LutherNews SEPTEMBER 2014

DEVELOPMENT CENTER DEBUTS 2

DIABETES BIKE RIDES 3

lsquoHOPE ON WHEELSrsquo 10

A HOME ON THE FARM 15

Luther grants student scholarships lsquoCarfitrsquo teaches safety

In an effort to promote safe driving and mobility for older drivers Luther is partnering with Volunteers of America and serves as a host for the CarFit program

In choosing four promising Goergen selected the candidates are finding that many students recent high school graduates Qualifying participants were are encouraged to pursue four-for $500 scholarships Luther completing a program of study year degrees over technical Automotive is investing in within the field of automotive degrees Luther hopes that the future and seeking strong The effort is an extension its support and promotion of candidates for its technical of Lutherrsquos partnership with programs like Pathways can positions Intermediate School District also support students like

The four winners were split 287 and its Pathways program Jesus Sanchez to help them evenly in their studies with two which introduces students to find a place in the automotive pursuing auto mechanics and two car dealership operations The industry in auto body They are Aidan company is working to promote Itrsquos not unusual for tech Hicks Jacob Neis Jesus Sanchez strong ties with the educational school students to work part-and Peter Harriman community time at a Luther dealership

Intermediate School District Lutherrsquos human resources while they are in school The 287 automotive instructor John professionals say that younger arrangement offers valuable Preston and his colleague Jeff technicians are needed but they experience and income

Proper safety comfort and fit in vehicles is the emphasis and employees from five Luther stores attended CarFit training explains Matt Oquist Lutherrsquos community engagement coordinator Seat positioning and mirror adjustments are part of the process

Brookdale Buick GMC opened its doors for CarFit trained technicians and health professionals for free fitment services Dr Erica Stern associate professor of Allied-Occupational Therapy at the University of Minnesota brought students to discuss a variety of simple adaptive devices with drivers including seat belt extenders seat belt reachers easy key turners and swivel seat cushions

Scholarship winner Aidan Hicks left Peter Harriman accepts a $500 Gadient with Nastassia Leigh and Director Luther Sales Director Andy Gadient and scholarship check from Gadient Shawna Johnson Luther Human Resources winner Jesus Sanchez

JUMPING IN WITH CAREER TO COME Jesus Sanchez isnrsquot ldquoI want to further my

one to pass up an opportunity and after a knowledge in it and tour of Hopkins Honda with Intermediate get as good as I canrdquo School District 280 he connected with Lutherrsquos Jesus Sanchez director of sales Andy Gadient scholarship winner

ldquoHe had a passion for the car business so I set Hopkins Honda him up for an interview with General Manager detailer Kyle Allisonrdquo said Gadient

Sanchez was promptly said he was excited to meet hired for a detailing Sanchez ldquoHe reminded me position and is getting a lot of myself wanting to his feet wet working get his foot in the doorrdquo in auto body Better The new employee is still he received a $500 attending tech school and scholarship from Luther working ldquoI want to further Auto and a scholarship my knowledge in it and get from Hennepin Technical turned Sanchez down but as good as I canrdquo Sanchez College Luther staff members noticed said his dream is to one day

Independent shops were something more Gadient own his own auto body shop asking for experience and who started as a lot employee

Sanchez received a $500 scholarship from Luther Auto and was hired at Hopkins Honda where he hopes to gain experience in auto body

1

Luther Development Center offers dealership-simulator expanded training Large windows new

detailed vehicles sales desks and cars on the lotndash itrsquos a picture not unlike most any Luther store but this center of action on Brooklyn Boulevard is distinctly different as industry experts work with new hires who learn practice and grow their Training Director Matt Hanrahan (left) Sales Trainers Dan Bradley (second photo and cover) and Kif Patrick each bring a distinct skills personality to trainees challenging them with objections and encouraging them with helpful techniques and mindsets

The freshly introduced Luther Development Center and this dealership simulator appears to itself to others in its industry but needed set up shop in a previous Brookdale store be the only one in the country Newly to look outside of it for effective examples

hired sales consultants spend their first ldquoOther businesses do a better job getting 30 days at the LDC as part of a 90-day people in and setting them up for success training program Finance through substantial training is also offered ldquoEvery guest deserves to be training and

coachingrdquo he said At its heart the working with a well trained ldquoTherersquos no reason LDC is an investment why we canrsquot do in people explains salesperson This effort is meant that in this industry Director of Training but it does require and Organizational to address thatrdquo that we change our Development Matt thinking a little bitrdquo Hanrahan ldquoI think thatrsquos Matt Hanrahan director of what this facility is all Some may

about Wersquore incredibly ask how the training Luther Auto grateful to be working for a LDC customizes company that understands its training to that valuerdquo he said individual stores each with its own sales

intricacies Hanrahan said trainers work directly with store leaders to match their

Show floor comes to class needs and the LDC brings in the actual vehicles the trainees sell Attendees have the opportunity to take

classroom training and then immediately Shorter customized trainings are also practice their skills on the show floor offered and the program employs a Hanrahan said the idea was borne from modular design thatrsquos adaptable Store a desire by the executive staff and store employees can become so busy in their general managers to attract higher quality positions that they donrsquot have enough job candidates and reduce turnover time to get the new person up to speed

and thatrsquos where the LDC is here to assist To make auto sales more attractive the director explained to people who might

consider a career change a safety net is needed some assurance that new hires will be OK economically while they get up to speed the director explains Lutherrsquos comprehensive sales training provides that stability

Looking outside thenback in

Hanrahan said Luther has been very good at comparing Learn more and watch a video from the LDC at luthernewscom

2

Luther grants student scholarships lsquoCarfitrsquo teaches safety

In an effort to promote safe driving and mobility for older drivers Luther is partnering with Volunteers of America and serves as a host for the CarFit program

In choosing four promising Goergen selected the candidates are finding that many students recent high school graduates Qualifying participants were are encouraged to pursue four-for $500 scholarships Luther completing a program of study year degrees over technical Automotive is investing in within the field of automotive degrees Luther hopes that the future and seeking strong The effort is an extension its support and promotion of candidates for its technical of Lutherrsquos partnership with programs like Pathways can positions Intermediate School District also support students like

The four winners were split 287 and its Pathways program Jesus Sanchez to help them evenly in their studies with two which introduces students to find a place in the automotive pursuing auto mechanics and two car dealership operations The industry in auto body They are Aidan company is working to promote Itrsquos not unusual for tech Hicks Jacob Neis Jesus Sanchez strong ties with the educational school students to work part-and Peter Harriman community time at a Luther dealership

Intermediate School District Lutherrsquos human resources while they are in school The 287 automotive instructor John professionals say that younger arrangement offers valuable Preston and his colleague Jeff technicians are needed but they experience and income

Proper safety comfort and fit in vehicles is the emphasis and employees from five Luther stores attended CarFit training explains Matt Oquist Lutherrsquos community engagement coordinator Seat positioning and mirror adjustments are part of the process

Brookdale Buick GMC opened its doors for CarFit trained technicians and health professionals for free fitment services Dr Erica Stern associate professor of Allied-Occupational Therapy at the University of Minnesota brought students to discuss a variety of simple adaptive devices with drivers including seat belt extenders seat belt reachers easy key turners and swivel seat cushions

Scholarship winner Aidan Hicks left Peter Harriman accepts a $500 Gadient with Nastassia Leigh and Director Luther Sales Director Andy Gadient and scholarship check from Gadient Shawna Johnson Luther Human Resources winner Jesus Sanchez

JUMPING IN WITH CAREER TO COME Jesus Sanchez isnrsquot ldquoI want to further my

one to pass up an opportunity and after a knowledge in it and tour of Hopkins Honda with Intermediate get as good as I canrdquo School District 280 he connected with Lutherrsquos Jesus Sanchez director of sales Andy Gadient scholarship winner

ldquoHe had a passion for the car business so I set Hopkins Honda him up for an interview with General Manager detailer Kyle Allisonrdquo said Gadient

Sanchez was promptly said he was excited to meet hired for a detailing Sanchez ldquoHe reminded me position and is getting a lot of myself wanting to his feet wet working get his foot in the doorrdquo in auto body Better The new employee is still he received a $500 attending tech school and scholarship from Luther working ldquoI want to further Auto and a scholarship my knowledge in it and get from Hennepin Technical turned Sanchez down but as good as I canrdquo Sanchez College Luther staff members noticed said his dream is to one day

Independent shops were something more Gadient own his own auto body shop asking for experience and who started as a lot employee

Sanchez received a $500 scholarship from Luther Auto and was hired at Hopkins Honda where he hopes to gain experience in auto body

1

Luther Development Center offers dealership-simulator expanded training Large windows new

detailed vehicles sales desks and cars on the lotndash itrsquos a picture not unlike most any Luther store but this center of action on Brooklyn Boulevard is distinctly different as industry experts work with new hires who learn practice and grow their Training Director Matt Hanrahan (left) Sales Trainers Dan Bradley (second photo and cover) and Kif Patrick each bring a distinct skills personality to trainees challenging them with objections and encouraging them with helpful techniques and mindsets

The freshly introduced Luther Development Center and this dealership simulator appears to itself to others in its industry but needed set up shop in a previous Brookdale store be the only one in the country Newly to look outside of it for effective examples

hired sales consultants spend their first ldquoOther businesses do a better job getting 30 days at the LDC as part of a 90-day people in and setting them up for success training program Finance through substantial training is also offered ldquoEvery guest deserves to be training and

coachingrdquo he said At its heart the working with a well trained ldquoTherersquos no reason LDC is an investment why we canrsquot do in people explains salesperson This effort is meant that in this industry Director of Training but it does require and Organizational to address thatrdquo that we change our Development Matt thinking a little bitrdquo Hanrahan ldquoI think thatrsquos Matt Hanrahan director of what this facility is all Some may

about Wersquore incredibly ask how the training Luther Auto grateful to be working for a LDC customizes company that understands its training to that valuerdquo he said individual stores each with its own sales

intricacies Hanrahan said trainers work directly with store leaders to match their

Show floor comes to class needs and the LDC brings in the actual vehicles the trainees sell Attendees have the opportunity to take

classroom training and then immediately Shorter customized trainings are also practice their skills on the show floor offered and the program employs a Hanrahan said the idea was borne from modular design thatrsquos adaptable Store a desire by the executive staff and store employees can become so busy in their general managers to attract higher quality positions that they donrsquot have enough job candidates and reduce turnover time to get the new person up to speed

and thatrsquos where the LDC is here to assist To make auto sales more attractive the director explained to people who might

consider a career change a safety net is needed some assurance that new hires will be OK economically while they get up to speed the director explains Lutherrsquos comprehensive sales training provides that stability

Looking outside thenback in

Hanrahan said Luther has been very good at comparing Learn more and watch a video from the LDC at luthernewscom

2

Luther Development Center offers dealership-simulator expanded training Large windows new

detailed vehicles sales desks and cars on the lotndash itrsquos a picture not unlike most any Luther store but this center of action on Brooklyn Boulevard is distinctly different as industry experts work with new hires who learn practice and grow their Training Director Matt Hanrahan (left) Sales Trainers Dan Bradley (second photo and cover) and Kif Patrick each bring a distinct skills personality to trainees challenging them with objections and encouraging them with helpful techniques and mindsets

The freshly introduced Luther Development Center and this dealership simulator appears to itself to others in its industry but needed set up shop in a previous Brookdale store be the only one in the country Newly to look outside of it for effective examples

hired sales consultants spend their first ldquoOther businesses do a better job getting 30 days at the LDC as part of a 90-day people in and setting them up for success training program Finance through substantial training is also offered ldquoEvery guest deserves to be training and

coachingrdquo he said At its heart the working with a well trained ldquoTherersquos no reason LDC is an investment why we canrsquot do in people explains salesperson This effort is meant that in this industry Director of Training but it does require and Organizational to address thatrdquo that we change our Development Matt thinking a little bitrdquo Hanrahan ldquoI think thatrsquos Matt Hanrahan director of what this facility is all Some may

about Wersquore incredibly ask how the training Luther Auto grateful to be working for a LDC customizes company that understands its training to that valuerdquo he said individual stores each with its own sales

intricacies Hanrahan said trainers work directly with store leaders to match their

