I asked Barry if there was a particular way I should get all the old benefit boxes down from upstairs and into the trash. Barry immediately offered to help me. He was extremely helpful and knowledgeable about the parts department. He understood that shipping and receiving needed time to unload all their newly shipped parts, and notified me when they were done. With Barry's help we loaded all the boxes (which there were quite a few!) into carts, onto the conveyor belt, and stacked them on the floor. He was so very cautious about being safe and making sure that the boxes were lined up properly, with a closed lid so that they will not spill over when on the conveyor belt. Terry was then going to help me load up all the boxes into his truck to take to the dumpster, but I had to wait until he had some extra time. I went back into Human Resources to get some work done while I waited for Terry, but then Barry came in and said he took care of it for me. He had gotten one of the parts drivers and used their truck to load up all the boxes to take to the dumpster! I am just so amazed about how helpful and responsible Barry is! I have noticed that he always is willing to lend a hand whenever needed. Barry does a great job! Nancy Nasrawin Barry has been employed with the dealership since October 1986. His first job was as a janitor in our Used Car Reconditioning shop and was transferred to the Parts Department in 2004 as their janitor. The following year Barry was transferred to the position of Facilities Custodian. His duties are varied as he gets pulled in all different sorts of directions to help others. Barry helping setup at the company picnic 2 In addition to working full time at our Oak Street dealership, Barry also works part time at Stockdale Country Club and at St. Philip’s Church. R udy Garcia entered into this world on December 8, 1948 and left us on May 12, 2008. Rudy was born in Bakersfield and eventually his family moved to Delano. Right after high school Rudy served in the United States Army. After his honorable service in the Army he went right into the auto parts business as a parts counterman at Harvest Chevrolet in Delano where he worked for many years. Then in July of 1993 Rudy came to work for Jim Burke Ford as a front counterman. As time went on Ford Motor Company started making the dealers more responsible for warranty returns and core returns, which created an important full-time position. Rudy accepted the position and did a fantastic job keeping the dealership from major charge-backs and really took charge by keeping everything neat and organized. Rudy had such a positive outlook on life though it wasn’t always easy on him. His wife Gloria passed away about 11 years ago which devastated Rudy and his family. But again Rudy stood up and took on the challenge of raising four daughters by himself. Then some of the daughters got married and eventually he was blessed with four grandchildren. Rudy's family was the highlight of his life. He Above: Rudy at the was a very proud father Grand Canyon and grandfather. We are all blessed to have known Rudy. LEFT: Rudy with daughters Malissa, Diana, Valerie (top) & Raquel (bottom left) Lincoln Mercury Elite and Ford Blue Oval Certification C ongratulations to both dealerships for maintaining our Ford Blue Oval (BOC) and Lincoln Mercury Elite (LME) certification! In years past this process meant lengthy on-sight inspections examining everything from our service procedures to the upkeep of our facilities. The last couple years we have been able to recertify automatically because of our customer service scores and the number of employees that have completed their Ford training! The biggest employee benefit we receive from these certifications is the D-Plan. This plan offers thousands of dollars off new car prices every year for employees and their family members. Another mentionable benefit is Jim Burke’s 401k program which has better plans and options due to our BOC/LME status. These certifications also benefit our customers. In our service departments we receive an increase in parameters for our After-Warranty-Assistance (AWA) program and an increase in funds for our Transportation-Assistance-Program (TAPs). Even the magazines in our customer lounges are provided because of our certification! Keep up the great work! We are on our way to winning the President’s Awards for 2008! COOK’S C hile Verde CORNER A Great Father, A Great Employee, A Great Friend Ingredients: • 3 lbs tomatillos (husked) • Cilantro • 1 yellow onion • 2 cloves of garlic • 8-10 fresh jalapeño peppers (to reduce the heat remove seeds & veins) • Salt • 1 tsp Olive oil • 3 lbs pork shoulder (cubed) • 1 lbs pork spare ribs (cut to 1”) • ¼ package Pork Chorizo Putting the Salsa together Boil tomatillos & jalapeños for 5 minutes. In a blender add tomatillos, jalapeños, cilantro, onion, & garlic. Salt to taste. Puree until ingredients are a paste. In a large pot, heat olive oil over med-hi heat. Add cubed pork & spare rib pieces, brown lightly. Add Chorizo. Add salsa, let simmer over med-low heat for 45 minutes. Submitted By: Carlos Lozano New Car Salesman at the Automall Ford Store 3 Mark Your Calendars! August ember Birthdays Alex Pascascio...................... 8/2 Henry Smith............................ 