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Highlands Today
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Alan Jay Operating Plaza Chevrolet
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Published: November 23, 2008
AVON PARK - Legally, it is still Plaza Chevrolet, but operationally the Avon Park dealership is now being run by the Alan Jay Automotive Network.
The company has entered into a management agreement with Plaza Chevrolet, according to Alan Jay Wildstein, president of the Alan Jay Automotive Network. Alan Jay took over operation of Plaza earlier this month.
Wildstein said the sale of the dealership must be approved by General Motors and the state of Florida. There is a due diligence period that will take longer than usual because of the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays. It will remain Plaza Chevrolet during that time.
In addition to being able to being able to pull vehicles from any of his seven other dealerships, Wildstein noted that Plaza customers can take advantage of the 24-hour towing service and the collision centers in Sebring. If a customer drops off a car at Plaza, it will be towed to Sebring and then driven back to Avon Park after the repair work is finished.
Santiago Hernandez is the general sales manager at Plaza. Hernandez served in that position at the Alan Jay Saturn and Buick Pontiac GMC dealerships in Sebring.
Crystal Boyd is the business manager at Plaza.
Both Hernandez and Boyd are returning to Avon Park, where they previously worked for the Chevrolet dealership.
A service writer and technician have been added to the Plaza staff.
Assuming he acquires the dealership, Wildstein plans to change the name and call it Witham Chevrolet. Michael Witham is the chief operating officer for the Alan Jay Automotive Network and is a partner with Wildstein in the Plaza venture.
The name change will not likely take place until some time in the spring of next year.
"Alan and I have known each other for more than 20 years," Witham said. "It's an awesome privilege. I'm so excited."
As far as the proximity of Plaza to the Sebring Chevrolet dealership, Witham said they are totally independent. There is a "friendly competition" between Hernandez and Mark Faye, the manager of the Chevy store. The men worked together in Avon Park.
Mona Sutphin-O'Neil has replaced Hernandez.
Bill Rogers may be reached at 386-5825 or wrogers@highlandstoday.com
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