Whitney Yates-Woods was recently awarded the Dealer Principal position at Yates Buick GMC, a milestone first for the company and a move that breaks barriers in the automotive industry. The 35-year-old, mother of two strives to employ people of all walks of life, but now aims to hire more women in the male-dominated automotive field. In fact, a recent auto workforce study found that only 19% of all positions are currently held by women.
“The automotive industry is heavily commanded by men and has lagged behind other industries for change,” said Yates Buick GMC Dealer Principal Whitney Yates-Woods. “With a female Dealer Principal, many other women in our workplace will step into roles they never thought were possible and aren’t common to see in other dealerships.”
READ ALSO: Ranking Arizona: Top 10 car dealers for 2021
The family dealership where Yates-Woods now serves as Dealer Principal once belonged to her father, Mike Yates, who passed away after a fight with COVID-19 in March 2021. At the time of his passing, Mike served as owner, operator and dealer, but his humble beginnings started in the 1980s with no money, big dreams and a used car lot. Mike started out by founding a truck dealership in Avondale called GMC Truck Country, which was designed to cater to agricultural clients. Over time, the business evolved and more vehicles were added to the inventory. Today, Yates Buick GMC in Goodyear offers an incredible lineup of Buicks, and what Mike considered the best truck products in the world – GMC.
“My dad had already handed down daily operations to me and my brother, Tyler, but applying to be Dealer Principal with GM after his passing felt like the right move,” said Yates-Woods. “Being a family-owned and operated business is something the entire Yates team takes very seriously, and we’re extremely proud to carry on my dad’s vision for the future of the business.”
The drive to provide incredible service has also allowed the team at Yates Buick GMC to make moves that are considered revolutionary for dealerships. Several years ago, a one price model was implemented, meaning no more haggling or price guessing. This approach has made pricing and advertising as simple as possible for customers. It’s just one of the many ways Yates Buick GMC has been a leader in the automotive industry, while staying focused on creating the best purchase and ownership experience the buyer has ever had.
“From finding new, creative ways to help the customer, to sticking with the original goal of putting customers first, our team is dedicated to treating everyone fairly,” said Yates Buick GMC Executive Manager Tyler Yates. “Everyone who walks in is treated as a part of the continuously growing family. We stand by our commitment to making your car or truck buying experience the best it can be. No tricks, no double talking; just a good deal and a great vehicle.”
Today, Yates Buick GMC is one of the premier automotive dealerships in the country, serving the greater Phoenix metropolitan area in a way few can boast. Even with the large inventory and world-class sales and service team, they are still small enough to provide personalized care to each customer they serve.
