Dealership Minds 2014: Video Series

Video Series

President & General Manager: Brian Carpenter

• Dealership Expansion and Planning for Future Growth
• Vast Product Ranges Complicate Equipment Sales in the Northeast
• Succession Planning at Champlain Valley Equipment
• Defining Core Values at a Farm Equipment Dealership

Founder & Partner: Russ Carpenter

• History of Champlain Valley Equipment
• In 43 Years in Business, Some Things Never Change
• Your Most Valuable Assets Are Good Employees

Centralized Warranty Clerk: Marcellus Cubit

• Translating Service Department Notes for Warranty Fulfillment
• Negotiating Manufacturer Warranties
• More Stores, More Variables in Warranty Fulfillment
• Cutting the Turnaround Time on Warranties

Inventory Manager: Derek Gregorek

• Internet Changing the Business of Farm Equipment Dealers
• Communication Protocol at Champlain Valley Equipment
• Establishing Wholegood Product Flows
• Setting Priorities for a Sales Manager

Partner & General Manager Derby Store: Josh Provost

• History of Derby Location of Champlain Valley Equipment
• Making a Partnership Work
• ‘Numbers Guy’ Digs Deep for Analysis and Trends
• Developing the Culture of Champlain Valley Equipment
• Future Plans for Expansion

Top Equipment Salesperson: Dave Merrill

• The Evolution of Champlain Valley Equipment’s Customer Base
• The Schedule of an Ag Equipment Salesman
• Philosophy on Selling Small Versus Big Equipment

Used Equipment Remarketer & Salesperson: Rick Rusin

• Distributing Information on Available Used Equipment
• Factory Support for a New Line
• Setting Your Dealership’s Sales Department Apart from the Rest

Store Manager, Berlin Store: Tom Wood

• Flood Strikes Vermont Farm Equipment Dealership
• Responsibilities of Being a Store Manager Without Ownership Stake
• Keeping Communication Open During a Dealership Acquisition

Partner & General Manager,
St. Albans Store: Jason Bessette

• Major Changes from Dealership Acquisition
• Enhancements to Customer Care Program
• Reconstructing a Service Department
• Finding Future Service Techs at the High School Level
• Daily Operating Report Keeps Management ‘On Top’ of Numbers

Human Resources Director: Chantal Persons

• Actively Recruiting Young Talent
• Transition to a 4-Store Dealership
• Splitting Time Between HR and Accounting

Senior Parts Manager, Middlebury Store: Jeff Randall

• Putting Importance on Every Part Sold at the Dealership
• Managing the Employees in the Parts Department
• Making Customers Feel Comfortable in the Store
• Keeping Customers Happy and Managing Expectations
• Managing Inventories with Many Equipment Lines

Office Manager: Jennifer LaRock

• The Typical Day of a Dealership’s Office Manager
• Learning Through the Growth Stages of a Dealership
• Keeping Each Arm of the Dealership Working Together

Service Manager: Aaron Keeler

• Being Available to Customers
• Staying Busy With Winter Service Programs
• Splitting Time Between Production Ag Equipment and Rural Lifestyle Equipment
• Leaning Back and Forth On Other Locations for Help