For this week’s West Herr Wednesday, we visited the Dodge RAM store to get to know Finance Manager, Mike Dempsey.

Born and raised in Buffalo, Mike went to St. Joe’s for High School before attending the University at Buffalo for College, where he graduated with a degree in Theater Performance.

“I started off as a dual major in English/Philosophy, with a plan to go to law school. I later dropped Philosophy and was planning to go into teaching. In the end, I decided if I was going to pay out of pocket to get a degree, it should be in something I enjoy. I always really liked acting so I ended up majoring in Theater Performance.”

While attending UB, Mike got a job as a part-time lot attendant at West Herr Ford Lincoln of Amherst.

Once he graduated, he became a Sales Assistant and was in the role for two and a half years, before becoming a Sales Professional.

“I sold cars for another two years and then raised my hand when the opportunity to move into finance came along.”

Mike moved to the Toyota of Orchard Park store to start as a Finance Manager.

“Finance is a bit different from sales. In sales you sometime have a lot of time to build relationships with your customers, in finance you don’t have as much time to get to know the customer. I pride myself on being a people person though and being able to talk to anyone.”

Mike said he developed a lot of his skills by starting as a lot attendant and working his way up at West Herr.

When it comes to his favorite parts about working with West Herr, the people play a big role.

“It starts with the people at our store. We are like the band of misfit toys. Dodge RAM customers are the perfect representation of Buffalo. They are hardworking, blue collar, down to earth and they don’t mess around.”

Mike also really appreciates what the company does for its employees.

“The environment as a whole that West Herr provides for you. Just the help you get and now the help I am able to give back to my co-workers.”

In terms of the future, Mike knows he still has more to learn.

“My goal is to continue growing in Finance. I’ve been doing it for about four years now, but there’s definitely more for me to learn. Down the line though, I could see myself getting into a management type role and perhaps even be a GM one day. For now though, I’m going to enjoy the role I’m in.”

Mike says a few people in particular have helped him get to this point in his career.

“It’s been a team effort with a lot of people, but the two guys that stick out to me the most are, Ross Allen and Jack Macey. Ross is my ‘Car Dad’. He showed me early on at the Ford store what it means to be a professional. Jack taught me so much about finance and is one of the best in the group. We still talk and hang out all the time.”

When it comes to life outside of work, Mike is kept busy with family.

I have a 1-year old daughter, Charlotte, who is my world. All of my free time is devoted to her. I always told myself I’d never put work before family, so despite the long hours, I try to spend as much time with her as I can. She is a spitfire, just like my wife, Sarah.”

Mike & Sarah’s family both live in WNY, outside of Mike’s Mom who recently relocated to Florida.

When it comes to what Mike wants people to know about him,  it pertains to working hard and being there for others.

“I just try to be the best person I can be and do the best that I can do. If anyone reading this ever needs anything at all, just give me a call and I’m always happy to help.”

For this week’s West Herr Wednesday, we took a trip to Toyota Williamsville to get to know more about Parts Specialist, Keith White Jr.

Growing up in South Buffalo, Keith would visit his Dad, Keith, in the parts department at Ford Hamburg.

“I had a remote control car that I’d play with whenever I’d go see him.”

As Keith got older, he attended school for visual arts, but was looking for a job, which was when his Dad recommended West Herr.

“He said that West Herr was looking for a parts driver and that I should give it a shot. I figured I’d work there for a few months until I found something else. 15 years later, I’m still here.”
 

Keith now lives in Cheektowaga and has worked at the Ford Amherst, Honda and Toyota Orchard Park stores before now calling Toyota Williamsville home. 

“I really enjoy what I do and would love to continue to further my career here at West Herr. I hope to one day be considered for Parts Manager.”

When it comes to what Keith likes so much about working at West Herr, it has to do with the people.

“All the stores I’ve worked at the people have been awesome. They are always happy and eager to help. That comes from the top down. The company in general also treats its employees great. I couldn’t imagine going anywhere else.”
 

Outside of work, Keith has a wife and three sons, Tyler (19,) Andrew (15,) and Collin (11.)

Besides spending time with his family, Keith has a pretty unique hobby, writing/illustrating children’s books.
 

“I have written 39 children’s books, with number 40 with my publisher right now. They are chapter books with picture to color in between each chapter.”

Keith started writing them to help his son Andrew, who was having a hard time in school.
 