Show floor comes to class needs and the LDC brings in the actual vehicles the trainees sell Attendees have the opportunity to take

classroom training and then immediately Shorter customized trainings are also practice their skills on the show floor offered and the program employs a Hanrahan said the idea was borne from modular design thatrsquos adaptable Store a desire by the executive staff and store employees can become so busy in their general managers to attract higher quality positions that they donrsquot have enough job candidates and reduce turnover time to get the new person up to speed

and thatrsquos where the LDC is here to assist To make auto sales more attractive the director explained to people who might

consider a career change a safety net is needed some assurance that new hires will be OK economically while they get up to speed the director explains Lutherrsquos comprehensive sales training provides that stability

Looking outside thenback in

Hanrahan said Luther has been very good at comparing Learn more and watch a video from the LDC at luthernewscom

2

DIABETES RIDES TECH SKILLS TO SCHOOL Emotional pain honor and

personal hardship were the drivers behind two Luther staff members who pedaled bikes in Tour de Cure events promoting diabetes research in Minneapolis and Fargo

Receptionist Janelle Stallkamp has lived with the disease for 40 years and has great memories riding with her father

ldquoI have a lot of families and friends who have diabetes so itrsquos a cause Irsquove jumped behind the last few yearsrdquo said Controller Shawn Preabt at Luther Family Buick GMC in Fargo Preabt raised more than $5000 making him the second highest fundraiser for the event for three years running The 2014 event was extra special as he rode in memory of a friend who lost his son to the disease ldquoItrsquos still fairly fresh and very emotional for himrdquo

The impact was even more personal for Minneapolis rider Janelle Stallkamp A receptionist at Lutherrsquos home office she was diagnosed at the age of six and one of her brothers was diagnosed more recently Stallkamp also lost a friend to the disease three years ago

ldquoI try to be pretty positive and donrsquot complain at allrdquo said Stallkamp who has been a subject in a national diabetes study for 29 years

Auto service instructors can only go over things so much said instructor Bob Larkin at Dunwoody Institute of Technology and a story or experience can often trigger something in studentsrsquo understanding

ldquoItrsquos fun to see them get itrdquo said the former Rudy Lutherrsquos Toyota technician and Saturn service veteran Sharing his own ldquowrenchingrdquo experiences to enhance learning makes it fun for him he explains

Larkin taught nights at Dunwoody in Minneapolis while working as a technician He finished his bachelorrsquos degree after 15 years with Saturn and almost four at RL Toyota covering all systems except hybrid

A stint on the schoolrsquos curriculum advisory committee opened the door for teaching so Larkin tested the waters ldquoI liked talking about what I know so the transition seemed to fitrdquo he said

And Larkin knows a lot teaching classes in general skills such as service information nuts and bolts tools and basic engine principles Then helsquos on to brakes steering suspension and alignment and transmissions and transaxles

Luther Auto has been a longtime supporter of Dunwoody and participates in job fairs at the Minneapolis school

Rudy Lutherrsquos Toyota technician Bob Larkin transitioned to an automotive instructor role at Dunwoody College of Technology

Chrysler Honda and Toyota manufacturer programs give students access to the latest vehicles and service info

To attract more young people to the field it needs to start early finding those kids who are curious about how things work and who like to fix things Larkin said

Industry should also connect with secondary schools and work to retain their auto programs He says there is a need to stress to the general public how technical the field has become and the many opportunities that are available

Toyota loyalty rolled out solidified Lia Kaunzner in sales at protected me and I ended

Rudy Lutherrsquos Toyota took up with just a slight cut on a in a highly unusual Camry finger and a sore shoulder for in trade one that had been a few weeksrdquo John said rolled more than six years Basic fixes were made so earlier and then driven the doors could be closed nearly 138000 more miles but they never stopped

John and Tess Fitchrsquos running the car until they 1999 Camry tumbled after traded it in with 331000 hitting a large snowdrift miles Itrsquos no surprise that the just over the Iowa border leaving it with couple bought another Camry a 2014 a broken windshield busted mirrors model and dents ldquoIt was like going on the corkscrew ride at Valley Fair- the seat belt 3

Jaguar technician helps plan veterans memorial for Total Off-Road Rally It was a day of exuberant weekend The Minnesota Go-4shy

Wheelers club attracts nearly 1000 celebration and of solemn participants each year remembrance

While hundreds were The idea came naturally out of thrilled by off-road mud the grouprsquos fun event ldquoSome of trucks gathered for a dirt the founding members of this club

were Vietnam vetsrdquo said Ferguson slinging high jumping event there was combined with a sobering reminder a new veterans memorial at the Trollhaugen Recreation Area in Dresser Wis

The day was organized by Monte Ferguson a technician with Jaguar Land Rover Minneapolis who heads promotion efforts for one of the longest

ldquoWhen they were all home and trying to deal with life they would get together and go lsquoJeepingrsquo driving around playing in the mud Thatrsquos how this whole event startedrdquo

The group erected flagpoles for all six branches of the military and the American flag Some 50 US flags lined

running 4x4 events in the Midwest After some urging by a friend he decided to create a memorial site for the ldquo46th Annual Total Off-Road Rallyrdquo honoring veterans with a multiple flag display and special landscaping on Memorial Day

the nearby road About 300 Cub Scouts performed a ceremony and a military guard was on hand for the formal event Private donations funded the project

The Trollhaugen course with its 85 obstacles is a favorite for many mud truck drivers Unusual events include regular cars rigged with remote controls that are jumped 50 feet toward dramatic crashes A demo derby race 4x4 truck pull and rock off-road race round out the festivities Ferguson drives a 1968 Ford Bronco that he restored from the frame up His adult son runs a Jeep and his 15-year-old son is getting into the sport Ferguson has 26 years with the club

Fiat store welcomes Alfa Romeo award new spots Therersquos a lot happening at Fiat of

Minneapolis in St Louis Park which recently celebrated its grand opening and anxiously awaits the addition of

another Italian nameplate Alfa Romeo in and twice the sales explains General January Manager Doreen Fischer

In the middle of Not to be outdone Fiat of September the Alfa Minneapolis is running new Romeo 4C will first television ad spots following appear at Fiat of an award winning ad that ran Bloomington priced earlier this year Watch the ads on

The Alfa Romeo 4C is at about $70000 It luthernewscomexpected in September

A television ad created for Lutherrsquos Fiat dealerships was named a Bronze winner in the 35th Annual Telly Awards for the spot lsquoFiat 500L - More Than Your Ego Can Handlersquo See it - luthernewscom

will likely carry the flagship banner for the two Italian marques and Lutherrsquos two Fiat stores will be the only Minnesota franchises

In time Alfa Romeo is expected to be double the size of Fiat in the US with twice as many models

ldquoNot a detail was overlookedrdquo said Linda McGinty in property management with Luther Auto who complimented Fischerrsquos work on the celebratory event

Enhancements are also underway for the Alfa Romeo franchise in Bloomington

The Minneapolis store just off Highway 100 held a grand opening event with an invitation titled ldquoA Little Italy has moved to St Louis Parkrdquo

4

Jaguar technician helps plan veterans memorial for Total Off-Road Rally It was a day of exuberant weekend The Minnesota Go-4shy

Wheelers club attracts nearly 1000 celebration and of solemn participants each year remembrance

While hundreds were The idea came naturally out of thrilled by off-road mud the grouprsquos fun event ldquoSome of trucks gathered for a dirt the founding members of this club

were Vietnam vetsrdquo said Ferguson slinging high jumping event there was combined with a sobering reminder a new veterans memorial at the Trollhaugen Recreation Area in Dresser Wis

The day was organized by Monte Ferguson a technician with Jaguar Land Rover Minneapolis who heads promotion efforts for one of the longest

ldquoWhen they were all home and trying to deal with life they would get together and go lsquoJeepingrsquo driving around playing in the mud Thatrsquos how this whole event startedrdquo

The group erected flagpoles for all six branches of the military and the American flag Some 50 US flags lined

running 4x4 events in the Midwest After some urging by a friend he decided to create a memorial site for the ldquo46th Annual Total Off-Road Rallyrdquo honoring veterans with a multiple flag display and special landscaping on Memorial Day

the nearby road About 300 Cub Scouts performed a ceremony and a military guard was on hand for the formal event Private donations funded the project

The Trollhaugen course with its 85 obstacles is a favorite for many mud truck drivers Unusual events include regular cars rigged with remote controls that are jumped 50 feet toward dramatic crashes A demo derby race 4x4 truck pull and rock off-road race round out the festivities Ferguson drives a 1968 Ford Bronco that he restored from the frame up His adult son runs a Jeep and his 15-year-old son is getting into the sport Ferguson has 26 years with the club

Fiat store welcomes Alfa Romeo award new spots Therersquos a lot happening at Fiat of

Minneapolis in St Louis Park which recently celebrated its grand opening and anxiously awaits the addition of

another Italian nameplate Alfa Romeo in and twice the sales explains General January Manager Doreen Fischer

In the middle of Not to be outdone Fiat of September the Alfa Minneapolis is running new Romeo 4C will first television ad spots following appear at Fiat of an award winning ad that ran Bloomington priced earlier this year Watch the ads on

The Alfa Romeo 4C is at about $70000 It luthernewscomexpected in September

A television ad created for Lutherrsquos Fiat dealerships was named a Bronze winner in the 35th Annual Telly Awards for the spot lsquoFiat 500L - More Than Your Ego Can Handlersquo See it - luthernewscom

will likely carry the flagship banner for the two Italian marques and Lutherrsquos two Fiat stores will be the only Minnesota franchises

In time Alfa Romeo is expected to be double the size of Fiat in the US with twice as many models

ldquoNot a detail was overlookedrdquo said Linda McGinty in property management with Luther Auto who complimented Fischerrsquos work on the celebratory event

Enhancements are also underway for the Alfa Romeo franchise in Bloomington

The Minneapolis store just off Highway 100 held a grand opening event with an invitation titled ldquoA Little Italy has moved to St Louis Parkrdquo

4

Exceptional Employee planner and shuttle driver proves invaluable at RL Toyota Enthusiasm and thoroughness have been Wanting a better life and more opportunity questionsrdquo said Supica ldquoI did not speak any

applied to each New Owner Clinic at Rudy he arrived in Minnesota where he knew English (they were) very patient and very Lutherrsquos Toyota Scion (RLT) with Misha no one Through the Minnesota Council helpful and I am trying to pay it backrdquo He Supica as the key organizer and is full of thankfulness cheerleader over the past six years for his fellow

Attracting 200 guests each employees and stays event is thoroughly investigated in touch with the afterwards to improve the Minnesota Council customer experience No detail As a shuttle driver including food signage location Supica is continually and handouts is too small for listening to the needs him of the customer and

Supicarsquos official role is

ldquoUnofficially hersquos the store

ambassadorrdquo

Rudy Lutherrsquos Toyota General

Manager Mark Beithon

how he can help them shuttle driver and event have a better day organizer but unofficially The van is clean and hersquos the store ambassador colorful but most of said General Manager Mark all it has a willing Beithon Very well liked listener and ready to go the extra mile for others ldquoHe is the of Churches first to pitch in and the last he found a job person left to clean uprdquo says at RLT within Beithon

A native of Serbia Supica brought his wife and two children to Minnesota 13 years ago after the Bosnian War had ruined the countryrsquos economy and security

months He is grateful for that assistance and to

all at the store who have helped him succeed ldquoPeople helped me and were very

open to me Sometimes I have too many

ldquoI am thankful for everythingrdquo said Supica ldquoMaybe to you it is a small help but it means a great deal to merdquo For those who meet him he communicates what thankfulness feels like

Supicarsquos wife works at Costco and his children are now 22 and 26 His daughter just finished college

