|
Meet Our Staff - Austin Subaru's Family of Employees
Genny, Will, and Joy Hardeman (Brother and Twin Sisters)
Executive Vice President (Genny) - Managing Partner (Will) - Visionary (Joy)
Hire Date 2/17/1984 (Genny)
Hire Date 7/18/1981 (Will)
Hire Date 2/17/1984 (Joy)
Geneva Anne Hardeman, one of the future radio voices of Austin Subaru, remembers spending winter vacations in Colorado, navigating the snowy mountain roads in her family’s Outback. Genny got her start in the Continental Automotive Group on February 17, 1984, just two and a half minutes before her sister Joy. Genny was a thespian and tennis star at St. Stephen’s Episcopal School before continuing on to SMU, where she graduated a semester early with a degree in Finance and Foreign Languages and Literatures. Genny went to work for Tejas Securities in Austin but was soon recruited into the family business. Genny enjoys spending time with friends on Lake Austin and taking runs around the neighborhood with her two dogs, a Blue Lacy named Charlie and a yellow Labrador named Ellie. Ellie enjoys riding in the Subaru sport utility vehicles; her favorite is the Outback.
Will is an Austin recreationalist: an avid cyclist, triathlete, competitive skier, and outdoorsman who enjoys all the air, land, and water that Austin has to offer. These activities have made Will more in tune with local environmental issues, and, in his construction and development focus at the Continental Automotive Group, Will brings with him a strong commitment to preserving Austin’s natural beauty. He is excited about the local expansion of the Subaru brand and thinks that it’s a perfect match for the people of Austin.
Will grew up in west Austin and graduated from the University of Texas at Austin.
Joy, a sought-after companion, enjoys a good crossword puzzle and late evening walks on the Lions Municipal Golf Course with her two puppies, Ellie and Charlie. As one half of the team that joined the Continental Automotive Group on February 17, 1984, Joy has 25 years of automotive industry know-how. Although currently on hiatus to attend The University of Texas School of Law, Joy enjoys receiving CAG updates from her family and co-workers. Those who missed Joy in work mode can check Facebook for the photographic chronicle “A Day in the Office- Kicking Butt and Taking Names.” In the meantime Joy will continue checking in at Austin Subaru in order to receive her yearly flu shot. Joy also knows that the Subaru Outback is Ellie’s favorite.
John Anderson
Parts Warehouse
Hire Date 3/27/2008 John is a lifelong Central Texan (apart from a brief stint in Hawaii) and has been working in the car industry for the past 25 years (apart from the brief stint in Hawaii). A veteran Hawaii vacationer who returns to the islands at least once a year, John says that Maui is his favorite spot – it’s not too busy and crowded but not too slow either. John is an avid runner and enjoys racing around Austin and beyond. He completed the Maui Marathon but prefers 5K and 10K races over the longer distances. John has also taken up swimming and may take on an Ironman Triathlon one day.
Brent Baker
General Manager
Hire Date 10/12/2009 Brent moved to Austin in 2000 from Amarillo, Texas. He says Amarillo was a great place to grow up, featuring wonderful people and beautiful landscape (as long as you like flat dirt and high winds). He grew up in the car business, which his family was involved in since he was a youngster. He has had many different jobs in a dealership at one time or another, from lot porter to dealer principal. The jury is still out as to whether he has mastered any of them! He is married to Andrea (married up into the trifecta of brains, beauty, and a great personality!), and their home is usually one step away from an asylum with the help of their three teenagers Evan, Caitlyn, and Julian along with their two boston terriers Melvin and Matilda. When not helping out the wonderful clientele of Austin Subaru, you will probably find Brent at the lake with the family or searching in the woods for his ball around one of the area golf courses.
Joel Borrego
Technician
Hire Date 8/11/1986
Joel moved to Austin in 1984 from the Rio Grande Valley he grew up in. He started working at First Texas Honda in 1986 but took a brief sabbatical in 2005 to pursue an ill-fated relationship in Mississippi. He has twin daughters in high school.
James Brannon
Service Writer
Hire Date 3/1/2007 Born right here in Austin, James is a regular car guy here to help you keep your Subaru on the road and in great shape. He strives to make your life easier with an upfront and honest approach to servicing your Subaru. With over 25 years in the car business, he has the experience and drive to get the job done right for you.
