Two Sakelaris Ford employees in Versailles receive national awards of excellence

Photo by Samantha Edmondson
Two employees at Sakelaris Ford in Versailles have qualified and received the Employee Excellence Award this year. For sales manager Jay Dunham and Jim Dykzeul, sales and advertising, this accomplishment is one they have also earned for six consecutive years and since the award's inception.
Photo by Samantha Edmondson Two employees at Sakelaris Ford in Versailles have qualified and received the Employee Excellence Award this year. For sales manager Jay Dunham and Jim Dykzeul, sales and advertising, this accomplishment is one they have also earned for six consecutive years and since the award's inception.

Two employees at Sakelaris Ford in Versailles have qualified and received the Employee Excellence Award this year. For sales manager Jay Dunham and Jim Dykzeul, sales and advertising, this accomplishment is one they have also earned for six consecutive years and since the award's inception.

In 2007, Ford Motor Company started an all-new program that recognized individuals for their accomplishments in sales and customer satisfaction. Before then, all National Level Awards were given to the dealership as a whole, according to a news release from Sakelaris Ford in Versailles. Ford decided that it was time to set the bar higher by requiring not only top sales volumes but also top customer satisfaction ratings to qualify for the award, the news release stated.

Dunham and Dykzeul have worked diligently in all aspects of the car buying process to not only make the experience as easy and fun as possible but to also take care of their customers after the sale.

"Your performance places you among the nation's best in sales and customer satisfaction. Take pride in this distinction and know that few others have reached this level of achievement," said Alan Mulally, president and CEO of Ford Motor Company, in the news release. "The goal of people serving is what makes us unique, and as the face of Ford in your community, your role is vital."

There are three levels of achievement to the Employee Excellence Award. To be chosen at the highest level, salespeople have to rank as one of the top three in the entire zone of 145 Ford dealerships, which Dykzeul has accomplished, according to the news release. Dunham has also reached the highest level at sales manager, of which only one is chosen.

"Between Jim and I, we have over 41 years of experience in sales at the franchise level. You have to take care of people and treat them with respect or they won't be back. We thrive on repeat and referral business and take pride in the fact that our customers entrust us with their own family and friends," Dunham said in the news release. "Jim has been here in the same location for 19 years, and you just don't do that if your customers are not happy."

"We work hard on product knowledge and keeping up with the newest technologies to try and make things simple and fun for every person that walks through the door. The awards are nice, but it wouldn't happen without our customers. We appreciate each one," Dunham added.

Sakelaris Ford is located at 1001 W. Newton St. in Versailles. For more information, call 573-378-4653 or visit http://sakelarisfordversailles.dealerconnection.com.