Sales Management

John Spinnato
General Manager
John has been associated with the Sullivan family since 1971 when he pumped gas and drove a wrecker at Sully’s Mobil. Through the years and through experience gained at Sully’s Subaru, Sully’s Auto Sales and Service and now the MJ Sullivan Automotive Corner, John has been an integral part of growing the dealership’s huge customer base. The key, he says, is customer satisfaction. “We have whole generations of families who come back to us, and that means a lot,” he says. “We hold our people here to high standards, and the majority of our staff has been with us for years, giving people familiar faces when they come in.” Combine that continuity of staff with an honest, fair approach to pricing and impeccable service, and there is little wonder how MJ Sullivan has become the recognized leader in auto sales and service. In the end, though, John has one simple rule: “Nobody ever leaves upset.”

Jamie Conroy
Comptroller
Jamie, who formerly worked at a public accounting firm that had MJ Sullivan as a client, came to the dealership 11 years ago. “I was familiar with the operations and family and knew this would be a good fit,” he says. Jamie, who handles numerous financial matters and oversees compliance issues, is charged with maintaining the dealership’s spotless reputation in the industry. He says the owner’s approach makes his job much easier, “Bill (Sullivan) is a hands-on manager who is here from 7:30 in the morning to 6:30 at night,” he says. “You never have to wait for an answer. Things get resolved quickly and everybody in the organization remains on the same page.”

Jim DeMarco
New Car Sales Manager
Jim, who joined the MJ Sullivan dealership in 1988, oversees new car sales operations, along with the everyday process of purchasing vehicles. A part of the process from the meet-and-greet right through helping people with the product, Jim is the person who puts the figures together for customers wishing to buy or lease. “My job is to make sure every customer is satisfied every day,” he says. “That approach is why we have so much repeat business. Even when times get tough, people you have treated well will always come back.”

Greg Cane
Used Car Manager
Greg, who came to the MJ Sullivan dealership as a salesman in 1985, is in charge of vehicle appraisal and maintaining the used car inventory. Putting the emphasis on selection and service after the sale, Greg is the guy who will find the right car for you. When it comes to quality, Greg goes above and beyond Carfax to assure that MJ Sullivan customers get just what they’re looking for.

Enrico Simonelli
Internet Manager
Enrico has been at MJ Sullivan for two years, but his 12 years in the business have prepared him well to meet the dealership’s exemplary reputation for customer loyalty. “I want to be honest and answer all their questions so they can make an informed decision,” he says. “But I don’t just look to sell them a car and that be the end of it. I will follow up afterward, making sure the car and the experience have met all their expectations.” Enrico has one of the most interesting jobs at the dealership. Dealing with all matters concerning websites, email and phones, he works with potential customers locally, around the country and even from other countries. Customers have flown in from Nebraska and as far away as Seattle to buy a specific vehicle they found online. Buyers from Texas have purchased a Hyundai Santa Fe and a Buick, and other vehicles have been shipped off to Canada. And with 90 percent of customers having done some searching online before coming through the door, he is helping more and more people.

Eric Hauschild
Finance Director
Eric, who has been at MJ Sullivan for more than 23 years, brings impressive backing credentials to his position at the dealership. The man who oversees overall profitability, this former banker says he was attracted to the Sullivan dealership’s reputation for honesty, integrity, personal interaction and work-friendly environment. He adds that many friends originally questioned the wisdom of his decision to leave banking and take a position at an auto dealership. “They thought it was a major step down until I told them I was going to MJ Sullivan,” he said. “Once they heard that name, the reaction was ‘oh, that’s fine.’”

J.J. Parker
Finance Manager
J.J. is the person whose job it is to work with multiple banks and financial institutions in order to obtain the best financing rates for customers, many of whom have familiar names. “When you have a reputation for treating people right, you will see a lot of repeat business,” he says. A former submariner who began working in the auto industry after leaving the service in 1993, J.J. came to MJ Sullivan seven years ago. His background makes him a resource for the Navy community as he helps those individuals meet all governmental requirements.

Cathy Rollins
Finance Assistant
Cathy, who worked for General Motors for more than 20 years, came to MJ Sullivan about two years ago. She says the main attraction was the dealership’s excellent reputation. The person who prepares financial documents, Cathy is the person who makes sure all the i’s are dotted and t’s are crossed when you receive your final paperwork. Her job is to see to it that there are no unpleasant surprises.