Eldon Bryan
Sales Consultant
Hire Date 2/16/2008 I have been involved with the car business here in Austin for over 13 years. I have developed some great relationships with some real nice people. I have worked in all departments Finance, New and Pre-Owned sales. Buying a car should be exciting and easy and comfortable. Just like living here in Austin.
Shanon Burnham
Service Writer
Hire Date 3/20/1997 Shannon grew up in Barbados (the prettiest island in the Caribbean… seriously, google “Barbados photos”) and wishes he could go back to visit his family there more often. Here in Austin, Shannon’s life revolves around his wife and 5-year-old daughter, who just began kindergarten. Hamburgers are Shannon’s food of choice, and his particular favorite is the cheeseburger with a fried egg on top from Red Robin. Shannon enjoys helping customers and tries to focus on being compassionate and living by the golden rule. Shannon says that he takes pride in his work in the Subaru service department because he feels like what he does makes a difference.
Justin and Suzette Burrow (In-Laws!)
Group Buyer (Justin) - Public Relations (Suzette)
Hire Date 1/28/2010 (Justin)
Hire Date 1/14/2003 (Suzette)
Justin just recently moved back to Austin from Seattle, Washington in search for greener pastures. And the good news is that he found these pastures at Continental Automotive Group. He is now a buyer for the group and works with all four stores. He is married to an awesome girl named Jackie and has a energetic little three year old daughter, Milana. He is environmentally conscience and loves recycling and taking care of Mother Nature. Something people might not know about him is he ran track at Rice University in Houston and his favorite restaurant here in Austin is South Congress Café.
Suzette has worked for the Continental Automotive Group for 7 years. During her time there she met her husband Andrew Burrow. They have a chocolate lab named Luke than loves swimming in Town Lake and playing fetch in Auditorium Shores. Her favorite past time is spending time with her husband and reading mystery novels. Suzette started out as a part-time receptionist at Mercedes-Benz of Austin and now she is the public relations representative for all four stores. Her informative videos are coming soon to our website.
Cesar Campos
Service Technician
Hire Date 7/23/2008 Caesar came to Austin 19 years ago from Monterrey, Mexico. When he’s not working in the Subaru service department, Caesar enjoys running on the Town Lake Trail and spending time with his sisters and mother. He also likes playing football and basketball, watching UT sports, and cooking chicken fajitas and Mexican rice.
Steve Clark
Finance Manager
Hire Date 2/22/2003 Steve moved to Austin in February 2003 and has worked for the Continental Automotive Group since then, beginning at First Texas Honda and now at Austin Subaru. Steve loves food, movies, cycling, motorcycles, and (of course) old and new cars. However, the thing Steve loves most of all is spending time with his two daughters, Rachel and Riley, his son Morgan, and now his third daughter Julia, who was born on 7/25/2009. Steve always tries to maintain a great attitude and looks forward to making all your experiences at the dealership easy and enjoyable. Steve has spent over 30 years working in the automotive industry and has held a variety of positions in service, manufacturing, sales, and management.
Dave Cruz
Service Manager
Hire Date 7/22/2002 David was born and raised in New York City, although his 18 years in Texas have almost completely erased the New York accent. David spends most of his free time with his wife Jan and daughter Jordan. They enjoy tropical beach vacations and recently took an amazing trip to Maui, where David swam with sea turtles. David is also a firearms enthusiast whose interests include shooting, collecting, and repairing various weapons. David has been with the Continental Automotive Group for more than 16 years and began working on Subarus back in 1992.
Miguel DeLaGarza
Service Technician
Hire Date 6/20/2005 Miguel came to Austin from Brownsville, Texas and met his wife of five years, Yolanda. Miguel works hard in the Service Department and then heads straight to the gym every day to lift weights. He enjoys racing remote control cars and airplanes and owns a buggy with a 22-pound weed eater motor inside.
