Boyd County Ford gets award

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July 7, 2009

Tim Preston/The Independent The Daily Independent Tue Jul 07, 2009, 10:50 PM EDT

Ashland — Even with three President’s Awards on their walls, the people at Boyd County Ford say “there is always room for improvement.”

Ford Motor Co. officials visited the long-standing dealership on Greenup Avenue in Ashland on Tuesday morning to present the corporation’s most prestigious recognition.

According to a statement from the corporation, “Ford Motor Co.’s President’s Award recognizes and rewards dealers who have excelled in achieving superior customer satisfaction and are Blue Oval Certified. The President’s Award recipients exemplify commitment and resolve. They understand what it takes to attain the distinction of a leader and can consistently exceed that level. What makes this award even more significant is that customers are the judges. Through a comprehensive survey, customers rate dealers on the basis of their sales and service experiences. Yearly, only 340 dealerships out of more than 5,000 are awarded this high honor.”

Boyd County Ford President Ken Blanton, who has been in the car business locally for more than four decades, credited the dealership’s staff and dedication to customer satisfaction for the corporate recognition.

“We’re just happy to be a Ford dealer,” Blanton said Tuesday.

“With its 60 team members, there’s a great bunch of employees here. Probably 70 percent of our people have been here more than 20 years.”

Boyd County Ford Service Manager Pete Gayheart said another crucial component in their success is keeping customers happy after the sale with services including a year of free oil changes, as well as follow-up calls to address any questions or concerns.

“Good communication is the key in our business here,” Gayheart said.

The dealership’s employees and administrators agreed the quality of modern Ford vehicles has been the primary reason they have continued to thrive during tough economic times.

Blanton and Gayheart said each the company’s cars and trucks have earned five-star crash ratings, as well initial quality ratings equal to that of Honda and Toyota.

Ford vehicles also claim best-in-class fuel economy ratings.

TIM PRESTON can be reached at tpreston@dailyindependent.com or (606) 326-2651.

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