Todd Peltier
Inventory Control Manager
Todd, who started his career with the Sullivan family in 1989 as an attendant at Sully’s Mobil, has risen through the ranks to become Inventory Control Manager. His job is to make sure vehicles on the lot have the right color, equipment and features that customers are looking for. Looking at what’s selling and listening to sales staff and customers provides Todd with much of the input he requires. If he doesn’t have what someone is looking for on the lot, Todd knows where to look. And when he contacts other dealerships, he gets a quick response. “When you say you’re calling from MJ Sullivan, people listen,” he says. “The name alone carries a lot of respect in the industry.”

Sales Department

Wayne Carpenter
Sales
Wayne, who has more than 28 years in the industry – two at MJ Sullivan – takes a multi-dimensional approach with different customers. “Each approach is different because each customer is an individual and each has his or her comfort level,” he says. “Some are looking for you to take a step back and listen while others are looking for you to provide information. The key is to always take care of the customer.”

Lou Golston
Sales
Lou has been in the business since 1977, spending the past five years at MJ Sullivan. One of the biggest differences he sees here is the treatment of used cars. “At a lot of other places, the service department looks over the car, then takes a list to a manager who says, ‘fix that, that and that, but leave those things,’” he says. “But here, service has Carte Blanche to fix everything. Their job is to make the car perfect. And if we wind up spending a fortune to do that on a car, then someone is going to get a very good deal. That’s Sully’s way.”

Bob Haley
Sales
Bob, who has more than 20 years in automotive sales, came to the MJ Sullivan dealership earlier this year. What’s his only regret? “I wish I had started my career here,” he says. “I had never worked in a place like this: where the customers’ interest is placed first – at all times!” Bob says he enjoys working at the customer’s pace, which creates a comfort level and makes purchasing a vehicle a pleasurable experience.

Ashley Holley
Sales
Ashley, who had several years of sales experience before coming to MJ Sullivan less than a year ago, was attracted by the dealership’s approach. “This place is run old school; the way a dealership should be run,” he says, explaining that the emphasis on honesty and unmatched service earns the dealership lots of repeat business. “Management here treats the employees right, and – in turn – those employees make sure every customer is treated right.”

Michael Metivier
Sales
An industry veteran with 35 years under his belt, Michael said it was MJ Sullivan’s strong reputation and the integrity of its owners that brought him to the dealership seven years ago. He added that this approach has led to unmatched levels of customer loyalty. “Service here is second to none,” he says. “It seems that any time a customer comes in with a problem or concern, the response from managers is: ‘do the right thing.’”

Tom Norton
Sales
Tom, who has 31 years of experience in automotive sales, has been at MJ Sullivan for nine years. Being a good listener, with a firm handshake help Tom set the tone for customer conversations. In this relaxed atmosphere, Tom will work with customers to find the vehicle that meets their needs. Tom, who is certified to sell everything on the MJ Sullivan lot, is a Waterford resident.

Roberto Romney
Sales
Roberto, who travels in each day from Willimantic, says MJ Sullivan is well worth the ride. “I love coming to work here,” he says. “This is the best place I ever worked. A used car specialist with more than 30 years experience in the industry, Roberto walks the lot every day to familiarize himself with each vehicle in the massive inventory. There’s no question, he will lead you to the right vehicle.

Arthur Stamos
Sales
Arthur, who has been in the business for five years, arrived at MJ Sullivan via a bit different route than most of the colleagues. With a background in business management and economics, knows what customers are going through. “I try to be patient and remember what it was like when I was in the newspaper business and going in to buy a car,” he says. “I put myself in their shoes and approach each in an honest, caring and straightforward manner.”

Pat Stewart
Sales
Pat, with more than 10 years of sales experience, came to MJ Sullivan about six months ago, lured by the dealership’s “impeccable reputation.” Pat says he tries to put himself in the customer’s position, “treating them the way I want to be treated.” Mainly a pre-owned car specialist, Pat refers to himself as a “straight shooter” who will listen and help you through every step of the purchase.

Jim Sisco
Sales Consultant
Jim, with 30 years in the industry – more than 20 of them at MJ Sullivan, is one of the many familiar faces at the dealership. He says this aspect of MJ Sullivan adds to customers’ comfort levels: “People know when they come back in, they will see their guy or girl here.” As a sales consultant, Jim says he enjoys helping customers identify the vehicle that will best serve their needs. “What I try to do is look after customers, not just what they are buying.”

BJ Murphy
Sales

Service Department

Hughie Stevens
Service Director
Hughie has been part of the MJ Sullivan automotive family since 1972, tracing his relationship back to Sully’s Mobil. “People like to go places where they are comfortable, and when they come here they see a lot of familiar faces,” he says. “And when they come back here, we want to give them a positive experience.” Hughie adds that while the dealership has grown over the years, one element has never changed. Referring to his years at Sully’s Auto Sales, he says: “MJ’s policy always was if you provide someone with a good used car, they are going to come back.”