“Andrew was diagnosed with ADHD, as well as some other neurological issues that were causing him to struggle in school. He was supposed to be doing two book reports a month, but was having trouble doing even one.”

Keith took matters into his own hands and asked the teacher if he could write a book for his son to do a report on.

“She said yes. I had a friend who had a book published, so I worked on it and finished my first book. Andrew came home with his first ever ‘A’ and I started writing the second book that night.”

40 books later, Andrew is now older, but Keith’s son Collin is now enjoying the books.
 

“Every cent of the money we make on the royalties for the books, goes back into donating books to kids. It’s heartbreaking when kids want to read the books, but can’t afford to do so.”

Keith has also created a name for himself on social media.

“I joined Twitter about five years ago now and have picked up about 53,000 followers and also have a ‘verified’ account.”

In terms of what the future holds for Keith’s writing, he is leaving the door open.

“As the kids get older we will see what happens. I am currently working with an animator overseas, so we have some stuff in the works.”

Whether it is writing children’s books, or selling parts, Keith is a man of many talents and enjoys helping others whenever he is able.

For this week’s West Herr Wednesday, we visited the Chevrolet of Orchard Park store to get to know Cashier, Erica Gugliuzza.

Born in South Buffalo, Erica and her family moved to Derby when she was seven years old.

“I have a big family, including brothers who now both live in Rhode Island & an older sister as well as two younger siblings who are still local.”

Both of Erica’s brothers are involved in videography, which she enjoys assisting with, but her true passion is photography.

“I found my love for it in High School. I was editor of the yearbook and I also was involved with the school newspaper, so I was always taking photos.”

Erica enjoys landscape photography the most, but also does weddings and engagements shoots by request.

“My friends are always asking me to do them,” she said laughing.

When Erica was 23, she moved to Richmond, Virginia.

“I was there for two years and then decided to move back home. When I did, I needed a job.”

Scott Bieler’s Executive Assistant, Annette Smith, was the one who suggested West Herr to Erica.

“Annette’s daughter is married to my brother, so she was the one who got me in the door here at West Herr.”

While Erica had no prior automotive experience, she knew she enjoyed working with people.

“The people at my store are definitely my favorite thing about the job. They make coming to work a lot of fun.”

When it comes to her future at West Herr, Erica would like to work towards a position in the Service Department.

“Ultimately, with a little more training/schooling, I’d love to be a Service Advisor. I really enjoy getting to work directly with customers.”

For this week’s West Herr Wednesday, we visited West Herr Chevrolet of Hamburg to get to know Sales Assistant, Taylor Achtyl.

Growing up in Eden, Taylor attended Hamburg schools because of her house’s zip code, before ending up at Hilbert College for Psychology.

“I am a Junior now and am currently studying for the MCAT, with the hope of going to medical school.”

While in school, Taylor was looking for a good part-time job and had heard a lot of good things about West Herr.

“My best friend, Caley Gibbons, is a Sales Assistant at the Chrysler Jeep Orchard Park store & recommended West Herr. I was working in the food industry prior, so it was a no brainer.”
 

Taylor started at Chevy Hamburg as a Sales Assistant and after a year transitioned to being Mike Schleicher’s Sales Assistant.

“I am also being cross-trained currently as a cashier. Anyway I can help at the store, I’m happy to do it.”

One of Taylor’s favorite parts about working at West Herr is the flexibility with her schedule.

“Being a student, my schedule is always changing. West Herr is great about it and it makes it very easy as a full-time student.”

Outside of work, Taylor is a volunteer EMT for Boston Emergency Squad.

“I’ve been doing it a year now. They actually offered an EMT course my senior year of high school, which I took.”

Taylor said she waited a few years to actually start volunteering, but regrets not starting sooner because of how much she enjoys it.

“Last year we responded to over 500 calls, all volunteer. It means a lot to me because I enjoy being there for people on one of their worst days of their life.”

Taylor also snowboards in the winter and enjoys spending time with her dogs, Chloe (chocolate lab) and Daisy (yellow lab.)

Taylor's ultimate goal is to be accepted into a MD PHD program in Neuro Science, which would allow her to graduate in seven years.

“The dream one day would be able to work at a place like Dent Neurological Institute as a Neuro Psychiatrist. I’d love to be able to stay and work locally in WNY.”

When it comes to a quote Taylor lives by, she tries to always see the silver lining no matter the situation.

“In the middle of every difficulty, lies opportunity.” – Albert Einstein.

Certainly not a bad way to approach life.

