Dealer: Fred Beans

Dealership group: Fred Beans Automotive Group

Full-time employees: 67

Vice President Beth Beans Gilbert on lessons from the pandemic about being a better employer:
“We prioritized communication, sending a weekly update to employees and requesting feedback for maintaining morale, providing support and seizing opportunities to innovate our business. Toyota of Flemington acted as trailblazer for our operations because it was allowed to remain open for car sales while following CDC guidelines. It was our model for processes and practices when our other dealerships could open.”

Human Resources Manager Dan Milewski on changing hiring and training because of the pandemic:
“We utilized Webex/Skype/Zoom for interviewing candidates. We changed new-hire orientation to twice a month with a maximum of 20 people for each half-day session. Everyone has his or her own table, practices social distancing and adheres to CDC guidelines. We also initiated training for our recently launched digital retailing platform, the Fred Beans ExpressWay.”

General Manager Brad Hackendahl on how the accelerated shift to digital retail changed staffing strategy:
“We have had a sales manager and sales staff specifically dedicated to digital retailing. This is working so well that we anticipate bringing on more staff at our other dealerships to perform these functions.”