TROPHY - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Assistant
- Service Director
Alicia Rivera has been with Trophy Nissan for 14 years. She started as a Service Cashier and through her hard and diligent work has been promoted several times. Recently she was promoted to the Assistant Service Director position at Trophy Nissan. Thank you Alicia for everything you do for our customers. We couldn't do it without you. If you are looking to start a career, not just a job, we invite you to come visit Trophy Nissan and inquiry about open position for the New Year. #WomenInAutomotive #NADAcontest
Job Titles:
- Managing Partner
- Member of the Leadership Team
On November 21st, 1996 I embarked on what I thought would be a short selling career at Trophy Nissan but little did I know it would be the beginning of a love affair with the automobile industry, more importantly with my store. Here is my story.
I grew up not far from Trophy Nissan and my parents purchased my mom's 1992 Nissan Stanza from Trophy years before I started. When I was 18 years old I was struggling at my current employer and going to the local community college. When I asked my parents for advice they both suggested I sell cars - I thought they were joking! However, my mother said with my gift of "gab" from her and my father's salesmanship ability I would do fine. It also helped that my father ran the local "hole in the wall gentleman's club" and all the managers at Trophy were frequent customers of his! He got me the interview but I had to take it from there.
On my interview in the "Truck Center", Steve Wheat and Ken Riley were the sales managers and after multiple interviews, I was hired. No one had faith that I would make it and made it quite clear. I admit, I knew nothing of the car biz, knew nothing about cars, could not drive a 5-speed (back then you had to) but I could talk to people and never met a stranger. When I started, I asked all kinds of questions - it did take me about 2 weeks before I sold my first car and when I did, I was hooked. In March 1997, I was even the top salesperson of the month but then in April I fell flat on my face and sold three!
Fast forward to June 1997, rumors were flying and we were going to be sold to VanTuyl. I remember when Bill Adkins first came to the store and then even more rumors circled. The one that would ignite the fire I had inside was that he came from a store that did NOT employee female salespeople so I knew I had to put up or shut up. I sold the very first car under the new Trophy Nissan! I would go on to sell 42 cars in July 1997, the #1 New Car salesperson of the month and I made $25,000 as a 19 year old! Trust me I faced all kinds of adversity but it was all worth it! Fun fact in December 1997 I interviewed at what was then Bankston Lewisville (some of the old managers talked me into applying), Bill found out! He was so pissed he threw my desk outside and told me to get out. He was not allowing his #1 salesperson to interview somewhere else. Thankfully, while sitting at home for 4 days he called me and said when you realize the grass is not greener on the other side call me! After applying at several places and having everyone think I was a joke (girls did not sell 42 in a month) I called Bill and was welcomed back to Trophy. Two weeks later the three stores I interviewed at all called and wanted to hire me but I told them I was back at home where I belonged!
I would go on to be the #1 Salesperson at Trophy Nissan til I moved into finance in 2003.
In 2015 I completed my application to attend the Berkshire Hathaway Dealer Academy with Bill Adkins endorsement. I would be the first female to attend and graduate the prestigious academy. When I started the course, only Bill Adkins and Larry VanTuyl believed in me to attend especially since I was still a Finance Director at the time. Through the 4-week course (spread out over a year) we were given assignments and the 2nd session was all about Fixed. Before the session started, we were told to observe Service, Parts and Bodyshop but since I am a hands on learner I just could not observe. I will never forget January 2016, Master Tech Joel Cox and I dropped a transmission and when he put the impact wrench in my hand for the first time and told me to take off that bolt - I was like you want me to do what (flabbergasted) and I did. The bolt pinged across the shop and everyone knew I was serious about learning Service. When I left that day, I was covered in grease but I did not care - I had the time of my life and did something I never thought I could! News of that day I spent in Service traveled back to BHA and at that moment, they knew I was ready and that I belonged in Dealer Academy.
In April 2016, Bill promoted me to the General Sales Manager position of Trophy Nissan. There was even a rumor that BHA wanted me to take on the GM role at Texas Nissan one of Bill's other stores. Bill told me he told BHA that he could not take me out of the store since I knew all the customers, teachers and everyone in the area - that I belonged at Trophy.
On February 6, 2019, Bill announced at our all employee meeting that I would be the New GM of Trophy Nissan and run the day-to-day operations and that he was moving to Texas Nissan. I always hoped for this day, dreamed that one day Trophy would be mine! I did it! However, what would come next I was not prepared for!
When you are the GM you are not just the GM. I became the janitor, water boy, psychologist, mother, weatherman, lot porter but most of all salesperson.
After we navigated through Covid, Bill decided that he would retire and on July 1, 2020, I was given the opportunity to buy into Trophy Nissan. By the end of 2022, I would have a 10% stake into Trophy Nissan and would be the Managing Partner, a top 10 in the Nation Nissan store!
I pinch myself every day that the little 18-year-old girl from Mesquite accomplished all that she did! Every day I try to learn something new and try to teach something to someone on my team. I am the mom of three busy young men who all play sports; Zane a College Baseball player, Finley the Center on the Football team and Logan the natural athlete who plays football, basketball and soccer. My husband, Bryan still works for me as a Sales Manager and claims he is retiring when the littles get into High School. Life is crazy all the time but I would not have in any other way!
Lastly I leave you all with this (I'm sure no one intended my bio to be this long but ya know it's been a long 26 year journey) I plan to retire on December 31, 2046 after I have spent 50 years and 40 days in the automobile industry. Not because I have to but because I want to prove to myself and everyone else that thought girls could not sell cars were wrong! I have very little filter and most days say what is on my mind! I also realized a couple of years ago that God sent me on a mission to help every female that crosses my path - that I needed to help them understand their self-worth, grow their confidence in themselves and ensure they knew they could do anything they set their mind to. This past Saturday, my Assistant Service Director won the NADA Women Driving Auto Retail Video Contest - Alicia finally found her voice! What an incredible accomplishment, not only for her but I was a very proud momma bear indeed! Who knows what all will happen in the next 23 years 11 months and 1 day but I know for sure it will continue to be an amazing ride!
Jim Whitesel retires (former partner with Bill Adkins) I threw my hat in the ring to be the future GM of Trophy Nissan.
Job Titles:
- Commercial Vehicle Manager
- CVAM
Job Titles:
- Pre - Owned Sales - Acquisition Specialist