For this week’s West Herr Wednesday, we visited Nissan Orchard Park to get to know Service Assistant, Tess Halor.

Growing in Angola, Tess has lived in the same house her entire life.

Tess attended Lakeshore High School and wasn’t sure exactly what she wanted to do upon graduating.

“I had been working at a convenient store and was just kind of going through the motions. My best friend Emma, worked for West Herr in the Sales BDC and said I should apply there and just see what happens.”

Tess applied for a receptionist opening, but got a call from then Nissan Orchard Park, Service Manager, John Connors.

“John asked me if I’d be open to a Service Assistant position. I was a little hesitant because I knew nothing about cars, but something told me to just do it and trust it.”

Two years later, Tess loves what she’s doing.

“I’ve learned so much in my time here. My Mom always laughs at how my Dad and I can just sit and talk about cars now.”

Tess's Mom actually followed in her foot steps and applied at West Herr shortly after she did. She now works part-time as a Greeter at the Ford Hamburg store.

Tess’s favorite part about the job? The people on her team.

“I love everyone in my service department. We call Patti (Service Consultant) my work Mom. We are all so close, it is like a family.”

She also enjoys volunteering at company events like West Herr Wishes, which helps provide a Christmas to kids whose families are experiencing tough financial times.

Tess currently works a lot with the used car inventory, making sure the vehicles are running smoothly for sale.

While she really enjoys her current role, she could see possibly making a change one day.

“I really enjoy talking to people and could maybe see trying sales at some point. It would be nice to deliver the good news of helping someone find a car, rather than making calls about what needs to be fixed on their current car,” Tess said laughing.

Outside of work, Tess has a Bullmastiff named Mack who is her everything.

“I adopted him about two years ago now. He is my son and my world.”

Tess also enjoys crafts, which she displays at work.

“I did a pumpkin theme around Halloween and a Christmas Tree one in December. It’s a lot of fun and I enjoy being creative.”

Working at West Herr has also allowed Tess to get her dream car.

“I had a Jeep Liberty a long time ago and then got another one later on, but working here through the friendships and connections I’ve made, I was able to finally get my Wrangler in July. It is my baby and I love it!”

A few years ago, Tess never would have pictured herself doing what she does now, but she is so glad she went for it.

“Some days I still wake up and wonder how I ended up in this position. I never would have been here if I didn’t take a chance. It’s funny how things work out like that.”

Join Team West Herr at the American Legion Matthew Glab Post (1965 Abbott Rd, Lackawanna, NY 14218) for the first-ever meat raffle supporting The Ride For Roswell and Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center!

Tickets are available online for $10 for a single ticket and $80 for a table of eight. Your ticket includes soda and draft beer.

The doors open at 6 p.m. with the first spin at 7 p.m.! Don't forget your cooler, snacks and cash! Cash bar will be available on site. Meat provided by Sloan meats. 

For this week’s West Herr Wednesday, we stopped by West Herr Subaru/KIA to get to know Sales Consultant, Sophie Farsaii.

Growing up in Orchard Park, Sophie’s family always purchased their cars from West Herr, but she never pictured herself working there.

“I didn’t know anything about cars, but I always use to go to the dealerships with my parents.”

At 17, Sophie was working at Tim Hortons and at the time Subaru/KIA GM, Tony Farina, was a frequent customer.

“Tony always use to come to the drive-thru and tell me as soon as I turned 18, he’d have a job for me.”

Sure enough, two weeks after she turned 18, Tony kept his promise.

“He told me to come to the store as soon as possible and I was hired on the spot.”

Sophie started as Jon Clark’s Sales Assistant, a role she held for five years.

“Jon was eventually promoted to Used Car Manager and at that point I moved into a Sales Consultant role.”

Sophie was able to experience success early on because of the mentoring she received at the start of her career.

“My first full year in sales I made President’s Club. Both Jon and (current GM) Chuck Hardy, were my mentors and helped me grow not only professionally, but personally as well.”

That teamwork is one of her favorite parts about working at West Herr.

“Everyone is always willing to help with whatever you need. Unlike other companies, West Herr really provides you with so much opportunity.”

Those co-workers are a big part of why she enjoys working here as well

“I went into it thinking I’d work here during college and then move on, but this is where I want to be for the rest of my career. You spend so much time with your co-workers, they become like family to you.”

Sophie has actually met two of her best friends working at West Herr.

