Taking extra special care of employees and customers is nothing new to the folks at Turnpike Motors.
The Newington autobody shop, one of Connecticut’s largest, full-service, collision repair facilities, has been serving the region for more than 40 years, repairing foreign and domestic automobiles, in addition to motor homes, tri-axle trucks, school buses and fire engines.
“Working at Turnpike has been one of the most positive experiences in my life,” said Dan Hovey, customer service manager, who has been with Turnpike for nearly seven years. “Turnpike emphasizes personal growth and a family atmosphere. I went to UConn for engineering and when I finished there, it was a very easy decision for me to return to Turnpike as a career option.”
“Turnpike has proven to me that there is no cost that is too great to equip me with all the abilities and information that I need to be successful.”
In addition to the wide range of benefits the company offers — three weeks paid vacation, health and dental insurance, a 401k profit sharing program, free gym membership, free uniforms with laundry service — Turnpike provides its now 35 employees several outings a year to things like UConn football and basketball games, paintball, bowling and local fairs.
“The best event that displays Turnpike Motors generosity is the Christmas Party that is thrown every year,” said Hovey. “Turnpike purchases a gift for each one of our guys — PS3’s, flat-screen TV’s, computers, extra vacation days — and explains to each one of our guys how important they are to the success of the company.”
For Doug Fernandez, Turnpike’s president, it’s all about making his employees feel important.
“We try to remove the things that will get in the way of them focusing on work, and we believe if we give them a high level of autonomy and responsibility this will result in more fulfilling work,” Fernandez said.
“Our cultural outlook — how we pay, our operational approach — we try to look at things that are valuable to our external and internal customers.”
In fact, Turnpike goes well beyond the routine to take care of its team. When an employee was injured in a motorcycle accident, the company paid his healthcare for over a year while he recovered.
Employee turnover is quite low, something Fernandez is proud of.
“When someone leaves, it is typically because they are not being supportive of the team,” he said.
The company is committed to playing a strong role in the community, participating in events and donating to local organizations and charities like the Newington Library 5K, Shriners 5K, Apple Fest in Glastonbury and local youth sports groups.
So, what does the future hold for Turnpike?
“Stay the course and continue to improve what we do,” Fernandez says. “Allow, coach and develop our people to find a better way.”
