IDAHO
Richard Cook has retired from the Coeur d'Alene shop he started 25 years ago this month. Longtime employee Richard Clark takes over the reins at Cook's Automotive, where Cook's son, Russel Cook, is the lead technician.
OREGON
Almost two years after the vessel Cougar Ace capsized in waters off Alaska in July 2006, more than 4,700 new Mazda cars are being recycled in Portland at Schnitzer Steel, the firm that purchased the vehicles that were on board the ship. While only about 40 of the vehicles sustained significant water damage in the mishap, Mazda decided to scrap all the vehicles for liability reasons. Schnitzer expects to recover more than 2,900 tons of steel from the process.
Medford Chevrolet placed fourth among more than 4,000 Chevrolet dealers nationwide for sales of the Aveo model during the past year. The Medford dealership sold 164 Aveos in December alone, an increase of 125 percent over the previous year.
Northside Trucks in Portland has earned the President's Award from Ford Motor Co., the automaker's highest honor for excellence in sales, service, and customer satisfaction. Only 408 of nearly 5,000 Ford dealers nationwide earned the annual award.
Phillip Doud, owner of John & Phil's Toyota of Corvallis, has earned Time Magazine's Dealer of the Year Award for Oregon. The program recognizes new-car dealers who have shown exceptional performance in their dealerships and distinguished community service. The Corvallis Toyota store has won Toyota's President's Award 15 times.
Dick Hannah Dealerships has sold its Portland Ford dealership to nearby Broadway Toyota after operating the franchise since June 2005. Hannah has 11 other brands of vehicles and operates most of those franchises in Vancouver, Wash.
The Pape Group has purchased the assets of Roberts Motor Co., a dealer in medium- and heavy-duty Kenworth trucks with operations in Portland, Eugene, Medford, and Redmond. Pape is a Eugene-based holding firm for capital equipment dealerships in the West.
Rogue Truck Body in Kerby has been named an MVP distributor by the National Truck Equipment Association (NTEA). To qualify for the status, NTEA distributors and manufacturers must meet criteria that include compliance with regulatory requirements, providing adequate liability insurance, providing quality products and service, and demonstrating that a safety program is in place at their business.
Portland Transmission Warehouse (PTW) staged two transmission seminars and a tradeshow/open house on April 5 to celebrate its 70th anniversary. Some 82 people participated in two training classes at Bradshaw's Service Center near PTW that were followed by a barbecue lunch at PTW, where a tradeshow that drew 120 customers was held. Owner and Vice President Ross Bradshaw was the chief cook of 120 pounds of beef and 130 chicken hindquarters, while PTW President John Bradshaw assisted with slicing beef at the family-owned Portland firm.
Ford Motor Co. has recognized Bess Wills, vice president and general manager, and Gresham Ford with its annual Salute to Dealers award for "tireless work to improve the lives of those in need, while providing outstanding products and services." The Gresham dealership sent out 126 checks to nonprofit organizations in 2007 as part of its community support program. Only 65 of more than 6,000 Ford, Lincoln, Jaguar, Land Rover, and Volvo dealerships nationwide earned the recognition.
WASHINGTON
Jeff Johnson and Kelly Snyder, owners of S&S Engine Remanufacturing in Spokane, have purchased Jones Automotive Engines Inc., also in Spokane, from Robert Jones, who has retired. The two firms will continue to operate separately with S&S focusing on Internet engine sales (70 percent of its business), with some wholesale business, and Jones continuing its wholesale engine sales to the automotive trade. Jones also operates distribution outlets in Seattle and Portland. In total, the two firms employ about 60 people.
Redmond Transmission and Auto Repair in Redmond has been purchased by Leo Rood from his longtime partner, Hamilton Neelands. Founded in 1982, the firm specializes in transmission service, repair, and rebuilding for wholesale and retail customers. Full-service repair was added in 1997.
The longtime manager of the NAPA Auto Parts store in Twisp has purchased the store from Tom and Shirley Berschauer, who have retired. The pair also sold their nearby Omak store. Dwain Hutson, who joined the operation in 1982 and has been the manager since 1986, and his wife, Erika, are the new owners of the Twisp store.
According to the Department of Ecology (DOE), auto recyclers in Washington have collected more than 45,000 light switches containing toxic mercury, preventing the equivalent of 100 pounds of the toxic chemical from entering the environment. The program began in 2006 in conjunction with DOE, the Automotive Recyclers of Washington (AROW), and End-of-Life Vehicle Solutions, an organization of vehicle manufacturers that used mercury switches.
Jay Lee's Auto Group of Portland has been awarded a new Honda dealership in Sumner. The new facility will be constructed on a 7.5-acre site on 166th Avenue where Sumner Tractor is currently housed.
Jerry's Auto Repair in Pullman has been honored by the Better Business Bureau (BBB) that covers eastern Washington, northern Idaho, and Montana. Owned by Jerry Griebling, the shop received the BBB's Torch Award for marketplace ethics, management practices, community relations, and industry reputation.
After a year and a half of remodeling, Discovery Honda in Moses Lake had its grand reopening in late April. Owners John and Jacie Daschel also operate a nearby Ford dealership.
Van Cleve Ford in Morton has won the President's Award from Ford Motor Co. for the 17th time (eight consecutive years), said dealer principal Jim Van Cleve.
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