‘It’s about trust, community and service’
Official grand opening of McGee Toyota of Putnam
By Linda Lemmon
Town Crier Editor
Rain didn’t dampen spirits Friday as the long- awaited McGee Toyota of Putnam held its official grand opening.
Loyalty, humility, honor, being part of a community were recurring themes during the celebration.
Putnam Business Association President Kate Cerrone and Putnam Mayor Barney Seney welcomed the business into the community, citing the over-the-top support and generosity found in people and the business community in the area.
Seney pointed out that the area raised $300,000 for the Veterans Park and just $8,000 of that was town money. “This shows you what the community is all about.” And McGee is all about customer service and community involvement. “We couldn’t have picked a better partner to come to the town of Putnam.”
Cerrone said: “We recognize not just the opening of a car dealership with a continuation of a legacy that began in 1970 … the company has been driven by a mission to deliver outstanding customer service, value-driven pricing and superior vehicle maintenance, all with honesty, professionalism and excellence at its core.” She added: “It’s clear that this isn’t just about cars; it’s about trust, community and service.”
Likewise state Senator Mae Flexer welcomed McGee and gave them a citation from the state legislature.
Owner Robert McGee, reflecting his father’s values and code of ethics, thanked the community and everyone involved in the project.
Connecting with the community, McGee presented Putnam School Superintendent Steven Rioux with a check for $5,000 for Putnam schools athletics. Rioux said later the amount of the donation was a surprise to him. It will help many school athletics programs, he said.
Diana Davis, general manager of Toyota’s New York Region, told McGee “This investment represents what you value most — people.” She gave McGee a welcome to the NY Region in the form of a samurai helmet which represents the samurai warrior’s loyalty, honor and respect.
caption:
NY Region General Manager Diana Davis, above, presents McGee Toyota's Robert McGee a symbolic samurai helmet. More photos Wed. night on our FB page. Linda Lemmon photos.
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