BROOKINGS Like father, like son Matt Einspahr has been named South Dakotas Franchised Dealer of the Year by the South Dakota Auto Dealers Association, a distinction that his own father, Ron Einspahr, achieved 25 years ago.
The announcement was made June 13 at the associations annual convention in Sioux Falls.
As theyre getting ready to announce this thing, Im looking around the room going, I wonder who its going to be? The one thing I was sure of was, it was not going to be me, Matt said. So Im looking around, you know, OK hes already had it, hes already had it. I wonder who its going to be? And then they announced my name, and I go Oh, my god. What? And unbeknownst to me my kids, and my mom, and our management team and their spouses, they all snuck in right behind me in the Ramkota, and they were all standing right behind. So they announced it, and Im just shocked. And then I turn around, and heres the whole crew. And I mean, geez, I bawled like a baby. And it was very special because, you know, this is a year after my dad passed, and this is 25 years after he won the award.
The award also means Matt is now a nominee for the national Time Magazine Quality Dealer Award, which recognizes car dealers who display exceptional performance and outstanding community service. The national award will be announced at an upcoming convention in New Orleans. Each nominee receives a poster-sized mock-up of a Time Magazine cover featuring their photo.
After the conventions over in January, theyll ship that picture back to me, and Ill have one to hang right next to dads, Matt said. The business has changed so much in 25 years, but my dad always really believed strongly in doing business the right way. Everything up front. No games, no hidden agendas, anything like that.
Ron Einspahr opened the Einspahr dealership in Brookings in November 1969. In 1980, the dealership moved to an expanded location on Eighth Street South, where it remains today. Ron died May 19, 2023, at age 81.
Honestly, my first thought was of him. And how he would be very proud. And it got very emotional for me, Matt said. He left us a good blueprint on where to go and what to do, and I think trained me well. And we just continue on working that same thing. Its kind of like he would say, Its doing business by the golden rule. And that just isnt something that goes out of style. It might not be flashy, it may not be exciting, but its the right way to do it. And over time, people come to trust in you, and its served us well for 54 years.
Matt said the entire crew at Einspahr Auto Plaza deserve recognition through this award.
While its an individual award, it is really an accumulation of how you do business and a reflection on the dealership as a whole all of the people in the building. You know, youre being recognized for doing business the right way. Having a positive impact on your community, Matt said. In many ways I think it should almost be the dealership of the year, not the dealer of the year, because its really about your team, and your people, and the culture and the place. And Im really proud of our crew.
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