KNOW SOMEONE WE SHOULD FEATURE AS AN EXCEPTIONAL EMPLOYEE E-MAIL NEWSLETTERLUTHERAUTOCOM

LUTHER TAPS lsquoWYOTECHrsquo SCHOOL FOR TECHNICIANS

Luther service specialists were on three Service Manager the road to WyoTech a premier school Scott Fortune who also

for automotive made the trip to the technicians in Wyoming school Wyoming and said he likes the interviewed a schoolrsquos Mopar number of job CAP (College candidates before hiring several

Lutherrsquos Tim Stoesz said they sought to recruit graduates from the five state region Demand for techs is strong due to business growth ldquoWe were very impressed when we went out with how they run the school and what they dordquo he said WyoTech offers a condensed nine-month automotive course

Brookdale Chrysler has the highest number of recruits from the school with

Brookdale Chevrolet Buick GMC GM Curt Johnson left with WyoTech grad and new technician Robert Johnson center and Service Manager Troy Strasser

Automotive Program) and

the students he hired had impressive grade point average and attendance records

Service Manager Floyd Skjerping at Jaguar Land Rover said his WyoTech hire is doing well and learning It typically takes six months to a year before new technicians acclimate to British made

products he explained English engineering is different than American and German designed vehicles

New technicians can reach the journeyman level in two to three years if they work at it said Stoesz Brookdale Chevrolet hired two individuals from the school and White Bear Acura was looking into someone from the school

Stoesz said Luther is branching out to explore other top rated schools as well as area tech colleges with strong programs

5

35+ YEARS Mary Egan Brookdale Chevrolet Buick GMC Glenn Rausch Park Place Motor Cars Wayne Rocek Rudy Luther Toyota Scion John Sloan Rudy Luther Toyota Scion

Joseph Torres Brookdale Toyota Scion

30 YEARS Dana Funk Park Place Motor Cars Trinh Le Hopkins Honda Michael Levit Brookdale Honda James Nelson Jaguar Land Rover Mpls

25 YEARS Jon Eidsness Brookdale Volkswagen Tim Pope White Bear Acura Subaru

15 YEARS John-Mark Ahinful Hopkins Honda Curt Johnson Motors Management Catherine Ostlund White Bear Acura Subaru Matt Peters Park Place Motor Cars Carolyn Rudi Motors Management William Schlegel North Country Ford Lincoln Amy Truchinski North Country Ford Lincoln Ben Wysocki Brookdale Honda

North Country McDonaldrsquos drawing for Mustang GT convertible

Glenn Rausch Park Place Motor Cars

CO

NG

RAT

ULA

TIO

NS

Jon Eidsness Brookdale Volkswagen

Amy Truchinski North Country Ford

Leaders from Americarsquos fast food giant and Ronald McDonald made a special visit to North Country Ford to give away a 2014 Mustang GT convertible valued at more than $46000 John Buns from Iowa City Iowa (not pictured) was the winning general manager from one of 720 Midwest restaurants Fleet Manager Tim Angell coordinated the event and even had his photo taken with Ronald ldquoThose are big shoes to fillrdquo said Angell who delivered a car for McDonaldrsquos last year to Dickinson ND The trip in a snowstorm took 19 hours

10 YEARS Ryuji Beppu Bloomington Acura Subaru William Berg Jaguar Land Rover Mpls Ryon Brody Bloomington Luther Collision Kanyama Chivers Jaguar Land Rover Mpls Sean Devine North Country Ford Lincoln Steven Fischer Family Ford Craig Geisler Jaguar Land Rover Mpls Craig Greening Jaguar Land Rover Mpls Michael Jameson Westside Volkswagen Burl Johnson Park Place Motor Cars Matthew Knutson Rudy Luther Toyota Scion Anthony Larson Rudy Luther Toyota Scion Kevin Lindgren Family Buick GMC Michael Mischke Jaguar Land Rover Mpls Bradley Norberg John Hirschrsquos Cambridge Motors Brandon Olson Brookdale Toyota Scion Troy Osterkamp Jaguar Land Rover Mpls David Rife Bloomington Hyundai Eric Rystedt Brooklyn Park Luther Collision amp Glass Chris Scheible Hopkins Honda David Schmidt Jaguar Land Rover Mpls Floyd Skjerping Jaguar Land Rover Mpls Wayne Sorensen Luther Automotive Services Nick Sparrow Jaguar Land Rover Mpls Leo Starr Jaguar Land Rover Mpls Bryce Wilson Westside Volkswagen

Scouts return to Brookdale for derby Shoe in at Park Place

A detailer at Park Place Motor Cars in Rochester anonymously referred to at ldquoJJrdquo was in such a hurry to get to work that he unknowingly put on two different shoes He didnrsquot notice until he got to the dealership ldquoWe didnrsquot tease him at all that dayrdquo said GM Dan Mobley with a wink

The Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts Northern Lights 2014 Pinewood Derby returned to the service drive at Brookdale Buick GMC not for maintenance but 200 mph scale racing Scouts from multiple Packs built carefully weighted wooden cars in hopes of advancing to the next stage at Mall of America Luther employees were friendly hosts voted on the designs and awarded remote controlled cars to winners Things were moving so fast that the chief of police cited several car owners with pretend speeding tickets said Matt Oquist with the Home Office

6

family happenings bull Sherri Hayes in Lutherrsquos Customer Care

Center welcomed her grandson Major Watts on May 12 He was 8 pounds 4 ounces and is pictured with his sister Monroe 2

bull Angie and Debbie Tufts (Brookdale Buick GMC and RL Toyota Scion) had twins on February 8 Harper Adele was 7 pounds and Hayden Lee 7 pounds 5 ounces

bull Quinn Hope Fyre 7 pounds 14 ounces was born May 3 to Troy (Luther Collision amp Glassndash Fargo )and Amanda Fyre

Please send your family news to aaronwallacegroupcom 651-452-9800

MILE MARKERS RETIREMENTS

Support for the National Little League in Brooklyn Center got some big park attention at Target Field where Brookdale Chevrolet presented a check for $500 to the group Lance Vadnais in sales right joined National League President Bob Mikulak on the Jumbotron The Chevy program provides training camps and coaching sessions

Baseball hot dogs and Brookdale

The Gillette Childrenrsquos Specialty Healthcare Charity Golf Tournament welcomed two Luther GMs and their cars offered as two-year lease prizes for successful hole in one shots on hole 11 at North Oaks Golf Club Bloomington Acura Subarursquos Mark Rosenthal is at left and Ted Terp with Jaguar Land Rover Minneapolis at right

Sammy Anzel above and below center in accessories sales at Brookdale Chrysler retired after 40 years most of them spent as a technician ldquoIt feels good and means a lot to merdquo he said of his special day

Shop Foreman Toby Christen retired after 43 years with Westside VW GM Steve Hendricks said he is highly respected by his peers at VW of America

Celebrating 35 years with the store was Lonnie Hager shop foreman at Luther Family Ford He was once the subject of an ldquoAsk Lonnierdquo billboard campaign

7

Honors in St Cloud drive event hits water Helping young people has long been a major interest of Luther Honda of St Cloud and that work was honored with a ldquoFriend of Youthrdquo award from the St Cloud Optimist Club

From left Jackie Johnson Big Brothers Big Sisters Kayla Backes and Jamie Holub Luther Honda of St Cloud Officer Jill Luehmann Chief Jim Hughes and Shari Wahlin Big Brothers Big Sisters

The group cited the storersquos dynamic advocacy and support for Big Brothers and Big Sisters The store is a regular contributor and employees are active with fundraising events and agency committees says Shannon Giffin of Big Brothers Big Sisters Luther Honda of St Cloud also hosts an annual family-friendly drive-in movie night and the proceeds go to Big Brothers and Big Sisters This summerrsquos event brought over 700 to the drive-in

The Honda store joined Sartell police officer Jill Luehmann who also received a Friend of Youth award

First Sea Doo Ride amp Drive event

It was the first annual Luther Honda House Powersports Sea Doo Ride and Drive event at Pleasant Lake in St Cloud Guests and customers were able to test drive and ride the new Sea Doo Spark model and enjoy some great food and music

TOPPING lsquoWE BUYrsquo CHARTS

Brookdale Buick GMC GSM Angie Tufts and Drew Travis in sales above show their program muscle and enthusiasm Darin Hendley below was the top buyer at Mankato Honda which won the small store division

In an unusual twist for car dealerships prizes and celebrations were held for the stores that bought the most cars from consumers

Honors for success in the ldquoWe Buyrdquo program were bestowed by store size with Brookdale Chevrolet Brookdale Chrysler Jeep Dodge and Mankato Honda rounding out the top slots and reaping the benefits of barbecue celebrations and prizes

ldquoPoundingrdquo the airwaves with ldquoWe Buyrdquo radio ads helped secure a win for Mankato ldquoWe hit her hard you WE BUY WINNERS knowrdquo said General

(BY STORE WITH TOP BUYER) Sales Manager Chris Schroeder of Mankato BROOKDALE CHEVROLET Honda DAVID WARNER 6 Large store winner Brookdale Buick BROOKDALE CHRYSLER GMC had no lack of BOB LOSCHEIDER 5 excitement ldquoIf they would let me I would

MANKATO HONDA make this the lsquoWe Buyrsquo DARIN HENDLEY 5 capital of the worldrdquo said GSM Angie Tufts

Family events get boost from Fargorsquos Family Ford Free ldquoMovie in the Parkrdquo nights are

staged several times each summer in Fargo and Luther Family Ford plays a major role in making it happen

ldquoIt brings the families togetherrdquo said Recreation Specialist Jeff Heisler with the Fargo Park District Films are G or PG rated and popcorn and soda are provided

Between 500 and 1000 people of all ages turn out for the family themed Island Park events Heisler explains Family Ford sponsors each event and gives Support for the outdoor films has been prizes and purchased a a 10-year tradition 24-by-16-foot screen for the ldquoblue ovalrdquo in

the city known as the Family Ford GM Joel Gateway to the West

Bechtold called the parks department to see how ldquoJoel always says the store could help itrsquos not just about ldquoThose are the kind of selling cars but sponsors I wantrdquo said what you do for the Heisler ldquoHe likes to do it communityrdquo Heisler and we like having himrdquo said

8

Free RL Toyota teen clinic tackles distracted driving A dozen Toyota

representatives and dealer staff volunteers converged at Rudy Lutherrsquos Toyota and Scion for a popular teen driver safety clinic using a tool that was introduced at the auto show

The hot topic was distracted driving and a simulator was employed to make some points ldquoIt was the responsibility of being in a vehicle all of your focus has to be on what

yoursquore doingrdquo said General Manager Mark Beithon

Others can watch as distracted drivers react to various scenarios and Beithon said it was easy to be critical of others until he tried it himself ldquoNot too many people make it more than 20 secondsrdquo

The clinic included two Sunday classes with 45 people each and had young people with and

Hudson service advisor is a disability advocate A well-known advocate

for people with disabilities is making her mark in Chevrolet service thanks in part to Hudson Chevrolet Service Director Steve Boyd

Service advisor Jamie Balfanz 20 was the subject of a 2005 book ldquoMy Best Friend Willrdquo when she was 11 It pictorially chronicled her friendship with her classmate Willie who has autism The two were featured on Twin Cities television in the Hudson newspaper and at book signings and disability conferences

Balfanz connected with Willie at a group program where they spent time with another student while the larger group took recess ldquoThatrsquos what I liked to dordquo she said Birthday parties

bowling movies and other activities were frequent and their families got together on weekends Theyrsquore still best friends

Boyd asked her to apply at the store after noting her smiling and happy demeanor at County Market where she was a cashier she said Five years later she did

Some two months into the auto service world Balfanz was thriving ldquoItrsquos something to wake up every day not bummed out that itrsquos nine in morning The customers are great people I work with are great and itrsquos an awesome place to workrdquo she said

without drivers licenses The GM said the program promoted understanding between parents and their teens and stressed positive reinforcement Some faces were new and others were customers or employees

