Ryan Nelson, dealer principal of Nelson Leasing, has been named International's 2021 North American Dealer of the Year.
International says this prestigious award recognizes the top International dealer for their commitment to provide industry-leading uptime and unparalleled performance in annual sales, service and customer satisfaction.
“Ryan and his team do an incredible job of showcasing the pride we strive for in every aspect of the International Truck dealer network,” says Mark Belisle, group vice president, Dealer Sales and Operations. “He is dedicated to supporting his customers by providing an excellent product and customer service that goes above and beyond.”
Nelson Leasing was founded by Ryan Nelson’s father in 1953. Currently, Nelson Leasing runs five dealer locations with eight subcontractors serving as the sole International Truck dealer in North Dakota, as well as serving a portion of central and north western Minnesota. The dealerships employ more than 150 staff members who work to maintain an impeccable reputation as customer service leaders. North Central International and Nelson Leasing are in the process of merging to form a larger dealership to reach more customers and service areas, the company says.
“Since I began hanging around the dealership at the age of five, I watched my father instill empowerment in our employees,” says Nelson. “I still feel empowered employees are a key to our success because they can make decisions to deliver superior customer service. As we grow, we differentiate ourselves from our competition in that our customers feel their voices are heard and their needs are addressed in real time.”
Throughout 2021, Nelson and his team surpassed multiple sales, repair, parts and customer service goals. By planning ahead, they counteracted a challenging supply chain and were able to have key parts and vehicles that customers needed at the time they needed them.
“Our team created innovative ways to meet the market challenges by thinking outside the box,” adds Nelson. “By preparing ourselves ahead of time as best we could, we were able to increase levels of service, focus on getting our customers their products and getting their trucks back on the road.”
In partnership with North Central International, Nelson will be opening a new facility in Corcoran, Minn. this spring. In the future, International says Nelson’s goal is to maintain vital relationships with customers, even as the business continues to grow. Outside of work, Nelson serves as a leader for his son’s Scout troop and volunteers for his local high school’s trapshooting team.
“As we continue our merger with North Central International, we still want to continue to deliver the quality of service we traditionally delivered as a smaller business,” says Nelson.
