How a Ford dealership celebrates tech to instill pride

The group, which includes three stores, a collision center and a commercial truck center, sold 2,239 new and 1,847 used vehicles in 2022, and had more than 55,000 customer repair orders.

The banners, which the group surprised their technicians with in October, include details such as the employee’s name, specialty, stars for extra certifications and the month and year they started as a technician at their shop.

“It was just a token of our appreciation for everything they do for us every day,” Kody told Automotive News.

Also included on the banners is the technician’s signature — a personal touch that Kody said gives them a greater sense of ownership.

“Getting these certifications and becoming a senior master technician or a transmission tech, diesel tech — that is a lifelong career that takes a long time to perfect, especially with Ford as these vehicles become more and more complicated,” she said. “I wanted them to have ownership over the flags and be really proud of them.”

The banners, which cost the group about $12,000 in printing, installation and hardware expenses, are updated any time a technician gets a new certification — or if a correction needs to be made.

“If someone was supposed to have four instead of three stars or if it was supposed to read a different way, they are on top of it all the time,” Kody said. “It’s a sense of pride for them and that makes us really happy.”