FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Parker Boats Honored as Sea Ray® Ambassador Dealer
Orlando, Daytona - August 5, 2008 - Parker Boats, Orlando and Daytona have achieved the leading status of Sea Ray Ambassador Dealer for the upcoming model-year 2009.
"All of us here at Parker Boats are dedicated to providing exceptional customer service along with a superior product," said Roy W. Parker Sr. "Reaching this status is challenging, time-consuming and requires considerable investment. We're very proud to have achieved Sea Ray Ambassador Dealer standing."
Introduced in 1996, the Sea Ray Master Dealer Program was the first standards-based certification program in the boating industry. It has been developed and refined over the years to provide Sea Ray customers with a superior shopping, purchasing and ownership experience. Dealers that have achieved "Ambassador" status have reached the highest level possible within the Master Dealer Program.
"Earning Ambassador Dealer status isn't just based on Sea Ray's high standards, but on the high standards of Sea Ray customers as well," said Ed Boncek, director of dealer management systems at Sea Ray. "Along with more than 110 stringent guidelines covering service, sales, facility and parts, Ambassador Dealers must achieve the highest scores of all Sea Ray dealers on satisfaction surveys sent to their customers. Therefore, earning Ambassador Dealer status requires focus and sustained teamwork from both the retail and service teams."
To qualify, dealers agree to meet a set of demanding customer-care and operational standards. They take on self-improvement efforts to meet those standards and submit to yearly on-site evaluations by an independent consultant. And the work doesn't end there: In order to maintain Ambassador Dealer status, dealerships must be recertified every 12 months. The dealership's retail and service teams must undergo continuous factory-sponsored training to handle every aspect of their customers' boating needs.
"We're very proud of our Ambassador Dealers," said Rick Stone, president of Sea Ray Boats. "The Master Dealer Program has been a big success for us. As always, our dealers play a critical role in our business, displaying an outstanding commitment to the partnership between manufacturer, dealer, and consumer. Sea Ray and our customers appreciate the extra mile these dealers go to attain this recognition."
For more information about Parker Boats, visit www.parkerboats.com. For more information about Sea Ray Boats and the Master Dealer Program, visit www.searay.com.
About Sea Ray:
Founded in 1959, Sea Ray is the world's largest manufacturer of superior quality pleasure boats.
Sea Ray is headquartered in Knoxville, Tenn., and operates as part of the Boat Group Unit of Brunswick Corporation. With more than 40 models ranging from 17 to 68 feet, Sea Ray makes a boat for every lifestyle each built with a unique commitment to quality, craftsmanship, and excellence throughout. Additional information about Sea Ray is available at www.searay.com.