BETH BEANS GILBERT FRED BEANS AUTOMOTIVE GROUP How long have your dealerships been in business? The dealerships have been in the business since 1975. How many employees currently work at your dealerships? We have 1,910 employees across our 27 locations. How did you first become involved in the industry? When I was 12 years old, I spent the summer helping my father in his dealerships. I enjoyed watching him work and was inspired by the passion he had for this business. When that summer ended, I wrote him a letter saying I wanted to be a top dealer just like him. My father saved that letter, and he still has it displayed in our management office. After graduating college, I worked in Florida and Virginia dealerships and then attended the National Automobile Dealers Association (NADA) Academy. When I returned to the Northeast, I joined the family business, starting at our paint and body shop in Doylestown, which is still part of the Fred Beans Automotive Group. I moved around to learn as much as I could, working in different operations and in just about every department. I eventually took on general manager roles at a Mitsubishi and two Saturn dealerships. These experiences gave me confidence as I moved into my current position in 1997 as Vice President of the Fred Beans Automotive Group. In this role, I work to create programs and processes that guide our commitment to treat employees, customers, and community members as extensions of the Beans family. Is there an event when your presence as a female entrepreneur in the auto dealership industry influenced younger generations to shop at your dealership or join the industry? I was honored last year to receive the “Barbara Cox Anderson Woman of the Year Award.” That afforded me the opportunity to speak at the NADA Show about my experiences in automotive and to publicly encourage more females to join me in this industry. Among the attendees was a Northwood University student studying automotive aftermarket management, who I had the honor of presenting with the Barbara Cox Memorial Scholarship. For every young person who sees a future in automotive, I know there are many more who do not even consider automotive as an option. At Fred Beans, we have worked to highlight the important roles women can — and do — play in our industry. One way we do this is by celebrating the “Women of Beans” on our social media channels each day during March’s Women’s History Month. We feature their roles and how their vast contributions make it “Better at Beans.” What is your pioneering vision for the future of your dealership? This industry is not known for being flexible and family-friendly, but it doesn’t mean we can’t change. I am determined to have the Fred Beans Automotive Group lead the way in creating that change. Just last year, we introduced new and enhanced employee benefits that support a better work and personal life balance. We now have paid parental leave, which benefits both mothers and fathers. It’s something I have personally advocated for based on my own experiences. We’ve also increased PTO and bereavement days and offered paid time off for volunteering. I’d like Fred Beans Automotive Group to be the type of organization kids in our community dream of joining. I want my general managers’ daughters to want to work in automotive. I want to see their moms and dads succeed here, be happy here, and want to follow in their footsteps. What would you say to other women who haven’t considered a career in automotive retailing? We need more women in automotive! You can have a meaningful influence and grow a career with us. Automobiles are designed for and sold to a diverse population. So, we need people with different backgrounds, perspectives, and experiences designing, selling, and servicing cars for ALL buyers. There are also many roles for women outside of sales and service, including marketing, human resources, accounting, and even wellness. In fact, Fred Beans Automotive Group has a dedicated wellness coordinator to support employees’ mental and physical health. 14 NEW JERSEY auto retailer
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy ODQxMjUw