Access to all of the Group 1 websites you are accustomed to using is now consolidated in one convenient location. There may even be some valuable resources you were not aware of listed on the left. If you are unable to enter any of the sites and feel you should have access, please feel free to call the Corporate IT department at (713) 647-5700.

In the event of an emergency, there is only one address for you and your fellow employees to remember in order to stay in touch with your company - www.group1home.com.

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Happy New Year! Please Read the following letter from Earl Hesterberg to all Group 1 Employees Wednesday, 31 Dec 2008 2:38pm

As we welcome 2009, and look back upon 2008, it may be helpful to reflect on some comments made by Winston Churchill over 65 years ago. As British losses mounted, month after month, during the early days of World War II, he remained a persistent optimist and when asked why he said, “It does not seem too much use being anything else!”

Clearly, we are well into a severe recession and overall global economic slowdown. Sales rates in recent months have been at the lowest level, adjusted for population growth, since World War II. This dramatic loss of revenue and gross profit continues to require more restructuring and cost cutting which is never a pleasant thing to do. However, even in these times, we are selling large numbers of vehicles and most of our parts and service businesses are holding flat or showing some small growth.

In this environment, we must place an emphasis on serving our customers with utmost professionalism. We need to focus on each and every sale and strive to set sales and service appointments so that no opportunity is lost.

The economy will eventually recover. Current vehicle sales rates are actually less than the vehicle scrappage rate so at some point “pent up demand” will be released. Until that time, we must remain positive and focus on meeting the expectations of our customers.

I would like to thank you for the hard work and sacrifices you have made for our company during these challenging times.

Wishing you and your family a healthy and happy 2009!

Earl

Happy Holidays and Remember, Good Business is all about having a Positive Attitude! Enjoy the Read. Click HERE for some words of wisdom Friday, 19 Dec 2008 2:30pm

McCall VIP Referral Program Awards Corporate Employees Friday, 19 Dec 2008 2:30pm
Earlier today, Carl Grigar and Alfonzo Gutierrez, who oversee the McCall VIP referral plan stopped in to recognize four of our employees.  The VIP program accounted for over 1,800 employee referral sales for the Houston market and the corporate office contributed over 120 of those sales.  Our top performer was Linda Benge who referred 19 sales in 2008 and was tied for second place overall in the program.  Christine Anderson contributed 9 referral sales and was instrumental in bringing back the Weingarten fleet account to McCall Toyota after they lost it to Fred Haas Toyota.   Tiffany Ortega and Sonya Simmons both kicked in 6 referral sales apiece for the year.

Our congratulations to these top performers and please remember sales are very important in this business climate, so drum up a referral whenever possible!

Regions - Please feel free to submit suggestions to your RVP and Pete DeLongchamps for consideration.

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