Mark Kolon, general sales manager; Ray Aguilar, sales and community relations manager and Don Kerstetter, owner of Classic Chevrolet Sugar Land. Photo by Nesossi Studios
By M.G. Angulo –
When is a car dealership not just a dealership? When it’s Classic Chevrolet Sugar Land. While it’s true that this dealership needs to make a profit just like all of the other businesses out there, at the heart of Classic Chevrolet Sugar Land is its love and devotion to all of Fort Bend County — and not in the lets-get-some-publicity kind of support.
Classic Chevrolet is behind the scenes for the children who play in little leagues, for the churches struggling with their limited budgets and for the seniors who put their fortitude into the foundations of Fort Bend County.
While organizations seeking sponsorships often ask for help from Classic, the dealership’s representatives are also just as eagerly walking the streets and talking to folks about what Classic can do to enrich the quality of life for those who call Fort Bend home.
“I’ll always remember something my dad told me: ‘If you think of yourself, you’ll be by yourself,’” said Ray Aguilar, Classic Chevrolet’s sales and community relations manager. “And that’s the mentality here.”
Under the leadership of owner Don Kerstetter, Classic Chevrolet Sugar Land has been named one of the Houston Chronicle’s 100 Best Places to Work, was named to General Motors’ exclusive Chevrolet Dealer of the Year list for the fifth consecutive year, has earned the Mark of Excellence Award and was voted 2015’s best dealership by readers of the Sugar Land Sun.
Kerstetter has led Classic to one more honor — being a dealership known for its true support of great causes. “I’ve known Don six years,” Aguilar said. “From the moment he got here, he wanted to know where the chambers were, what charities needed help and how we could volunteer for this community. His heart is for the people.”
Leading the Way
Leigh Ann Dawson, Central Fort Bend Chamber; Ray Aguilar, Classic Chevrolet Sugar Land and Leadership Fort Bend co-chair; Allison Mensik, NRG and Leadership Fort Bend co-chair; Regina Morales, President and CEO of the Central Fort Bend Chamber and Wes Wittig, Fort Bend County District Attorney’s Office and Leadership Fort Bend co-chair.
To date, Classic Chevrolet Sugar Land is involved with a handful of chambers including the Central Fort Bend Chamber, Fort Bend Chamber of Commerce, Fulshear Area Chamber of Commerce, Pearland Chamber of Commerce and the Houston Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. Being involved in the chambers allows Classic to spread its philanthropic efforts, learn about community from its needs to its values and most importantly, learn how to be a leader, said Aguilar, who has lately been pouring his attention and enthusiasm into the Central Fort Bend Chamber’s Leadership Program.
For almost three decades, the Central Fort Bend Chamber has hosted Leadership Fort Bend, a program designed to develop leaders for Fort Bend by educating the students — business owners, individuals, local politicians and emergency personnel — on issues and challenges affecting the county and providing them with vital community contacts and networks.
“Creating leaders for Fort Bend is one of the chamber’s community services,” said Regina Morales, president and CEO of the Central Fort Bend Chamber. “The Leadership Fort Bend program is designed to educate and create future leaders for Fort Bend County. It is a critical component to the chamber’s future growth and vitality, because it develops a stronger community.”
The program lasts nine months, from September through May, and features retreats and sessions that focus on topics from education, health and human services to history and state government. “Ray is the co-chair for the program, and Classic Chevrolet is one of sponsors of the program as well,” said Morales. “We’re currently enhancing the program and increasing the experience for all of the participants focusing on community education.”
“The Leadership Program is how Classic became more involved with West Fort Bend,” said Aguilar. “Many think that we only serve the Sugar Land, Stafford and Missouri City areas, and that’s not true. We’re in Richmond, Rosenberg, Needville, Fulshear and Wharton.”
Classic in the Community
Fulshear Area Chamber of Commerce Director Don McCoy presents Don Kerstetter with a membership pin.
As part of its communal outreach in West Fort Bend, Classic has sponsored boys’ baseball and girls’ softball leagues, fairs in Rosenberg, Needville and Wharton, as well as a variety of nonprofits including Fort Bend Arc, the Literacy Council of Fort Bend County, the Fort Bend Museum Association, the Rosenberg Railroad Museum and the Pecan Grove Volunteer Fire Department.
