General manager: Cavan Dunn

Dealership group: Patriot Auto Group

Full-time employees: 29

Dunn on changes to employment practices because of recent industry disruptions like the inventory crisis: “Our group purchased the store in January 2019, and were just getting our footing when the pandemic hit. We had many new hires on board and suddenly faced huge challenges. We closed on Sundays, and now the only Sunday open is the last one of the month. Schedules became more flexible. Our [business development center] was able to work remotely, and we still offer that flexibility. Most important, we maintained wages and benefits.”

Dunn on improving employee retention: “Our benefits program is very strong, with 100 percent of medical, dental, vision paid by the store. Included are [long-term and short-term] disability, life insurance and other benefits.”

Dunn on offering a long-term career path: “We send associates [of] multiple departments to seminars and clinics, compensating them for time, travel and all event fees. We sponsor the local high school’s technical school. We had two young entry-level techs who we assisted and supported with scholarships through the school, attended their graduation and hired them full time as technicians. We are now encouraging them to attend college and will assist on flexibility of working here and part of the costs.”

Dunn on diversity, equity and inclusion: “Find the right person, and we’ve seen that diversity occurs naturally. We have a team with a wide [range of] ages, several LGBTQ, ethnicities, languages, everything. Thirty percent of our team is women.”