Through hard work all things are possible
Stacey Richards is no stranger to hard work. Having started at Para- dise Chevrolet in 1992, as a shuttle driver, at the recommendation of her mother who was the dealership’s first receptionist, Stacey slowly worked her way up the corporate ladder. She has worked in every department at Paradise, including service, parts, accounting, and finance, and eventu- ally earned the position of Vice President/General Manager of Paradise Buick GMC. When Terry and Cindy Gilmore, owners of Paradise, pur- chased the new dealership in 2014, it was without hesitation that they named Stacey the VP/GM of Paradise Buick GMC. “My goal is to build Paradise Buick GMC as top producing dealership, recognized for ex- ceeding industry standards,” stated Stacey.
Through her determination and focus she has proved that with hard work all things are possible. “Having an employee stay with a company for over 23 years, in current times, is truly rare,” shares Terry Gilmore. “Stacey has proven herself over the years. Her tenure demonstrates her loyalty to Paradise and her commitment to making the dealership the best possible.”
As the VP/GM of Paradise Buick GMC, her typical schedule includes a workload of 50 to 65 hours per week starting daily at 7:30am. The rest of her daily demands include handling projects relating to employee relations. Managing Paradise Buick GMC, which celebrated its one-year anniversary in August, requires Stacey to work Monday – Saturday and an occasional Sunday. While long work hours are included in the role of general manager for this busy Temecula dealership, Stacey continues to serve with enthusiasm. She says the culture at Paradise is one that strives for excellence and making honest decisions, making her job enjoyable.
“Terry’s philosophy, at Paradise, has always been and always will be to always do the right thing every time. If you always do the right thing you will never be wrong,” says Stacey. “I also apply this to my daily, personal life and it has guided me through important life choices.”
While Stacey takes pride in her work, she does share that being a woman in a male-dominated world can have its challenges. “There are times when I feel that I have to work harder to prove myself,” she shares. But these challenges have not stopped her from achieving her career goals; in fact, she believes they have made her stronger.
In Stacey’s personal life she has had to overcome obstacles. Despite pain and adversity she has persevered and become a leader in the workplace, a mentor to her peers and an example to businesswomen striving to accomplish career goals. She shares gratitude towards her Gram (aka “Gram Cracker”) for always teaching her to take time to smell the roses. “She always told me to be good to myself because I am special,” says Stacey.
Working in a predominately male workplace can have challenges, but Stacey looks at the positive side to add that there are also ad- vantages to being a female working at a dealership. “Including a female voice in a conversation can soften the tone,” she says. “Purchasing a car is a serious commitment from the buyer and the process can often feel intimidating. I truly believe that having a woman involved in the car-buying experience can in-fact enhance the process and put buyers at ease.”
When asked whether she felt that she was a successful manager, she admitted that communication was vital to a strong working relationship between management and staff. She attributes her open-door policy with her team as the key to running a healthy business.
Stacey’s story of determination in climbing through the ranks at Paradise make her a role model and mentor for young business women in the community. Her advice for women working towards achieving their career goals is to, “Be ambitious, stay true to yourself and take pride in your work – meaning when you are at work be ready to work hard; take what you do seriously and others will too.”
Stacey enjoys being involved in her community. Giving back has always been a key component of how Terry Gilmore operates Paradise Chevrolet Cadillac and Paradise Buick GMC. Of all of the charities that Paradise is involved in, Boys & Girls Clubs of Southwest County has been a charity dear to the dealership’s heart. Stacey also has a heart for charities that support women associated with domestic violence and supports Angel Step Inn.
Contact Information:
877.701.7639
WEB: paradisebuickgmc.com
