Sweeney Dealerships Celebrate GM Mark of Excellence Awards

BOARDMAN, Ohio – The president of Sweeney Chevrolet Buick GMC credited communication for her organization’s three General Motors Mark of Excellence awards for its 2021 performance.

GM officials presented the awards Thursday morning at the Sweeney Buick GMC dealership on Market Street, which is across from Sweeney Chevrolet. Luncheons for employees at both dealerships followed a brief recognition event.

The awards are presented to dealers that exemplify exceptional sales and customer service, said Michael Orlandini, Buick GMC district sales manager. “You have to meet both of those standards,” he said.

Sweeney Chevrolet was awarded a Mark of Excellence plaque, which is given to any Chevrolet, Buick, GMC or Cadillac dealership that outperforms GM’s expectations for its market.

“When they exemplify it to the point where they are in the top 10% echelon of dealers that actually hit that number, then they receive the trophy on top of it,” Orlandini said. Sweeney received Mark of Excellence trophies for GMC and Buick sales and service.     

In 2021, the Sweeney dealerships sold 2,946 new vehicles and 2,046 used vehicles, said Alexa Sweeney Blackann, president of Sweeney Chevrolet Buick GMC.

“That means in an inventory shortage that was record breaking, this team really came together and sold every single unit in our inventory and also provided an exceptional customer service experience,” she said.

Dealerships have had to cope with “drastic inventory issues” for about two years, but the Sweeney team “has really just pulled through” and “done everything they can … to keep their team motivated” to sell and provide exceptional customer service, Orlandini said.

Key to succeeding in an environment that included that inventory shortage and other challenges was communication, “making sure that the customer knew what was happening in the marketplace, what we could expect, what their lease return process would look like, the best way to get them into their next vehicle and really just communicating when we had unexpected delays,” Blackann said.

“Or sometimes they would just show up unexpectedly,” she added. “So really, the communication was the key to successful customer experience.”

She also credited the dealerships’ 200 employees and its customers for the awards.

Sweeney was one of just seven dealers in the North Central region, which covers the Midwest, to receive trophies for Buick and GMC, Orlandini said.

Blackann said she was pleased to report that inventory is beginning to get back to levels where a buyer can come onto a lot and pick out a car they can buy without an extensive wait. Sweeney has 500 inbound Chevrolets and another 265 GMCs, she reported. Third quarter 2022 is seeing the largest inventory increase in two years.

“We’re actually starting to feel like we’re getting back to normal,” she remarked.  

The incoming models include Silverados, Sierras and Yukons, as well as Malibus, which “haven’t been produced in the last couple of years, so lots of great options for everybody,” she said.

Pictured above from left: Bobby Stackhouse, Executive Manager & Partner, Sweeney Chevrolet; Alexa Sweeney Blackann, President, Sweeney Chevrolet Buick GMC; Derek Snyder – Executive Manager & Partner, Sweeney Buick GMC; Michael Orlandoni, District Manager, Buick GMC

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