By Liz Williams - Digett Intern
BOERNE, TX – Few people would be surprised to hear of the Ford salesman who drives a Ford Motor Company vehicle. But for new Jennings Anderson Ford General Sales Manager Brett Roberts, there’s something special about his Ford Explorer – it saved his life.
And not only did Roberts survive being sideswiped, rolling over one and a half times, having all windows blown out and every airbag being deployed, but he also walked away from the scene.
Now, this second-generation Ford scion brings his remarkable story – as well as a broad range of experience in manufacturing, production and sales – to the Hill Country. The second son of Ross H. Roberts, a former vice president of Ford Motor Company and 37-year company veteran, Brett has been following in his father’s footsteps for some time. Following his 1995 graduation from the Michigan State University, the younger Roberts has spent nearly ten years at Ford, stopping only to earn an MBA from Southern Methodist University along the way. Over the past decade, his career has taken him from hometown Detroit, to Dallas, to Detroit and back to Texas again.
Today, Roberts is ready to give up the nomadic lifestyle in favor of settling in San Antonio. Along with his wife, Nicole, Roberts plans to take a break from moving around to provide his two young children, Ashley and Luke, with a more stable childhood.
“My wife and I have been married ten years, and this is our fifth house. And it was the toughest move, this last one, because Ashley’s in kindergarten,” he recalls, adding, “I fell in love with Boerne – it was a chance to lay some roots down. What a place for my children to call home and to grow up in.”
Liz Williams, Digett's Summer Intern, interviews Brett Roberts, Jennings Anderson Ford Sales ManagerLooking back on the early days of his career – when much of the week was spent away from home, flying from one town to the next – Roberts says, “I was married, so it made things a little tough being gone. I had a one-and-a-half year old baby girl and my wife was pregnant too, so it was tough being out-of-town Monday through Friday.” Nonetheless, he’s quick to add that although the experience was difficult for everyone, “We got through it, and actually it brought us even closer together.”
Now, dedication to family and community remain a big part of what influenced Roberts’ decision to join the Jennings Anderson team. Having spent his childhood living on the outskirts of Detroit, at heart he remains a small-town guy who believes in getting to know one’s community no matter the size. Now, Roberts plans to apply his ability to navigate both large and small environments to build the Jennings Anderson community in Boerne and the greater San Antonio area. Calling the chance to work with General Manager Scott Wilson “the opportunity of a lifetime,” he especially values Jennings Anderson Ford’s emphasis on truly knowing their customers.
“Scott Wilson’s way of approaching the market is very customer-focused, he’s very loyal to his people, and he surrounds himself with good quality people,” Roberts says. “In a nutshell, I’m just more of a people person. I like to spend time with people and really get to know them and really build relationships with them and learn about them. Especially the customers we have out here because they’re customers for life. Because it’s easy for us as a dealer, from the outside, to say ‘here’s what we need to do to sell more cars,’ but really, it’s what our customers say to us that matters the most.”
For additional information on special opportunities at Jennings Anderson Ford, customers can also visit their website at www.jenningsandersonford.com.