Name: TEC of California, La Mirada, Calif.
Environmental or “going green” efforts: TEC SoCal just completed a program with electric company SoCal Edison that replaced all of the high wattage outdoor lighting with energy-saving, low wattage fixtures that utilize “infusion bulbs.” This program included all of the TEC facilities in Southern California. In addition, all indoor lighting was retrofitted to accommodate the energy saving “T8 bulbs.”
• The facility bathrooms are being retrofitted with waterless urinals and low flow toilets to conserve water usage.
• The “old” La Mirada shop building located at 14800 Firestone Blvd. is being refurbished to comply with regulations, allowing TEC So Cal to service natural gas engines inside the shop. New skylights in the service department are being added to improve lighting and reduce electrical output. We also recycle cardboard, metal and wood products at all facilities.
Community involvement: TEC So Cal donates to several local police department charities. They participate and donate to local school districts, as well as donating products for training and recruiting efforts promoting the local Universal Technical Institute. They sponsor several youth sports programs for employees and customers alike. Recently, the TEC So Cal employees and their families (over 300 people) attended a Los Angeles Dodgers baseball game to raise funds for a family whose 4-year-old daughter is battling Leukemia. More than $12,000 was donated by TEC So Cal and employees for this worthy cause.
Customer education: TEC So Cal has regularly scheduled “vendor nights” for customers. The purpose is to offer professional training for customers who often earn a certification for attending the event. TEC So Cal promotes their products and showcases their facilities by hosting these events on-site and providing refreshments to guests.
• There are two TEC So Cal technicians that perform on-site training for customers’ drivers and shop technicians. The goal is to provide exceptional customer support – especially for the “first-time fleet buyers” of Mack trucks. The hands-on training by product experts is key in maximizing fuel economy and avoiding potential product issues (often created by the lack of knowledge that drivers and shop techshave about the “new technology” available on Mack Trucks.) TEC So Cal strongly believes that this training provides a value-added benefit that sets TEC So Cal apart from the competition.
Staff education & training: Recently, every TEC So Cal Service Advisor attended an in-house training program designed to improve customer service levels and increase the overall professionalism of TEC So Cal service teams. A strong emphasis is placed on all technician training and monetary incentives are in place for those achieving certifications. The ongoing goal is to have the majority of TEC So Cal technicians be Master Tech-certified. Ongoing and continued new truck sales training is a must for all TEC So Cal Sales professionals. All TEC So Cal managers and supervisors have attended a professionally led four-day workshop to improve their leadership and communication skills.
Marketing: TEC So Cal hired a local marketing graduate student to assist the Corporate Marketing Manager to focus on the local markets TEC So Cal serves in Southern California. Professional flyers and marketing materials have been created and have been well-received by customers. In addition, a professionally produced video was created to highlight the TEC So Cal team, its facilities and product offerings. Extensive work has been done to create a stronger web presence for TEC So Cal. Ultimately, the image and exposure for TEC So Cal has been much improved by this local marketing initiative.
The winner of The Successful Dealer Award will be named Wednesday, Aug, 21 at CVOC in Dallas, Texas.
