Archive for the ‘CJD - Community’ Category

Diversity Groups Honor Chrysler with Numerous Awards

January 26, 2009

Chrysler Corp sticks to things are important even when times are tough:

In tough times like these it’s great to see some recognition for good work.

That’s why we’re proud to be the recipients of over 25 awards presented to Chrysler this year. The awards represent Chrysler’s support and commitment to a diverse segments of the population including minority, women-owned and veteran businesses.

Most recently, Chrysler was honored as the “2008 Corporation of the Year” at the Michigan Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Annual Legacy Awards Reception in Detroit on Dec. 4. The award, presented to Chrysler for the second year in a row, recognizes the company’s supplier diversity program, the proactive approach to identifying business opportunities for Hispanic-owned companies and the creation of a diverse work force.

Chrysler has taken a leading position in the automotive industry in sourcing materials from minority, women-owned and veteran businesses, which in turn helps communities across the country. In 2007, Chrysler sourced $4.7 billion of materials from these business sectors, accounting for 15.5 percent of the company’s total spend.

“Sourcing to minority suppliers has doubled in the last five years,” said Jethro Joseph, Senior Executive – Diversity Supplier Development. “That’s a significant amount of money being spent in with diverse communities.”

Joseph said that he’s seen the positive impact the business relationship between Chrysler and the diverse communities can have on towns across the nation.

“This industry touches so many individuals,” he said. “That’s why the intent of Chrysler’s Diversity Supplier Development program has always been to create sourcing opportunities for disadvantaged suppliers so that the dollars spent could be brought back to the communities to help create wealth.”

That’s also why the bridge loans to aid the auto industry are so important now, because they will help so many other diverse businesses – those who work directly with Chrysler, and other businesses that serve those suppliers.

“Chrysler has been honored this year for its enterprise-wide diversity efforts,” said Lisa Wicker, Global Diversity Director.

Listed below are the honors presented to Chrysler this year.

“Those are diverse awards from different groups touching different areas and different parts of the country. That tells you about the breadth of our Diversity efforts programs here at Chrysler,” Wicker said.

Outstanding Service & Commitment to our Business Award (J. Joseph) – Michigan Hispanic Chamber of Commerce
2008 Corporation of the Year (Automotive) – Michigan Hispanic Chamber of Commerce
2008 Corporate Economic Impact Award – Northern Ohio Minority Business Council
2008 President’s Award – Northern Ohio Minority Business Council
Top 50 Military-Friendly Employers – G.I. Jobs Magazine
Appreciation Award (J. Joseph) – National Minority Supplier Development Council
2008 Corporation of the Year Finalist – National Minority Supplier Development Council
Champions of Diversity Award (P. Hanna) – DiversityPlus Magazine
2008 Corporate Volunteer of the Year Award (T. Billups) – The Michigan Women’s Business Council
2008 Minority Business Advocate of the Year Award (T. Wright) – Michigan Minority Business Development Council
2008 Corporation of the Year – Michigan Minority Business Development Council
The Fortune 500’s Best Companies For Asian Pacific Americans – Asian Enterprise Magazine
2008 Corporate ONE Award – Michigan Minority Business Development Council
Best Places To Work 2008 – Human Rights Campaign (HRC)
“The 25 Year Club” Award – Chicago Minority Business Development Council
2008 Award of Excellence – Wisconsin Supplier Development Council
2008 Top 50 Corporations for Diversity – Hispanic Enterprise Magazine
2008 40 Best Companies for Diversity – Black Enterprise Magazine
Best Company in the Automotive Sector – NAACP’s 12th. Annual Economic Reciprocity Report
First Ladies of Supplier Diversity (R. Hammer) – Women’s Enterprise USA
Top Companies with Supplier Diversity Programs – Professional Woman’s Magazine
2008 Top 50 Corporation for Diversity – DiversityBusiness.com
2008 Working Mother Magazine – 100 Best Companies
2008 Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve Freedom Award
National Women of Color (Kim Harris Jones) – Career COmmunications Group
OCA National Asian Pacific American Coporate Achievement Award – (Jayanthi Iyengar)
2008 Top 100 Most Influential Blacks in Corporate America (Frank Fountain)
2008 Black Engineer of the Year President’s Award (Judy Bridgeman)

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http://dickscountrydodge.com
http://dicksautogroup.com
The best and #1 rated Portland area Five Star rated Dodge dealer, Chrysler dealer, Jeep dealer near Beaverton Oregon. We have the 2009 Ram and 2009 Dodge Challenger available and instock for sale.Also come and see our Internet Special prices on used, pre-owned and certified vehicles.