Chrystian Diaz
Hire Date 8/14/2007
Chrystian hails from Zacatecas in Central Mexico and has lived in Austin for 3 years. When asked what he likes most about Austin, Chrystian says “the nightlife.” Clubbing on Sixth Street is a favorite weekend activity for Chrystian, although he explains that he goes out to dance and hang out with the ladies, not to drink. Chrystian is the oldest of four children and enjoys playing soccer with his two younger brothers. He also likes finding new applications to download for his iPhone, as well as watching videos and keeping up with friends on the internet.
Juan Garcia
Service Technician
Hire Date 2/12/2007 A native of El Paso, Juan enjoys the relaxed atmosphere of Austin and says that there is always something to do. Juan likes going to bars but says that he’s getting a little too old to be a Sixth Street regular. Cooking out is another of Juan’s passions, and beef fajitas are his specialty. His secret is marinating the beef in beer before putting it on the grill. When he travels back to El Paso, Juan takes his truck four-wheeling in the mud and sand dunes. On Sundays, you can find Juan cheering on the Dallas Cowboys.
Sandra Guevara
Receptionist
Hire Date 8/21/2008 Sandra is the cheerful voice greeting customers who call Austin Subaru. She has worked at the dealership for a year and a half and says that the fun employees make it feel like a family. Sandra’s non-Subaru family centers around her two children and husband of five years, Jorge. With a four-year-old son and one-year-old daughter to keep up with, Sandra says her hobbies now include both Chuck E Cheese and Gattitown. Sandra and Jorge also take walks around the Town Lake Trail and love to go dancing.
Doug Hite
Sales Consultant
Hire Date 10/12/1994 Originally from Lubbock, Doug Hite blew down to Austin in a West Texas sandstorm and has been working for Continental Automotive Group for over 15 years. If you need a new or pre-owned vehicle, put Doug's 27 years of automobile sales and management experience to work for you. He believes that buying a car should be fun and hassle-free and will carefully listen to your wants and needs, ensuring that every customer has a great Subaru-buying experience.
If Doug isn’t at the dealership, he’s probably out wakeboarding on Lake Austin. Doug’s other love is Olive, his Black Brindle Boxer, who spends her days lounging in the sun drinking Crown Royal. Olive has never been served Canadian Club whiskey, but Doug thinks she would refuse it. Doug also enjoys hunting and taking vacations in Mexico.
Valerie Hopkins
Cashier
Hire Date 8/16/2007 A self-described “car chick,” Valerie’s hobbies include racing fast cars and following Danica Patrick in the IndyCar Series. Valerie prefers hanging out with friends over going to a bar and loves living near Lake Travis. She is a big fan of UT football and the Houston Astros and enjoys eating Mexican food. Valerie also enjoys spending time with her pit bull, Roxy.
Lee Laxton
Parts Manager
Hire Date 3/16/2007 Lee has an amazing 24 years of experience in the car industry. Originally from Bellaire, Texas, Lee moved up to Austin almost ten years ago and is sold on the Central Texas quality of life. He has been married to his wife Victoria for almost 20 years and describes her as “the best looking brunette in town.” Lee, Victoria, and their three teenage children are outdoor people who enjoy floating the river during the summer months. Lee recently started golfing more often but has chosen not to include his handicap in this bio.
Levi Lohrman
CAG Austin - IT Director
Hire Date 5/19/2008 Levi is a very happy person that has been working for this company for almost 2 years now (he started just 2 days after he graduated from the University of Texas). He is the proud owner his new (well, new to him) Subaru Forester for which he signed the papers for the morning of his interview here. We're not saying that's the reason he was hired, but it definitely didn't hurt his chances. Levi is now the master of all things IT for Austin Subaru, so if you have any computer-related problems, feel free to ask. Oh and don't steal anything from Levi's office... It is frowned upon.
Cesar Luna
Detail Technician
Hire Date 5/20/2008 Cesar is originally from Mexico City and has lived in Austin for four years. Cesar spends his time working, visiting his nephews, or going to church. He really, really, really loves church. Cesar’s favorite food is chicken fajitas.
