Glockner Toyota, on U.S. 23, was named 2006 recipient of the 21st-annual Toyota Motor Sales President's Award, presented only to a select group of dealerships across the country.

The award was presented on Monday by Clyde Dyson, general manager of Toyota Motor Sales, USA Inc., Cincinnati Regional Office. This is Glockner's first year winning the award.

“The President's Award is recognizing our top performing dealers in all facets of the business. Whether it's parts, service, customer satisfaction, networking capital, sales numbers ... a lot of people take it for granted, but a lot of stores don't click in all of those areas,” Dyson said.

In fact, of all the Toyota dealers in the country, Dyson said only five scored 100 percent on their evaluation. One of the five was Glockner Toyota in Portsmouth.

“I figured if we won this sales award, we are satisfying our customers, we are hitting our sales objectives and making people happy, and that's what it's all about,” said Glockner's Dealer Principal Tim Glockner. “We expect to win the award this year, and hopefully every year after this.”

Glockner Toyota opened its newly completed showroom on Aug. 1, adopting the company's new Image-Two floor plan design. Dyson said the new design was launched about two years ago, and Glockner is among the first 20 regional locations to have it.

“To have a store the size of Glockner understand the direction the company is going in, is great for us, because we use this as a building block to show other dealers to say, ‘Hey, here's one of the smaller guys that understands the vision of Toyota and has decided to take it to the next step.' It's a great store for Toyota,” Dyson said.

In addition to the President's Award, Dyson also presented Glockner's with a ceremonial katana sword given at the grand opening of all Toyota retailers. The sword, Dyson said, has roots in the company's Japanese heritage, and represents strength and quality.

Glockner President Andy Glockner said he was proud his son, Tim Glockner, “has taken on the responsibility that he has taken on.”

He also credited the associates for the dealer's success.

“We're just tickled to death to be able to invest back in the community, and we appreciate the support we get from the community,” he said.

The dealer also will be featured in an advertisement inside local subscriber copies of the Sept. 3 issue of Time magazine. Copies of the magazine will be available on Friday.

RYAN SCOTT OTTNEY can be reached at (740) 353-3101, ext. 235, and by e-mail at pdt@ryanscottottney.com.