We carry SmartWay certified vehicles like the Dodge Caliber, Jeep Patriot, Jeep Compass, Chrysler PT Cruiser, Dodge Avenger and Chrysler Sebring. Click here to search our new SmartWay Certifed Vehicles or here to search our pre-owned SmartWay Certified vehicles. They keep your world green and your enemies more green with envy. You can also checkout our fuel saving technology such as Duel Mode Hybrid, MDS, VVT, CVT and the clean burning house hauling power of the New Cummins Diesel 6.7 Liter I6.

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Dick’s Auto Group is a dealer group made up of only domestic brands. We have Chrysler, Dodge, Ford and Jeep. Give a call and set a time to come test drive our products and look at the advantage of buying an American automobile.

Dick’s Auto Group
http://dicksautogroup.com
Hillsboro Oregon 97123
888-898-7901

Posted in CJD - Community, CJD - News Releases | Tagged Awards, Diversity, Honors Chrysler | Leave a Comment »

We’ve Got $1.5 Billion to Finance Vehicles

January 17, 2009

“We’ve Got $1.5 Billion to Finance Vehicles,” a banner headline on Chrysler Financial’s Web site said Friday afternoon. The Federal Government loaned $1.5B to an entity created by Chrysler Financial to buy loans from Chrysler Financial as the typical secondary market has dried up recently and choked off the ability of lenders to secure financing for consumers.

Jim Press, the vice chairman of Chrysler LLC, is quoted as saying, “We have customers who want to buy our vehicles, dealers who want to order vehicles and employees who want to build cars. Now with enhanced financing available in the system we can help our customers,” in a statement.

It looks like we are now making decision that help and benefit the most in a cost effective way. It looks like the out going President Bush is trying to make sure the economy is stabilized and rebounding during this time of transition. This should allow President to be Obama a chance, a little breathing room to get in and get his arms around the situation.

Dick’s Auto Group

http://dicksautogroup.com

Hillsboro Oregon 97123

888-898-7901

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You can see all the results of recent changes and improvements in Dodge Chrysler Jeep products at Portland’s Best:
Dick’s Country Chrysler Jeep Dodge
767 SW Baseline Rd
Hillsboro OR 97123
503-214-5014
800-783-4891
http://dickscountrydodge.com
http://dicksautogroup.com
The best and #1 rated Portland area Five Star rated Dodge dealer, Chrysler dealer, Jeep dealer near Beaverton Oregon. We have the 2009 Ram and 2009 Dodge Challenger available and instock for sale.Also come and see our Internet Special prices on used, pre-owned and certified vehicles.

We carry SmartWay certified vehicles like the Dodge Caliber, Jeep Patriot, Jeep Compass, Chrysler PT Cruiser, Dodge Avenger and Chrysler Sebring. Click here to search our new SmartWay Certifed Vehiclesor here to search our pre-owned SmartWay Certified vehicles. They keep your world green and your enemies more green with envy. You can also checkout our fuel saving technology such as Duel Mode Hybrid, MDS, VVT, CVT and the clean burning house hauling power of the New Cummins Diesel 6.7 Liter I6.

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You can see all the results of recent changes and improvements at Portland’s best Ford dealer.

Dick’s Mackenzie Ford
4151 SE Tualatin Valley Hwy
Hillsboro OR 97123
800-783-0863
503-214-5029
http://mackenzieford.com
http://dicksautogroup.com
http://mackenziemotors.dealerconnection.com/

Dick’s Mackenzie Ford is the #1 rated local family owned and operated Blue Oval Portland Oregon area Ford dealer near Beaverton Oregon in Hillsboro Oregon. Also, serving the Southwest Washington population. Come and see our Internet Special priceson new, used, pre-ownedand factory-certified vehiclesor Q Certified Vehicles. We have all models available, 2009 Ford F-150, 2009 Ford Mustang and the money saving 2009 Ford Focus and more. Contact us for a free price quote. We also have Cars, Trucks, SUVs and Crossovers online at http://mackenzieford.com. Search for all new 2008 and 2009 Ford, including E-Series, Edge, Escape, Escape Hybrid, Expedition, Explorer, F-150, F-250 Super Duty, F-350, F-450, Flex, Focus Coupe, Focus Sedan, Fusion, Mustang, Ranger, Sport Trac, Taurus, Taurus X, and for the soon to arrive Ford Transit van. Find your dream car from our Ford showroom of cars, trucks, SUVs and Crossovers or search our new Ford inventory to see what is on our lot, get new car pricing and free Ford price quotes.

