Ruth Saunders gives a customer a big hug.
Her father Bob, jumps in next, her brother and former Colwood mayor Dave Saunders shortly thereafter. After 36 years in the family business, the entire family is clearly well respected and well liked.
Ruth however, has earned a different accolade of late, becoming the first female to sit on Subaru CanadaB次元官网网址檚 national advisory board in the history of the company.
B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 a male industry, so I felt honoured that they respected me for what I have done for so many years,B次元官网网址� she said.
B次元官网网址淚 felt more respected for my knowledge and what I have done for the last 34 years, than (for) being a female.B次元官网网址�
Saunders, who manages the service side of Saunders Subaru after starting off washing cars on the lot as a teenager, has seen her service stationB次元官网网址檚 national customer satisfaction index scores serve as impressive barometer for more than a decade.
B次元官网网址淎t the dealership level we have a good success rating in sales and services,B次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檙e recognized continually as one of the top achievers for service for our customers across Canada. We are always in the top 10, quite often we are number one.B次元官网网址�
Reluctant to give up these credentials while preferring to stay humble behind the scenes, Ruth has continually proven that their family-style attitude, coupled with her steadfast work ethic, has been a recipe for success. That success eventually drew the eye of one of SubaruB次元官网网址檚 senior executives, who even brought her with him to Japan to take in the Tokyo Auto Show and meet some of SubaruB次元官网网址檚 top executives.
B次元官网网址淢ost dealerships are more interested in sales and new cars and products, and Ruth has the ability to talk about that and also about services and parts,B次元官网网址� said Subaru Canada senior vice-president Don Durst. B次元官网网址淚t has been a valuable insight.B次元官网网址�
While the appointment was a little late coming, Durst said, it had nothing to do with gender and everything to do with her abilities, which blossomed from the days when her parents Bob and Norma Saunders started one of SubaruB次元官网网址檚 original dealerships back in 1978.
B次元官网网址�(She has) that culture, that never give up attitude. Right now we are doing extremely well and at times it wasnB次元官网网址檛 (so positive in the industry),B次元官网网址� Durst said. B次元官网网址淪he remembers those times and how to prevent (it from happening again).B次元官网网址�
Ruth comes to work five days a week, with the same routine of yoga at 6 a.m., into the office by 8 a.m., with the occasional hockey game in the evening.
She believes this latest honour is all about performance.
B次元官网网址淚 donB次元官网网址檛 think it is a (gender) role, I think it is a qualification role,B次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址淵ou (have to) go into anything you do and do it the best you can, with a passion.B次元官网网址�
alim@goldstreamgazette.com
