MT. LAUREL, NJ - Automotive Resources International (ARI), a leading global fleet services provider specializing in complex car and truck fleets, was named one of South Jersey’s “Best Places to Work” by South Jersey Biz magazine. In recognizing ARI, the editors gave particular attention to a key principle of the company’s business model: the belief that the most critical part of the organization’s success is the employees.
“Our employees are our most valuable asset, so we strive to provide them with a variety of opportunities to further their careers through training and education; we encourage them to participate in the company’s overall success through regular town hall sessions, and we motivate them to excel through our ‘Partners in Excellence’ quality assurance program,” said Bill Kwelty, Senior Vice President and Chief Quality Officer. “By making this kind of investment in our people, I believe ARI is making a solid investment in the long-term success of the company.”
The average tenure for employees is 15 years, and the turnover rate is just 2.9 percent. ARI seeks to foster a collaborative work environment and actively nurtures the skills that support its core competencies: flexible fleet management, high-quality customer service and best-in-the-business vehicle knowledge. ARI encourages an atmosphere of teamwork, support programs and initiatives that foster communication and recognition through a variety of programs and initiatives including:
Professional Development: All employees are encouraged to actively pursue new opportunities to grow and develop through advanced learning, either through the company’s unique on-site program, ARI University, or through other available educational programs or training. ARI supports a generous tuition reimbursement program which begins on the first day of employment with the company. The company also supports a resource center with materials to support career growth and the annual on-site ARI Education Fair.
Quarterly Town Hall Meetings: ARI’s senior management team meets with the entire company to present ARI’s financial progress, industry topics and business initiatives.
Partners in Excellence (PIE): This is ARI’s own internal, fleet-specific quality assurance program which, in addition to ensuring 100 percent customer satisfaction, offers rewards and bonuses for employees based on our achievement of articulated performance management goals. ARI also rewards employees for savings or revenue enhancement suggestions.
Community Engagement: At ARI, community service and giving back is a fundamental part of the business model – the company has a senior manager who dedicates half of his time solely to community involvement and charitable works. The company’s commitment to corporate social responsibility is an integral part of its culture and touches every employee and many of their families.
Employees at all ARI locations are permitted to take time off with pay to participate in their local United Way “Days of Caring,” and the company is very active in supporting the regional United Way chapters, volunteering and serving as cabinet board members, and providing the United Way with a “loaned” executive each year. The company also works with employee committees to mobilize support for events like the Walk Now for Autism Speaks and Bike MS and partners with the American Red Cross several times a year to conduct blood drives.
Through these and many other programs and initiatives, ARI seeks to foster an environment that supports and nurtures its employees to become their very best. “Ultimately, what makes ARI different is our people,” noted Kwelty. “This is a business philosophy passed down from our parent company, Holman Automotive, and it has served us well. At the end of the day, we want to make sure ARI is more than just a place to work – it is a place where an individual can build a satisfying and fulfilling career.
