Wednesday, August 13, 2003
|
Wednesday, August 13, 2003 |
Vigil named to Board of RegentsBy MICHAEL
BOYLAN
Allan Vigil is more than just the president and a successful owner of two local Ford dealerships, he is also now a member of The University System of Georgia's Board of Regents. Vigil was appointed by Gov. Sonny Perdue and is looking forward to the position. "It's a pretty interesting position and a good group of people," said Vigil, who was sworn in last week. "I'm familiar with some of what they do, but I'm going to have a lot of homework." The Board oversees two state colleges, 13 two-year colleges, 13 state universities, two regional universities and four research universities in the state. The Board of Regents is composed of 18 members who serve a term of seven years. Though Vigil is new to the Board of Regents, he does have experience in community service. Not only has he served on both the Clayton County Chamber of Commerce and the President's Roundtable of the Fayette County Chamber of Commerce, of which he has been a member since 1990, but he has also served on the Board of Trustees for the Clayton College and State University Foundation for the last 20 years. Vigil has also served on the Department of Public Safety for two years. While his work with these organizations has earned him respect in the community, his work with his dealerships has earned his the respect of his employees and his customers. In fact, Vigil credits a large part of his success to the loyalty of his staff. "I've been real fortunate in the fact that good people have stayed with me," said Vigil. "I gave them the opportunity to do what they do best." Vigil began working for the Ford dealership, formerly located on Tara Boulevard, in 1973. In 1982, he became the dealer and by 1990 he bought it outright. As the dealership grew, it became apparent that they were landlocked and had little room to expand. He bought the land at the current location on Mt. Zion Boulevard and started with the body shop, followed by the new building. It has been open since March and Vigil couldn't be happier with the way things have gone since then. "We built this facility for the long run," said Vigil. "We asked ourselves what a great facility for employees and customers would be like. If employees are happy, the customers are happy. It has been a great experience and we're looking forward to having this first-class facility for years to come." Around the time that the Mt. Zion Boulevard site opened, Vigil purchased the dealership formerly known as Carolyn Ford in Fayetteville. This new dealership has given Vigil a chance to have some long-time employees move up to management positions. All in all, 20 employees have received the opportunity to advance. "There is not a lot of turnover here," explained Vigil. "A lot of these people have been here a long time. We like to promote from within and this worked out real well." Before entering the world of automotive sales, Vigil grew up in Tampa and attended the University of Florida where he earned a B.A. in business administration. After college, he enlisted in the Army, where he earned the rank of first lieutenant and served as a transportation officer. For his service, Vigil was awarded the Bronze Star and the Army Commendation Medal. After leaving the Army, Vigil moved to Atlanta and has been in the area ever since. He lived for a number of years in Fayette County with his wife, Bonnie, and his children, Dawn and Michael. Vigil is building a house in Eagle's Landing and will soon be a Henry County resident. Vigil has led an interesting life so far and the photos on the wall of his office prove it. There are three sections of photos, many of them autographed, featuring sports stars, racing stars and political figures and celebrities. Among the racing memorabilia are photos and plaques with Vigil's friend Bill Elliot. When asked if he has any other favorite pictures, Vigil states he is particularly proud of his photo with General Norman Schwarzkopf, with who he has had several conversations with over the years. "I really think Gen. Schwarzkopf did a lot to change the American public's perception towards people in the service," said Vigil. Vigil's Mt. Zion dealership is one of the top 50 in the country and has won Ford Motor Company's Triple Crown Award the past two years. Vigil was also the Businessman of the Year in 2001 for the Georgia Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. For now, Vigil is looking forward to working with the Board of Regents and is also excited about the new product cycle at Ford, especially the new F-150 coming this fall. Add the upcoming college football season and the end of the NASCAR season to the mix and there is a lot to be excited about.
|
||