The Wrap on Rasmussen: Get to Know a Salesman

I'm back with another weekly addition of "Get to Know a Salesman." This week it's my other training partner in crime, John Rasmussen! It was great to get to know him outside of work and see what he was all about. Orlando and John actually worked together before and it was fun to hear them talk about their experiences together and all the fun they had back in the day! With lots to say, here's what John is all about!



How long you’ve been with Victory?
- I've been here for 7 months now

Where is you hometown?

- Walker, MN is where I grew up, but now I live in Manchester. (He's a Minnesotan like me)

Who do you call family?

- I am married with two kids. My son is 27 and my daughter is 23.

Did you attend college?

- Yes. I went to Luther College where I majored in Elementary Education and Music

Iowa or Wisconsin?

- IOWA

Cat or Dog?

- Dogs! I have a 4 year old Jack Russell/Rat Terrier mix.

iPhone or Android?

- iPhone

What's your favorite sport? What team?

- I love football and especially the Hawkeyes!

You're planning dinner. What will you make?

- If I could, ice cream!

What music is playing on your player?

- I'm showing my age with this one, but Chicago is my favorite band. (I'm actually a HUGE Chicago fan thanks to my dad, so John shouldn't feel so old!)

Favorite Holiday?

- Christmas. I love being with my family and having that Christmas spirit.

Favorite movie?

- A Christmas Story. It's classic.

Dream vacation?

- Hawaii

Proudest moment in your life so far?

- Graduating college

What you do in your free-time?

- I love to listen to music. I also frequent my garden and hone in my green thumb skills!

Favorite Ford vehicle?

- The Edge

Last but not least, why come buy a vehicle from you?

- I am a friendly, hard-working person. You can trust me to get you the best deal I can and I want to treat you as best as I can while you're here!

Any other interesting facts they should know?

- I sing in the church choir. I was also a teacher for 12 years before becoming a car salesman. 

John is one of the kindest persons and I guarantee he will make your business at Victory as smooth and inviting as possible. He's dedicated and is here for you!

Tech Talk: BLIS Blind Spot Monitoring

Back when I was in college, I drove a 2001 Hyundai Sonata. It was a great little car and was definitely reliable, besides the paint coming off the bumper making it look like a cow. (It was nicknamed Bertha the Cow in high school.) So one night I was meeting my now husband for dinner. I was at a 4-way intersection with a turn lane. I realized that I needed to be in said turn lane, so I quickly lurched the car over. As I did, a nice little sports car drove up and I hit him on the side. Long story short, insurance covered the accident. But what I'm getting at is that if I had blind spot monitoring, the accident could have been avoided!

Yellow LED ON

Cars nowadays usually have some sort of collision warning. It's a safety standard and prevents SO many accidents. Ford has come up with its BLIS: Blind Spot Information System and let me tell you, it's WONDERFUL. I know first hand as it is equipped in my Edge Sport!

The first feature of BLIS is the blind spot monitor. The vehicle has sensors in the rear sides and the front. It can detect a moving vehicle within a ten foot radius, making it clear that there is or isn't someone you can't see. On the side mirrors is a little icon and when someone is moving in your blind spot area, a yellow led will come on. This tells you, "HEY! Don't cross lanes, someone is near you!" Ford warns that it only detectable on moving vehicles. It will not detect people or animals. Mosyt importantly, shrubbery of sorts will still get hit. Sorry shrubbery.

I just had to throw this in, carry on...

BLIS also has cross-traffic alert. This feature allows you to be aware of any oncoming side traffic when parked. It has a range of 45 feet! When BLIS detects a vehicle, you will receive a notification on the dash and a beeping noise will sound. What's nice about this is it also will tell you whether the vehicle is approaching from the right or left. Cross-traffic alert works both when pulling forward and backing out of a spot.

Lastly, BLIS also utilizes the brakes when coming approaching a vehicle, like at an intersection. The audible will sound as it senses that a car is in your path. Then it will maximize the braking power of the vehicle making the collision as slow and safe as possible. Not only does BLIS save your life, but it also saves the lives of other drivers around you! Pretty neat!

See, if only I had had BLIS in my Sonata! I would've saved a lot of people time and money! Now is it a guarantee that you will never get in a collision? No. Technology is not full-proof and that is why Ford wants you know that we are humans and you must still be fully aware of your surroundings when driving a motor vehicle, and I say in every aspect of life!

If you want to learn more about BLIS, stop on out and say hi and we can show you just how safe one of our vehicles is! Or you can click on this link and read about it: BLIS

#drivevictory

A Chat With Orlando: Get to Know a Salesman

This week's salesman is Orlando Ramos. He's the newest member of our team and I was lucky enough to spend several hours in an Explorer with him last week. We were on our way to Des Moines for training along with John Rasmussen, another colleague here at Victory Ford. The sole driver of the trip, Orlando was always in good spirits and made us laugh. The trip was enjoyable and there never really was a dull moment. After the trip, I thought it was a perfect time for everyone else to get to know Orlando, like I had the chance to during our travels. So here he is, the "new kid on the block," Mr. Ramos take the stage!

How long you’ve been with Victory? 

- I've been with Victory for a good two months!

Orlando and Gunner enjoying a ride!

Where is your hometown?  

- St. Domingo, Chihuahua Mexico 

Who do you call family?

- I have my parents and my three brothers. I also have my dog Gunner. He's a boxer so he's super fun!

You're pretty young. Did you go to college?

