General manager: Lloyd Steeves

Dealership group: Group 1 Automotive

Full-time employees: 73

Steeves on learning how to be a better employer from managing through the pandemic: “We were able to learn more about our teammates and develop better relationships through the harder times. This paid dividends as times got better and we were able to exceed expectations. Putting the well-being of our team first set the stage for the growth and overall health of the dealership.”

Steeves on long-term changes in hiring or employment practices because of the pandemic: “The hiring practices have shifted to a more virtual setting, at least at the beginning of the hiring process. We are putting more value in skills that utilize technology and effective communication through these avenues.”

Steeves on improving employee retention: “When we as leaders have a relationship with our teammates and they know that what is important to them is important to us, reciprocity takes hold, and what is important to the leaders becomes important to the team.”

Steeves on offering employees a career path: “We are developing a bench of people to rise to the occasion when called to take on the next opportunity. This includes all the way up to [general sales managers] becoming [general managers].”