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New Napleton GM focused on future

Jody Adams took to heart the advice his father gave him a long time ago.

"He said if you find a job that you like, you will never work a day in your life," Adams said. "It's true. I don't think of this as work. Getting a paycheck is a bonus.

"When I started selling cars, from that point forward, I didn't feel like it was work," Adams said. "I felt like I was helping people."

That's the theme that resonates through everything Adams does in his job.

Adams has worked in the auto industry for more than 20 years. He joined Napleton Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram in Arlington Heights last April and also recently bought into the dealership as part owner.

As general manager of Napleton CDJR for about a year, Adams still sees his tenure here as a work in progress, but challenges such as molding his staff into a better working unit is part of why he enjoys the job.

What drives you?

I love to do things that can't be done. That can mean several different things. Whether it's getting financing for someone who has had trouble getting it in the past or training a sales person or manager to help them grow in their job, it's all the same thing.

This is a hard industry but the goal is to sell each customer 10 cars and make sure they have a warm fuzzy feeling when leaving to ensure their return. At each and every place I have ever worked, the most successful dealerships are ones that make good deals. The only way to do it is to make most of your sales where all parties agree that it is a fabulous deal. Sometimes the deal isn't right the first time around, but the goal is customer retention. We have to work to the point where they (the customers) keep coming back.

Why did you join the Napleton Auto Group?

I came to the Napleton group cause I believe we share some similar goals, which is to be No. 1 in sales and an industry leader in customer satisfaction.

The Napleton family has been in the auto industry since 1931. The family now owns and operates 40 different dealerships. Ed Napleton and his two sons, Eddie and Brian Napleton, are in the dealerships every day trying to improve or install new processes to guarantee the customers have an unbelievable buying experience.

How is buying a vehicle different at Napleton CDJR?

You have to adapt to customer standards and work the deal the way the customer wants. One thing I pride myself on is building a team and this is still a work in progress here. I like to tear down walls. You can't have the sales department against the service department if you want things to work right.

Financing is tough. Banking has changed since the financial crisis and now customers are put at a disadvantage when it comes to credit. We try to level the playing field in order to give the consumer a chance to make a more educated decision.

When you come here for a car, we want you to leave here with a smile. You get haggle-free pricing. That's what sets us apart. We take care of our customers after the sale, giving them lifetime free car washes, all-weather floor mats and a year of free oil changes and tire rotations. We recently added 20 loaner cars to our fleet that customers can use when having work done. If you've had a bad experience at any dealership, even if it's not a Napleton store, call me and I'll make it right for you. Here's my cell phone, (847) 254-8807.

Our goal is complete customer satisfaction. A lot of it is little things like a license plate holder, but if you don't do the little things, customers won't be satisfied.

In January and February, Napleton CDJR's team finished at 100 percent in customer satisfaction. To tell you how difficult of a task that is, January was my first time in 20 years receiving 100 percent in customer satisfaction. Little did I know February would follow suit and be 100 percent, as well.

How has the service department expanded?

We have 19 state-of-the-art bays that allow our service technicians to service vehicles as quickly as possible. Our new lifts are a lot safer and faster than the ones in our old facility. Our goal is to make sure all oil changes get in and out in less than 30 minutes. The new technology also allows us to have a much cleaner looking facility.

We also have a 30,000-pound truck lift that no other dealer has in this area. This lift allows us to work on every heavy-duty truck. We have two different 20,000-pound lifts. Many companies will only have one of these. Our technicians are all factory-certified and have the ability to work on all vehicle makes and models.

What vehicles do you like in the Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram lineup?

CDJR has 35 new or redesigned models coming out in the next 18 months. The Jeep Wrangler is a fantastic vehicle. It has over 1 million accessible parts that are available online. It's the No. 1 vehicle in the world in retention of value. For SUVs, the Jeep Grand Cherokee is the ultimate in comfort, convenience, style and speed. The Dodge Challenger Hellcat comes from the factory with a 707 horsepower engine. This is one that Fiat-Chrysler did right by combining power with comfort. The Ram truck has six different cab options, seven different transmissions and four different rear ends.

How does Napleton CDJR give back to the community?

We participate in Toys for Tots every Christmas, partnering with Jeeps on the Run. Something that I pride myself on is what we are doing currently. We are one of 40 stores that have joined a local fleet to provide water to Flint, Michigan. We have helped load four semi-trucks full of drinking water to take to the people of Flint.

Tell us about your family and what you like to do in your spare time.

I'm here pretty much six days a week, but when I am not here, my days consist of going to whichever games my kids are playing. We go from basketball to volleyball to soccer. My wife, Vicky, and I have three kids: 14-year-old and 12-year-old daughters, a 3-year-old son and another one on the way. My wife and I like to do folklore dancing at our Serbian church. I also like to spend time with my dog, Bandit, an American Staffordshire terrier.

New 2016 Chryslers on the showroom floor at Napleton Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram on Dundee Road.
Napleton Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram recently added 20 loaner cars to help customers dropping off their vehicles for service.
The dealership recently used its parts department trucks to deliver donated water it collected up to Flint, Michigan, where residents are unable to drink tap water because of lead contamination.
Napleton Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram has improved its service department.
Adams says it is important to to get even the smallest details right.

Auto Biography

<b>Jody Adams General Manager/Partner</b>1155 W. Dundee Road Arlington Heights (847) 298-0900

<span class="fact box text bold">www.arlingtonheightscdjr.com</span>

<span class="fact box text bold">Sales hours:</span> 9 a.m.-9 p.m. Monday to Friday, 9 a.m.-7 p.m. Saturday.

<span class="fact box text bold">Service hours: </span>7 a.m.- 7 p.m. Monday to Friday, 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday.

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