When you walk through the doors of a dealership, you deserve more than just a transaction. You deserve a partnership, unparalleled transparency, and an environment where your needs are prioritized above all else. At Veterans Ford, this isn't just a mission statement—it is the operational standard that drives every interaction we have with our community.
We are incredibly honored and humbled to announce that Veterans Ford has been officially recognized as a back-to-back recipient of the prestigious Ford President’s Award for both 2024 and 2025. Earning this award once is a monumental achievement; earning it two years in a row is a testament to a deeply ingrained culture of excellence.
This recognition is not just a trophy on our shelf. It is a direct reflection of the voices, experiences, and satisfaction of the people who matter most: our customers. In this comprehensive guide, we will explore exactly what the Ford President’s Award entails, the rigorous criteria required to earn it, and what our back-to-back victories mean for you when you choose Veterans Ford.
What is the Ford President’s Award?
To truly understand the magnitude of this achievement, it is important to understand the origins and exclusivity of the award itself. Created by the Ford Motor Company in 1998, the Ford President’s Award was established to recognize and reward dealerships that have committed themselves to achieving the highest levels of customer satisfaction and overall dealership experience.
An Exclusive Honor in the Automotive Industry
The automotive retail landscape is vast. There are approximately 5,000 authorized Ford dealerships operating across the United States. However, the President’s Award is only granted to a highly exclusive subset of these dealers. Annually, only about 340 to 400 dealerships nationwide receive this honor. This means that less than 8% of all Ford dealers in the country are recognized with this accolade in any given year.
To be included in this elite group requires a dealership to transcend traditional business metrics. The Ford President’s Award does not merely measure how many vehicles a dealership distributes to the public. Instead, it places a heavy emphasis on the qualitative aspects of the automotive journey. It asks: How was the customer treated? Was the staff knowledgeable and respectful? Was the service department efficient and transparent? When a dealership displays the Ford President’s Award, it is communicating a verifiable, manufacturer-backed guarantee of premium customer care.
The Rigorous Criteria: How the Award is Won
Earning the Ford President’s Award is intentionally difficult. Ford Motor Company utilizes a comprehensive, data-driven approach to evaluate its dealerships, ensuring that only those with a holistic commitment to excellence are recognized.
1. The Customer Viewpoint (CVP) Surveys
The cornerstone of the President’s Award criteria is the Customer Viewpoint (CVP) survey. After a customer purchases a vehicle or brings their current vehicle in for maintenance or repairs, Ford sends them a comprehensive survey. This survey asks customers to rate their experience across multiple touchpoints, including the friendliness of the staff, the cleanliness of the facility, the transparency of the pricing, and the overall quality of the work performed.
To qualify for the award, a dealership must consistently achieve survey scores that far exceed the national average. Because these surveys are sent directly by the manufacturer and completed anonymously by the customer, the data is an unfiltered, pure reflection of the dealership's performance. Our 2024 and 2025 awards mean that our community consistently gave Veterans Ford the highest possible marks for two consecutive years.
2. Excellence Across All Departments
A common misconception in the automotive industry is that customer satisfaction is solely the responsibility of the showroom floor. The Ford President’s Award demands excellence across the entire facility.
- The Showroom: Customers must feel respected, heard, and never pressured.
- The Finance Department: Customers must experience total transparency regarding terms, rates, and contracts.
- The Service Center: Customers must receive honest diagnostics, timely repairs, and clear communication from service advisors.
- The Parts Department: Customers must be provided with authentic OEM parts efficiently and knowledgeably.
If a dealership excels in vehicle distribution but fails to provide exceptional aftercare in the service lane, they will not win the award. Veterans Ford’s back-to-back wins signify a harmonious, high-performing ecosystem where every department is aligned with the customer's best interests.
3. Market Representation and Brand Ambassadorship
In addition to customer satisfaction, winning dealerships must be exceptional ambassadors for the Ford brand. This includes maintaining a state-of-the-art facility, ensuring staff are continuously trained on the latest automotive technologies (including electric vehicles and advanced safety systems), and upholding a positive reputation within the local community.