The simulator was coupled with an hour of classroom training scavenger hunt and an effort to identify parts on show floor vehicles Teens received certificates at the end

The new advisor has a keen awareness of customers with disabilities and takes extra steps to make sure they receive full service A friendly face greeting and offer to help can go a long way

People with disabilities are ldquojust like usrdquo she said ldquoThey enjoy the same things that we do understand everything the same that we do just in a different

way They have strengths and weaknesses We are all humanrdquo

Willie recently graduated from a ldquotransitionalrdquo school He draws regularly and studies guitar piano and singing

The book gives people a different perspective about people with disabilities she said

9

VW man joins island mission to construct plant One Volkswagen general The group planted

manager embarked on a real a half-acre community world missions experience garden for a school that was so positive hersquos repaired roofs and returning for more next spring helped complete seven

concrete house floors Westside Smiling friendly and

VWrsquos Steve helpful people were the Hendricks joined norm he said Though the group they lived with only Global Missions the basics for housing with seemingly no worriesrdquo for a working trip clothes and food Hendricks he said ldquoAnd the scenery to the Dominican said they seemed very content was as beautiful as could Republic With and happy that the group was be imaginedrdquo Mountains nearly twice as many people there to help rainforests valleys and as Minnesota and just over rivers were all around The one fifth of the land mass the ldquoI enjoyed the people Dominican Republic has some island country borders Haiti to of the villages we where in 104 million people the west with the simple life they live

Global Missions is a Twin Cities nonprofit group and this particular trip was sponsored by KTIS Radio ldquoIt was awesomerdquo said Hendricks

Hyundairsquos lsquoHope on Wheelsrsquo funds U of M cancer research

Above Dr Lucie Turcotte with cancer survivor Ashley Burnette 10 at left and a current hospital patient Her department was chemotherapy and autologous presented with the ldquoHyundai Young Investigators Clinical Awardrdquo and a $75000 check to fund her research Above right Burnette

stem cell rescue is joined by Burnsville Hyundai Sales Manager Dean Dreckman Bloomington Hyundai GM Lenny Checheris and Burnsville Hyundai GM Charlie Rassouli

ldquoChildrenrsquos Hospital to date has received $775000 eliminate some of the long term from Hope on Wheelsrdquo said effects with the therapiesrdquo

More photos videos at Checheris ldquoWith these funds luthernewscom they are serving families across Hyundai builds fun into the Minnesota and saving livesrdquo events by taking child hand

print impressions in paint and Improving therapy featuring them with names and

Dr Turcotte thanked ages on the carsthe dealerships for their commitment ldquoAs a young It also works with cancer investigator this money means survivor Ashley Burnette who more than you can possibly gives speeches as a Hyundai imaginerdquo she said ldquoWith this ambassador award my hope is that we can understand how to prevent and

Representatives from two Luther Hyundai stores were on hand for a $75000 Hyundai Hope on Wheels check presentation at the University of Minnesota Childrenrsquos Hospital

Bloomington Hyundai GM Lenny Checheris introduced Dr Lucie Turcotte who is conducting the first research study to specifically examine cardiometabolic syndrome (CMS) in survivors of high dose

10

35+ YEARS Mary Egan Brookdale Chevrolet Buick GMC Glenn Rausch Park Place Motor Cars Wayne Rocek Rudy Luther Toyota Scion John Sloan Rudy Luther Toyota Scion

Joseph Torres Brookdale Toyota Scion

30 YEARS Dana Funk Park Place Motor Cars Trinh Le Hopkins Honda Michael Levit Brookdale Honda James Nelson Jaguar Land Rover Mpls

25 YEARS Jon Eidsness Brookdale Volkswagen Tim Pope White Bear Acura Subaru

15 YEARS John-Mark Ahinful Hopkins Honda Curt Johnson Motors Management Catherine Ostlund White Bear Acura Subaru Matt Peters Park Place Motor Cars Carolyn Rudi Motors Management William Schlegel North Country Ford Lincoln Amy Truchinski North Country Ford Lincoln Ben Wysocki Brookdale Honda

North Country McDonaldrsquos drawing for Mustang GT convertible

Glenn Rausch Park Place Motor Cars

CO

NG

RAT

ULA

TIO

NS

Jon Eidsness Brookdale Volkswagen

Amy Truchinski North Country Ford

Leaders from Americarsquos fast food giant and Ronald McDonald made a special visit to North Country Ford to give away a 2014 Mustang GT convertible valued at more than $46000 John Buns from Iowa City Iowa (not pictured) was the winning general manager from one of 720 Midwest restaurants Fleet Manager Tim Angell coordinated the event and even had his photo taken with Ronald ldquoThose are big shoes to fillrdquo said Angell who delivered a car for McDonaldrsquos last year to Dickinson ND The trip in a snowstorm took 19 hours

10 YEARS Ryuji Beppu Bloomington Acura Subaru William Berg Jaguar Land Rover Mpls Ryon Brody Bloomington Luther Collision Kanyama Chivers Jaguar Land Rover Mpls Sean Devine North Country Ford Lincoln Steven Fischer Family Ford Craig Geisler Jaguar Land Rover Mpls Craig Greening Jaguar Land Rover Mpls Michael Jameson Westside Volkswagen Burl Johnson Park Place Motor Cars Matthew Knutson Rudy Luther Toyota Scion Anthony Larson Rudy Luther Toyota Scion Kevin Lindgren Family Buick GMC Michael Mischke Jaguar Land Rover Mpls Bradley Norberg John Hirschrsquos Cambridge Motors Brandon Olson Brookdale Toyota Scion Troy Osterkamp Jaguar Land Rover Mpls David Rife Bloomington Hyundai Eric Rystedt Brooklyn Park Luther Collision amp Glass Chris Scheible Hopkins Honda David Schmidt Jaguar Land Rover Mpls Floyd Skjerping Jaguar Land Rover Mpls Wayne Sorensen Luther Automotive Services Nick Sparrow Jaguar Land Rover Mpls Leo Starr Jaguar Land Rover Mpls Bryce Wilson Westside Volkswagen

Scouts return to Brookdale for derby Shoe in at Park Place

A detailer at Park Place Motor Cars in Rochester anonymously referred to at ldquoJJrdquo was in such a hurry to get to work that he unknowingly put on two different shoes He didnrsquot notice until he got to the dealership ldquoWe didnrsquot tease him at all that dayrdquo said GM Dan Mobley with a wink

The Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts Northern Lights 2014 Pinewood Derby returned to the service drive at Brookdale Buick GMC not for maintenance but 200 mph scale racing Scouts from multiple Packs built carefully weighted wooden cars in hopes of advancing to the next stage at Mall of America Luther employees were friendly hosts voted on the designs and awarded remote controlled cars to winners Things were moving so fast that the chief of police cited several car owners with pretend speeding tickets said Matt Oquist with the Home Office

6

family happenings bull Sherri Hayes in Lutherrsquos Customer Care

Center welcomed her grandson Major Watts on May 12 He was 8 pounds 4 ounces and is pictured with his sister Monroe 2

bull Angie and Debbie Tufts (Brookdale Buick GMC and RL Toyota Scion) had twins on February 8 Harper Adele was 7 pounds and Hayden Lee 7 pounds 5 ounces

bull Quinn Hope Fyre 7 pounds 14 ounces was born May 3 to Troy (Luther Collision amp Glassndash Fargo )and Amanda Fyre

Please send your family news to aaronwallacegroupcom 651-452-9800

MILE MARKERS RETIREMENTS

Support for the National Little League in Brooklyn Center got some big park attention at Target Field where Brookdale Chevrolet presented a check for $500 to the group Lance Vadnais in sales right joined National League President Bob Mikulak on the Jumbotron The Chevy program provides training camps and coaching sessions

Baseball hot dogs and Brookdale

The Gillette Childrenrsquos Specialty Healthcare Charity Golf Tournament welcomed two Luther GMs and their cars offered as two-year lease prizes for successful hole in one shots on hole 11 at North Oaks Golf Club Bloomington Acura Subarursquos Mark Rosenthal is at left and Ted Terp with Jaguar Land Rover Minneapolis at right

Sammy Anzel above and below center in accessories sales at Brookdale Chrysler retired after 40 years most of them spent as a technician ldquoIt feels good and means a lot to merdquo he said of his special day

Shop Foreman Toby Christen retired after 43 years with Westside VW GM Steve Hendricks said he is highly respected by his peers at VW of America

Celebrating 35 years with the store was Lonnie Hager shop foreman at Luther Family Ford He was once the subject of an ldquoAsk Lonnierdquo billboard campaign

7

Honors in St Cloud drive event hits water Helping young people has long been a major interest of Luther Honda of St Cloud and that work was honored with a ldquoFriend of Youthrdquo award from the St Cloud Optimist Club

From left Jackie Johnson Big Brothers Big Sisters Kayla Backes and Jamie Holub Luther Honda of St Cloud Officer Jill Luehmann Chief Jim Hughes and Shari Wahlin Big Brothers Big Sisters

The group cited the storersquos dynamic advocacy and support for Big Brothers and Big Sisters The store is a regular contributor and employees are active with fundraising events and agency committees says Shannon Giffin of Big Brothers Big Sisters Luther Honda of St Cloud also hosts an annual family-friendly drive-in movie night and the proceeds go to Big Brothers and Big Sisters This summerrsquos event brought over 700 to the drive-in

The Honda store joined Sartell police officer Jill Luehmann who also received a Friend of Youth award

First Sea Doo Ride amp Drive event

It was the first annual Luther Honda House Powersports Sea Doo Ride and Drive event at Pleasant Lake in St Cloud Guests and customers were able to test drive and ride the new Sea Doo Spark model and enjoy some great food and music

TOPPING lsquoWE BUYrsquo CHARTS

Brookdale Buick GMC GSM Angie Tufts and Drew Travis in sales above show their program muscle and enthusiasm Darin Hendley below was the top buyer at Mankato Honda which won the small store division

In an unusual twist for car dealerships prizes and celebrations were held for the stores that bought the most cars from consumers

Honors for success in the ldquoWe Buyrdquo program were bestowed by store size with Brookdale Chevrolet Brookdale Chrysler Jeep Dodge and Mankato Honda rounding out the top slots and reaping the benefits of barbecue celebrations and prizes

ldquoPoundingrdquo the airwaves with ldquoWe Buyrdquo radio ads helped secure a win for Mankato ldquoWe hit her hard you WE BUY WINNERS knowrdquo said General

(BY STORE WITH TOP BUYER) Sales Manager Chris Schroeder of Mankato BROOKDALE CHEVROLET Honda DAVID WARNER 6 Large store winner Brookdale Buick BROOKDALE CHRYSLER GMC had no lack of BOB LOSCHEIDER 5 excitement ldquoIf they would let me I would

MANKATO HONDA make this the lsquoWe Buyrsquo DARIN HENDLEY 5 capital of the worldrdquo said GSM Angie Tufts

Family events get boost from Fargorsquos Family Ford Free ldquoMovie in the Parkrdquo nights are

staged several times each summer in Fargo and Luther Family Ford plays a major role in making it happen

ldquoIt brings the families togetherrdquo said Recreation Specialist Jeff Heisler with the Fargo Park District Films are G or PG rated and popcorn and soda are provided

Between 500 and 1000 people of all ages turn out for the family themed Island Park events Heisler explains Family Ford sponsors each event and gives Support for the outdoor films has been prizes and purchased a a 10-year tradition 24-by-16-foot screen for the ldquoblue ovalrdquo in

the city known as the Family Ford GM Joel Gateway to the West

Bechtold called the parks department to see how ldquoJoel always says the store could help itrsquos not just about ldquoThose are the kind of selling cars but sponsors I wantrdquo said what you do for the Heisler ldquoHe likes to do it communityrdquo Heisler and we like having himrdquo said

8

Free RL Toyota teen clinic tackles distracted driving A dozen Toyota

representatives and dealer staff volunteers converged at Rudy Lutherrsquos Toyota and Scion for a popular teen driver safety clinic using a tool that was introduced at the auto show

