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Thank you - Memorial Day 2010

Thank you to all of our service men and women (and their families) for sacrificing for our freedoms.

You are ALL our heroes!

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Join March for Babies & Help Give

Meet Jackson & Matthew, March of Dimes 2010 Ambassadors

Matthew and Jackson were born 10 weeks premature with the first few weeks of their lives filled with feeding tubes, IV’s, x-rays and ventilators.  The boys received surfactant to help them breath and spent weeks in Good Samaritan’s NICU.

During their young lives they have endured numerous surgeries and procedures.  Multiple therapies have had to be introduced to assist in their development.  Chronic health issues will always be a concern, but overall the boys have thrived and are happy six year-olds.

Peter and Tiffannie, Matthew and Jackson’s parents, are proud supporters of the March of Dimes and believe that without research and education developed and funded by the March of Dimes, Matthew and Jackson would not have survived.  The Rebhun’s mission is to educate the public and healthcare workers about the risk of premature labor and birth.  Their hope is that other families will not have to endure the fears and pain that they experienced.  Their wish is for all babies to be born full-term and healthy.

Register online today.

Related articles by Zemanta

• Local March of Dimes Funding Allocations (beechmontfordblog.com)

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Ford Fiesta Movement in the Blogosphere this Week

The sun is shining, the birds are chirping, the convertibles are down and we believe the snow is officially gone!

Welcome Spring!

The blogosphere was light this week regarding the Ford Fiesta Movement.  We know last week we hoped for more stories, but unfortunately, we cannot deliver much to you this week.  (Keep your fingers crossed for next week)

Based on the results from the last two weeks, we are going to change this week’s format slightly.

First, we will share with you the one noteworthy event discussed in the blogosphere regarding the Ford Fiesta Movement.  Then, a video recap of our upcoming Drive One 4 Your School campaign with Glen Este High School in Cincinnati, OH, follows.  Lastly, we provided a sneak peak of our new and first 2011 Ford F-250 Super Duty we received.  Check them out!

Thanks again for tuning in this week.  Enjoy the ride!

Hilary McHone, current Ford Fiesta agent, toured southern California with Todd Haselton, formerly of Laptop Magazine.  Todd shared with Hilary the many “cool” gadgets someone can add to their vehicle.  Be careful–Remember–No texting while driving.

Zach Kushner and Brittany Iredale share an update on the Drive One 4 Your School campaign.  We look forward to seeing you May 15, 2010, from 9am to 5pm at Glen Este High School.

Lastly, the first 2011 Ford F-250 Super Duty at Beechmont Ford in Cincinnati, OH.  Come check out the actual model or view more product information about it.

2011 Ford F-250 Super Duty Cincinnati

Related articles

• Ford Fiesta Movement in the Blogosphere this week (beechmontfordblog.com)
• Drive One For Your School at Este High School (beechmontfordblog.com)

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Local March of Dimes Funding Allocations

Image via Wikipedia

As we increase our volunteer efforts and donations for the March for Babies, April 25, 2010, at Sawyer Point, people keep asking us how the money will be used.

Here are a few ways in which the March of Dimes will use the money donated:

Hospital Newborn Nursery

Every baby in the nation is touched by the March of Dimes in the first days life.  Hospitals provide an APGAR Score for every newborn, a clinical system of evaluating the physical condition of a newborn.  Used by obstetical practices around the world, it was developed by Virginia Apgar, MD who worked for March of Dimes from 1959 until her death in 1976.

Grocery Store

Enriched breads, grains, pasta and cereals.  Walk down the aisles of your local grocery store and the March of Dimes is there.  Take a close look at the labels on breads, grains, pastas and cereals and you will see that they are fortified with folic acid.  The March of Dimes advocated for folic acid fortification of grain products which led to a 30% reduction in neural tube defects–deadly and crippling defects of the brain and spinal column.

Pediatricians Offices

Polio vaccine.  The March of Dimes provided complete funding for the development of the Salk polio vaccine and the successful field trial that proved the safety and effectiveness of the vaccine.  The March of Dimes also funded research that led to the development of the Sabin polio vaccine.  Pediatricians still vaccinate newborns for polio which is eradicated in this nation.

