Ray Felice celebrates 30 years at Wayne Pitman Ford Lincoln
Helping people and businesses find the best vehicles for their needs
When you own, manage, and/or operate a business, there are a lot of priorities to juggle, a lot of 'spinning plates' in your life. Business, family, friends, community: time is a precious commodity. You need a partner who you can trust to get you the right vehicle(s) for your business, provide expert advice, and keep your fleet running smoothly so you can save your time, money, and energy for those other priorities.
Meet Ray Felice, Commercial Fleet Manager at Wayne Pitman Ford Lincoln in the Guelph Auto Mall. For the past 30 years, Ray has been a fixture at the family-owned and operated, local dealership, running their Commercial Vehicle Centre. It is a critical pillar of responsibility at the dealership, a responsibility that Ray takes seriously and deservedly takes pride in.
"Over the years, Ray has cultivated a loyal rolodex of clients through his incredible product knowledge, attention to detail, and genuine care for his guests," says Doug Bricknell, Operations Manager at Wayne Pitman Ford Lincoln. "He has become a trusted automotive contact for everyone from single-person owner/operators to large scale national/international fleets and everything in between. This includes fleet companies like Element, Jim Pattison Leasing, Foss Leasing, Holman, ARI, and more."
According to Bricknell, guests of the dealership regularly come in asking to deal directly with Felice because of his experience and expertise in the commercial sector. One of the things that really sets Ray apart is his knowledge of commercial upfits required to get the job done and his network of suppliers and partners that help get the job done right!
"He can help farmers, contractors, tradespeople, and business owners get the right elements to properly equip their vehicles with whatever they need: shelving, lifts, cranes, plows, refrigeration, you name it," said Bricknell. "If you're operating your business, you don't have to worry about spending as much time getting what you need. Ray is efficient and effective, helping you save time and get back to the task of running your business."
"Vehicles and equipment aside, Ray also helps you optimize the numbers so you and your financial statements stay happy. There are a variety of commercial/fleet exclusive programs and incentives like CommerciaLease, Commercial Lines of Credit through Ford Credit, and more that he can help you take advantage of. The CommerciaLease product is especially helpful for certain businesses because they are effectively able to set their own residual value or 'buy out" at the end of the lease. Being able to schedule your amortization, interest expenses, and write-offs can be an accountant's dream and help your business save on your own terms instead of just having to take what is available."
Ray is also fluent in Ford Pro (with Telematics and Fleet Management software and solutions) which helps commercial operators monitor their vehicles in real-time, get diagnostic insights, schedule their rotation, and streamline to minimize downtime.
"He brings a lot of value added to the table. He is very matter of fact when and straightforward when it comes to what you can and can't do. Ray is almost like having your own in-house, personalized fleet manager, rather than having someone in procurement worry about the details. A one-stop shop.
Ray's been there, he's done it, he's seen it. We are grateful to have him here at Wayne Pitman Ford Lincoln and happy to celebrate this special 30-year milestone together. We want to thank Ray for his dedication, hard work, and loyalty to both the dealership and his clients. And he's not done yet!"
In defining his own success on the job, Felice says there are a few principles he's followed that have helped him survive and continue to enjoy his time on the job.
"Firstly, is to deliver on what you promise," said Felice. "Secondly is to treat everyone equally. Whether they are buying 25 vehicles or just starting out with one. Their business is equally important. I have always treated my clients like friends and family. Be straight forward and honest while at the same time giving them the best possible service I can."
Although Ray has many cherished, longstanding relationships with his clients, he is always looking to make new connections and forge new partnerships!
No matter what type of commercial vehicle you need or how many you need, come meet Ray Felice at Wayne Pitman Ford Lincoln in the Guelph Auto Mall!