The hot topic was distracted driving and a simulator was employed to make some points ldquoIt was the responsibility of being in a vehicle all of your focus has to be on what

yoursquore doingrdquo said General Manager Mark Beithon

Others can watch as distracted drivers react to various scenarios and Beithon said it was easy to be critical of others until he tried it himself ldquoNot too many people make it more than 20 secondsrdquo

The clinic included two Sunday classes with 45 people each and had young people with and

Hudson service advisor is a disability advocate A well-known advocate

for people with disabilities is making her mark in Chevrolet service thanks in part to Hudson Chevrolet Service Director Steve Boyd

Service advisor Jamie Balfanz 20 was the subject of a 2005 book ldquoMy Best Friend Willrdquo when she was 11 It pictorially chronicled her friendship with her classmate Willie who has autism The two were featured on Twin Cities television in the Hudson newspaper and at book signings and disability conferences

Balfanz connected with Willie at a group program where they spent time with another student while the larger group took recess ldquoThatrsquos what I liked to dordquo she said Birthday parties

bowling movies and other activities were frequent and their families got together on weekends Theyrsquore still best friends

Boyd asked her to apply at the store after noting her smiling and happy demeanor at County Market where she was a cashier she said Five years later she did

Some two months into the auto service world Balfanz was thriving ldquoItrsquos something to wake up every day not bummed out that itrsquos nine in morning The customers are great people I work with are great and itrsquos an awesome place to workrdquo she said

without drivers licenses The GM said the program promoted understanding between parents and their teens and stressed positive reinforcement Some faces were new and others were customers or employees

The simulator was coupled with an hour of classroom training scavenger hunt and an effort to identify parts on show floor vehicles Teens received certificates at the end

The new advisor has a keen awareness of customers with disabilities and takes extra steps to make sure they receive full service A friendly face greeting and offer to help can go a long way

People with disabilities are ldquojust like usrdquo she said ldquoThey enjoy the same things that we do understand everything the same that we do just in a different

way They have strengths and weaknesses We are all humanrdquo

Willie recently graduated from a ldquotransitionalrdquo school He draws regularly and studies guitar piano and singing

The book gives people a different perspective about people with disabilities she said

9

VW man joins island mission to construct plant One Volkswagen general The group planted

manager embarked on a real a half-acre community world missions experience garden for a school that was so positive hersquos repaired roofs and returning for more next spring helped complete seven

concrete house floors Westside Smiling friendly and

VWrsquos Steve helpful people were the Hendricks joined norm he said Though the group they lived with only Global Missions the basics for housing with seemingly no worriesrdquo for a working trip clothes and food Hendricks he said ldquoAnd the scenery to the Dominican said they seemed very content was as beautiful as could Republic With and happy that the group was be imaginedrdquo Mountains nearly twice as many people there to help rainforests valleys and as Minnesota and just over rivers were all around The one fifth of the land mass the ldquoI enjoyed the people Dominican Republic has some island country borders Haiti to of the villages we where in 104 million people the west with the simple life they live

Global Missions is a Twin Cities nonprofit group and this particular trip was sponsored by KTIS Radio ldquoIt was awesomerdquo said Hendricks

Hyundairsquos lsquoHope on Wheelsrsquo funds U of M cancer research

Above Dr Lucie Turcotte with cancer survivor Ashley Burnette 10 at left and a current hospital patient Her department was chemotherapy and autologous presented with the ldquoHyundai Young Investigators Clinical Awardrdquo and a $75000 check to fund her research Above right Burnette

stem cell rescue is joined by Burnsville Hyundai Sales Manager Dean Dreckman Bloomington Hyundai GM Lenny Checheris and Burnsville Hyundai GM Charlie Rassouli

ldquoChildrenrsquos Hospital to date has received $775000 eliminate some of the long term from Hope on Wheelsrdquo said effects with the therapiesrdquo

More photos videos at Checheris ldquoWith these funds luthernewscom they are serving families across Hyundai builds fun into the Minnesota and saving livesrdquo events by taking child hand

print impressions in paint and Improving therapy featuring them with names and

Dr Turcotte thanked ages on the carsthe dealerships for their commitment ldquoAs a young It also works with cancer investigator this money means survivor Ashley Burnette who more than you can possibly gives speeches as a Hyundai imaginerdquo she said ldquoWith this ambassador award my hope is that we can understand how to prevent and

Representatives from two Luther Hyundai stores were on hand for a $75000 Hyundai Hope on Wheels check presentation at the University of Minnesota Childrenrsquos Hospital

Bloomington Hyundai GM Lenny Checheris introduced Dr Lucie Turcotte who is conducting the first research study to specifically examine cardiometabolic syndrome (CMS) in survivors of high dose

10

family happenings bull Sherri Hayes in Lutherrsquos Customer Care

Center welcomed her grandson Major Watts on May 12 He was 8 pounds 4 ounces and is pictured with his sister Monroe 2

bull Angie and Debbie Tufts (Brookdale Buick GMC and RL Toyota Scion) had twins on February 8 Harper Adele was 7 pounds and Hayden Lee 7 pounds 5 ounces

bull Quinn Hope Fyre 7 pounds 14 ounces was born May 3 to Troy (Luther Collision amp Glassndash Fargo )and Amanda Fyre

Please send your family news to aaronwallacegroupcom 651-452-9800

MILE MARKERS RETIREMENTS

Support for the National Little League in Brooklyn Center got some big park attention at Target Field where Brookdale Chevrolet presented a check for $500 to the group Lance Vadnais in sales right joined National League President Bob Mikulak on the Jumbotron The Chevy program provides training camps and coaching sessions

Baseball hot dogs and Brookdale

The Gillette Childrenrsquos Specialty Healthcare Charity Golf Tournament welcomed two Luther GMs and their cars offered as two-year lease prizes for successful hole in one shots on hole 11 at North Oaks Golf Club Bloomington Acura Subarursquos Mark Rosenthal is at left and Ted Terp with Jaguar Land Rover Minneapolis at right

Sammy Anzel above and below center in accessories sales at Brookdale Chrysler retired after 40 years most of them spent as a technician ldquoIt feels good and means a lot to merdquo he said of his special day

Shop Foreman Toby Christen retired after 43 years with Westside VW GM Steve Hendricks said he is highly respected by his peers at VW of America

Celebrating 35 years with the store was Lonnie Hager shop foreman at Luther Family Ford He was once the subject of an ldquoAsk Lonnierdquo billboard campaign

7

Honors in St Cloud drive event hits water Helping young people has long been a major interest of Luther Honda of St Cloud and that work was honored with a ldquoFriend of Youthrdquo award from the St Cloud Optimist Club

From left Jackie Johnson Big Brothers Big Sisters Kayla Backes and Jamie Holub Luther Honda of St Cloud Officer Jill Luehmann Chief Jim Hughes and Shari Wahlin Big Brothers Big Sisters

The group cited the storersquos dynamic advocacy and support for Big Brothers and Big Sisters The store is a regular contributor and employees are active with fundraising events and agency committees says Shannon Giffin of Big Brothers Big Sisters Luther Honda of St Cloud also hosts an annual family-friendly drive-in movie night and the proceeds go to Big Brothers and Big Sisters This summerrsquos event brought over 700 to the drive-in

The Honda store joined Sartell police officer Jill Luehmann who also received a Friend of Youth award

First Sea Doo Ride amp Drive event

It was the first annual Luther Honda House Powersports Sea Doo Ride and Drive event at Pleasant Lake in St Cloud Guests and customers were able to test drive and ride the new Sea Doo Spark model and enjoy some great food and music

TOPPING lsquoWE BUYrsquo CHARTS

Brookdale Buick GMC GSM Angie Tufts and Drew Travis in sales above show their program muscle and enthusiasm Darin Hendley below was the top buyer at Mankato Honda which won the small store division

In an unusual twist for car dealerships prizes and celebrations were held for the stores that bought the most cars from consumers

Honors for success in the ldquoWe Buyrdquo program were bestowed by store size with Brookdale Chevrolet Brookdale Chrysler Jeep Dodge and Mankato Honda rounding out the top slots and reaping the benefits of barbecue celebrations and prizes

ldquoPoundingrdquo the airwaves with ldquoWe Buyrdquo radio ads helped secure a win for Mankato ldquoWe hit her hard you WE BUY WINNERS knowrdquo said General

(BY STORE WITH TOP BUYER) Sales Manager Chris Schroeder of Mankato BROOKDALE CHEVROLET Honda DAVID WARNER 6 Large store winner Brookdale Buick BROOKDALE CHRYSLER GMC had no lack of BOB LOSCHEIDER 5 excitement ldquoIf they would let me I would

MANKATO HONDA make this the lsquoWe Buyrsquo DARIN HENDLEY 5 capital of the worldrdquo said GSM Angie Tufts

Family events get boost from Fargorsquos Family Ford Free ldquoMovie in the Parkrdquo nights are

staged several times each summer in Fargo and Luther Family Ford plays a major role in making it happen

ldquoIt brings the families togetherrdquo said Recreation Specialist Jeff Heisler with the Fargo Park District Films are G or PG rated and popcorn and soda are provided

Between 500 and 1000 people of all ages turn out for the family themed Island Park events Heisler explains Family Ford sponsors each event and gives Support for the outdoor films has been prizes and purchased a a 10-year tradition 24-by-16-foot screen for the ldquoblue ovalrdquo in

the city known as the Family Ford GM Joel Gateway to the West

Bechtold called the parks department to see how ldquoJoel always says the store could help itrsquos not just about ldquoThose are the kind of selling cars but sponsors I wantrdquo said what you do for the Heisler ldquoHe likes to do it communityrdquo Heisler and we like having himrdquo said

8

Free RL Toyota teen clinic tackles distracted driving A dozen Toyota

representatives and dealer staff volunteers converged at Rudy Lutherrsquos Toyota and Scion for a popular teen driver safety clinic using a tool that was introduced at the auto show

The hot topic was distracted driving and a simulator was employed to make some points ldquoIt was the responsibility of being in a vehicle all of your focus has to be on what

yoursquore doingrdquo said General Manager Mark Beithon

Others can watch as distracted drivers react to various scenarios and Beithon said it was easy to be critical of others until he tried it himself ldquoNot too many people make it more than 20 secondsrdquo

The clinic included two Sunday classes with 45 people each and had young people with and

Hudson service advisor is a disability advocate A well-known advocate

for people with disabilities is making her mark in Chevrolet service thanks in part to Hudson Chevrolet Service Director Steve Boyd

Service advisor Jamie Balfanz 20 was the subject of a 2005 book ldquoMy Best Friend Willrdquo when she was 11 It pictorially chronicled her friendship with her classmate Willie who has autism The two were featured on Twin Cities television in the Hudson newspaper and at book signings and disability conferences

Balfanz connected with Willie at a group program where they spent time with another student while the larger group took recess ldquoThatrsquos what I liked to dordquo she said Birthday parties

bowling movies and other activities were frequent and their families got together on weekends Theyrsquore still best friends

Boyd asked her to apply at the store after noting her smiling and happy demeanor at County Market where she was a cashier she said Five years later she did

Some two months into the auto service world Balfanz was thriving ldquoItrsquos something to wake up every day not bummed out that itrsquos nine in morning The customers are great people I work with are great and itrsquos an awesome place to workrdquo she said

without drivers licenses The GM said the program promoted understanding between parents and their teens and stressed positive reinforcement Some faces were new and others were customers or employees

The simulator was coupled with an hour of classroom training scavenger hunt and an effort to identify parts on show floor vehicles Teens received certificates at the end

The new advisor has a keen awareness of customers with disabilities and takes extra steps to make sure they receive full service A friendly face greeting and offer to help can go a long way

People with disabilities are ldquojust like usrdquo she said ldquoThey enjoy the same things that we do understand everything the same that we do just in a different

way They have strengths and weaknesses We are all humanrdquo

Willie recently graduated from a ldquotransitionalrdquo school He draws regularly and studies guitar piano and singing

