Dealer news: Zeigler, Penske among Glassdoor’s Best Places to Work
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Jim Ellis Ford donated more than $1,500 and two vehicles to Cobb Innovation and Technology Academy to support its automotive careers program. Photo courtesy of Jim Ellis Automotive Group.
Two of America’s largest dealership groups have been selected among the nation’s 100 best large companies to work for.
Zeigler Auto Group, which operates 41 dealerships in the Midwest among other businesses, and Penske Automotive Group, owner of some 500 dealerships worldwide, were both among the 100 companies with at least 1,000 employees chosen for Glassdoor’s Best Places to Work 2024.
Zeigler, which was 59th on the list, is on the Glassdoor list for the second consecutive year. The selection is the first for Penske, which ranked 76th.
“Human capital is our most important asset,” Penske executive vice president of human resources Bud Denker said in a news release. “To be recognized as a Glassdoor Best Place to Work is a great achievement and a testament to the value we place on nurturing talent and fostering a culture of continuous improvement and personal growth.”
The list is based on employee reviews ranking workplace factors such as diversity and inclusion, compensations and benefits, culture and values, work-life balance, and more. Companies with 1,000 or more employee reviews were considered for the award.
“Receiving this level of acknowledgment from Glassdoor as one of the Best Places to Work for 2024 – especially among larger companies – serves as a clear reflection of our employees and culture,” Zeigler CEO and owner Aaron Zeigler said in a news release. “Our investment in ground-breaking training and development programs, along with growth-focused, employee-first initiatives, give our team members the best training to surpass customer expectations while ensuring that family is always at the center of everything we do.”
Zeigler Auto Group received a 4.4-star rating during the 12-month eligibility period, and said it currently holds an overall 4.7 rating and a 97% “recommend to a friend” score. Penske, which earned 4.3 stars, said it had top workplace factor ratings for diversity and inclusion, senior management, and culture and values.
Dealership donation supports automotive career education program
Atlanta-area dealership Jim Ellis Ford of Sandy Springs donated two vehicles, along with more than $1,500, to Cobb Innovation and Technology Academy, a career, technology and agricultural education magnet high school in Marietta, Ga., that offers tuition-free education to students in the Cobb County School District.
The funds will be used to support the high school’s automotive careers program, and the vehicles will be used as training vehicles for students to learn new skills.
“Supporting Cobb Innovation and Technology Academy in our local community fosters a profound sense of fulfillment for Jim Ellis Ford,” Jim Ellis Automotive vice president of domestic brands Ralph Sorrentino said. “Partnerships such as this one create a tangible connection with the community while contributing to the education and growth of future generations.”
Jim Ellis Ford has been a supporter of CITA since the school opened in 2020, supplying prizes for competitions, learning support and assistance in placing students in careers after graduation. The dealership currently employs two CITA graduates as technicians.
“In the time I’ve been the instructor here at Cobb Innovation and Technology Academy, Jim Ellis Ford has been our biggest supporter and partner,” CITA automotive instructor Mike Hagan said. “This donation will help with student success and placement of these professionals both immediately and for the future, as I see this partnership growing and flourishing in the coming years.”
The donation was made possible through Ford’s Drive 4 Ur School program, which donates $20 per test drive during designated Drive 4 Ur School events. Jim Ellis Ford held a Drive 4 Ur School event in November, with 76 people test-driving new Ford vehicles to support the cause.
During that event, CITA’s automotive career students tour Jim Ellis Ford and visited with its technicians.