General manager: Joe Tate

Dealership group: Lithia Motors

Full-time employees: 43

Tate on lessons from the pandemic about being a better employer:
“First and foremost, do not panic, listen to employee concerns, and just try and do the right thing by your employees and your customers.”

Tate on changing hiring and training because of the pandemic:
“Most of the training changes we made are how to really become great at digital retailing and no-contact sales.”

Tate on making work schedules more balanced or flexible:
“Only real change that we have implemented is closing our service and parts departments on Saturday to make sure we are fully staffed during our busier weekdays. Sales do not work bell to bell. All sales staff have two days a week off together.”