THE SIGNAL . SATURDAY, MARCH 25, 2017 . G1
SCV Community Pride ★ VALENCIA ACURA
SCV
Community
PRIDE Valencia Acura
Valencia Acura:
20 years of friendship
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Celebrating 20 years serving the community, Valencia Acura is a local, family-owned car dealership located at 23955 Creekside Road in Valencia. Valencia Acura has been recognized as a prestigious Acura Precision Team Dealer of Distinction for 11 years, awarded Acura’s Council of Excellence for 13 years, and voted Santa Clarita’s Best New Car Dealership for 13 years by the Signal newspaper.
G2 . SATURDAY, MARCH 25, 2017 . THE SIGNAL
SCV Community Pride ★ VALENCIA ACURA
SCV Community Pride ★ VALENCIA ACURA
THE SIGNAL . SATURDAY, MARCH 25, 2017 . G3
G4 . SATURDAY, MARCH 25, 2017 . THE SIGNAL
SCV Community Pride ★ VALENCIA ACURA
Valencia Acura
Valencia Acura Infused a Friendship Culture Over the Past Two Decades W By Jim Walker
hen Don and Cheri Fleming took ownership of Valencia Acura in 1997 it had been, to put it mildly, a bit under-performing. However, the couple quickly turned things around under their credo, mission and mantra of “More than a Dealership, it’s a Friendship.” Most importantly, this then-new direction included revamping the overall culture to be more welcoming to clients. But it also included developing programs that increased staff camaraderie – which not only enhanced the positive atmosphere, it also helped retain experienced employees. Today, Valencia Acura is one of the best-loved auto dealerships in the Santa Clarita Valley and one of the top-performing Acura dealerships nationwide. This is certainly due, in part, to the value of the Acura brand. But none of this would have been possible without Friendship. “We call ourselves the ‘Friendship Dealership,’” said Cheri Fleming. “Valencia Acura has strived to infuse a Friendship culture over the past two decades, by treating customers the way we ourselves would want to be treated. It’s the right place to come.” “‘Friendship Dealership’ means a lot to us. It’s our way of doing business,” Don Fleming said. “And our friends have grown into the thousands over the past 20 years.” As proof of the value of Friendship, Valencia Acura is one of Acura’s highest-ranking dealerships in customer satisfaction, and one of the highest in the nation for customer loyalty. More than 75 percent of Valencia Acura’s business is repeat business or comes via referrals from satisfied customers. And Santa Clarita Valley residents recently named Valencia Acura Best New Car Dealership – for the 13th time! Valencia Acura has won the Acura Precision Team Dealer of Distinction award 11 times, won Acura’s Council of Excellence award 13 times, and the SCV Chamber of Commerce Medium Business of the Year award (2001) and Large Business of the Year award (2016). In 2006 Cheri Fleming was named Dealer of the Year by the American International Automobile Dealer Association, with the award presented by Newsweek magazine. With and beyond their business, Don and Cheri Fleming are true “friends” of the Santa Clarita Valley. Both are actively involved in the local community in numerous ways – socially, civically and charitably. And they have been deeply involved with charity fundraising and volunteerism in the SCV for many years. In fact, this community spirit earned them the SCV Man and Woman of the Year awards in 2004. Just a few highlights of Don Fleming’s extensive community involvement include being current vice president of the West Ranch Town Council and a member since 2006, being co-chairman and founding board member of the Santa Clarita Valley Economic Development Corporation, a director of the
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Celebrating 20 years of friendship, Valencia Acura is one of Acura’s highest ranking dealerships in customer satisfaction, and one of the highest in the nation for customer loyalty. Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff’s Foundation, and president of the Santa Clarita Auto Dealers Association. ”We believe that when you take money out of a town, you ought to give some back,” Don Fleming said. “It’s really a good feeling that, in some small way, we have helped these Santa Clarita Valley charities for 20 years.” And he added, “With the SCVEDC, our whole goal is to bring quality jobs to the valley. And as far as the dealers association, it has been my pleasure to be on that board for 17 years and its president for 15.” Over the years, Cheri Fleming has been passionately involved with numerous local charitable organizations including the Child & Family Center, American Cancer Society and Arthritis Foundation. However, she has been most deeply involved with Henry Mayo Newhall Hospital and Soroptimist International. She has been on the hospital’s board of directors since 2015 and was a chairman of the Henry Mayo Newhall Memorial Health Foundation. She is actively involved in the capital campaign for the hospital’s new patient tower, with Valencia Acura having pledged $100,000 toward it.
Cheri Fleming has been a member and president of Soroptimist International of the Santa Clarita Valley, and continues to be a member of the Soroptimist International of the Greater Santa Clarita Valley. She has also been president and secretary/treasurer of Soroptimist International of the Americas. As president of SIA, she traveled the world on a mission to improve the lives of women and girls. “For me, the dealership has become a conduit to the community, allowing countless opportunities to give back and make a difference,” said Cheri Fleming. “And while my professional work life focuses on helping people get behind the wheel and drive, my philanthropic work measures distance in the footprints I am able to make toward bettering the lives of others. “As an independent, family-owned dealership, we chose from the very beginning to focus on what really matters to us – relationships and community – and have remained deeply rooted in that belief system ever since.” “More than a Dealership, it’s a Friendship” remains as true today as it did 20 years ago. For more information visit www.valenciaacura. com or call 661-255-3000. The dealership is located at 23955 Creekside Road, Valencia, CA 91355.
“‘Friendship Dealership’ means a lot to us. It’s our way of doing business.”
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Speed Bump “Bumper” and Test Drive “Tessie” are the dealership’s official canine greeters. Courtesy photo
On February 16, 2017, Valencia Acura was the first dealership in the nation to offer a customer test drive event for Acura’s NSX supercar. Owners Don and Cheri Fleming fueled the excitement by hosting the experiential event, which included an orientation of the hybrid technology, 11.2 mile test drive, and an opportunity to use the NSX configurator located in their showroom to virtually construct each driver’s dream car.