STTC recently hosted a Family Fun Day by buying tickets and providing picnics for employees and their families at seven amusement parks in its various geographic markets. The company also encourages store managers to periodically cook or grill lunches and breakfasts for their store employees and customers, Mr. Dealtrey said.
The dealership prides itself in reinvesting its profits into new service trucks and equipment the employees use.
"You just keep investing in things to thank (the employees) and hope they treat the customers right. That's what we need them to do. They see customers a heck of a lot more than I do. So if they feel positive about Service Tire, then hopefully that will be reflected when they interact with a customer all day long," Mr. Dealtrey said.
He said one of his biggest challenges is connecting with employees and getting them to share the same values that he values. Much of that he hopes to accomplish through annual training sessions with salespeople, office staff and store managers.
"So we invest a fortune in training and then hopefully those people that we train instill that in their employees," he said.
Mr. Dealtrey said the company employs a diversity of workers and follows the adage: Hire for attitude, train for aptitude.
"... Our company mantra is to promote our employees within. We take pride in trying to cross train and provide opportunities for advancement for our existing employees," the company said.
"A very common promotional track (in addition to others) is starting as a tire technician and moving to a service manager role, from there working in sales and, if desired, taking on a more advanced sales role or returning to a branch manager's position.
"With 47 locations across eight states. there are always opportunities for advancement for those that want it."