Zach Cardis of Zeigler Ford of Lowell Takes Home 10th Annual Product Competition Championship Win

 

UPDATE: Zach Cardis of Zeigler Ford of Lowell Takes Home 10th Annual Win
Zeigler Announces 10th Annual Product Knowledge Competition Championship Contestants

Zeigler Auto Group announced its official list of 25 competitors for its 2021 Product Knowledge Competition Championship on Monday, November 22, 2021. The Championship, now in its 10th year, was split up into two days starting Monday at 10:30 a.m. and culminating in an awards ceremony dinner on Tuesday at 6:00 p.m. at Trak-Houz Bar & Grill, where Zach Cardis of Zeigler Ford of Lowell was announced as the winner. Nick Anton of Jaguar Land Rover Schaumburg came in second; while Lori Gilland of Zeigler Subaru of Kenosha and Alec Olney of INFINITI of Hoffman Estates tied for third.

Kalamazoo, Michigan (November 24, 2021) - Zeigler's 10th Annual Product Knowledge Competition Championship started Monday, November 22, 2021, at 10:30 a.m. with seven out of a total of 25 contestants competing to take home this year's title. The remaining 18 competed the following day, Tuesday, November 23 from 9:30 a.m. to 4:35 p.m. The two-day event was judged by Mike Van Ryn, Zeigler's director of Talent Development, alongside top corporate recruiters: Ariah Daniels and Bryan Applin.

The 2021 Zeigler Product Knowledge Competition Championship challenges the dealer group's top salespeople to earn the coveted title with each dealership sending off a finalist to compete. This year's winner was Zach Cardis of Zeigler Ford of Lowell, who took home bragging rights, a beautiful crystal trophy; plus his choice of a 5-day stay for two at any Ritz Carlton in the US, a watch, or prize equivalent.

"When you put so much time and effort into something that means so much to you, it feels good to know that it paid off. I am honored to win the 2021 Product Knowledge Competition, but now it's time to put all of this momentum into the next challenge. I want to thank everyone who helped and supported me over the past few weeks! You know who you are!"


Zach Cardis, Zeigler Ford of Lowell

10th Annual Annual Product Knowledge Competition Championship Winner


 
(Zach Cardis, 10th Annual Product Knowledge Competition Championship Winner with judges Mike Van Ryn & Ariah Daniels) 
  
"Our product knowledge competition is group-wide and actually started as an idea that one of our team members came up. The thing I love about it is that every salesperson competes and they are able to learn from each other in several ways. The experienced sales consultants share their expertise and new team members can learn from them but it goes the other way too; new sales consultants can do so well and teach others also. Another way they can develop and grow is by watching the video we produce of each finalist that we load on our internal Zeigler University site," said Mike Van Ryn, director of talent acquisition at Zeigler Auto Group. 

Nick Anton of Jaguar Land Rover Schaumburg came in 2nd place, with Lori Gilland of Zeigler Subaru of Kenosha and Alec Olney of INFINITI of Hoffman Estates tying for 3rd place. The winners were announced during Zeigler's 10th Annual Product Knowledge Competition Championship Award Ceremony Dinner at the end of day two of the competition, and included all competitors as well as a number of Zeigler executives. Last year's first place winner was Caleb Fairchild who took home the award for the first time for himself and for his home store, Zeigler Ford Lincoln Elkhart.

SECOND PLACE WINNER
Nick Anton, Jaguar Land Rover Schaumburg

(Nick Anton, 2nd Place Winner - 10th Annual Product Knowledge Competition Championship with judges Mike Van Ryn, Ariah Daniels and Bryan Applin) 

THIRD PLACE WINNER (TIE)
Lori Gilland, Zeigler Subaru of Kenosha

(Lori Gilland, 3rd Place Winner - 10th Annual Product Knowledge Competition Championship with judges Mike Van Ryn & Ariah Daniels)

THIRD PLACE WINNER (TIE)
Alec Olney, INFINITI of Hoffman Estates

(Alec Olney, 3rd Place Winner - 10th Annual Product Knowledge Competition Championship with judges Mike Van Ryn & Ariah Daniels)


Zeigler Auto Group event schedule included a total of 25 contestants. Winners highlighted below.

Monday - November 22nd                           

10:30 am       Rick Gregg

10:55 am       Jarvion Franklin

11:20 am       Alex Mayer

11:45 pm       Nancy Nagle

12:10 pm       Zach Cardis - 1ST PLACE WINNER

12:35 pm       Ted Rabourn

1:00 pm         Jarrad Edwards

 

Tuesday- November 23rd

9:30 am         Kody Smart

9:55 am         Ray Jando

10:20 am       Vedo Pekmez

10:45 am       Derian Banuelos

11:10 am       Kyle Garza

11:35 am       Joe Mikuzis

12:00 pm       Zach Radecki

12:25 pm       Rick Padin

Tuesday- November 23rd

12:50 pm       Jason Schook

1:15 pm         Aaron Rosenfeld

1:40 pm         David Bennett

2:05 pm         Alec Olney - 3RD PLACE WINNER (TIE)

2:30 pm         Nick Anton - 2ND PLACE WINNER

2:55 pm         Jose Matallanes

3:20 pm         Lori Gilland - 3RD PLACE WINNER (TIE)

3:45 pm         Stephanie Espinosa

4:10 pm         Josh Gordon

4:35 pm         Nate Ecker

 

10th Annual Product Knowledge Award Ceremony

6:00 pm         Trak-Houz Bar & Grill

                      Zeigler Motorsports - upstairs

 5003 Park Circle Drive

 Kalamazoo, MI 49048


About Zeigler Auto Group

Zeigler Automotive Group is one of the largest privately-owned dealer groups in the U.S. with 78 franchises across 35 locations in Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, and Michigan. Vehicle brands represented include all of the domestic and the majority of the imported manufacturers.

 

Besides its extensive automotive portfolio, the organization owns and operates Zeigler Motorsports, an 85,000-square-foot motorsports dealership and action park, offering 19 different powersports brands, plus its own onsite restaurant: Trak Houz Bar & Grill. Additionally, Zeigler Motorsports houses the Elevate Leadership & Team Building Academy, an executive training company.

 

The Kalamazoo-based dealer group also owns and operates Zeigler Pre-Owned of Chicago, a Carquest Auto Parts store, three Byrider franchises, three finance companies, several insurance firms, and a leasing firm.

 

Founded in 1975, the organization employs over 2,300 people, ranking among the top 1% of automotive dealers in the nation with estimated annual sales of $2.2 billion for 2022. The family-owned and operated company is well known for its commitment to both customer service and employee satisfaction. Zeigler is regularly recognized as one of the Best and Brightest Companies to Work for in the Nation, also earning similar accolades in Chicago and Michigan.