Antonia Maldonado
Hire Date 10/9/2007
For the past two years Antonia has used her talents to keep the Subaru showroom beautiful. Antonia has lived in Austin for 10 years and has been married to her husband Noe for 10 years. Antonia and Noe, who works at Austin Infiniti, have a 7-year-old son and a 13-year-old daughter. On the weekends Antonia will spend time in the park and go out to clubs to dance. The family also enjoys traveling to Mexico to visit their relatives.
Roger Matthews
Sales Consultant
Hire Date 4/11/2006 If you are looking for fun outdoor activities in Austin where you might find other AWD Subaru customers, ask for Roger Matthews our Subaru Internet Sales consultant. He can provide you local information on running, walking, jogging, hiking, biking, swimming, kayaking, canoeing, rock climbing, cycling, gardening, etc. in and around the Austin Hill Country area.
Joel McColl
Sales Consultant
Hire Date 8/21/2008 A 28 yr resident of Austin, Joel McColl has been a member of the Austin Subaru sales team since 2008 and has over 12 years experience in New, Pre-Owned & Internet sales as well as finance. He believes buying a new vehicle should be an exciting and fun experience and is committed to making your experience at Austin Subaru easy and hassle free. Having been the MC/Producer of the O Henry World Championship Pun Off for 20 years, Joel was the 2007 International Punster of the Year. Did you know that Joel McColl, during his time as a professional musician, once played in the Sydney Opera House?
Did you know that Joel McColl is an avid golfer with a handicap of 9?
Luis Melendez
Detail Specialist
Hire Date 9/26/2005 Luis is described by his peers as the hardest working guy at the dealership. It actually took almost two full work days for Luis to have time to answer questions for his bio! Luis is another Austin Subaru employee who came to Austin from Honduras. He and his wife, Ihza, have a 16-year-old son, Carlos. Luis spends his free time downtown and loves Salsa and Merengue dancing. He also enjoys watching MLS games when he has the time.
German Milla
Detail Specialist
Hire Date 7/24/2007 German came to Austin all the way from San Pedro, Honduras and has lived here for 18 years. He enjoys spending time with his mother and siblings here in Austin and also going back to Honduras to visit his sisters there. On the weekends, German goes shopping and watches sports. His favorite teams are the Cowboys, Lakers, Spurs, and Real España, the Honduran soccer club.
The William Myers
Subaru Shop Foreman
Hire Date 8/3/2000 A fourteen year veteran of Austin Subaru, Billy is the second highest rated Subaru technician in the United States. Billy remembers seeing the 1992 Subaru SVX and falling in love with the car maker. However, it is the cars’ dependability that has kept him hooked. Billy encourages customers to test drive their Subarus in bad weather and says that, if you keep oil and water in a Subaru, it will run forever. Billy currently owns five Subarus and has also given them to both his parents and children.
Billy and his wife Keri were married seven years ago in the famous Little White Wedding Chapel on the Las Vegas strip. They have two children and live on fives acres in Copeland with their horse, Big Dog. Billy has been known to drive his riding lawnmower to the local convenience store.*
* video coming soon
Lonnie Oglesby
Parts Specialist
Hire Date 4/23/2002 Lonnie is a native Austinite and Bowie High School graduate who has spent the past eight years loving his life at Austin Subaru, a satisfaction he attributes to the great people working at the dealership. Lonnie enjoys playing golf and tries to squeeze in rounds with Lee when not spending time with his beautiful wife and two daughters. Another of the Vegas enthusiasts at Austin Subaru, Lonnie recently returned from a craps and roulette-focused mission in LV. Did he come home a winner??? Lonnie says he would still be in Las Vegas if he was winning.
Ashley Reed
Office Manager
Hire Date 1/16/2006 A country girl from Mt. Pleasant, Ashley moved to Austin to play softball at St. Edward’s University. After graduation, Ashley continued playing in various slow-pitch leagues and eventually met her teammate and fiancé Lonnie. (They are planning a November wedding.) Ashley has a chihuahua named Frito and loves to barbeque brisket and ribs. She is also an excellent craps player and tries to make it up to Las Vegas two or three times a year.