The book gives people a different perspective about people with disabilities she said

9

VW man joins island mission to construct plant One Volkswagen general The group planted

manager embarked on a real a half-acre community world missions experience garden for a school that was so positive hersquos repaired roofs and returning for more next spring helped complete seven

concrete house floors Westside Smiling friendly and

VWrsquos Steve helpful people were the Hendricks joined norm he said Though the group they lived with only Global Missions the basics for housing with seemingly no worriesrdquo for a working trip clothes and food Hendricks he said ldquoAnd the scenery to the Dominican said they seemed very content was as beautiful as could Republic With and happy that the group was be imaginedrdquo Mountains nearly twice as many people there to help rainforests valleys and as Minnesota and just over rivers were all around The one fifth of the land mass the ldquoI enjoyed the people Dominican Republic has some island country borders Haiti to of the villages we where in 104 million people the west with the simple life they live

Global Missions is a Twin Cities nonprofit group and this particular trip was sponsored by KTIS Radio ldquoIt was awesomerdquo said Hendricks

Hyundairsquos lsquoHope on Wheelsrsquo funds U of M cancer research

Above Dr Lucie Turcotte with cancer survivor Ashley Burnette 10 at left and a current hospital patient Her department was chemotherapy and autologous presented with the ldquoHyundai Young Investigators Clinical Awardrdquo and a $75000 check to fund her research Above right Burnette

stem cell rescue is joined by Burnsville Hyundai Sales Manager Dean Dreckman Bloomington Hyundai GM Lenny Checheris and Burnsville Hyundai GM Charlie Rassouli

ldquoChildrenrsquos Hospital to date has received $775000 eliminate some of the long term from Hope on Wheelsrdquo said effects with the therapiesrdquo

More photos videos at Checheris ldquoWith these funds luthernewscom they are serving families across Hyundai builds fun into the Minnesota and saving livesrdquo events by taking child hand

print impressions in paint and Improving therapy featuring them with names and

Dr Turcotte thanked ages on the carsthe dealerships for their commitment ldquoAs a young It also works with cancer investigator this money means survivor Ashley Burnette who more than you can possibly gives speeches as a Hyundai imaginerdquo she said ldquoWith this ambassador award my hope is that we can understand how to prevent and

Representatives from two Luther Hyundai stores were on hand for a $75000 Hyundai Hope on Wheels check presentation at the University of Minnesota Childrenrsquos Hospital

Bloomington Hyundai GM Lenny Checheris introduced Dr Lucie Turcotte who is conducting the first research study to specifically examine cardiometabolic syndrome (CMS) in survivors of high dose

10

Honors in St Cloud drive event hits water Helping young people has long been a major interest of Luther Honda of St Cloud and that work was honored with a ldquoFriend of Youthrdquo award from the St Cloud Optimist Club

From left Jackie Johnson Big Brothers Big Sisters Kayla Backes and Jamie Holub Luther Honda of St Cloud Officer Jill Luehmann Chief Jim Hughes and Shari Wahlin Big Brothers Big Sisters

The group cited the storersquos dynamic advocacy and support for Big Brothers and Big Sisters The store is a regular contributor and employees are active with fundraising events and agency committees says Shannon Giffin of Big Brothers Big Sisters Luther Honda of St Cloud also hosts an annual family-friendly drive-in movie night and the proceeds go to Big Brothers and Big Sisters This summerrsquos event brought over 700 to the drive-in

The Honda store joined Sartell police officer Jill Luehmann who also received a Friend of Youth award

First Sea Doo Ride amp Drive event

It was the first annual Luther Honda House Powersports Sea Doo Ride and Drive event at Pleasant Lake in St Cloud Guests and customers were able to test drive and ride the new Sea Doo Spark model and enjoy some great food and music

TOPPING lsquoWE BUYrsquo CHARTS

Brookdale Buick GMC GSM Angie Tufts and Drew Travis in sales above show their program muscle and enthusiasm Darin Hendley below was the top buyer at Mankato Honda which won the small store division

In an unusual twist for car dealerships prizes and celebrations were held for the stores that bought the most cars from consumers

Honors for success in the ldquoWe Buyrdquo program were bestowed by store size with Brookdale Chevrolet Brookdale Chrysler Jeep Dodge and Mankato Honda rounding out the top slots and reaping the benefits of barbecue celebrations and prizes

ldquoPoundingrdquo the airwaves with ldquoWe Buyrdquo radio ads helped secure a win for Mankato ldquoWe hit her hard you WE BUY WINNERS knowrdquo said General

(BY STORE WITH TOP BUYER) Sales Manager Chris Schroeder of Mankato BROOKDALE CHEVROLET Honda DAVID WARNER 6 Large store winner Brookdale Buick BROOKDALE CHRYSLER GMC had no lack of BOB LOSCHEIDER 5 excitement ldquoIf they would let me I would

MANKATO HONDA make this the lsquoWe Buyrsquo DARIN HENDLEY 5 capital of the worldrdquo said GSM Angie Tufts

Family events get boost from Fargorsquos Family Ford Free ldquoMovie in the Parkrdquo nights are

staged several times each summer in Fargo and Luther Family Ford plays a major role in making it happen

ldquoIt brings the families togetherrdquo said Recreation Specialist Jeff Heisler with the Fargo Park District Films are G or PG rated and popcorn and soda are provided

Between 500 and 1000 people of all ages turn out for the family themed Island Park events Heisler explains Family Ford sponsors each event and gives Support for the outdoor films has been prizes and purchased a a 10-year tradition 24-by-16-foot screen for the ldquoblue ovalrdquo in

the city known as the Family Ford GM Joel Gateway to the West

Bechtold called the parks department to see how ldquoJoel always says the store could help itrsquos not just about ldquoThose are the kind of selling cars but sponsors I wantrdquo said what you do for the Heisler ldquoHe likes to do it communityrdquo Heisler and we like having himrdquo said

8

Free RL Toyota teen clinic tackles distracted driving A dozen Toyota

representatives and dealer staff volunteers converged at Rudy Lutherrsquos Toyota and Scion for a popular teen driver safety clinic using a tool that was introduced at the auto show

The hot topic was distracted driving and a simulator was employed to make some points ldquoIt was the responsibility of being in a vehicle all of your focus has to be on what

yoursquore doingrdquo said General Manager Mark Beithon

Others can watch as distracted drivers react to various scenarios and Beithon said it was easy to be critical of others until he tried it himself ldquoNot too many people make it more than 20 secondsrdquo

The clinic included two Sunday classes with 45 people each and had young people with and

Hudson service advisor is a disability advocate A well-known advocate

for people with disabilities is making her mark in Chevrolet service thanks in part to Hudson Chevrolet Service Director Steve Boyd

Service advisor Jamie Balfanz 20 was the subject of a 2005 book ldquoMy Best Friend Willrdquo when she was 11 It pictorially chronicled her friendship with her classmate Willie who has autism The two were featured on Twin Cities television in the Hudson newspaper and at book signings and disability conferences

Balfanz connected with Willie at a group program where they spent time with another student while the larger group took recess ldquoThatrsquos what I liked to dordquo she said Birthday parties

bowling movies and other activities were frequent and their families got together on weekends Theyrsquore still best friends

Boyd asked her to apply at the store after noting her smiling and happy demeanor at County Market where she was a cashier she said Five years later she did

Some two months into the auto service world Balfanz was thriving ldquoItrsquos something to wake up every day not bummed out that itrsquos nine in morning The customers are great people I work with are great and itrsquos an awesome place to workrdquo she said

without drivers licenses The GM said the program promoted understanding between parents and their teens and stressed positive reinforcement Some faces were new and others were customers or employees

The simulator was coupled with an hour of classroom training scavenger hunt and an effort to identify parts on show floor vehicles Teens received certificates at the end

The new advisor has a keen awareness of customers with disabilities and takes extra steps to make sure they receive full service A friendly face greeting and offer to help can go a long way

People with disabilities are ldquojust like usrdquo she said ldquoThey enjoy the same things that we do understand everything the same that we do just in a different

way They have strengths and weaknesses We are all humanrdquo

Willie recently graduated from a ldquotransitionalrdquo school He draws regularly and studies guitar piano and singing

The book gives people a different perspective about people with disabilities she said

9

VW man joins island mission to construct plant One Volkswagen general The group planted

manager embarked on a real a half-acre community world missions experience garden for a school that was so positive hersquos repaired roofs and returning for more next spring helped complete seven

concrete house floors Westside Smiling friendly and

VWrsquos Steve helpful people were the Hendricks joined norm he said Though the group they lived with only Global Missions the basics for housing with seemingly no worriesrdquo for a working trip clothes and food Hendricks he said ldquoAnd the scenery to the Dominican said they seemed very content was as beautiful as could Republic With and happy that the group was be imaginedrdquo Mountains nearly twice as many people there to help rainforests valleys and as Minnesota and just over rivers were all around The one fifth of the land mass the ldquoI enjoyed the people Dominican Republic has some island country borders Haiti to of the villages we where in 104 million people the west with the simple life they live

Global Missions is a Twin Cities nonprofit group and this particular trip was sponsored by KTIS Radio ldquoIt was awesomerdquo said Hendricks

Hyundairsquos lsquoHope on Wheelsrsquo funds U of M cancer research

Above Dr Lucie Turcotte with cancer survivor Ashley Burnette 10 at left and a current hospital patient Her department was chemotherapy and autologous presented with the ldquoHyundai Young Investigators Clinical Awardrdquo and a $75000 check to fund her research Above right Burnette

stem cell rescue is joined by Burnsville Hyundai Sales Manager Dean Dreckman Bloomington Hyundai GM Lenny Checheris and Burnsville Hyundai GM Charlie Rassouli

ldquoChildrenrsquos Hospital to date has received $775000 eliminate some of the long term from Hope on Wheelsrdquo said effects with the therapiesrdquo

More photos videos at Checheris ldquoWith these funds luthernewscom they are serving families across Hyundai builds fun into the Minnesota and saving livesrdquo events by taking child hand

print impressions in paint and Improving therapy featuring them with names and

Dr Turcotte thanked ages on the carsthe dealerships for their commitment ldquoAs a young It also works with cancer investigator this money means survivor Ashley Burnette who more than you can possibly gives speeches as a Hyundai imaginerdquo she said ldquoWith this ambassador award my hope is that we can understand how to prevent and

Representatives from two Luther Hyundai stores were on hand for a $75000 Hyundai Hope on Wheels check presentation at the University of Minnesota Childrenrsquos Hospital

Bloomington Hyundai GM Lenny Checheris introduced Dr Lucie Turcotte who is conducting the first research study to specifically examine cardiometabolic syndrome (CMS) in survivors of high dose

10

Free RL Toyota teen clinic tackles distracted driving A dozen Toyota

representatives and dealer staff volunteers converged at Rudy Lutherrsquos Toyota and Scion for a popular teen driver safety clinic using a tool that was introduced at the auto show

The hot topic was distracted driving and a simulator was employed to make some points ldquoIt was the responsibility of being in a vehicle all of your focus has to be on what

yoursquore doingrdquo said General Manager Mark Beithon

Others can watch as distracted drivers react to various scenarios and Beithon said it was easy to be critical of others until he tried it himself ldquoNot too many people make it more than 20 secondsrdquo

The clinic included two Sunday classes with 45 people each and had young people with and

Hudson service advisor is a disability advocate A well-known advocate

for people with disabilities is making her mark in Chevrolet service thanks in part to Hudson Chevrolet Service Director Steve Boyd

Service advisor Jamie Balfanz 20 was the subject of a 2005 book ldquoMy Best Friend Willrdquo when she was 11 It pictorially chronicled her friendship with her classmate Willie who has autism The two were featured on Twin Cities television in the Hudson newspaper and at book signings and disability conferences

Balfanz connected with Willie at a group program where they spent time with another student while the larger group took recess ldquoThatrsquos what I liked to dordquo she said Birthday parties

bowling movies and other activities were frequent and their families got together on weekends Theyrsquore still best friends