“I became so close with Maria DeCarlo and Kirsten Piskun, I was actually in both of their weddings.”

When it comes to her future at West Herr, Sophie is open to whatever comes her way.

“I definitely want to continue with my goal of making the President’s Club each year and if that eventually leads to a management position, I’d be open to that, but I also really enjoy helping people find their vehicles.”

Outside of work, Sophie is a dog mom to her Mini Australian Shepherd, Daisy.

“She is a little bigger now, but she’s actually been featured on our #DogsOfWestHerr. She is so cute!"

Sophie also enjoys doing SFX makeup, something she learned to do all on her own.

“Every year at Halloween time the line at my desk gets longer and longer,” she said laughing.

Sophie also recently purchased a home with her boyfriend and the two are working on some home improvement projects.

“It is WAY more work than I imagined. Luckily he is handy and I focus more on the decorating side.”

When it comes to life in general, Sophie is big on enjoying every moment.

“You have to always live your life to the fullest.”

In terms of her career, she knows car sales can get a bad rap, but there’s more to it.

“Jon told me early on something he learned from Scott Bieler… we aren’t here to ‘sell’ anyone. We are just here to help them find what they are looking for. That’s what I try to always do and part of what I enjoy most about my job.”

In the end, her customers are more than just that. They are what drives her.

"Customers become like family to me and I just love getting to help them with all of their vehicles. Not only for them, but for their family as well. The close bond you form is really what I enjoy the most."

For this week’s West Herr Wednesday, we took a trip to the Business Development Center inside Toyota of Orchard Park, to get to know Customer Service Representative, Heather Mejia.

Growing up in Orchard Park, Heather attended Orchard Park High School, before eventually moving to downtown Buffalo and later attending culinary school.

“I’ve always loved to cook and entertain, but I realized I enjoyed it for fun and not for my career.”

Heather ended up starting her West Herr journey at Chevrolet of Orchard Park.

“I was there for about a year and realized it just wasn’t for me.”

After leaving West Herr to try her hand at collections, Heather ended up returning, but this time in the Business Development Center.

“My sister Ashley had been in the BDC for several years and referred me to work in there with her.”

While it was a bit of an adjust for Heather, having her sister there to show her the way really helped.

“She took me under her wing and taught me everything. Over the past four years I have grown so much and the job feels so natural to me now.”

That growth has resulted in Heather making the President’s Club for two consecutive years. She also doesn’t plan on stopping any time soon.

“I want to continue to get better at my current position and perhaps end up in Management one day… following in the footsteps of my sister.”

Her favorite part about West Herr is coming to work and actually enjoying what she does.

“I enjoy being good at it and in turn teaching others the way my sister taught me. We call it the ‘Mejia Way’,” she said laughing.

“I also love everyone I work with and how friendly they are. I especially enjoy working for my boss Rox. She, well, rocks!”

The flexible hours and opportunity to grow, are other factors that Heather acknowledged when discussing why she enjoys being at West Herr.

Heather recently moved to Hamburg with her boyfriend and is enjoying being back in the Southtowns.

“It’s 10 minutes away from work, which is great.”

Outside of work, Heather enjoys cooking and going out to eat/trying new foods.

“I’m definitely a foodie. I also LOVE hot sauce and have several on my desk at a time. Our Dad’s side of the family is Mexican, so we like spicy foods.”

Speaking of food, Heather works a second job as a server at Cappelli's Pizzeria in Orchard Park.

“I actually really enjoy working. West Herr is my main career focus, but I always enjoy trying new things.”

From pizza to candy, Halloween is a very special time of year for Heather.

“I absolutely love dressing up and am proud to say that I have won ‘best costume’ here at the BDC now three years in a row.”

Heather also enjoys spending time with her friends and being a “cool” Aunt.

“I love spoiling my niece and nephew and them giving them back,” she said laughing.

"I was excited that my best friend was able to get married this year and currently am in the process of helping my sister, Ashley, plan her wedding for August."

When I asked her what she’d like people to know about her that are reading this, she said that she loves making people laugh.

“I am definitely a jokester. I don’t take life too seriously, unless the situation calls for it. I just love meeting new people and consider myself pretty friendly.”

Whether it’s culinary or customer service, Heather is enjoying life and tries to look at the positives each day brings.

