What started out as an idea has turned into a recruiting tool and opportunities to educate the next generation of college graduates.
Meet Dan Dehass, Stevenson-Hendrick Honda Wilmington’s general manager, the mastermind behind the Wilmington, North Carolina store’s annual sales competition for area-based college students.
Early in Dehass’ career, his interest in joining Hendrick Automotive Group wasn’t because he wanted to sell cars, it was the organization’s culture that led him to jump on board. He fostered a relationship with alma mater Liberty University that allowed him to showcase and share the company’s principals and core values to the younger generation and inform them how these fit into Rick Hendrick’s automotive business. And when he was promoted to general manager at Stevenson-Hendrick Honda Wilmington, he took his passion with him.
While educating students on campus was fulfilling, Dehass wanted to do more. How could he take investing in others to the next level?
With University of North Carolina Wilmington’s close proximity to the dealership, Dehass wasted no time in building a relationship with the local college and quickly learning that the institution offers a Professional Sales concentration for students wishing to prepare for a challenging and rewarding sales career. After learning about the school’s offering, Dehass thought what better way to help students gain experience with sales than hands on experience with professionals at the dealership?
Enter an annual sales competition held at the Honda dealership with guidance from the best sales teammates in the business.
The participation from UNCW students has grown exponentially, from 12 students in the augural competition held four years ago to 60 Seahawks this year. The fun yet sharpening-of-the-skills competition consists of nine selling stations where each student is judged on their selling performance. Not only do the students conduct business with a dealership employee but customers, as well!
The top-10 scorers won a combined $26,000 in cash and scholarships and all participants were able to meet and discuss the automotive business with Mr. Hendrick himself via a video call.
The growth and success of the sales competitions are great examples of the outstanding work our teammates in Wilmington, N.C. are doing to help educate college students in their community. Dehass’ passion of investing in the next generation of leaders illustrates our continued focus on providing our teammates and soon-to-be college graduates with numerous opportunities to build a meaningful and rewarding career within the automotive industry. Dehass not only awards students sales internships but also full-time positions post-graduation.
And in year No. 5, he’ll be adding students from Eastern Carolina University to the mix. Get ready, Pirates!
Click here to check out the video below created by our teammates at Stevenson-Hendrick Honda Wilmington as they take you behind the scenes from this year’s event.
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