Dealer: Dustin Walters

Dealership group: Friendship Family of Dealerships

Full-time employees: 34

Human Resources Director Alana Wilson on diversity, equity and inclusion: “[It’s a] very high priority with Friendship. Diversity on our team allows for a level of comfortability and relatability with our customers and breeds creativity for updated process and future successes. [We recruit] through clubs and courses at local colleges, universities and high schools that have higher concentrations of diversity.”

Walters on recruiting and retaining women: “It’s a high priority for us. Female employees bring a perspective to the auto industry that wasn’t always there. Likewise, they are often of huge influence when purchasing high-cost items like a vehicle. We’d only be limiting ourselves to not have a team they can relate to.”

Walters on changes to promote work-life balance: “Work-life balance has always been a focus for Friendship. We’ve certainly focused on it more with the stresses caused by the pandemic and inventory issues.”