As you begin, or continue, your car shopping adventure, you'll want to take a look at what used vehicles West Herr Auto Group currently has available. We know that the best part about buying a pre-owned vehicle, besides the low price, is the fact that there are so many different varieties. From small cars with outstanding fuel-economy and compact SUVs that offer both off-roading skills and the space you need to tough trucks that pack a punch in both towing and hauling capabilities and large family-friendly SUVs and minivans that offer comfort and tech for every person, no matter how small, our line-up of used vehicles has something for everyone.

Here's a closer look at some of our more popular brands.

• Used Ford Vehicles

  With icons like the Ford Escape, Ford Fusion, and Ford F-150, our used Ford collection is packed with the Ford brand vehicles you love.

• Used Chevy Vehicles

  Offering every type of the Chevy brand vehicle, our used Chevy line-up contains models like the Chevy Silverado 1500, Chevy Cruze, and Chevy Equinox and is ready to make your drive extraordinary!

• Used Toyota Vehicles

  From the Toyota RAV4 to the Toyota Camry and Toyota Corolla, New York drivers can find a used Toyota for every driver, price range, and personality.

If you're interested in finding your new-to-you Ford, Toyota, Chevy, or other brand vehicle, feel free to stop by any of our West Herr Auto Group dealerships. Our staff would love to offer you a test drive, show you our thorough inspection notes, and help you with your used car auto financing today!

For this week’s West Herr Wednesday, we visited Chevrolet of Orchard Park to get to know Sales Consultant, Carl Erickson.

Carl is originally from Western New York, growing up in Tonawanda. He has now spent the last eight years living in Cheektowaga.

“Most of my family is still here in WNY as well.”

Prior to joining West Herr, Carl spent three years as an Assistant Manager at Valu Home Centers.

“Towards the end of my time there, I saw an ad posted for a Sales Manager opening at West Herr and decided to apply. I didn’t realize at the time you needed actual car sales experience before going into management.”

Carl ended up receiving a call about a Sales Consultant opening at Chevy OP and decided to take the interview.

“Never in a million years did I see myself selling cars,” Carl said laughing.

After his second interview, Carl was actually pulling away in his Jeep, when Sales Manager Gene Hart came out waving his hands.

“I thought he was just saying goodbye, but then I realized he was telling me to come back. They offered me the job on the spot.”

Almost two years into his time at West Herr, Carl’s favorite part is the family atmosphere.

“It doesn’t matter what your title is or how long you’ve been here, everyone is very close and treats each other the same.”

Outside of work, Carl spends most of his time with family.

“I have two amazing kids that are the highlight of my life. My son Xavier will be 10 in May and my 5-year old daughter, Isabella. We also have a lab named Crystal who is awesome and a cat named Caroline.”

They named the Cat Carolina due to Carl’s love for the Boston Red Sox.

“They sing ‘Sweet Caroline’ every game at Fenway Park, so I thought it would be a fitting name.”

Speaking of baseball, Carl has coached his son’s baseball team the past two years and is also a big sports fan in general.

“I follow mainly the Bills and Red Sox. Not so much the Sabres anymore. I’ll admit I’m a fair weather hockey fan,” he said laughing.

Carl also plays recreational basketball when he gets a chance.

In terms of his future at West Herr, Carl is open to whatever comes his way.

“Right now I know with where I am at in my life, I am very happy in my current role. That being said if one day an opportunity comes up in Finance or Management, it’s something I would certainly consider. Regardless of what I’m doing though, I know I want it to be at West Herr.”

As you cruise down to work in the morning, you feel good. You got your music jamming, you are looking forward to what the day has to hold.

But then…

Your vehicle suddenly breaks down for no apparent reason. Now, you are stuck on the outside of a barely frequented highway, with no reception.

Great…

Don’t worry, we know just how frustrating dime a dozen moments like this can be. But the good news is that we are here to give you some tips to help you prevent this from happening to you in this article.

Don't Underestimate The Power Regular Oil Changes Have

Regularly changing your oil is one of the easiest ways to improve the longevity of your car. Yet, despite this almost 22% of the vehicles in America have dirty oil caps, kind of crazy - right?

You may be thinking, “Surely, clean oil is not going to add 10-years onto my truck though?”

Well, here are some of the benefits of regularly changing your oil.

Helps Keep Your Engine Lubricated

Think of all those pistons firing away, the moving parts spamming back and forth. The incredible heat caused while your engine is working to keep moving. All of this is bound to cause some wear and tear, right?

Well, lubricating the engine provides a bit of relief to the components and reduces the chances of a complete breakdown. At the same time, this lubrication helps reduce friction on the components, which in turn reduces the heat emitted by your truck while in use.

