A team effort has brought Chrysler’s most prestigious award to the Franklin Sussex Auto Mall. Daimler Chrysler has crowned it Dealer of the Year for the northeast. Five hundred fifty-seven dealerships were rated in over 20 categories including sales and service satisfaction, sales volume for their territory, the facility’s appearance, functionality and cleanliness, and overall business portfolio. Because this five-star elite dealership was rated on all aspects of its business, the general manager, Bill Snouffer, hailed the award as the result of a total team effort. “Everyone in the dealership worked very hard for the past six months. Being graded in so many different categories, our win encompasses every employee of the dealership,” Snouffer said. A “five-star committee,” created to ensure customer satisfaction, made certain all requirements for the award were met. “Our win is attributed to the attention we give to details on behalf of our customers and the process to take care of them,” Snouffer explained. A dealership that prides itself on taking care of the community, entertains hundreds of Sussex County families by sponsoring ongoing events such as monster truck crashes twice a year; a Family Safety Day that included Court TV and the sheriff’s department; as well as providing free child fingerprinting and car seat safety checks. They also donate to and organize fundraisers for local non-profit organizations on a regular basis. “We have a strong commitment to our community. Our roots stem from taking care of the people in our own backyard,” said Snouffer. Commitment to the community and exceptional customer service appears to have paid off for this dealership, which is on Route 23 in Sussex. The award has also earned the dealership a spot at the national competition that will be held in Charleston, S.C. on March 22.