Findlay Kia executive honored by Automotive News
Mark Olson, Findlay Kia director of e-commerce and business development, was recently honored by the highly regarded publication Automotive News for being among the top 40 under the age of 40.
An annual award that lauds some of the best automobile executives in the country, the honor was a pleasant surprise for Olson, a 32-year-old native of Kings Park, New York, and a 10-year veteran of the car business.
Automotive News reviews executives from throughout the country scrutinizing employees in more than 17,000 dealerships.
“I was very humbled,” said Olson. “I speak to a lot of people in the automotive industry at conferences such as North American Dealers Association and Digital Dealer. To make an impression on those executives is overwhelming.
“The group includes dealership owners and third-party executives who really know the business, and it’s truly an honor to be recognized by such a respected group of people.”
Olson said the car business is fascinating especially considering the constant changes and challenges.
“You never have two days that are the same,” Olson said. “Especially on the e-commerce side, you must always be ready to change and be able to adapt to current market trends. It’s true that with the internet, the automobile business is now a seven-day-a-week, 24-hour-a-day industry.”
Olson explained that Las Vegas’ 24-hour lifestyle literally means that buyers will shop the internet even during the wee morning hours.
“I’m often up at 1 in the morning and will see four or five inquires,” he said. “In my position, you definitely must respond via email as soon as possible. There literally is no rest in this profession.”
Olson is especially impressed with the Kia brand.
“Kia has absolutely ramped up the quality of its product,” Olson said. “While so many other manufactures offer three-year, 36,000-mile warranties, Kia offers five-year, 60,000 miles along with a 10-year, 100,000-mile powertrain warranty, which is a better warranty than many of your high-lines.
“Kia has built a lot of value into their vehicles and, in fact, the company has revolutionized the automobile industry.”
Findlay Kia general manager Byron Klemaske praised Olson.
“It’s a huge honor,” Klemaske said. “I’m a huge fan of Automotive News and I always wondered what it would take to win this award. After watching Mark’s relentless passion for his job, I now understand what it takes.”
To be eligible for the honor, candidates must work at a dealership in North America, have a track record of significant business achievements and be under age 40 on July 11.
Situated at 5325 W. Sahara Ave., Findlay Kia is part of Findlay Automotive Group founded more than 50 years ago by the late Pete Findlay, whose son, Cliff, now oversees 28 automotive dealerships in Nevada, Idaho, Oregon, Arizona and Utah.
Further information can be found by calling 702-252-8900 or by visiting www.findlaykia.com.