Ford of Kirkland is among an elite group of Ford and Lincoln dealerships to be recognized with several prestigious awards from Ford Motor Company for automotive retail excellence in 2012:

• 2012 President’s Award. The prestigious award honors dealerships that have excelled in automotive retailing in 2012 by providing exceptional customer service and satisfaction. This is the seventh time Ford of Kirkland has earned the President’s Award.

• ONE Ford Elite Awards. This honor recognizes the best of the best from Ford’s top dealer award recipients – President’s Award, Ford One Hundred Club, Lincoln Leaders, FCSD Premier Club, Triple Crown and Ford Credit’s Partners in Quality Awards.

“I am very honored and humbled right now,” said Jim Walen, dealer principal at Ford of Kirkland.

Amy Walen, controller at Ford of Kirkland and a member of the Kirkland City Council, said, “Jim, the team and I are committed to customer satisfaction. It is because of our loyal customers that we are able to succeed.”

The President’s Award was established in 1998. Dealers become eligible through survey responses from customers related to their sales and service satisfaction.

This will be Ford of Kirkland’s seventh President’s Award in its eighth year of business, an achievement no other Ford retailer in Washington can match.

In addition to Ford of Kirkland’s national recognition, 11 of its staff members achieved the highest individual honor from Ford Motor Company through the 2012 Employee Excellence Program. They represent the best in Ford and Lincoln dealers in the area of sales, customer satisfaction and training.

The Ford of Kirkland winners are:

• Sales: Dan Lozott, Jonathan Swiegert, Raleigh Fouch, Miles Padberg, Todd Ireland and Scott Corn

• Service advisors: Kevin Paddock, James Cox, Dean Webster and Yuzo Kato

• Parts director: Michael Cervera

“To achieve the President’s Award, dealers must exceed customer expectations every day in every department,” said Ford Northwest Regional manager Sean Weingarten. “This prestigious award salutes those top-performing Ford and Lincoln dealerships that embrace the passion, tenacity and hard work required to achieve the highest levels of customer satisfaction – in both sales and service.”

To experience award-winning customer service firsthand, visit Ford of Kirkland at 11800 124th Ave. N.E., in Kirkland, and online at www.fordofkirkland.com.