Findlay Lincoln Mercury wins President’s Award, welcomes new manager

There's a lot to celebrate at Findlay Signature Lincoln Mercury on East Sahara Avenue. In addition to celebrating the brand's 106th anniversary, the dealership recently won a President's Award from Ford Motor Co. and has a new general manager, Nathan Findlay.

Findlay took over the dealership this past month and has plans to liven up the 44-year-old business with an all-new approach and a little help from his friends, family and the dealership's many long-time employees. Findlay said he plans to increase advertising and grassroots marketing and recruit new employees.

"There's a lot of value in the culture that's here and the people that are here and it's just a matter of the outside seeing it," Findlay said.

Nathan Findlay has been in the car business since he was 15 years old. His older brother Justin heads Findlay Chevrolet and his younger brother Robby runs a store in Flagstaff, Ariz. Nathan Findlay comes to Signature from Findlay Toyota where he worked in new- and used-car sales and as a sales manager.

Findlay Signature Lincoln Mercury was presented with its first President's Award on June 17 for high ratings in customer service and sales in 2008. It was the only dealership in the Phoenix region to receive this honor.

"We have a good product," said Alice McCoy, who has been worked at the dealership for 26 years and currently manages new-car inventory. "Ford is stable; Lincoln Mercury is stable."

McCoy said Lincoln Mercury is hoping to appeal to the younger crowd and she's confident the brand's new products will. Ford's SYNC in-car communications and entertainment system will be standard on all 2010 Lincoln Mercury models. The voice-controlled system includes a navigation system, music downloading and storing abilities, and real-time traffic updates, business searches, news, sports and weather.

Findlay Signature will carry the all-new MKT, which includes SYNC, starting in September. The seven-passenger luxury crossover is based on the Ford Flex, but has more contemporary styling, said Findlay, features three rows of seats and comes in front- and all-wheel drive. The all-wheel-drive model features the Ecoboost turbocharger.

Also popular is the store's hybrid versions of the Milan sedan and Mariner SUV. The models are so sought after that the only way to get one is to order one directly from Ford.

"We're sold out. We can't get enough," Findlay said. "The demand is there and the supply hasn't caught up yet."

Signature Lincoln Mercury is currently offering several models with a zero-percent annual percentage rate. Contact the dealership at 457-0321, go to www.signaturelm.com or stop by the store located at 3030 E. Sahara Ave.