Q: Who is the Clermont Car Guy?
Fourteen years ago, Paul Rienzi walked into Headquarter Honda in Clermont to buy a car. His father, a car salesman for fifteen some years, accompanied him. They were so impressed with the place that Paul bought a car that day. The feelings went both ways. So much so that the Honda folks offered Paul’s father a job. He was retired and declined but said, “You should hire my son. He has a great personality. He’d be perfect for it.”
They did and he was. Today, fourteen years later, he is the new car sales manager there. He’s seen a lot of changes since then.
“Headquarter Honda had just been built. Highway 50 was only four lanes. We’ve seen the highway expand to six lanes and watched Clermont grow up around us. I live two miles from the home I grew up in.
“From the very beginning, I felt something. The building here was beautiful. The people were all nice, with smiles on their faces. Everyone was positive. That sold me then. And I know it sells people now. The culture at Headquarter Honda is amazing. It starts at the top with my General Manager, Jeronimo J. Esteve, and works all the way down.
“They know us and we know them. We’re more than just car people. We’re community people.”
“The key is to be genuine. Be available, be honest, and be real. Clermont has responded in a big way. They know us and we know them. We’re more than just car people. We’re community people. Most of us could be your tour guide on a test drive. People know me by now. I go to Target and stop my cart at least three times to talk to people. They call me The Clermont Car Guy. But I just call myself lucky.”
