Recently, students from our Palatka Jr.-Sr. High School Automotive CTE program had the opportunity to visit Beck Automotive Group here in Palatka to get a hands-on real world look at several different aspects of the automotive industry. Beck Automotive Group is composed of several car dealerships, a wholesale parts operation, and much more. Beck prides itself on customer service and satisfaction from start to finish on a vehicle—from the time you purchase until the time you trade back in.
Students began their tour at Beck’s flagship dealership, Beck Chevrolet in downtown Palatka. At Chevy, students were introduced to General Manager, Mike Flanders, who gave them insight into overseeing dealership operations especially on the sales and finance side of the house. Next, students met Chris Flanders, Service Manager for Beck Chevrolet, who literally walked them through service so they could see all of the ins and outs from the advisors who meet with customers to deduce customer needs and concerns to the in-house parts warehouse that supplies the parts that ensure customer needs are met.
During this portion of the tour, Chris Flanders explained how important the job of Advisor is–they are the frontline for service. They must be able to communicate well with both customers and with the technicians. They have to be able to translate what a customer tells them is happening to the car so that the technicians don’t waste time running diagnostics they don’t need to run–they can get straight to the problem.
Then, students learned about how technicians get their start and how they can complete Chevrolet authorized training, both online and in-person, to become a Master Technician. Students met several technicians including Matt Hobgood, a former PJSHS automotive student and graduate. He talked to students about work ethic and about always being open to learning new things or learning new ways to do old things you already know. Craig Alexander, Fixed Operations Director for Beck, also explained to students how they can begin to specialize if they are truly passionate about something. He gave Matt Hobgood as an example–he has specialized in Diesel engine work–so typically, when a diesel powered vehicle comes into the shop, he is usually tagged to work on it.
Students also met Jeremy Froelich, the dealership parts manager and learned how important organization and management of parts is to a dealership that services 40-50 cars a day.
The next stop on our tour was the Beck Automotive Group Headquarters which houses one of the largest branches of their operation–a wholesale parts warehouse. Beck Automotive Group is in the top 75 of the nation in parts sales. This warehouse delivers and supplies parts all over the southeast. Students met Brad Russel, Warehouse Manager, who showed them all aspects of the wholesale parts business from an order or call coming in, to the order being pulled, to the logistics of loading product and delivering it. It can be a complicated process when you constantly have parts coming and going–the name of the game is organization and a staff that is ready to get the job done.
Finally, our tour ended in the executive office side of the building where students had an amazing lunch provided by The Filling Station. During lunch, several Beck upper level managers shared their career journeys with students including Justin Dowling–Assistant Service Manager at Beck Chrysler, Mark Madgwick–Service Director at Beck Ford, Matt Buckles–Director of Variable Operation, Zoe Waldron–Human Resource Manager, and more. Wayne Mclain, Vice President of Beck Automotive Group, also spoke and made sure that students know that Beck is right here in their hometown with many, many opportunities! Students also received special swag bags–thank you Zoe–that they loved them!
This trip was a great experience and we can’t wait to visit again. We want to thank Beck Automotive Group for always stepping up to the plate to support our Automotive program and our students!
Click here to see more pictures of the event.
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