Skinner Sales and Service
Celebrates Grand Opening
Skinners recognized for contributions
to community
By Marie L. Monyak
April 03, 2006
Monday
Ketchikan, Alaksa - Driving past 4950 North Tongass Avenue this
past Friday evening, seeing flags and balloons, residents would
have thought there was a party going on at the Chevrolet, Buick,
Subaru Dealership, and they would have been right.
What was Lewis Chevrolet is now Skinner Sales and Service and
Friday was the official ribbon cutting and grand opening. But
it was more than just a ribbon cutting and celebration; it was
a tribute to the man and woman that have extended their unselfish
generosity to a grateful community.
Rob Skinner, with the
support of Ketchikan City Mayor Bob Weinstein and Chamber President
Joe Johnston, cut the ribbon signifying the
official opening of Skinner Sales and Service.
Photograph by Marie L. Monyak
New owners, Rob and Kimberly Skinner, welcomed the community
to their dealership with live entertainment, hors d'oeuvres,
refreshments and the traditional cake, expertly decorated with
the Skinner Sales and Service logo; three S's in the classic
monogram style that is rapidly becoming familiar in Ketchikan
and the surrounding areas.
After the initial social hour, Rob Skinner, with the support
of Ketchikan City Mayor Bob Weinstein and Chamber President Joe
Johnston, cut the ribbon signifying the official opening of Skinner
Sales and Service.
Hailing from Southern California, Rob Skinner has been in Alaska
for the last 12 years. Before arriving in Ketchikan, he was in
Kenai followed by Juneau where he was a part owner of Capital
Chevrolet. Skinner has 30 years experience in the automotive
industry where he began as a salesman and worked his way up to
his current position as owner of Skinner Sales and Service.
Skinner and his wife have six children; five still living at
home, which may explain their deep commitment and involvement
in so many organizations dedicated to children. It's because
of that involvement that several local organizations saw fit
to honor the Skinners Friday evening.
Big Brothers Big Sisters
presented an award to the Skinners to recognize them for their
generous donation of $25,000, the largest individual donation
to BBBS ever in all of Southeast Alaska. From left to right:
Sharlie Hayter, Amy Lloyd both of BBBS.
Kimberly and Rob Skinner and their son.
Photo by Marie L. Monyak
During the grand opening festivities, Sharli Hayter and Amy Lloyd
of Big Brothers and Big Sisters (BBBS) presented the Skinners
with a plaque which recognized them for their generous donation
of $25,000, the largest individual donation ever in all of Southeast
Alaska. Hayter spoke to the altruism of the Skinners in recognizing
the need for BBBS to provide the mentoring and guidance necessary
for so many children.
Amy Russell, District Executive of Scouting for the Southern
Southeast Council, also spoke of the Skinners generosity. Recently
appointed as District Chairman, Rob Skinner, as Russell explained,
is furthering the cause of Scouting which promotes self confidence
and builds character in young people.
The Boys and Girls Club is another organization dedicated to
children that the Skinners assist, yet their philanthropy doesn't
end there. Bob St. Clair, member of the Ketchikan General Hospital
Foundation, also spoke to the gathering of the generosity of
the Skinners when he publicly thanked them for their lavish donation
of $25,000 for the Women's Diagnostic Imaging Suite.
The new Diagnostic Center will screen for breast cancer and will
serve men and children as well as women for many diagnostic procedures.
The center will cost $450,000. The Foundations goal is to raise
$250,000 with the Hospital providing the remaining $200,000.
With donors like the Skinners, the Foundation is well on their
way to realizing their goal.
These are only some of the organizations the Skinners support.
Rob Skinner also serves as the 1st Vice President of the Greater
Ketchikan Chamber of Commerce and as such, he sponsored the Chamber's
monthly After Hours Event on Friday evening in conjunction with
his grand opening.
The community involvement and benevolence of the Skinners was
apparent Friday evening but what of Rob Skinner's philosophy
in regards to sales and the automotive industry? When asked what
he found to be different or unique about selling automobiles
in Ketchikan, Skinner replied, "We have a low [customer]
traffic flow but the people are fair and they don't begrudge
the dealership of making a profit."
"On the whole, people in Alaska are better to deal with
in every shape and fashion," Rob Skinner added. By her own
admission, Kimberly Skinner prefers to stay out of the spotlight
but said about her husband, "Rob and I have shared some
of the most profound experiences that life has to offer and I
have come to know him as an extraordinarily principled man who
is driven by the ability to increase his capacity to serve."
"Our business mission is tied very closely to the understanding
that our customers are our neighbors and our friends." Kimberly
Skinner continued, "We take that relationship very seriously
from one end of our organization to the other."
That philosophy is evident when Rob Skinner speaks so highly
of his staff. "We have an exceptional staff that continuously
delivers service above the customer's expectation that continues
after the sale."
Kimberly Skinner said it best, "Our customers can count
on us to live up to our commitment to integrity. When we do this
every day, we build up the lives of everyone in our community
in so many ways. That is why we do what we do."
On the Web:
Skinner Sales & Service
www.skinnersalesandservice.com
Marie L. Monyak is a freelance writer living in Ketchikan, Alaska.
A freelance writer is an uncommitted independent writer
who produces and sells articles to a publisher such as SitNews.
Contact Marie at mlmx1[at]hotmail.com
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