- Some at Iowa, but I decided to be a working man instead!

The age old question around here, Iowa or Wisconsin?

- IOWA, DUH!

Dog or cat?

- Dog!

iPhone or Android?

-  Android

What is your favorite sport and then what team? 

- I used to wrestle, so wrestling. Plus you HAVE to root for Iowa wrestling!!

What is your favorite food? 

- Any and all ice cream

Who is playing on your iPod right now? 

- Keith Whitley

Favorite holiday? 

- Thanksgiving

Favorite movie of all time?

- La Bamba. Richie Valens is a hero

Your dream vacation. Where is it? 

- I would LOVE to travel throughout Europe

Moment you're most proud of? 

- Selling my first automobile

What you do in your free-time? 

- Hit the weights!!!! (Right after dinner on our trip, he hit the gym for a good couple of hours)

Favorite Ford vehicle? 

- F-150

Last but not least, Why come buy a vehicle from you:

- Friendly smile, will work for you to get you the best deal 😊 

Any other interesting facts about you?

- I'm bilingual, so I can definitely help out any Spanish speaking customers out there!

Orlando is fun and colorful, just like the city! He's here for you and would love to help you get into your next vehicle! Come say hi, hola, buenos dias, or whatever you would like! 

Mitch's Pitch: Get to Know A Salesman

It's time to meet our wonderful sales guys here at Victory! Every one of our guys is factory certified and dedicated to helping you find your next vehicle. Not only do they make Victory's brand stronger, they're also a bunch of fun, exciting guys to have a chat with! So what better than to get comfy in some big leather chairs, sit next to the fireplace, and have a conversation about each salesman's life and what not?! Okay, so I didn't provide comfy chairs, nor was there a fireplace, but Mitch was very happy to answer some questions and let you all get to know him a little better! Sit back, perhaps in YOUR big, comfy chair and see what Mitch is all about!

Let's start off with a simple one. How long you’ve been with Victory?

Mitch & His Sister, Morgan

- 3 years and 3 months

Where is your hometown?
- The big city of Earlville, Iowa

What about your family?

- I have one sister, her name is Morgan. My mom’s name is Melissa and father's name is Todd

Did you go to college?

- I am a junior at the University of Dubuque

Important question around here, Iowa or Wisconsin?

- (With much enthusiasm) IOWA... GO HAWKS!

Are you a dog or cat person?

- Dogs are a man's best friend

iPhone or Android?

- iPhone, because that's what Santa brought me two years ago

What is your favorite sport and what team do you root for?

- Football is my favorite sport. I am a Cowboys fan and they WILL win the Super Bowl this year. You heard it from me first (gives big grin)

Some of the typical questions now. What is your favorite food?

- Anything you put in front of me (I can attest to this as I've went to lunch with him. He will eat anything and everything. I don't know about a salad though.)

Favorite musician or band?

- Justin Moore. Best music my ears have heard

What is your favorite holiday?

- Christmas because of the quality time I get to spend with my family... and the month I get a break from school!

Favorite movie?

- Days of Thunder, no questions asked

Your dream vacation, where is it?

- Going to Speed Weeks in Daytona!

Mitch in High School Football

Proudest moment in your life so far?

- Playing state quarterfinals my senior high school year of football

What you do in your free-time?

- Work on my race car and spend time with my family. (he pauses and then says) oh yea and homework

What is your favorite Ford vehicle?

- The Superduty! Total powerhouse! Nothing on the market more capable than a Superduty! (he also owns one)

Last but not least, why come buy a vehicle from Mitch Manternach?

 - I make your car buying experience fun and easy

Any other interesting facts about you?

- I love hunting, fishing, and being outdoors

Always has a smile on his face!

Come and say hello to Mitch and the rest of the awesome staff here at Victory!

#drivevictory

Do You Smell What the Rock is Cookin?!

Famous "People's Eyebrow" ca. 1999

If it's oil, grease, and diesel fuel, then you're darn right you're smellin' what The Rock is cookin! Wrestling fans of the late 90's and early 2000's know him as WWF's "The Rock" with that classic opening line, but Dwayne Johnson has gone beyond show wrestling in the last decade. Now a star of many movies such as the Fast & Furious series and other great action films, Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson is also a loyal Ford fan. In a Facebook post from October 2nd, the mega star posted, "I currently own three Fords, but my relationship with them began when I was
15 years old and bought a classic blue '77 Thunderbird as my first car. It was $40 ... it was all mine and I've been a FORD man ever since."

He is showing that loyalty by becoming the new spokesman for Ford's Service campaign. He now leads a crew of experts called "The Specialists." These experts are dedicated to their individual craft and know what it takes to be a great service member. There are three team members under Johnson. Slick is the oil specialist. Treads is the tire specialist. Maestro holds the team together as the service advisor. We will get to watch their service exploits soon and I'm sure Johnson won't disappoint. The guy knows how to make something exciting, intense, and full of fun! And what better than to do it with Ford and its crew members?! 

It's great to see Ford polishing and shining up their Service entity. It's a HUGE part of Ford that a lot of people don't get to see as sales dominates most media. I'm sure Victory's service team will be pumped to have The Rock on their side!

The campaign begins October 12th and will be on television, digital media, social media, and radio! 

Be sure to tune in and once you have, stop out to Victory Ford and meet our very own Ford Service Specialists! Though they may not have names like Treads and Slick, they'll be sure to provide you with the excellent quality service you expect from Ford!

#servicevictory #drivevictory