Improves Gas Rates And Longevity

Imagine trying to wash dishes with a tiny rag. Now, imagine you were using a fully-blown sponge designed to help make the job easier. The later would be more efficient, right?

Well, the same principle applies when oiling up your vehicle. Through the lubrication provided, you can expect a drop of almost 1-2 % in gas rates, which adds up over time. Of course, we can’t forget the fact that through doing all of this you will also protect your engine increasing the longevity of your vehicle overall.

Rotating Your Tires Can Help With A Bit Of Wear

Not many people realize that tires do not all wear down at the same pace. In fact, did you know that oftentimes front-tires experience the most wear and tear on the road?

That’s why we suggest considering rotating your tires whenever you do an oil change. This will help even the spread of wear on your tires, ultimately increasing there lifespan.

But that’s not all this does.

Through rotating your tires, you can also ensure you have a smoother ride, and reduce the stress placed on your suspension over-time. Be sure to check your owners manual to see the recommended tire pattern.

Wheel Alignment Is The Next Big Step

Do you drive a little over the top sometimes? Perhaps the environment you drive your vehicle is just rough. Both of these elements can throw your wheels completely out of whack and leave them misaligned.

The problem is…

Driving with improper wheel alignment will cause incredible strain on your tires, your gas usage, as well as just general poor handling on the roads. Which is why, if you notice it happening - it’s best to go get it sorted out straight away.

After all, remember. Wear and tear on your wheels will lead to your suspension almost like a butterfly effect.

Your Engine Also Needs Some Fresh Air Now And Then

Did you know that all-vehicles have air filters? These are designed to help reduce pollutants from entering the engines components.

The problem is over-time these air filters can get clogged.

If you want to make sure you are getting the most out of your engine in terms of performance, and longevity, we recommend whipping out your toolbox every 15,000 - 30,000 miles to replace the filter.

Sometimes It’s Not A Bad Idea To Take It To The Professionals

If you are anything like me, you love being able to take care of your car yourself, but the thing is, there are people who know how to take the smallest sign of a problem to prevent something that could really hurt your truck in the long-run.

One of the most important things as a car owner is to know when to bring the professionals in. Here at West Herr, we are always here to help address any and all of your car service needs!

For this week’s West Herr Wednesday, we visited Nissan INFINITI of Williamsville to get to know Service Advisor, Miranda Caldarelli.

Growing up in Elma, Miranda got to know the car business from a very early age.

“My Dad is actually Joe Caldarelli, the owner of Mike Barney Nissan.”

Miranda worked mainly in customer service for her Dad, but ultimately did a little of everything.

“When you work in a family business, you end up having to do it all. I would bill deals, work as a cashier and even sell cars.”

Over time Miranda realized that working for family was just not for her and she got a job with the Buffalo Bills.

“I was in charge of hiring people to work at the concession stands during games.”

One day while working with West Herr Ford of Hamburg Service Manager, Frank Guagliano and his Boy Scout troop on an event, Frank brought up the idea of coming to work for West Herr.

“I really missed working with cars and Frank said West Herr was always looking to add people with experience and passion.”

A short time later, Miranda was hired at Nissan INFINITI of Williamsville to work in customer service and has now been there since September of 2017.

“Despite it being a different dealership, my family has been nothing but supportive.”

Her favorite part about being at West Herr? The people.

“I truly love all the people I work with. I feel like everyone hired has the same goals and intentions. I also love meeting new people and our customers are great.”

In terms of her future at West Herr, Miranda knows where she’d like to end up, but is also open to what comes her way.

“I’d love to one day be able to be a Service Manager, but I’m certainly open to other opportunities as well. I do see myself staying on the service side though, because I love helping people and being able to fix their problems.”

Outside of work, Miranda is a big fan of the beach in the summer and also working out. You can also find her spending a lot of quality time with the family.

“Family is HUGE to me. I’m Italian so sauce on Sundays for sure,” she said laughing.

Miranda actually started off going to school to be a teacher, before switching course.

“I was working at the YMCA and one of my students said how I’d be a great Guidance Counselor because I was always going out of my way to help people, so I ended up switching my major to Psychology." 

While she ended up working in the automotive field, she still utilizes a lot of what she learned.

“While I didn’t end up with my PhD, I have a very open door policy at work. My co-workers will often times come in and just talk about whatever is on their mind, or any problems and I’m always there to listen.”

