Sumitomo Corporation

Commonwealth of Puerto Rico

Plaza Motors Corporation

Tell us about your current job: Plaza Motors Corporation (PMC) has deployed independently owned Mazda car dealerships in Puerto Rico and the United States Virgin Islands. My job is to oversee the development from the business side of dealers and the establishment of relationships with them. I support dealers in their efforts to increase automobile, service and spare parts sales and implement strategies to achieve their business targets, while making sure they are in compliance with laws as well as PMC regulations. Wholesale car sales and spare parts are taken care of by other departments, but I also work together with the owners of dealerships to offer maximum sales support.
Additionally we carry out customer satisfaction studies and work closely with dealers to achieve our goals for improving customer experience and retention as well.

Tell us how you keep your team highly motivated.: I think it is important to speak honestly, interact with them in their day to day tasks, and hold regular discussions. I believe that through ongoing dialogue they can come to understand the background behind our direction and what management expects from them. This dynamic communication fosters them to take more initiative to try and improve the quality of their work and make a bigger contribution to the company. Also, whenever the situation allows, I try to involve everyone in the planning process or making decisions. When they are offered opportunities to brainstorm and have a say in planning and decision making, they feel respected, gives them a sense of accountability and stay highly motivated.

You have a lot of hobbies. How do you spend your days off?: I play golf with my wife and son almost every week. Golf course fees are low in Puerto Rico. I also go out on my mountain bike with my likeminded colleagues two or three times a month. We go to the mountains and forest, sometimes riding down rough roads. To be honest, I would like to get out more often, but it rains a lot from April through June, and it's dangerous to ride a bike when the conditions where I usually ride are wet. It's a pity I can't ride as often as I would like. As for music, I like rock music the most and listen with eldest son and would like to play a video game called Rock Band on Nintendo Wii with my family.

I enjoy driving my car in Corredor Ecololigo del Este, a wilderness area in the east of Puerto Rico.