We carry SmartWay certified new vehicleslike the Ford Focus, Ford Fusion, Ford Escape and other. Click here to check them out. We also carry SmartWay certified pre-owned vehicles. Click here to search our inventory.

We have Employee Price Plus and quick easy financing available with rates as low as 0% available on some models. Experience our fast credit approval and pre-approval process. We use the best banks to secure you your best deal, including Ford Motor Credit, US Bank, Chase, Bank of America, OnPoint Credit union and others. Contact us to get your best car loan in minutes!

Want to see why you should own a Ford? Click here for the Ford Story videoon why Ford Motor Company is your car company for the future. Click here to load videoon why the Ford F-150 is your truck.

(Source)

Posted in CJD - Community, CJD - Fuel Economy and Efficiency, CJD - Incentives and Programs, CJD - News Releases, Dicks Auto Group, General Auto | Leave a Comment »

Drinking coffee reduces risk of Alzheimer’s

January 16, 2009

At first glance I was thinking no one in the Auto Industry should ever forget anything! Then they had to go ahead and put that last line in there about “too much is too much”. No matter, it does look like there is some good aspects to the best natural pesticide known to man!

Drinking coffee reduces risk of Alzheimer’s: study

Thu Jan 15, 10:45 am ET

STOCKHOLM (AFP) – Middle-aged people who drink moderate amounts of coffee significantly reduce their risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease, a study by Finnish and Swedish researchers showed Thursday.

“Middle-aged people who drank between three and five cups of coffee a day lowered their risk of developing dementia and Alzheimer’s disease by between 60 and 65 percent later in life,” said lead researcher on the project, Miia Kivipelto, a professor at the University of Kuopio in Finland and at the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm.

The study, which was also conducted in cooperation with the National Public Health Institute in Helsinki and which was published in the Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease this month, was based on repeated interviews with 1,409 people in Finland over more than two decades.

They were first asked about their coffee-drinking habits when they were in their 50s and their memory functions were tested again in 1998, when they were between 65 and 79 years of age.

A total of 61 people had by then developed dementia, 48 of whom had Alzheimer’s, the researchers said.

“There are perhaps one or two other studies that have shown that coffee can improve some memory functions (but) this is the first study directed at dementia and Alzheimer’s (and) in which the subjects are followed for such a long time,” Kivipelto told AFP.

She said it remained unclear exactly how moderate coffee drinking helped delay or avoid the onset of dementia, but pointed out that coffee contains strong antioxidants, which are known to counter Alzheimer’s.

Some studies have also shown that coffee helps protects the nerve system, which can also protect against dementia, she said, pointing out that yet other studies show that coffee protects against diabetes, which in turn is known to be linked to Alzheimer’s.

“Going forward, researchers should try to nail down exactly what the protective elements in coffee consist in,” Kivipelto said.

The Finnish-Swedish research results surfaced just a day after a separate study published by psychologists at Durham University showed a link between heavy coffee drinking and hallucinations.

“I guess this shows that you shouldn’t exaggerate,” Kivipelto said when asked about the British study, pointing out that her research showed “insignificant” benefits to drinking more than five cups of coffee a day when it came to protecting against dementia.

“Too much is simply too much,” she said.

(SOURCE)

See us at:

Dick’s Auto Group

http://dicksautogroup.com

Hillsboro Oregon 97123

888-898-7901

——————————————————————–

We carry SmartWay certified vehicles like the Dodge Caliber, Jeep Patriot, Jeep Compass, Chrysler PT Cruiser, Dodge Avenger and Chrysler Sebring. Click here to search our new SmartWay Certifed Vehiclesor here to search our pre-owned SmartWay Certified vehicles. They keep your world green and your enemies more green with envy. You can also checkout our fuel saving technology such as Duel Mode Hybrid, MDS, VVT, CVT and the clean burning house hauling power of the New Cummins Diesel 6.7 Liter I6.

——————————————————————-

You can see all the results of recent changes and improvements at Portland’s best Ford dealer.

Dick’s Mackenzie Ford
4151 SE Tualatin Valley Hwy
Hillsboro OR 97123
800-783-0863
503-214-5029
http://mackenzieford.com
http://dicksautogroup.com
http://mackenziemotors.dealerconnection.com/

We have Employee Price Plus and quick easy financing available with rates as low as 0% available on some models. Experience our fast credit approval and pre-approval process. We use the best banks
to secure you your best deal, including Ford Motor Credit, US Bank, Chase, Bank of America, OnPoint Credit union and others. Contact us to get your best car loan in minutes!