When it comes to what Miranda lives her life by, she is big on not wasting a moment.

“Life is too short, you have to live it to the fullest. Also make sure to be respectful of other people. It isn’t hard to do and can go a long way.”

For this week’s West Herr Wednesday, we took a trip to West Herr Dodge of Orchard Park to get to know Cashier, Katie Ulrich.

Growing up in Hamburg, most of Katie’s family remains local in WNY.

Katie is currently in college, attending the University at Buffalo.

“I am currently majoring in Environmental Design and minoring in Architecture.”

While the future is still open ended, she hopes to stay in Buffalo long term.

“The next step would be to get my Masters in either Architecture, or Urban Planning, but ultimately I’d like to work in Buffalo, whether it’s for the city or a private firm.”

Katie held a prior job in sales/customer service, but got a Facebook message from her cousin’s fiancé, Alexis, who works at West Herr Dodge.

“She told me about a cashier opening at the store and said I should apply."

Katie got a call the very next day and has now been at the store for over a year.

When I asked her what her favorite part was about working at West Herr, she said her coworkers.

“I always enjoy being around them and never have to dread going into work. Being a busy student, my boss Mark, is great with my schedule and I never have to sacrifice school for my job.”

Outside of work, Katie enjoys volunteering.

“I take part in the Junior League Show Houses.”

The concept of a “Show House” is to recruit local designers to transform a large, historic home into a dream home, room by room.  The public then buys tickets to see the house and all of the money raised is donated back into the community.

Katie also enjoys seeing her friends when her schedule allows.

“Hanging out with friends is definitely one of my favorite things to do, as well as go hiking end enjoy the outdoors.”

Katie also enjoys visiting Disney.

"It is my family and my favorite place to go every year!"

When it comes to pets, Katie has a Yorkipoo named Minnie.

“Minnie is little, as you can probably tell by her name, but she is my favorite thing in the whole world.”

Katie and her boyfriend Dan also enjoy visiting all the different local attractions in WNY.

"We have a lot of fun figuring out different kinds of dates, like the Botanical Gardens."

In terms of her future at West Herr, Katie enjoys where she is at.

“I could possibly see myself doing Billing & Title one day, but for now I think Cashier is a great fit based at where I am at in my life. I’m thankful for the opportunity to work at West Herr even in a part-time capacity.”

For this week’s West Herr Wednesday, we visited West Herr Ford Lincoln of Amherst to get to know Sales Consultant, Melissa Kluckhohn.

Melissa grew up in Hamburg, like the rest of her family.

“Both my parents went to Hamburg High School and my Dad owned a three-generation family business there as well.”

Melissa eventually attended SUNY Buffalo State, before transferring to Erie Community College.

“I took my prerequisites hoping to go down the Occupational Therapy route.”

When she didn’t get into the program she was hoping for at D'Youville College, she had to change course.

“A friend at the time was working for another auto group and was doing well. I also had another close friend working for Tony Farina at West Herr Subaru KIA and she helped me get an interview.”

Melissa ended up getting hired, under one condition.

“Tony told me he was moving to the Ford Lincoln of Amherst store and I had to go with him.”

Five years later, Melissa is still at that location.

“I didn’t know anything about cars when I started, but I knew people after having been a server/bartender for 10-years.”

Despite living in Hamburg her whole life, Melissa and her fiancé, John, bought a house in Pendleton last year.

“It is definitely an easier commute to work now! Ten minutes instead of 45,” she said laughing.”

When it comes to what Melissa enjoys the most about working at West Herr, it’s the people.

“First off I love the people I work with. Sometimes in this role you work, 50-60 hour weeks, so your co-workers become family. I also love my customers. Every day is different and I meet all sorts of different and interesting people. A lot of these people end up helping me out as well. If I need an electrician, chances are I’ve sold a car to one.”

While some co-workers might become family, one of them actually is family!

“My little brother Kyle, works at the store with me. He is three years younger and we have always been close.”

Outside of work, Melissa enjoys working on the home she bought.

“I love design aspect. Re-doing furniture from flea markets, or outlets. It’s so cool to re-purpose something with so much history.”

Melissa is also a big animal person.

“Right now my fiancé and I only have a cat, Cornelius, but this spring I am hoping to get dogs and chickens! One day I’d loved to have acreage and be able to get horses as well.”

Speaking of Melissa’s fiancé, they met when she sold him a car.

