Dealer: Thomas Price

Dealership group: Price Simms Family Dealerships

Full-time employees: 29

General Manager Diana Kennedy on learning how to be a better employer from managing through the pandemic: “We learned to quickly pivot to changing market conditions. All employees remained active, and those that were not comfortable coming to work had the option to stay at home with 80 percent of their pay.”

Kennedy on long-term changes in hiring or employment practices because of the pandemic: “We have created a new position that allows us to accommodate an employee’s needs for comfort and safety, allowing a person to work from home when traditionally in the automotive industry there would be no option for off-site work.”

Kennedy on improving employee retention: “We treat everyone with respect and love. We make sure to provide work clothing and lunches, and in times of need we leave no one behind. We accommodate and encourage work-life balance, allowing employees to take time off and be with their families.”

Kennedy on offering employees a career path: “We train and promote from within whenever a new position is available. For example, our internal service adviser started as a porter.”