Workplace

With the click of a button, you can help lower your health care costs.  March of Dimes Health Babies Health Business is a free multi-dimensional educational worksite wellness program that helps moms have full-term pregnancies and healthy babies.  A small investment in time could save your company thousands of dollars.

Professional Education

March of Dimes provides continuing education to doctors, nurses and health care professionals on issues that affect our mission such as genetics, prematurity, prenatal care, preconception health, cultural competency, care of the high risk newborn, diabetes and pregnancy, alcohol, tobacco and other drug use, sexually transmitted infections, etc.

Consumer Education

With information on hundreds of topics, March of Dimes is your one-stop shop for everything you need:

Visit http://www.Marchofdimes.com/pregnancy/

Email askus@marchofdimes.com

Join us at http://www.twitter.com/marchofdimes/

Connect at http://newsmomsneed.marchofdimes.com/

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March for Babies

The March of Dimes is the leading nonprofit health organization that champions the needs of moms and babies in our community and across the nation.  The March of Dimes funded the research that led to the prevention of polio and has not stopped defending the health of babies since.  Each and every day, you can see the efforts of the March of Dimes when you look around the community.  From pioneering research promoting folic acid and advocating for lifesaving newborn screening, the March of Dimes continues to do all they can to make sure every baby is born healthy.

As a result, Beechmont Ford is spearheading a March for Babies team for the annual March for Babies, Sunday, April 25, 2010, at Sawyer Point.  We look forward to being a part of the 12,000 volunteers projected at the event and showing our support.  You can review our team page and show your support as well.

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CarsDiva Interview

Beechmont Ford constantly strives to improve the negative impressions of the automotive industry. We feel we are one of the leaders in reversing these stereotypes. We have been in business over 15 years, 8 time winner of the Ford President’s Award for excellence in sales and customer service and supporter of numerous community events such as the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation and the upcoming Drive One 4 Your School event with Glen Este High School.  As a result, Brittany Iredale, online sales consultant at Beechmont Ford, recently discussed how automotive dealerships can improve working with women with Demetra Markopoulos, founder of Carsdiva.com, an online community created by, for and about women in the car business.

Brittany Iredale (BI): What is your background? Tell me a little bit about yourself and how you got into the automotive industry?

Demetra Markopoulos (DM): I went to Northwestern University in Evanston, IL, and I double-majored in International Studies & Spanish.

Upon graduating college, I didn’t know exactly what career path I wanted to pursue, but I did know that I wanted to apply my skills, talents, and education in an avenue where I wasn’t limited as to where I could go. I experimented in a few different industries, before I concluded that I wanted to run my own show. Perhaps I’m a bit stubborn, but I like to call it determination. My parents are entrepreneurs, so I guess it runs in the family!

I started working for a start-up company that did remarketing for commercial (and later rental) fleets. Initially I was doing more customer service and work on the technical side of the business, but one thing led to another, and after a few months I started working on the front end with one of the Founders of the company, doing sales and business development. I found my calling! I had never realized there were so many different facets to the industry, (and characters for that matter)…. and there’s never a dull moment.

BI: Tell me about CarsDiva.com. What were your intentions for starting the site?

DM: CarsDiva.com is a social network, created by, for, and about women and the car business. It started off as a blog, by which I could give my comments and my perspective on the world of automotive retailing. What I’ve seen and experienced first-hand working in the auto industry, which really stands out in my mind, is the “old boy” network of the business. It’s exists among car dealers, manufacturers, vendors, and so forth… Don’t misunderstand– it’s a very gracious “old boy” network that has extended a courteous and helpful hand to the once- new-kid-on-the-block insider like me many times when I needed it. I couldn’t have met a nicer group of people in any industry… HOWEVER, on that same token, this is also one of the most exclusive of groups, closed to outsiders, both male and female. And, because there are so few female insiders in the car business, (from manufacturers, to dealer retailers, etc.), it’s exceptionally closed off to women.

So the reason I started the blog, and then proceeded to expand into an entire network, stems from the above.

The purpose is to comment, observe and “demystify” this whole business- from buying to selling, servicing and vending, to exploring careers in the car business, all coming from an insider woman’s point of view. And then to go further, the goal is to help other women do the same by providing advice, connecting those in the industry with female consumers, and in essence, helping to make the whole car buying experience more transparent.