Ricardo Reyes
Hire Date 10/9/2007
Ricardo is originally from Santa Rosa de Lima, a small town in eastern El Salvador. Ricardo has lived in Austin for eight years and says that he and his family enjoy it much more than Houston, although they often return to Houston to visit relatives. Ricardo and his wife have a 12-year-old son and a 10-year-old daughter. Ricardo’s hobbies include fishing and other outdoor activities, and he likes to take weekend camping trips with his family. Ricardo just returned from a family vacation to Schlitterbahn and says that they had a great time.
David and Roy Reyes (Brothers)
Sales Consultant (David) and Pre-Owned Sales Manager (Roy)
Hire Date 8/3/2003 (David)
Hire Date 9/8/1998 (Roy)
David is a car nut who has always loved everything related to automobiles. His first car was a 1982 Jaguar that he saved for and purchased himself. David graduated from high school at age 16 and finished a degree in Electronics Engineering when he was only 19. Apart from cars and being smart, David’s hobbies include watching and attending professional sporting events. He is THE biggest Spurs fan and also likes the Dallas Cowboys. He actually just took a trip to Dallas to attend the first Cowboys game in the new stadium. David also enjoys spending time with his nephews and teaching them to do bad things.
Roy is a native Austinite whose life revolves around his wife and three sons. Most of Roy’s time is spent working or hanging out with his family, although he does find a little time to play guitar and watch UT football. Roy enjoys catching and eating fish: his favorite restaurant is Eddie V’s and his favorite vacation is deep sea fishing along the Texas Gulf Coast. As he is currently on a quest to lose 30 pounds, you can find Roy at 24 Hour Fitness at least four days each week.
Daniel Rodriguez-Chicas
Service Technician
Hire Date 4/2/2007 Originally from El Salvador, Daniel has lived in Austin for the past 12 years. He appreciates the small-town feel of the city and all the fun activities that Austin has to offer. Daniel has five years of experience working on Subarus and describes the cars as nice and easy to fix. When not working in the Service Department, you can find Daniel on the soccer field playing for his team, Liverpool.
Rachel and Timothy Shook (Sister and Brother)
Internet Assistant (Rachel) - Internet Sales Director (Timothy)
Hire Date 5/26/2009 (Rachel)
Hire Date 5/15/2004 (Timothy)
Rachel's bio goes here.
Well, thanks to a week in Virginia and D.C. I am now on my last belt loop. Anyone know where I can get dress pants with that elastic waist-expansion technology?
Jose Luis Snyder
Photographer
Hire Date 7/24/2007 Beginning at his dad’s service shop in Mexico, Jose has been around cars all his life. In his free time he races remote control cars and owns a Nitro RC car that can reach 70 miles per hour. Jose also enjoys bowling and playing pool with his friends. Although he’s a pretty good pool player, Jose says that he only uses his skill to take peoples’ money “sometimes.” Photoshop art is another of Jose’s many talents.
Rodolfo Tolentino
Service Technician
Hire Date 10/8/2007 R.J. has worked for the past three years servicing automobiles and is passionate about his work here at Austin Subaru. He is originally from Pasadena, California and goes back to California often to visit his older sister. R.J. likes to watch and play sports in his spare time and is a huge fan of both the Dallas Cowboys and Los Angeles Lakers. Whenever he has a vacation opportunity, R.J. enjoys visiting beautiful beaches. Hawaii’s North Shore is currently his favorite destination. Back here in Austin, R.J. enjoys spending time with his pit bull, Calimae, and eating at his favorite restaurant, Pappasito’s.
Jesse York
Sales Consultant
Hire Date 11/27/2006 This photo is from Jesse’s earlier days, when he was the hard partying and wildly talented drummer in the world famous heavy metal band Mania. Incidentally, it was about that time and a result of those skills that earned Jesse the nickname that stays with him today "The War Machine" Jesse moved to Central Texas in 1981 and now calls San Marcos home. He follows Nitro Funny Car Drag Racing and collects movie memorabilia from the Golden Age of Hollywood. Jesse also enjoys football season and live music.
If you ever have an obscure question about a certain Subaru model, find Jesse, who is a national Subaru walk-around champion. Jesse says that the Subaru brand is a true state of mind and he loves representing it. He appreciates both to the go anywhere capability of the vehicles and also the shared sensibilities that Subaru customers have of caring about the well-being of Mother Earth.
|
|
|