Boyd asked her to apply at the store after noting her smiling and happy demeanor at County Market where she was a cashier she said Five years later she did

Some two months into the auto service world Balfanz was thriving ldquoItrsquos something to wake up every day not bummed out that itrsquos nine in morning The customers are great people I work with are great and itrsquos an awesome place to workrdquo she said

without drivers licenses The GM said the program promoted understanding between parents and their teens and stressed positive reinforcement Some faces were new and others were customers or employees

The simulator was coupled with an hour of classroom training scavenger hunt and an effort to identify parts on show floor vehicles Teens received certificates at the end

The new advisor has a keen awareness of customers with disabilities and takes extra steps to make sure they receive full service A friendly face greeting and offer to help can go a long way

People with disabilities are ldquojust like usrdquo she said ldquoThey enjoy the same things that we do understand everything the same that we do just in a different

way They have strengths and weaknesses We are all humanrdquo

Willie recently graduated from a ldquotransitionalrdquo school He draws regularly and studies guitar piano and singing

The book gives people a different perspective about people with disabilities she said

9

VW man joins island mission to construct plant One Volkswagen general The group planted

manager embarked on a real a half-acre community world missions experience garden for a school that was so positive hersquos repaired roofs and returning for more next spring helped complete seven

concrete house floors Westside Smiling friendly and

VWrsquos Steve helpful people were the Hendricks joined norm he said Though the group they lived with only Global Missions the basics for housing with seemingly no worriesrdquo for a working trip clothes and food Hendricks he said ldquoAnd the scenery to the Dominican said they seemed very content was as beautiful as could Republic With and happy that the group was be imaginedrdquo Mountains nearly twice as many people there to help rainforests valleys and as Minnesota and just over rivers were all around The one fifth of the land mass the ldquoI enjoyed the people Dominican Republic has some island country borders Haiti to of the villages we where in 104 million people the west with the simple life they live

Global Missions is a Twin Cities nonprofit group and this particular trip was sponsored by KTIS Radio ldquoIt was awesomerdquo said Hendricks

Hyundairsquos lsquoHope on Wheelsrsquo funds U of M cancer research

Above Dr Lucie Turcotte with cancer survivor Ashley Burnette 10 at left and a current hospital patient Her department was chemotherapy and autologous presented with the ldquoHyundai Young Investigators Clinical Awardrdquo and a $75000 check to fund her research Above right Burnette

stem cell rescue is joined by Burnsville Hyundai Sales Manager Dean Dreckman Bloomington Hyundai GM Lenny Checheris and Burnsville Hyundai GM Charlie Rassouli

ldquoChildrenrsquos Hospital to date has received $775000 eliminate some of the long term from Hope on Wheelsrdquo said effects with the therapiesrdquo

More photos videos at Checheris ldquoWith these funds luthernewscom they are serving families across Hyundai builds fun into the Minnesota and saving livesrdquo events by taking child hand

print impressions in paint and Improving therapy featuring them with names and

Dr Turcotte thanked ages on the carsthe dealerships for their commitment ldquoAs a young It also works with cancer investigator this money means survivor Ashley Burnette who more than you can possibly gives speeches as a Hyundai imaginerdquo she said ldquoWith this ambassador award my hope is that we can understand how to prevent and

Representatives from two Luther Hyundai stores were on hand for a $75000 Hyundai Hope on Wheels check presentation at the University of Minnesota Childrenrsquos Hospital

Bloomington Hyundai GM Lenny Checheris introduced Dr Lucie Turcotte who is conducting the first research study to specifically examine cardiometabolic syndrome (CMS) in survivors of high dose

10

VW man joins island mission to construct plant One Volkswagen general The group planted

manager embarked on a real a half-acre community world missions experience garden for a school that was so positive hersquos repaired roofs and returning for more next spring helped complete seven

concrete house floors Westside Smiling friendly and

VWrsquos Steve helpful people were the Hendricks joined norm he said Though the group they lived with only Global Missions the basics for housing with seemingly no worriesrdquo for a working trip clothes and food Hendricks he said ldquoAnd the scenery to the Dominican said they seemed very content was as beautiful as could Republic With and happy that the group was be imaginedrdquo Mountains nearly twice as many people there to help rainforests valleys and as Minnesota and just over rivers were all around The one fifth of the land mass the ldquoI enjoyed the people Dominican Republic has some island country borders Haiti to of the villages we where in 104 million people the west with the simple life they live

Global Missions is a Twin Cities nonprofit group and this particular trip was sponsored by KTIS Radio ldquoIt was awesomerdquo said Hendricks

Hyundairsquos lsquoHope on Wheelsrsquo funds U of M cancer research

Above Dr Lucie Turcotte with cancer survivor Ashley Burnette 10 at left and a current hospital patient Her department was chemotherapy and autologous presented with the ldquoHyundai Young Investigators Clinical Awardrdquo and a $75000 check to fund her research Above right Burnette

stem cell rescue is joined by Burnsville Hyundai Sales Manager Dean Dreckman Bloomington Hyundai GM Lenny Checheris and Burnsville Hyundai GM Charlie Rassouli

ldquoChildrenrsquos Hospital to date has received $775000 eliminate some of the long term from Hope on Wheelsrdquo said effects with the therapiesrdquo

More photos videos at Checheris ldquoWith these funds luthernewscom they are serving families across Hyundai builds fun into the Minnesota and saving livesrdquo events by taking child hand

print impressions in paint and Improving therapy featuring them with names and

Dr Turcotte thanked ages on the carsthe dealerships for their commitment ldquoAs a young It also works with cancer investigator this money means survivor Ashley Burnette who more than you can possibly gives speeches as a Hyundai imaginerdquo she said ldquoWith this ambassador award my hope is that we can understand how to prevent and

Representatives from two Luther Hyundai stores were on hand for a $75000 Hyundai Hope on Wheels check presentation at the University of Minnesota Childrenrsquos Hospital

Bloomington Hyundai GM Lenny Checheris introduced Dr Lucie Turcotte who is conducting the first research study to specifically examine cardiometabolic syndrome (CMS) in survivors of high dose

10

Once upon a time in summer a technician on his way to work at Bloomington Acura Subaru was startled to hear some unusual quacking and peeping He discovered that a mother duck was trying to reach her baby ducks that had gotten lost in the storm sewer He summoned help from his dealership and they got help from the Bloomington public works department and police department to help them rescue the ducks and to redirect traffic so that the chicks and the momma duck would be saved At the urging of one very motherly employee they did not give up the challenge of rescuing the ducks the entire day Eventually the mother duck ran away and seven baby chicks were rescued by using a net and the ingenuity of seven Bloomington Acura Subaru employees One baby chick was nowhere to be found The very emotional employee packed up all the chicks and brought them to her neighbor to be raised in his safe neighborhood pond and they lived happily ever after The End

INVESTING IN YOUTH GOALS A regular infusion of equipment and

shirts have been flowing since 2011 to

the Brooklyn Center Soccer program for

youth At right Police Officer Peterson and

Brookdale Chevrolet Accessories Manager

Chris Johnson distributed jerseys in a variety of colors at a soccer practice for 3- and

4-year-olds

The 2014 program drew 208 children up to age 14 with 28 teams and 17 coaches

said Program Supervisor Kelly Mertes with the City of Brooklyn Centerrsquos Community

Activities Recreation and Services department

The season concluded with a pizza party for 500 people attended by the

dealership managers from the area and Home Office staff members Johnson a key

organizer since the programrsquos beginning was given a framed soccer jersey from the

police ldquoI was surprised It was kind of nicerdquo he said ldquoIt was a little kid one with a

soccer medalrdquo More photos and video on luthernewscom

we ask employees

Eric Rowell ldquoJamaica It just sounds like a fun place

Good eatingrdquo Sales Associate Brookdale Buick GMC

Amy Volle ldquoIrsquove been to HawaiiIrsquod probably go back to Europe I

love London I took a trip to Europewhen I was 15 did London Scotland Amsterdam In London I really likethe culture there people who livethere not the big lsquotouristyrsquo stuffrsquo Irsquod go to pubs coffee shops ride theunderground aroundrdquo

Receptionist Brookdale Mazda Mitsubishi

If you could spend your summer vacation anywhere where would it be

Dan Gellerman ldquoIrsquove always

wanted to take a trip out to Seattle then up to Anchorage Irsquove barely been out of Minnesota my whole life Itrsquos on my bucket listrdquo

Runner Brookdale Chrysler Jeep Dodge

Bob Avery ldquoCrandon Wis in Forest County the

largest county in Wisconsin without a red and green stoplight Therersquos an off-road racing track My wife and kids go boating and four-wheelingrdquo

Sales Associate Rudy Luther Toyota Scion

11

BROOKDALE CHEVROLET GOES SKYDIVING Service

advisor Heidi Mannella was terribly afraid of heights but didnrsquot shy away from an employee organized skydiving event

ldquoThis was one thing I had to overcomerdquo said the Brookdale Chevrolet employee ldquoIt was unreal and better than any roller coaster Irsquove ever been onrdquo

Mannella joined five coworkers from service and parts and six others at Skydive Twin Cities in Baldwin Wis The idea began with technician Rich Pankratz who asked around and then organized the outing ldquoEverybodyrsquos answer so far

Mannella on a 130 mph fall near Baldwin Wis

is that itrsquos been on their bucket listrdquo

The two at a time tandem jumps took place at about 13000 feet with chute deployment 45 to 50

seconds into the ride Pankratz explained Mannella was the last to go and said witnessing the expressions from the others was priceless ldquoThey do twists and turns in the air It looks like yoursquore going to land going 30 mph then right before all of a sudden they hit the brakes

and you just land super softrdquo she said

One irony is that the organizer who took a several hour class and went for a 170 mph solo dive

ldquoA lot of people walking around here today still have pretty big smiles on their facerdquo said Pankratz two days after the grouprsquos jump

Clockwise from left Brookdale Chevrolet skydivers Rich Pankratz Bob Jones Heidi Mannella Jeremy Erickson and Nick Blattner parts man Bob Jones (in shorts) at the jump point Pankratz center the organizer chose a solo freefall dive

Mor

e ph

otos

at l

uthe

rnew

scom

ldquoEverybody thoroughly enjoyed it and would do it again in a heartbeatrdquo

store assembles cancer benefit for coworker Employees

at Westside Volkswagen came together on a late-August Sunday to raise funds for a coworkerrsquos wife who is fighting cancer

Patricia Allen wife of service advisor Trevino Allen has accrued a lot of medical expenses after being treated for a type of colon cancer

When the call for help went out employees stores and vendors answered

ldquoItrsquos cool how much people actually carerdquo said Tammy Ferguson assistant controller at Westside Employees contributed

Trevino left and Patricia Allen speaking thank participants at the Westside VW benefit Patricia was treated for cancer

short on silent auction items or activities for children On the auction block was a new $800 Specialized bicycle Minnesota Twins LUX Suite and regular Twins tickets Gopher Football tickets a Brainerd hotel stay and

Above office staffers share a light moment at the well-attended event

SCCA race tickets and a new Indian-brand motorcycle jacket valued at $250

A live band face painting and a bouncy house along with food from the grill kept participants and kids entertained Even GM Steve

auction items and five other Hendricks put his

promotional skills on display ldquoWow its better and cheaper than the State Fairrdquo he said

Several staff members showed up early that Sunday to move cars and prepare for the event

Luther stores or their employees helped out including Family Buick in Fargo she explained

The benefit drew more than 150 to the store and wasnrsquot A ldquobouncy houserdquo helped entertain the children as well as face painting and above right silent auction

items are reviewed on Westsidersquos new car showfloor as the band plays and balloons dazzle participants