“His Grandfather has been buying cars at our store forever and recommended that he come see me. We ended up hitting it off. He is extremely supportive of my ambitions/career and I consider myself extremely lucky.”

In terms of what the future holds for Melissa at West Herr, she knows where she’d like to end up one day.

“Ideally I’d like to end up in Management at the Sales desk, because I love helping and training new employees, the way I was helped when I first started. The being said, I know I want to start a family, so perhaps once that is established I could see myself going that route.”

When I asked what Melissa wanted people to know about her, her response was simple.

“That I always try to be nice. You never know what someone is going through and how being kind can change the outlook of their entire day. It’s not much to ask, but just be nice to one another.”

For this week’s West Herr Wednesday, we visited West Herr Subaru/KIA to get to know Assistant Sales Manager, Pamela Farr.

Pam grew up in Orchard Park and attended school in West Seneca before eventually attending SUNY Buffalo State for college.

“I majored in History because I always did very well in the subject in school. I thought that I wanted to be a History teacher.”

Pam realized that ultimately wasn’t the right fit for her and took a few years off from school and joined the working world.

“I had a few odd jobs in collections and telemarketing before I ended up working in the Business Development Center at a different dealer group.”

While working part-time in the BDC, Pam decided to go back to school and finish her degree, after which she moved to full-time.

“I mainly wanted to go back to school just so I could finish what I started.”

While Pam enjoyed working in the BDC, she didn’t see a next step for her where she was and decided it was time to move on.

“I actually ended up receiving a job offer in Financial Planning, but had an interview with West Herr and couldn’t accept that job until I saw what West Herr had to offer.”

After interviewing with then General Manager, Tony Farina, Pam ended up accepting a part-time job in the BDC at West Herr.

“I took the job because it just felt like the right place for me to be at the time.”

Pam ended up becoming BDC Manager at her store, before being offered her current role as Assistant Sales Manager by now General Manager, Chuck Hardy.

“I have been in this role about three years now and am beyond grateful for the opportunity afforded to me.”

In terms of her favorite parts about working at West Herr, Pam has three things she mentioned.

“First off, I know everyone says this, but it would be the people. When I started here I told myself to just keep my head down and to do my job and make friendships later, but that proved to be impossible. Some of my closest friends have come from working at West Herr. I'm really thankful to have met the people I work with."

Pam also met her boyfriend at West Herr.

“Brandon (Mathewson) works at our Jeep store down the road and we actually met in between these two buildings,” she said laughing.

The second thing Pam enjoys  about working at West Herr, is the company’s involvement in Hospice.

“My Uncle passed away while in Hospice care back in 2006 and my family became actively involved with the organization in 2008. I now hold a fundraiser every year where I’ve raised thousands of dollars for Hospice. To join a company that gives back to the organization as well means so much to me.”

Lastly, the management at West Herr is something Pam cherishes.

“Especially Chuck. I don’t know where I’d be in my career if it wasn’t for the trust that Chuck showed in me. I always say it’s really easy to work hard for someone who works hard for you.”

In terms of her future, Pam is open to what comes her way.

“There are certain aspects about being a Sales Manager that I still would like to learn, specifically about assisting the Sales Consultant while their customer is here in the store, but overall I am very open minded. In a company this big with so much opportunity, my next position might not even exist yet!”

Outside of work, Pam loves to travel.

“My two favorite places to visit are Disney World and New York City. I am actually going to Disney with my Niece and Nephew soon, but it is a surprise. Luckily they can’t read yet, so we are safe,” Pam said laughing.

She also travels with Brandon whenever possible, having visited places like Key West and Aruba.

“That is something else I really enjoy about my job. It provides the flexibility for me to be able to travel.”

Pam also likes to remain active when possible.

“Brandon and I will go on hikes when it’s nice out. We also ride our bikes and have done so in the Ride for Roswell with West Herr several times. I have also completed four half-marathons!”

Pam also mentioned that her family is very important to her and she is thankful to have them all here in WNY.

When it comes to what Pam wants people to know about her, she said she believes strongly in this Walt Disney quote.

“If you can dream it, you can do it.”

She explained that she doesn’t believe there are limits if you are open to hard work, continuing to learn and opportunity.

Lastly Pam said she enjoys helping others.

“Whether it is a customer, or a co-worker my door is always open and my phone is always on. I am so grateful to be in the position I am with West Herr, that I am always happy to help people take the next step, whether it be just for that day, or for their career in general.”