While many businesses may talk frequently about their commitment to the community, as the saying goes: actions speak louder than words. Priority Toyota Chesapeake was recently awarded the Toyota Motor Corporation’s prestigious national award, ‘Best in Town’, which is bestowed upon only one Toyota dealership out of the entire United States each year. We are honored by the recognition.
Beginning in 2018, the Priority Inmate Technician Training Program has been working with the Norfolk Sheriff’s Department and Tidewater Community College to train non-violent Norfolk City Jail inmates as automobile technicians. Priority Automotive Owner and President Dennis Ellmer emphasized how this collaboration was “a total team effort by many people including Governor Ralph Northam, Norfolk Mayor Kenny Alexander, Sheriff Joe Baron, and the incredible staff at Tidewater Community College”. 14 of the program’s initial 15 trainees completed the program and graduated from Tidewater Community College in May. All are now full-time Priority employees – and a new class of trainees is ready to begin the program.
The ‘Best in Town’ award was established by Toyota Motor Corporation President Akio Toyoda in 2014 and is given to just one United States Toyota dealership each year. The award’s annual recipient is chosen by the people working with local customers every day, the local dealerships. President Toyoda’s explanation for this decision process is “Everyone says Toyota is the best company in the world, but the customer doesn’t care about the world. They care if we are the best in town or not. That’s what I want to be.” “To be the only Toyota dealership in the nation selected to receive this award is truly a great honor,” said Dennis Ellmer. “Our company is proud of these men, and proud of this program’s ability to help them make a difference in their lives. This award is a win for them, too, along with our entire community.”
We are honored to have been chosen to receive this distinguished award. We truly believe by working together we can improve the world – one community at a time.
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