12

FARGO CELEBRATIONS DRAW CROWDS

The annual barbecue at Luther Collision and

Glass in Fargo this summer was extra special

with tours of the remodeled facility and award

winning ribs from Spitfire Manager Bob

Langlie welcomed body shop managers from

across the Luther group who joined insurance

agents adjusters suppliers and employees

from the two area Luther stores to form a

crowd of 280

13

What is it anyway

Find the answers at luthernewscom

b c

gf

d

e

a

Family Buick GMC Collision and Glass Fargo

Employees took to the

outdoors at Family Buick

GMC in Fargo for a summer

barbecue Service advisors

and technicians enjoyed

meat from the grill cooked

by Controller Shawn Preabt

thank you notes NORTH COUNTRY FORD SERVICE DEPARTMENT STAFF

This past week we were provided with exceptional service at North Country and we truly appreciate it We are highly pleased with the professional manner in which you handled the situation with our moving truck You not only helped in finding the necessary parts but also inspected and hand delivered them to Duluth for us something you had no obligation to do You have made raving fans out of us and we greatly value what you have done You can be sure that we will continue to do business with North Country Ford for years to come Please share and enjoy these pizzas

Team Firnstahl Real Estate Services

LUTHER COLLISION amp GLASS BROOKLYN PARK STAFF

I was very satisfied with the entire experience My truck looked great and was done when they said it would be Everyone that I dealt with was friendly and professional Imagine my surprise when I saw how clean the truck was when I picked it up Now that is going the extra mile I was very pleased and would absolutely recommend the work that they do and the service that they provide

Jim H via Google Reviews

LUTHER BURNSVILLE HYUNDAI MARK GREEN AARON BURR

The reviews for this dealership are really what made up my mind to go there This was my first time buying an actual reliable car that wasnrsquot $500 Mark Green is the salesman who helped me He was so nice and funny and not pushy at all He showed me right away exactly what I was looking for a 2014 Hyundai Accent GLS and didnrsquot mind me getting a little squealy with excitement The whole process was explained and Aaron Burr the man who helped me finance was also very nice and patient and explained everything They really made me feel like my wants and opinions mattered and took the time to explain everything They made sure all my questions were answered and even gave me a means of contact in case I had more questions It was a great experience and a fantastic dealership All the reviews made my mind up about this dealer so I wanted to make sure people know how great they really are as well

Charyse E via carscom

PARK PLACE MOTOR CARS ERIC JENSEN

A great experience Very friendly pressure free atmosphere Eric was very knowledgeable about all the cars on the lot and could easily explain differences in car packages He found out exactly what we were looking for and helped us make our selection that fit our budget He did not try and oversell his product We received fair trade-in prices Eric took his time explaining our new vehicle and all of its awesome features He was very friendly and honest in his answers Eric also ensured that if we werenrsquot satisfied with any part of our experience to simply tell him and he would make it right Eric worked very hard for us the entire time at the dealership It really felt like Eric was working for us with honesty and loyalty I have full confidence that Eric took great care of me and I can always return to him with questions He ensured me that hersquos going to be by my side the entire time I own this car and not just the day I buy it I feel very confident in my purchase and confident in the choice of dealerships Thank you Eric Jensen

Taryn R via DealerRater

LUTHER HUDSON CHEVROLET GMC SERVICE DEPARTMENT

Good morning All of you are familiar with who I am and my vehicle the 2010 Terrain It seems to be running well I wanted to share something with you to give you insight into being a customer at a car dealership You have to remember no one likes to get their car fixed and our first thoughts are that it will be a huge bill As a woman it is even more frightful because you have no idea how an engine works The balancing act you do is quite amazing Making eye contact and being up front about everything helps in the process My life for the last 3 years has been in a whirlwind to say the least with last year hitting bottom I have a new job but it is tentative because the division up here isnrsquot doing well Change is the only constant thing in life and you have to be on your toes at all times Irsquove cried in front of a few of you when life just got so overwhelming and all of you were so warm and helpful You never know what someone is going through I want to thank you all for being a ldquofriendrdquo to me and for caring about me and my situation enough to help me through some pretty tough times You all deserve a hug and more because you really are a great team cherish that From my heart

Anne S

Notable kudos for multiple stores

Hondarsquos highest and most prestigious honor was bestowed on Luther Brookdale Honda which won the 2013 Presidentrsquos Award

Qualifications for the honor include profitability and sales requirements customer service and retention levels in service among other factors Brookdale Honda has received the award for three years running and is hopeful for a repeat performance in 2014

Down the boulevard from the Honda store Brookdale Mazda Mitsubishi continues to excel as one of the largest Mitsubishi parts operations in the US explains Parts Manager Mark Manthey

The store is ranked 16th among 400 and is the largest parts operation in the upper Midwest ldquoChicago is the only one that would touch usrdquo

Family Buick GMC staff gladly received the ldquoGMC Dealer of the Yearrdquo award

In Fargo Luther Family Buick GMC has again secured GMC Dealer of the Year honors Sales excellence and customer satisfaction are key elements in the ranking

14

thank you notes NORTH COUNTRY FORD SERVICE DEPARTMENT STAFF

This past week we were provided with exceptional service at North Country and we truly appreciate it We are highly pleased with the professional manner in which you handled the situation with our moving truck You not only helped in finding the necessary parts but also inspected and hand delivered them to Duluth for us something you had no obligation to do You have made raving fans out of us and we greatly value what you have done You can be sure that we will continue to do business with North Country Ford for years to come Please share and enjoy these pizzas

Team Firnstahl Real Estate Services

LUTHER COLLISION amp GLASS BROOKLYN PARK STAFF

I was very satisfied with the entire experience My truck looked great and was done when they said it would be Everyone that I dealt with was friendly and professional Imagine my surprise when I saw how clean the truck was when I picked it up Now that is going the extra mile I was very pleased and would absolutely recommend the work that they do and the service that they provide

Jim H via Google Reviews

LUTHER BURNSVILLE HYUNDAI MARK GREEN AARON BURR

The reviews for this dealership are really what made up my mind to go there This was my first time buying an actual reliable car that wasnrsquot $500 Mark Green is the salesman who helped me He was so nice and funny and not pushy at all He showed me right away exactly what I was looking for a 2014 Hyundai Accent GLS and didnrsquot mind me getting a little squealy with excitement The whole process was explained and Aaron Burr the man who helped me finance was also very nice and patient and explained everything They really made me feel like my wants and opinions mattered and took the time to explain everything They made sure all my questions were answered and even gave me a means of contact in case I had more questions It was a great experience and a fantastic dealership All the reviews made my mind up about this dealer so I wanted to make sure people know how great they really are as well

Charyse E via carscom

PARK PLACE MOTOR CARS ERIC JENSEN

A great experience Very friendly pressure free atmosphere Eric was very knowledgeable about all the cars on the lot and could easily explain differences in car packages He found out exactly what we were looking for and helped us make our selection that fit our budget He did not try and oversell his product We received fair trade-in prices Eric took his time explaining our new vehicle and all of its awesome features He was very friendly and honest in his answers Eric also ensured that if we werenrsquot satisfied with any part of our experience to simply tell him and he would make it right Eric worked very hard for us the entire time at the dealership It really felt like Eric was working for us with honesty and loyalty I have full confidence that Eric took great care of me and I can always return to him with questions He ensured me that hersquos going to be by my side the entire time I own this car and not just the day I buy it I feel very confident in my purchase and confident in the choice of dealerships Thank you Eric Jensen

Taryn R via DealerRater

LUTHER HUDSON CHEVROLET GMC SERVICE DEPARTMENT

Good morning All of you are familiar with who I am and my vehicle the 2010 Terrain It seems to be running well I wanted to share something with you to give you insight into being a customer at a car dealership You have to remember no one likes to get their car fixed and our first thoughts are that it will be a huge bill As a woman it is even more frightful because you have no idea how an engine works The balancing act you do is quite amazing Making eye contact and being up front about everything helps in the process My life for the last 3 years has been in a whirlwind to say the least with last year hitting bottom I have a new job but it is tentative because the division up here isnrsquot doing well Change is the only constant thing in life and you have to be on your toes at all times Irsquove cried in front of a few of you when life just got so overwhelming and all of you were so warm and helpful You never know what someone is going through I want to thank you all for being a ldquofriendrdquo to me and for caring about me and my situation enough to help me through some pretty tough times You all deserve a hug and more because you really are a great team cherish that From my heart

Anne S

Notable kudos for multiple stores

Hondarsquos highest and most prestigious honor was bestowed on Luther Brookdale Honda which won the 2013 Presidentrsquos Award

Qualifications for the honor include profitability and sales requirements customer service and retention levels in service among other factors Brookdale Honda has received the award for three years running and is hopeful for a repeat performance in 2014

Down the boulevard from the Honda store Brookdale Mazda Mitsubishi continues to excel as one of the largest Mitsubishi parts operations in the US explains Parts Manager Mark Manthey

The store is ranked 16th among 400 and is the largest parts operation in the upper Midwest ldquoChicago is the only one that would touch usrdquo

Family Buick GMC staff gladly received the ldquoGMC Dealer of the Yearrdquo award

In Fargo Luther Family Buick GMC has again secured GMC Dealer of the Year honors Sales excellence and customer satisfaction are key elements in the ranking

14

Kia store on winning streak

In the battle for customer satisfaction (CSI) it was Luther Kia of Bloomingtonrsquos service department which was ranked first in Kiarsquos Central Region and second for the US six quarters running

ldquoCSI is a really important factorndash it affects your allocation of cars it affects everythingrdquo said Service Manager Dave Boogren Thanks to the storersquos staff and teamwork he explains the Bloomington franchise has risen from last place in early 2012 to first and has stayed there

ldquoItrsquos a very good place to work everybodyrsquos attituderdquo the service manager said ldquoIf you like your job it shows to your customer and they sense itrdquo Treating people with respect and putting in a little extra can win a customer for life he explains

Kia of Bloomington is typically 20 points or more above the district average of 942 on a thousand point scale and the clear frontrunner in the collection of customer email addresses

Send your story ideas to aaronwallacegroupcom or

call 651-452-9800

Hobby farm opens neighborly doors

They were seeking peace and quiet so they moved to Wyanett Minnesota in the middle of winter to 20 acres and a 118-yearshyold farm house Without cell phone service cable TV and emergency sirens they only had each other and eight chickens to talk to They definitely found peace and quiet

After 29 years of marriage Phil Jeglosky sales manager at Brookdale Mazda Mitsubishi and his wife Michelle acted on their desire to live in the country They found the farm on the Internet a fixer-upper at a low price visited and in just a few days made the purchase

ldquoWe love it hererdquo said Phil ldquoOur kids Madison and

where they were on a five-party phone line with no neighbors His wife grew up in the city but loves animals For safety they rely on the help of neighbors get radio weather reports and depend on a land line phone

They stripped the historic farmhouse to the bare floors and walls removing carpet paneling and wallpaper The original window panes are thick and full of air bubbles Since all the hardware and appliances were removed

from light

At left Jegloskyrsquos grandson Conner is feeding the chickens Above Michelle with Phil holds the keys to the farm as their Realtor looks on

Steven think it is really fixtures to neatrdquo Moving in the sinks they middle of winter with focused on the closest neighbors a antiques A half mile and two miles 100-year-old away Michelle baked kitchen table scones and muffins and late 1800s and left packages side table look on their neighborsrsquo right at home doorsteps A storm last year brought a

Jeglosky grew up in a rural area tree down on their house but a

neighbor soon arrived with equipment to remove it No

questions asked no payment needed just the neighborly thing to do Another storm last winter left them stranded 360 feet from their house with a broken snowblower and tractor

Eventually a local farmer saved the day with a massive plow

A horse and cow are in Michellersquos plans and possibly a joint alpaca farm with a neighbor The initial eight chickens were cut to four by an overnight predator requiring that a chicken coop and runway be built over the weekend ldquoWe are at naturersquos mercyrdquo said Jeglosky

His tip for others planning a move sell your current house first ldquoIt is a challenge with two mortgage paymentsrdquo After six months his house was sold

GET MORE FROM THE LUTHER NEWSWATCH VIDEOSVISIT LUTHERNEWSCOM

15