Bob LeFrancois
Service Manager
Bob, who has been in the business since 1976, came to the MJ Sullivan dealership in April 1983. The man who “keeps the trains running on time” in the service department, Bob enjoys being a part of his department’s stable atmosphere. “When you’re treated well, you tend to stay in one place, and many of our technicians have been here for 20 years or more,” he says. “We know our customers; we know their cars, and customers like to see familiar faces working with them and working on their cars.”

Mark Zuppe
Service Advisor
Mark, who had worked at MJ Sullivan from 1984-94, returned earlier this year and is enjoying the dealership’s “family way of doing things.” As a liaison between the technicians and customers, Mark is sensitive to tough economic times and enjoys helping customers prioritize and schedule work so auto maintenance remains within their budget. He adds the dealership’s close relationship with customers pays dividends: “People who don’t trust anybody trust us.”

Bena Chalmers
Service Advisor
Bena, who has been at MJ Sullivan for only about a year, has 20 years of experience in the business, working with a variety of dealerships throughout that time. “From what I learned about different places over those years, this was the place I would go to buy a car for myself,” she says. And it’s that same spotless reputation and dedication to customer service that make it easy for her to write service orders and serve as liaison between technicians and customers.

Steve Mihok
Service Advisor
Steve, who has been at MJ Sullivan for seven years, has 17 years in the industry. Serving as a liaison between the customer and technician, Steve keeps the information flowing back and forth. He forwards details and customer concerns to the technician, provides estimates, then makes sure the customer is constantly updated on the progress of the work. A retired Army veteran, Steve is familiar with how Government Service Administration codes apply to Coast Guard, Navy and Amtrak service vehicles.

Andrew Osga
Shop Foreman
Andy, who has about 50 years in the industry with the past 18 at MJ Sullivan, brings a personal touch to his job. He will go out for a road test with car owners in order to better diagnose problems or to help find the source of a noise that the owner can’t seem to locate. “We don’t just service what we sell; we specialize in all these products,” says Andy, a Master GM Technician for more than 20 years. He adds that those in the service department understand their role in customer retention. “People deal with salesmen for a couple of hours, but will be seeing us for the next 10 or more years and 100,000 or more miles,” he says. “We make sure the job is done right and the customer is satisfied.”

Jonathan Brigham
Recon Manager
Ever wonder who’s responsible for making that new or used vehicle you just purchased sparkling clean? You can thank Jonathan and his crew. Jonathan, who has been at MJ Sullivan for 12 years, says the mission of his department is to make sure every car that leaves the lot is in nothing short of perfect condition. Whether it’s a matter of buffing out scratches or going through the interior with a fine-tooth comb, Jonathan and his crew take price in upholding the MJ Sullivan tradition of delivering automobiles that exceed customer expectations.

Parts Department

Ken Perry
Parts Manager
Ken, who has 42 years in the industry, has been at MJ Sullivan for 28 years, says one of the best reasons for customer satisfaction is the quality of the parts put into cars. “We deal with factory OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) parts for all General Motors and Hyundai products,” he says. “These are the correct parts for the vehicle and all come with a factory guarantee. People can have the confidence that when they purchase a part here, they are getting their money’s worth.”

Sean Greene
Assistant Parts Manager
Sean, who has been at MJ Sullivan for the past 28 years, explains why he has spent so many years at the dealership: “Some things are simple; this is a very nice place to work.” He adds that the stable workforce in the service department means that employees pretty much know everybody who comes in for service. “Everybody takes a sense of pride in what they do,” he says. He adds that the dealership keeps an extensive inventory, but if someone needs something that’s not on the shelf, he has the experience and contacts to find it.

Body Shop

Jim Geary
Body Shop Manager
Jim, who has 34 years in the industry with that last 28 at MJ Sullivan, said there is a strong correlation between the longevity of employees at customer satisfaction. “When you take good care of the help, they will take good care of you and the customers,” he says. While most of the customers who come into the body shop have been involved in some sort of an accident and are not particularly happy, Jim says the vast majority leave with a far different outlook. “We do everything possible to make the car as good as it was before the accident,” he says, “and a lot of times, it’s even better.”

Jack Knox
Body Shop Manager
Unlike the service department that deals mainly with GM or Hyundai vehicles and does a lot of routine maintenance, the body shop, which works closely with insurance companies, handles all brands and usually deals with customers who have had an unpleasant surprise. “They come here after something unexpected has happened, and we help them resolve those issues,” says Jack, an industry veteran who has been at the dealership for four years. “We hope they will have a good experience here and refer us to neighbors and family.”