January 4, 2023
Suzy Herring, who currently serves as the Human Resources Director for Four Star Freightliner, graduated on Dec. 16 from the American Truck Dealers (ATD) Academy held in Washington, DC.
ATD Academy is designed for future operators of truck dealerships and provides the fundamentals needed to operate a successful and profitable business. Herring traveled to classes from Montgomery, Ala. over the course of a year.
“I am incredibly grateful that my Dealer Principal Jerry Kocan had confidence in me and sent me to the academy, “ said Herring. “The classes were designed around sales and fixed operations. I felt a little out of place being from HR, but it helped me gain respect for everyone who works in those departments and what they do every day.”
Herring said her greatest joy is being a young girl coming to America from a different culture and not knowing a word of English to becoming a leader in an “outstanding company with an incredible culture”.
She was able to learn best practices from each truck company represented at the Dealer Academy. “Although we are different OEM dealers, we were able to meet at a common place to learn, inspire, and create lasting friendships.”
Kocan believed it was important to send Herring to Dealer Academy because as the Director of Human Resources she is involved with each of the seven Four Star Freightliner locations and all its departments. He felt it was necessary that she see all departments from a different perspective.
“People are your most valuable asset,” said Kocan. “Suzy is our North Star and will help guide us toward best practices and ideas she gained from the experience. Suzy gained resources from other students who were from all over the country, and from world class instructors. No one has better 20 Groups, teachers, and resources for truck dealers than ATD. She has already joined a Human Resource 20 Group so we are in tune and on the front end of any changes in that arena.”
A total of five Four Star Freightliner managers have graduated from Dealer Academy.
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