Want to see why you should own a Ford? Click here for the Ford Story videoon why Ford Motor Company is your car company for the future. Click here to load videoon why the Ford F-150 is your truck.

Posted in CJD - Community, CJD - News Releases, DAG - Humor, General Auto | Leave a Comment »

Economic Blues Bringing Back “Blue Laws”

December 9, 2008

I actually spoke to a dealer today about this and industry employees as well. There are many issues that come to the surface:

- Current business supports reducing staff.

- Reducing staff creates longer hours and more burn-out for employees trying to cover the same hours with less people.

- Seems to be a return to more manageable lifestyle. Some actually say that part of the bad reputation developed by auto sales personal is due to the fact that many highly qualified sales people will not consider this industry due to long hours and few days off and limited ability to have a quality family life and that this law could help improve the industry for everyone, industry workers and buying public.

- If are going to spend billions stabalizing the mfg., why would we not pass a law that seems it would help stabablize the distribution network as well?

Below is the full article from the Oregonian:(source)

Auto dealers seek Sunday closure as cost-cutting measure

by Jeff Manning, The Oregonian

Friday December 05, 2008, 8:57 AM

Facing a steep economic downturn that is putting some of them out of business, Oregon auto dealers will go to the Legislature this winter seeking some novel assistance: a guaranteed day off.

The car dealers will ask Oregon lawmakers to impose “blue laws” prohibiting auto sales on Sunday. Greg Remensperger, executive vice president of the Oregon Automobile Dealers Association, said his members voiced “overwhelming support” for the measure at a series of recent regional meetings.

Closing down for a day would cut dealers’ costs and give workers a break, dealers said. Sunday is not an exceptionally busy day at most dealerships, they added.

It’s unclear how receptive legislators will be to reinstating the kind of restriction on retail sales that used to be common but has largely disappeared across the country. While the plan wouldn’t cost the state anything and faces no obvious opposition, lawmakers have a full plate given the financial downturn and resulting budget cutting that will be required.

But with Detroit’s Big Three automakers seeking billions in federal loans and per-capita auto sales at 1958 levels, Remensperger said his members need the assistance. Nineteen Oregon dealers have shut down so far this year and more may soon follow, costing hundreds of workers their jobs.

“No question, there’s some troubled times out there,” Remensperger said. “It has to do with $4-per-gallon gas, the troubled economy, people being worried about their paychecks and their livelihood.”

A number of local dealerships have closed their doors in recent months as sales have plummeted — sales of domestic cars declined more than 35 percent nationally in 2008.

After 49 years in business, the Gary Worth auto dealership in Gladstone ended operations Oct. 31.

“It was very difficult,” said Mike McManus, whose father and grandfather co-founded the dealership. “It just got to the point it wasn’t fun anymore.”

In Medford, Lithia Motors, which operates 98 stores in a number of different states, has slashed its payroll by 1,000 people, through the sales of a number of dealerships and downsizing.

“I’ve been through six recessions and this is as bad as any of them,” said Sid DeBoer, Lithia chairman and chief executive.

The dealers don’t yet have a lawmaker lined up to sponsor the legislation. A spokesman for House Majority Leader Dave Hunt, D-Gladstone, said he hadn’t heard of the plan and didn’t know enough about it to comment.

Eleven other states have a similar prohibition on Sunday auto sales.

Oregon dealers could try for a voluntary pact among themselves to remain shuttered on Sunday that wouldn’t require a state law. But that could raise antitrust issues, Remensperger said.

Plus, competition being what it is, the dealers figured a state law is probably the only way to ensure someone doesn’t try to take advantage of the others’ closure.

Ron Tonkin, who runs one of Oregon’s largest chains of dealerships, said a Sunday closure would help dealers in another way — attracting more and better job candidates.

“The big thing would be the quality of your personnel,” Tonkin said. “You’d be able to get people who really won’t consider our industry because they don’t like the hours.”

DeBoer concurred, saying the unrelenting nature of auto sales is hard on employees.

“We can work from 8 in the morning till 10, 11 at night,” he said. “That’s the reality, it’s competitive. We burn out so many managers on those hours.”

Lithia operates in several states, including Texas, Colorado and North Dakota, that have banned Sunday auto sales.

Both Tonkin and DeBoer said they were somewhat surprised by Oregon dealers’ support of the Sunday closure plan. Dealers in the Portland metro area face competition from Vancouver dealers who would not be subject to the Sunday ban.

And Washington dealers have no plan to adopt a similar restriction themselves.

