Silver Spring News
Subaru of America Recognizes 4 Herb Gordon Service Advisors for Exceptional Performance
Left to right: Michael Goodman, Harry Price, Rodney Rogers, Vitaliy Khlebnikov
Subaru of America® annually recognizes 10 service advisors throughout the DC market as Subaru Service Advisor STARs. This award is given to advisors who excel not only in their job responsibilities, but to those who show a strong commitment to the Subaru Love Promise. Herb Gordon Subaru is proud to have 4 recipients this year; Harry Price (5x recipient), Vitaliy Khlebnikov (5x recipient), Rodney Rogers (3x recipient) and Michael Goodman (1x).
Greg Edwards, Herb Gordon Subaru Service Director, commented that he is “really proud of this team. All four individuals always go the extra mile to make sure the customer is satisfied and they are great role models for the rest of their team members.”
Congratulations to all four outstanding Subaru service advisors on being a top-level STAR!
Personal Thanks Given to Herb Gordon Subaru Employees During COVID
Subaru of America received a thank you letter from a very appreciative customer who came to get an oil change on her vehicle during the strictest times of COVID. See what she had to say:
Dear Vitaliy, Laurie, Herb Gordon Subaru, and Subaru of America,
I would like to share my gratitude to your Herb Gordon service team, especially your service advisor Vitaliy Khlebnikov, and your loaner car administrator Laurie Axtell, for kindness and compassion as I navigated my personal situation during the COVID-19 pandemic.
I was a daily caregiver for my mother at a nearby nursing facility. I took my car in to Herb Gordon Subaru for an oil change and related service towards the end of February. I was provided a loaner car while my car was being serviced. I appreciated the accommodation.
When I sensed that the virus was here in Maryland and that the nursing facility would go into lockdown, I simply stopped in place, refusing to go anywhere, with full self-isolation, in the hope that I would be able to continue to care for my mom in her nursing facility. My just-serviced car and your loaner car were caught in opposite places. I kept in touch with Vitaliy and Laurie about my evolving situation as the world itself turned upside down. They were compassionate and understanding during an extremely intense and uncertain time. I did not feel pressured to have to choose between switching cars and my mother's life. For that, I am beyond grateful. I could focus on advocating for my mom completely. Further, my self-isolation allowed the facility to grant me access to care for my mom as she was dying, and that was priceless.
Your loaner Subaru and I have been through a lot in the last four months. We experienced many milestones together. Your car carried me to my mom's facility on the last day I was able to care for her before the facility went on full lockdown in March. Your car accompanied me to my birthday celebration at my mom's facility for my window wave in April. Your car sat waiting at my house, ready for the inevitable phone call about my morn's declining health and death. Your car carried me to my morn's bedside as she lay dying of COVID-19. Your car carried me home after she died. Your car sat with me in quarantine as I wondered about my own health after being in the covid unit with my morn. Your car carried me and a few azalea branches to my morn's graveside burial, with small remnants of grave dirt and azalea flower petals in the trunk reminding me of that precious day. When I was let back in to her nursing facility in June, three months after lockdown began, your car carried my morn's special belongings home after I cleaned out her room and graduated from a long journey of caregiving. Now it is time for return. What a journey your loaner Subaru and I have had together. After all, it was 'just an oil change' ...
My family and I are long-time Subaru owners. My parents bought their first Subaru from you in 1990. I bought my first Subaru from you In 1993. My 2011 Forester is Subaru #5 in my family. I'm going to call your four-month loaner Subaru #5b.
I think the Herb Gordon Subaru kindness loaner situation would make a great advertising story for Subaru showing care in the world during such a difficult time.
The kindness and loaner leniency that Vitaliy, Laurie, and Herb Gordon Subaru gave allowed me to bring joy, comfort, and physical presence to my morn as she died of COVID-19.
Thank you to the Herb Gordon team. There are so many challenges and tragedies in the world that we can't fix, but we can act with kindness through difficult times. Kindness is a choice, and kindness is everything!
With gratitude,
Carolyn