In my experiences thus far, I think there may be place for an independent, slightly (or maybe not so slightly) irreverent car industry woman to comment, observe, and answer questions on the automotive industry. Not only in general terms, but even more specifically on car retailing, in an effort to move the needle forward– to educate a bit, provide exposure to, and bring to light a new perspective from the usual “company speak” or “legal department reviewed” thoughts on this always regulated but rarely “revealed” car business. My goal is not only to tackle certain issues, but to help.

BI: What is your favorite Ford vehicle and why is this your favorite vehicle?

DM: My favorite Ford vehicle would have to be the Mustang— and even more specifically, the Shelby GT500. To put it plainly, I like sports cars. Not only are the design, style, and performance top-rate, but also the impressive in-car communications and entertainment system not offered in other sports car- i.e. the Ford SYNC system. I also had the opportunity to meet Carroll Shelby and was inspired by his talent and success, and found that I have a newfound affinity to the track.

BI: Please give me some helpful suggestions on what dealerships should be doing in order to effectively employ women in the industry and how to effectively serve a female customer?

DM: First and foremost, they have to take into consideration that men and women are different, and once they come to terms with this reality, they’ll have successfully taken the first step. Men and women operate differently, so when it comes to employing a female, just as other industries recognize this simple fact, dealerships must do the same.

Women tend to gravitate toward female sales consultants because they often feel more comfortable, in that they can better relate to them- i.e. another female understands their needs and wants, particularly when it comes to a high-ticket item like an automobile. They want to be taken seriously, and they don’t want to be pressured into something too quickly, especially if they aren’t sure or ready at the moment. They like to take their time and look at the details. When shopping for vehicles, they have different needs and wants than men do, and sales consultants need to keep this in mind.

BI: Do you feel automotive dealerships are making progress in employing more women?

DM: Yes- slowly, but it’s still a male-dominated industry. In all honesty, when visiting dealerships, although I am starting to see more female employees, the vast majority- particularly the sales consultants, are male. By neglecting women, they are ignoring over half of the population. That being said, they still have long way to go…

BI: What has been your greatest challenge with implementing change to what is a male dominant industry and how did you or how are you planning to overcome it?

DM: I find that the greatest challenge in the auto industry is that too many individuals are stuck in their ways, and are reluctant to welcome change (referring back to the “old boy” network.) The auto industry overall faces a great challenge with the current economic climate—those who ride the wave and accept the fact that change is necessary to move the needle forward, will succeed. Those who do not will be left behind. It is a known fact that women purchase over 50% and influence the purchase of over 80% of all new vehicles sold in the U.S. The key to overcoming the challenges facing the auto industry today is to recognize that change is necessary—not only in regards to females, but overall, and to take the first steps forward rather than simply standing still. Those who ignore the facts and hope that the problems will solve themselves will not survive.

To speak on yet a broader level, determination is the key to success- everyone falls (some more than others) but those who succeed are the ones who can get back up and keep going full-speed ahead - to paraphrase an old Japanese proverb, success defined as getting knocked down ten times and getting up eleven…

_________________________________________________________

Advice to Females Navigating the Auto Industry from the CarsDiva:

Do your research and be confident. The Internet is a powerful tool that virtually places information at our fingertips—so use it to your advantage. It’s important to remember that you are in control of the situation- whether you’re purchasing a new car or getting your vehicle serviced.

BI: What advice would you provide to women who want to get involved in the auto industry?

DM: Go for it! The industry needs more savvy and intelligent females. It’s important to remember that confidence, intelligence, and at times a thick skin, are essential to be successful.

BI: Name one piece of work—novel, painting, movie, etc.—that really influenced/motivated you. Explain how/why.

DM: My mom- she is a real piece of work! I’ve learned to appreciate my talents and my differences, and she’s taught me that hard work and perseverance are the keys to success, in all aspects of life. She’s shown me that to really be content you have to follow your intuition, regardless of what everyone around you has to say. And in the end, respect yourself and your decisions, and others will do the same. She’s the toughest cookie I know!

BI: What is the biggest challenge/obstacle you have encountered thus far?