Vicki Giles Fabre, executive vice president of the Washington State Auto Dealers Association, said her dealers are not advocating similar blue laws. Of more concern, she said, is Washington’s tax structure, specifically its business and occupation tax, which Washington dealers say gives Oregon and Idaho dealers an unfair advantage.

Washington’s business and occupation tax is levied against gross revenue, while both Oregon and Idaho tax a dealer’s profits.

Twelve dealerships in Washington have shut down or sold out so far in 2008, Giles Fabre said.

Tonkin said he played a role in establishing the current practice of remaining open seven days a week. In 1953, a young and hungry Tonkin opened his Portland Kaiser-Frazer dealership on Sunday, violating the accepted practice among area dealers.

Neither his competing dealers nor the Portland Police were happy. Police officers arrested Tonkin and hauled him off the lot, he said, though charges were later dropped.

“This is all partly my fault,” Tonkin said, laughing.

– Jeff Manning; jmanning@news.oregonian.com

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Dick”s Auto Group
http://dicksautogroup.com
Hillsboro Oregon 97123
888-898-7901
——————————————————————–

Dickk’s Auto Group
http://dicksautogroup.com
Hillsboro Oregon 97123
888-898-7901
——————————————————————–

You can see all the results of recent changes and improvements in Dodge Chrysler Jeep products at:
Dick’s Country Chrysler Jeep Dodge
767 SW Baseline Rd
Hillsboro OR 97123
503-214-5014
800-783-4891

http://dickscountrydodge.com
http://dicksautogroup.com<
br>The best and #1 rated Portland area Five Star rated Dodge dealer, Chrysler dealer, Jeep dealer near Beaverton Oregon. We have the 2009 Ram and 2009 Dodge Challenger available and instock for sale.Also come and see our Internet Special prices on used, preowned and certified vehicles. We carry SmartWay certified vehicles lilke the Dodge Caliber, Jeep Patriot, Jeep Compass, Chrysler PT Cruiser, Dodge Avenger and Chrysler Sebring. They keep your world green and your enemies more green with envy. You can also checkout our fuel saving technology such as Duel Mode Hybrid, MDS, VVT, CVT and the clean burning house hauling power of the New Cummins Diesel 6.7 Liter I6.

——————————————————————-

You can see all the results of recent changes and improvements at Dick’s Mackenzie Ford.

Dicks Mackenzie Ford
4151 SE Tualatin Valley Hwy
Hillsboro OR 97123
800-783-0863 503-214-5029

http://mackenzieford.com
http://dicksautogroup.com
http://mackenziemotors.dealerconnection.com/

Dick’s Mackenzie Ford is the #1 rated local family owned and operated Blue Oval Portland Oregon area Ford dealer near Beaverton Oregon in Hillsboro Oregon. Also serving the Southwest Washington population. Come and see our Internet Special prices on new, used, pre-owned and factory-certified vehicles or Q Certified Vehicles. We have all models available, 2009 Ford F-150, 2009 Ford Mustang and the money saving 2009 Ford Focus and more. Contact us for a free price quote. We also have Cars, Trucks, SUVs and Crossovers online at http://mackenzieford.com. Search for all new 2008 and 2009 Ford, including E-Series, Edge, Escape, Escape Hybrid, Expedition, Explorer, F-150, F-250 Super Duty, F-350, F-450, Flex, Focus Coupe, Focus Sedan, Fusion, Mustang, Ranger, Sport Trac, Taurus, Taurus X, and for the soon to arrive Ford Transit van. Find your dream car from our Ford showroom of cars, trucks, SUVs and Crossovers or search our new Ford inventory to see what is on our lot, get new car pricing and free Ford price quotes.

Want to see why you should own a Ford? Click here for the Ford Story video on why Ford Motor Company is your car company for the future. Click here to load video on why the Ford F-150 is your truck.

Posted in CJD - Community, CJD - News Releases, DAG - Community Action and News, DAG - Saftey, DMF - Hot News, Ford - News Releases, General Auto | Tagged blue laws, current economy | Leave a Comment »

Dick’s Auto Group’s Blog

Archive for the ‘CJD - Community’ Category

Diversity Groups Honor Chrysler with Numerous Awards

Chrysler Corp sticks to things are important even when times are tough:

In tough times like these it’s great to see some recognition for good work.

We’ve Got $1.5 Billion to Finance Vehicles

Drinking coffee reduces risk of Alzheimer’s

Drinking coffee reduces risk of Alzheimer’s: study

Economic Blues Bringing Back “Blue Laws”

Auto dealers seek Sunday closure as cost-cutting measure

by Jeff Manning, The Oregonian

Friday December 05, 2008, 8:57 AM

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