A very successful dealership, years of leadership positions in his state and metro dealer associations, and numerous examples of service to others make Wayne Gargus the ideal Alabama 2010 TIME Quality Dealer Award winner. He will participate in the national competition at the 2010 NADA Convention in Orlando.
Wayne is the President/Dealer Principal of Courtesy Pontiac Buick GMC in Birmingham. He and his wife of forty-eight years, Melinda, are lifelong residents of Oneonta. They have a son and daughter-in-law, Tim and Sheila, and three grandsons, Richard, Josh and Zac.
Wayne began his automotive career at age fourteen at McCay Motors. He opened his first dealership in 1971 in Oneonta and later expanded to the Birmingham area where he opened Courtesy Buick Pontiac GMC in 1996 in Trussville. Since its inception, Courtesy has consistently led the state in sales and service for GM representing Pontiac Buick GMC.
For thirty-five years, Wayne has been a leader and active member of the National Automobile Dealers Association (NADA), the Automobile Dealers Association of Alabama (ADAA), and the Birmingham Automobile Dealers Association (BADA). He has served as ADAA Chairman and is currently a Trustee of DealerComp ADAA. He was Alabama’s Dealers Election Action Committee Chairman, as well as Chairman of BADA and its auto show. He is currently on the BADA Board of Directors.
Demonstrating his involvement in the political process, Wayne is a member of the AUTO-PAC Chairman’s Club and Dealers Election Action Committee’s President’s Club.
Wayne and Melinda have been members of Lester Memorial United Methodist Church for over four decades. He also served on the Board of Directors of Alabama Goodwill Industries and is an ardent supporter of the United States Marine Corps Toys for Tots campaign. He has shown a special interest in the Bell Center and the Kings Daughters School, both which focus on the special needs of children.
For numerous years, he has supported academic and athletic school programs providing Drivers Education vehicles and booster support for local high schools. He consistently hired
Wayne’s “customer first” philosophy and his focus on satisfying the needs of the customer have enabled Courtesy to become one of Alabama’s most profitable dealerships. It is not uncommon to hear him say, “the right thing to do, is always the right thing to do.”
Wayne’s belief that “you sell cars one customer at a time” is evident in his approach to satisfying customers not only in the showroom, but also in the service aisle. His state of the art, 12000 square foot service department has led GM’s southeast region for customer satisfaction for the last three years and has been above average since incorporation.
With an average tenure of twelve years, the staff in the service department consistently meets or exceeds training and customer satisfaction requirements. Courtesy also has a 10,000 square foot collision repair facility and parts operation. His business holds a five star rating with the Better Business Bureau and has no unresolved disputes. All of this begins with Wayne’s leadership role in satisfying the customer.
Wayne’s aggressive “go to market” attitude is reflected in his advertising strategy. He has capitalized on GM’s programs like GM Certified Used Vehicles and Standards for Excellence, consistently placing among the best dealers in the country and leading the State of Alabama. The result of this effort is high customer satisfaction scores and repeat and referral business. Courtesy has consistently led the state in GM Certified Sales.
As with any successful automobile dealer, market share is of critical importance. Since 1996, Courtesy has led the state of Alabama in Pontiac, Buick, and GMC sales and has won the prestigious GM Mark of Excellence award thirteen years in a row.
Congratulations to Wayne Gargus, a deserving winner of the most prestigious award in the retail vehicle business.