DM: Working in a traditionally male-dominated industry (and working to change that reality). But hey, I love a good challenge—you just have to learn how to make it work for you, rather than against you, to change what will be the future. …And so far it’s been an interesting and worthwhile experience!

BI: What is your biggest regret?

DM: Divas have no regrets… I try to make the most/best out of any situation. As the Duce, Henry Ford II said, “Never Complain, Never Explain” (he was actually quoting Benjamin Disraeli who said it first, but as Disraeli wasn’t a “car guy” I thought I’d quote “el Duce”)

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Cincinnati Auto Expo Show Specials at Beechmont Ford

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Drive One For Your School at Este High School

Beechmont Ford, Ford Motor Company and Glen Este High School have teamed for area teens in honor of the Drive One 4 UR School program.

May 15, 2010, all three groups will raise money for Glen Este High School by permitting individuals to test drive various Ford vehicles.  Drive One 4 UR School will provide Glen Este High School with a large line-up of new Ford vehicles for parents and teenagers (over the age of eighteen) to test drive throughout the local area.  The 2011 Ford Fiesta will be available for test drives, along with the award-winning Fusion, the economical Focus, the 33 year running truck champion F-150 and the stylish Ford Flex.

Brittany Iredale, our Ford Fiesta Specialist, Internet marketing guru and Glen Este alum, provides a brief overview of the program below.

Block May 15, 2010 on your calendars and help support Glen Este High School.  For every test drive for a family, the school receives $20!

See you May 15!

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Cincinnati Auto Expo Show Commercial - Behind the Scenes

It is Cincinnati Auto Expo time at Beechmont Ford and boy are we excited to share some great information regarding a recent commercial taping and new Ford Motor Company incentives.

Many customers compliment our owner, Lorinn Williams, for her ability to consistently produce wonderful commercials.  From her pose, to her clear speech, to her warmth, our customers continuously ask us, “How does she do it?”  Many times we respond, “She is just that good.”  (Honestly, Lorinn is a great owner).

In response to many requests from our customers, we felt the need to share with you a few “behind-the-scenes” clips of a recent commercial taping.  The commercial taping is the new Cincinnati Auto Expo show commercial released this week on our local television stations, our Facebook Fan Page and Youtube channel.  The three videos below will give you a brief idea of how the commercials are created and the admirable behind the scenes work involved in presenting the Ford vehicles.  Sit back, relax and enjoy the commercials.  Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments.

Ford Motor Company has released an extra $1,000 customer bonus cash on behalf of the Cincinnati Auto Expo.  This is a great addition to the already competitively priced Ford vehicles line-up.  Whether you are interested in an economically efficient 2010 Ford Focus, a Motor Trend award winning 2010 Ford Fusion, a re-designed 2010 Ford Taurus, the best in class 2010 Ford Flex, the 33 year sales leading champion 2010 Ford F-150 or any of our other phenomenal vehicles, you can view them at the Auto Show and pick it up from Beechmont Ford.

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Thank you for a wonderful 2009

Beechmont Ford customers and all Ford owners, THANK YOU!  2009 started involved a tremendous amount of uncertainty, apprehension and fear.  Should we take bail out money?  Should we not?  Stock prices plummeted and unemployment rose.  Consumer confidence lessened each and every day with more and more stories of bankruptcy and corruption.  Standing strong in times of hardship, believing in our customers and believing in the quality of the Ford brand kept us moving forward.

Some highlights of 2009 included:

• The 2010 new Ford model lineup event
• A visit from Cincinnati Bengals defensive end, Antwan Odom
• A sneak peak at the 2011 Ford Fiesta
• The government sponsored Cash for Clunkers program
• Ford Motor Company training our team on new enhancements to the 2010 Ford F-150 SVT Raptor

Most importantly, we would like to thank our customers for helping us finish 71st in the nation for new retail Ford vehicle sales.  Beechmont Ford could not have been as successful for the past 15 years without your continued support.  You supported us for many years in the past, during the economic challenges of 2009 and we look forward to serving you during the rebound of 2010.

2010 brings high hopes and optimism.  The equity Ford holds in its name is the highest of all domestic brands.  Consumer interest and customer loyalty keeps climbing.

Thank you… Thank you… Thank you.

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