Pub. 6 2017-2018 Issue 1

Summer 2017 11 Sales Training Academy,” says Eddie Binder, general manager of Weseloh Chevrolet & Kia Carlsbad. “I have always found their course to be very well received by students, and we not only utilize their graduate list to prospect for new sales consultants, but we also send every new sales hire that has no or minimal auto sales experience to the course prior to them ever speaking to a customer at the dealership.“ With a history that spans more than two decades, the California Sales Training Academy has launched many successful long-term careers in automotive retail. Among thosewho have achieved great success is Mike Shackelford, general manager and partner at North County Kia. As Mike puts it: “In December 2007 I was in between careers, and at age 34, that’s a scary thing. As I was applying for sales jobs, I was encouraged to go down to a ‘free class’ at the NCDA so that I could learn the basics of the car business. The information that I learned while at the academy was invaluable to my career. Within the first 12 months after going through the training provided by the California Sales Training Academy, I was the top salesperson not only inmy dealership, but also within the entire group of dealerships for which I worked.” “Because of that training, I was able to move into Sales Management within 14months, and eventually became the general salesmanager, and now, the general manager and partner at North County Kia. I consider the training that I received at the CSTA some of the most valuable information that I ever learned in this business. I often visit as a guest speaker to current classes, and I regularly send my ‘green peas’ down to be trained by Bob Heintz and the California Sales Training Academy.” Continuing education has also been a part of the CSTA history, and just this year an Internet Sales Training course has been added to the curriculum. This more advanced half-day digital success workshop covers a variety of topics useful to salespeople, BDC reps, internet sales managers, sales managers and anyone involved in the digital sales process. The course is intended to provide all of the tools and resources a store needs to achieve ultimate digital success For dealers interested in joining the California Sales Training Academy as a partner, please contact the NCDA at 858-550-0080.