Why Back-to-Back Wins (2024 & 2025) Matter
Achieving the Ford President’s Award for one year is cause for celebration. However, maintaining that standard to win consecutively in 2024 and 2025 speaks to a deeper philosophy at Veterans Ford.
The automotive industry is in a state of rapid evolution. From the integration of complex in-cabin software to the expansion of hybrid and electric powertrains, the knowledge required to assist consumers is growing exponentially. Furthermore, consumer expectations for a frictionless, transparent retail experience are higher than ever before.
To win back-to-back awards during these dynamic years means that Veterans Ford has not just kept pace with industry changes; we have stayed ahead of them. It demonstrates a consistency of character. It proves that our exceptional customer service in 2024 was not a fluke or the result of a temporary initiative, but rather the baseline standard of how we operate. When the calendar turned to 2025, our team didn't relax—we doubled down on our commitment to our community, refining our processes, enhancing our training, and listening even closer to customer feedback.
The Veterans Ford Difference: Our Customer-First Philosophy
You might wonder how a dealership practically applies the standards required to win the Ford President’s Award. At Veterans Ford, it comes down to a few core pillars that define our daily operations.
Empathy in Every Interaction
We understand that acquiring or maintaining a vehicle is a significant life event. For many, it can be an intimidating process. Our staff is trained to approach every customer with empathy and active listening. We aren't here to push an agenda; we are here to provide solutions that fit your lifestyle, your family's needs, and your personal preferences.
Radical Transparency
Trust is the currency of a successful relationship. We believe in providing clear, straightforward information at every step. Whether we are appraising a trade-in, explaining the features of a new trim level, or providing a diagnostic breakdown in our service bay, we ensure you have all the facts. There are no smoke and mirrors—just honest, reliable information empowering you to make the best decisions for yourself.
A Focus on Long-Term Relationships
Our goal is never a single transaction. We view every person who walks through our doors as a potential lifelong partner. Winning the 2024 and 2025 President's Awards validates this approach. By focusing on how we can serve you over the next decade—not just today—we naturally elevate the level of care we provide. We want to be the team you trust for your current vehicle, your family's vehicles, and your future automotive needs.
What This Award Means for You, the Customer
While the Ford President’s Award is a plaque that hangs on our wall, the real beneficiary of this achievement is you. When you choose to visit a back-to-back President’s Award-winning dealership, you are insulating yourself from the traditional stressors of the automotive industry.
1. A Stress-Free Environment
You can walk into Veterans Ford knowing you will be treated with dignity and respect. The high-pressure tactics of the past have no place here. You set the pace of your visit.
2. Expert Knowledge at Your Disposal
Because the award requires rigorous staff training, you can be confident that the individuals assisting you are true product experts. Whether you have questions about towing capacities, hybrid battery ranges, or the latest infotainment software, our team has the accurate answers you need.
3. Peace of Mind in the Service Lane
Handing over the keys for maintenance requires immense trust. Our award-winning service department ensures that your vehicle is in the hands of factory-certified technicians who use state-of-the-art diagnostic equipment. We communicate clearly about what is necessary, what can wait, and exactly what the process entails.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About the Ford President’s Award
Q: Who decides which dealerships win the Ford President’s Award?
A: The award is decided primarily by the customers. Ford Motor Company aggregates the data from Customer Viewpoint (CVP) surveys sent to individuals who have recently interacted with the dealership. This objective, customer-generated data is the primary deciding factor.
Q: How many Ford dealerships win this award each year?
A: It is highly exclusive. Out of approximately 5,000 Ford dealerships nationwide, only a select group of roughly 340 to 400 achieve the criteria required to win the President's Award annually.
Q: Does the award only look at vehicle distribution?
A: No. In fact, volume is secondary to the quality of the experience. A dealership cannot win the President's Award, regardless of their size, if their customer satisfaction scores in both the showroom and the service department do not meet Ford’s elite standards.