Meet General Manager, Steve Demers

General Manager Revs Up Customer Service at Cueter Chrysler Jeep Dodge Ram in Ypsilanti, MI

By Brigitta Burks

General manager Steve Demers of Cueter Chrysler, Jeep, Dodge didn?t expect to go into the auto industry?but, it?s certainly worked out for him.

Steve, who grew up in Monroe County, went to college to study accounting. However, ?I was taking a summer off and ran out of money,? he said. He applied for a job at a car rental agency to make some fast cash. This minor move turned into a career for him as the rental agency was owned by a major car dealer.

“Things started rolling from there”, he said. Steve moved into management quickly and also spent time in the finance division and car sales. Steve was promoted to service manager, although he was a little hesitant because he didn?t know much about how cars worked at the time. His boss told him, ?It doesn?t matter. You?re great with customers, you?re a problem solver and that?s what a service manager does.?

Steve replied, ?Ok, let?s go.?

Eventually, the commute became too much for Steve and he decided to move on. In 1998, he joined Cueter Chrysler, Jeep, Dodge and moved up the ranks once more, becoming general manager in 2007.

Cueter Chrysler, Jeep, Dodge remained successful even in the recession. Although the dealership, like everyone, downsized a bit, ?We didn?t lay anybody off. I?m real proud of that,? Steve said, crediting their quality customer service with bringing clients back even in tough times.

“The first and most important thing is customer service. Everything follows after that. Then we got to be competitive when it comes to service, body, parts. Everything?s got to be competitive. You marry that with customer service and that?s a winning formula,” he explained, adding the dealership also has a low turnover rate for employees.

Steve said they had one customer who lost the keys to his van, which he needed to pick up relatives during a busy weekend. Steve and his team drove 25 miles to find the correct key copy. Steve then sent a technician to the customer’s house to open his van and program the key. Later, he learned the customer had been a top Chrysler executive.

“Nobody knew who he was, but that?s just what we do,” Steve said, adding the executive sent a letter praising the dealership?s customer service.

Community involvement is also important to Steve and Cueter Chrysler, Jeep, Dodge. They mostly participate in local grassroots charities, he said, listing the March of Dimes, The Boys & Girls Club, Relay for Life and the American Cancer Society just to name a few.

Cueter also has a division to help people with ?bruised credit? purchase vehicles. Some of the top-sellers at the moment are the Chrysler 200, the Jeep Grand Cherokee and the Journey.

?The quality on these vehicles is world class,? Steve emphasized.

If you have found this story to be interesting, informative, or inspiring, please let Steve know! Cueter Chrysler, Jeep, Dodge is located at 2448 Washtenaw Ave., Ypsilanti; email him at sdemers@cueterchrysler.com; or call 734-434-2424.

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