Silvestre (Sal) Gonzales Wins Nationwide Recognition for Group Service and Trade Accomplishments
(The nomination of Silvestre (Sal) Gonzales, seller principal at Culver Metropolis Volvo/Mazda in Culver Metropolis, California, for the 2023 TIME Supplier of the 12 months award was introduced by TIME.
Gonzales is certainly one of a choose group of 48 seller nominees from throughout the nation who will likely be honored on the 106th annual Nationwide Car Sellers Affiliation (NADA) Present in Dallas, Texas, on January 27, 2023.
The TIME Supplier of the 12 months award is without doubt one of the vehicle business’s most prestigious and extremely coveted honors. The award acknowledges the nation’s most profitable auto sellers who additionally show a long-standing dedication to group service. Gonzales was chosen to signify the Nationwide Affiliation of Minority Car Sellers within the nationwide competitors – certainly one of solely 48 auto sellers nominated for the 54th annual award from greater than 16,000 nationwide.
Gonzales took a winding highway on his technique to the retail automotive enterprise, guided by an innate drive and perseverance. He earned a B.S. in enterprise administration and finance from the College of Southern California in Los Angeles in 1987 after which accomplished a Mexican historical past research program on the College of Guadalajara in Mexico, additionally in 1987.
“Life has taught me that you simply can’t begin on the prime, you need to undergo the ups and downs your life journey takes you on, and study from them. Ever since athletic coaches taught me ‘laborious work beats expertise when expertise would not work laborious’ I’ve been laser targeted on success” nominee Gonzales mentioned.
After faculty, he secured a job as a stockbroker at EF Hutton, however throughout his second week on the job, his coaching program was suspended as a result of inventory market crash on October 19, 1987, referred to as Black Monday. He then moved again to his dwelling in Whittier, California, and went to work for a builder.
“After a 12 months on the job, the town constructing inspector instructed I department off and begin constructing alone,” Gonzales mentioned. “I turned a licensed common contractor and labored with my father, who was a profitable actual property dealer, to begin a home-building firm in 1990, which grew from constructing a couple of properties, to a monitor of properties, and on to condo buildings.”
In 1999, Gonzales and his father switched gears and acquired a property that was dwelling to a defunct Chrysler Jeep retailer in South Gate, California. They determined to refurbish the constructing and reopen the dealerships as Casa de Gonzales.
“As soon as we determined to strive the automotive enterprise, we had been decided to succeed, and keen to do no matter it took. Our household is objective oriented and bold” he mentioned.
To arrange himself for his new profession, Gonzales attended the NADA Academy in 2000. He took that information and discovered all points of dealership operations at Casa de Gonzales Chrysler Jeep, working within the service division, then gross sales and finance earlier than turning into the final supervisor in 2002. “It was constructing a staff from the bottom up and getting everybody to maneuver in the identical course. We consider in investing in our individuals (staff) and offering them with alternatives to develop.” He led their staff to the distinguished Daimler Chrysler 5-Star Award for Excellence in 2002, which was the best recognition for Chrysler and Jeep dealerships in the USA.
In 2003, Gonzales bought Westside Volvo in Culver Metropolis, renaming it Culver Metropolis Volvo in 2006. He fully transformed the Volvo retailer in 2017 with their newest facility picture program.
In 2014 he was awarded a Mazda dealership open level in Culver Metropolis, CA. He constructed a brand new Mazda dealership from the bottom up in 2016. “It was enjoyable to run a job website once more, doing one facility after which the subsequent, back-to-back. I’m very happy with the looks of our services.”
To take his enterprise even additional, Gonzales accomplished an government schooling program on the Yale Faculty of Administration in New Haven, Connecticut, in 2020. “I prefer to set targets personally, academically, and professionally, and create a plan to realize them,” he mentioned.
Gonzales is presently serving on the nationwide seller council for Mazda and has been on the nationwide seller council for Volvo USA. He’s additionally a member of NAMAD, the Nationwide Affiliation of Minority Car Sellers. Not too long ago, he was voted in by different sellers to be a board of director for the California New Automobile Sellers Affiliation starting January 2023.
Below his course because the seller principal for each dealerships, they’ve gained quite a few awards from Volvo and Mazda for excellence in gross sales and customer support. “It’s with laborious work and willpower that we have now gained and proceed to try to win the Excellence Award for Volvo and the President’s Award for Mazda”.
Within the space of group service, Gonzales is most happy with taking part within the Operation Outreach Literacy Program, via which his dealership donates two books to every
second-grade pupil at La Ballona Elementary Faculty in Culver Metropolis. “The books are bilingual, and their lecturers obtain lesson plans to assist facilitate the training,” he mentioned. “Within the late spring, we welcome the scholars into our dealership for a discipline journey.”
Gonzales has additionally served on the board of administrators for the Culver Metropolis Chamber of Commerce. He was a Commissioner for the Metropolis of Hermosa Seaside Parks & Recreation, and he was a member of the Metropolis of South Gate Design Evaluate Committee; and the South Gate Kiwanis Membership.
Sellers are nominated by the executives of state and metro seller associations across the nation. A panel of college members from the Tauber Institute for International Operations on the College of Michigan will choose one finalist from every of the 4 NADA areas and one nationwide Supplier of the 12 months. Three finalists will obtain $5,000 for his or her favourite charities and the winner will obtain $10,000 to present to charity, donated by Ally.
In its twelfth 12 months as unique sponsor, Ally additionally will acknowledge seller nominees and their group efforts by contributing $1,000 to every nominee’s 501(c)3 charity of alternative. Nominees will likely be acknowledged on AllyDealerHeroes.com, which highlights the philanthropic contributions and achievements of TIME Supplier of the 12 months nominees.
“For over 50 years, TIME has been dedicated to recognizing the impression of automotive sellers on their communities with the TIME Supplier of the 12 months award,” mentioned Edward Felsenthal, editor in chief and CEO, TIME. “We’re proud to proceed the legacy of honoring these works of service with our companions at Ally.”
Doug Timmerman, president of seller monetary companies, Ally, mentioned, “Auto sellers throughout the nation who’re nominated for this award annually are dedicated to not solely doing it proper and main in a quickly altering automotive business however to strengthening their communities via giving again. The TIME Supplier of the 12 months program celebrates sellers who’re the function fashions of the retail auto business for his or her steady efforts to carry up and assist their staff, clients and communities.”
Gonzales was nominated for the TIME Supplier of the 12 months award by Damon Lester, president of the Nationwide Affiliation of Minority Car Sellers. He has three kids, Annie (26), Tre (24), and Natalia (21).