8/5 Rex Tudor................................ 8/5 Agustin Reyes......................... 8/6 Walter Felix............................. 8/7 Sergio Caro............................. 8/8 Joseph Whitby........................ 8/8 Sathi Sanghera...................... 8/10 Cathy Reese.......................... 8/13 Bonnie Bentley...................... 8/16 Raymond Morales................. 8/17 Barry Sullivan........................ 8/18 Wade Pettit............................8/21 Cindy Setser.......................... 8/24 Maria Crowe.......................... 8/24 Jesus Gomez.........................8/26 Gary Sandridge.....................8/26 RJ Williams........................... 8/27 Denise Shepherd...................8/29 Roger Lara.............................8/30 Pete DeJesus.........................8/30 Rudy Galicia..........................8/30 Alan Giblin............................. 8/31 Anniversaries 8/2 Christina Housley.............1 yr 8/5 Rea Griggers ................17 yrs 8/6 Barry Hopfe...................24 yrs 8/7 Ray Daniel.....................18 yrs 8/7 Temo Martinez................8 yrs 8/7 Henry Smith....................2 yrs 8/8 Rick Torres....................12 yrs 8/8 Alex Lopez........................1 yr 8/10 Geoffrey Holcomb.........8 yrs 8/11 David Gonzales...........26 yrs 8/14 Art Franco ....................6 yrs 8/15 Bob Miller.................. 38 yrs 8/15 Joe Hay.........................3 yrs 8/15 Shawn Underwood.......3 yrs 8/16 Casey Gonzales............2 yrs 8/18 Audrey Walden............15 yrs 8/20 Lori Crawford..................1 yr 8/20 Walter Felix.....................1 yr 8/22 Alex Arana....................5 yrs 8/26 Jesse Guevara ...........12 yrs 8/27 Mark Salcido............. 22 yrs 8/27 Anna Sheller...............10 yrs 8/28 Rigo Hernandez............2 yrs 8/29 Renee Evaro . .............13 yrs 8/30 Lupe Sanchez.............32 yrs For Your Well-being Staying Healthy with Your New Benefits UnitedHealthcare and PacifiCare have online tools and information to help you manage your health care and take charge of your health. You can start by taking the Health Risk Assessment (HRA) and you will receive a personalized confidential report. You can also earn “HealthCredits” by utilizing different educational tools. Just log in at www.pacificare.com and start reaping the benefits. Revitalize Your Body For many people it happens in their 40s or 50s: They wake up and realize they’re aging. Luckily, it’s never too late to combat the effects of time. Studies show that preventive measures help ward off disease and disability and keep you feeling good — well past your 60s and 70s. Some good age-defying ideas: You are what you eat Healthy bodies need high-quality nutrition. Eat small, frequent meals with protein (think nuts, bean spreads and low-fat cheese), whole grains, healthy fats (olive oil, fish) and at least five daily servings of fruits and vegetables. Use it or lose it Exercise does wonders for cholesterol levels, bone strength, flexibility and mood. Aim for moderate- to vigorous-intensity exercise and physical activity most days of the week. Exercise is also crucial to reaching or maintaining a healthy weight — another key health factor. Avoid “the vices” Quitting smoking is hard, but the sooner you break the habit, the sooner your lungs heal from the damage that smoking causes. Limit alcohol if you drink at all. These simple suggestions are surprisingly powerful. Follow them and significantly cut your risk of diabetes, heart disease and cancer. Start with a few changes: Walk briskly 10 minutes a day or add an apple or salad to a daily meal. Even modest changes help.While no one has found an elixir of youth, this formula may be the next best thing to extending your youth and longevity. 5 Steps to Healthy Blood Pressure Have you had your blood pressure checked lately? Keeping your pressure at 120/80 or lower reduces your risk of heart disease and stroke. While medication can effectively bring elevated numbers under control, there’s a lot you can do on your own to lower or prevent high blood pressure (hypertension). Take the pressure off with these suggestions: Step on the scale Being overweight causes a two- to sixfold increased risk of high blood pressure. Losing just 10 pounds can reduce your pressure by several points. Maintain a BMI (body mass index) of 18.5 to 24.9; search for “BMI” at www.americanheart.org to find out your number. Hold the salt It’s easy to exceed your daily sodium intake, which is 2,300 mg—about a teaspoon of salt. Tips: Cook with herbs, spices, citrus juices and flavored vinegars; replace salty items with lower-sodium selections. Follow the DASH diet This eating plan is rich in vegetables, fruits, grains and low-fat dairy products with small servings of meats, fats and sweets. For more details, go to www.nhlbi. nih.gov and type in “DASH.” Limit alcohol and tobacco If you drink, limit alcohol to one to two servings daily, and avoid all tobacco products. Get a move on Including physical activity, especially cardio exercise, in most days can help drop your pressure numbers by several points; you may see improvement in just a few weeks. Note: Check with your health care provider before making major exercise changes.
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