Sometimes Classic purchases dirt to spread on the fields for the little leagues with small budgets or hosts chili cook-offs for local police departments. Then there are the churches from Beasley, Richmond and Rosenberg that the dealership gets behind. “It gets emotional for me sometimes,” said Aguilar. “Some of these churches are struggling to keep their members or finding ways to bring in the youth.”
He recalls the first time he approached Our Lady of Guadalupe Church in Rosenberg. At the time, the church was hosting a bazaar, and Aguilar asked what Classic could do to help. “No one has ever asked us if they could help,” said the church member, a bit dumbfounded by Aguilar’s offer. The reaction resonated with Aguilar.
“That signified to us that what we’re doing — the community outreach — is right. We’re not out there helping the community so they can come buy a car or use our services. The church supports senior citizens, children and gives people a place to worship. If we can help the church, then the church can help better the community. That’s why we do what we do, and this is all because of Don’s motivation. He is a very unselfish man, and he’s here to help wherever needed when possible.”
Giving From the Heart
The Leadership Fort Bend class of 2014-2015 in Galveston for their Closing Retreat.
Classic Chevrolet giving doesn’t always come from the dealership. “Don often gives of his own money — not the dealership’s — to veterans, police and fire departments, education, senior citizens and any causes that give the youth the opportunity to go to school.”
Another population that receives support from Classic includes school districts, Stafford MSD, Lamar Consolidated and Fort Bend ISDs to be exact. “Education is very important to Don,” said Aguilar, adding that Classic is a strong supporter of both the Hispanic Heritage Forum and Hispanics Offering People Education. “He always reminds us that if kids don’t believe they can go to school, they won’t go. We want to give them exposure to higher learning in hopes that they’ll continue their education.”
And this is why Classic not only provides supplies to the local school districts but has also awarded scholarships to students who applied for scholarships from other organizations but didn’t receive one due to limited funds. The scholarships Classic has awarded provided students with funds to pay for books or to take a class at a community college. Additionally, the scholarships don’t just go to students who have high GPA and all A’s; they are awarded to all students who work hard to better their future.
“If we can give students a taste of college, then just maybe they’ll discover that’s a path they want to take, and they will search for ways to make it happen. Maybe we can open their minds up to want more,” Aguilar said. “Don says, ‘We have to help them somehow.’”
Senior citizens also have a special place in the Classic heart. “Both of our dads were veterans in foreign wars,” said Aguilar of himself and Kerstetter. “And one thing about that generation is they have sacrificed for our freedom and have earned our respect.”
In late May, stormy weather hit Texas causing deaths and damage across the state including many people in Fort Bend, and Aguilar saw the destruction first-hand. Along with other Classic members, Aguilar is an active participant with Fort Bend Meals on Wheels, a local nonprofit that serves senior citizens with meal delivery and a myriad of services. So when tragedy hit some of the seniors, the Classic team was there — no questions asked. “That’s why we serve Fort Bend Seniors Meals on Wheels. We’re here to serve and protect the greatest generation that ever lived for as long as they’re here,” Aguilar said.
Aguilar said his job with Classic is to get into the community and make sure the connection with Classic Chevrolet and the public remains strong. It’s a job that he loves so much, it doesn’t feel like work. The reason he is out in the community, the reason his face and name is so familiar is simple and one many people wouldn’t consider. “Bringing customers is a secondary goal,” Aguilar said of Classic’s initiative to have a strong presence in Fort Bend. “Serving the community is the primary goal.”
The Classic Difference
C lassic Chevrolet Sugar Land is active in both East and West Fort Bend County from charities and hospitals to school districts and churches. The dealership is willing to help wherever it can. As 60 percent of the dealership’s employees are Hispanic, the dealership has a strong focus on the Hispanic community and is interested in lending its support to organizations that provide services to the Latino population in West Fort Bend.
The following is a list of some of the organizations Classic Chevrolet Sugar Land supports and sponsors:
• American Legion
• Asians Against Domestic Abuse
• Boy Scouts of America
• Child Advocates
• Exchange Club of Sugar Land
• Fort Bend Boys Choir
• Fort Bend County Fair & Rodeo
• Fort Bend Education Foundation
• Fort Bend Hispanic Heritage Forum
• Fort Bend ISD
• Fort Bend Rotary Club
• Fort Bend Women’s Center
• Hispanics Offering People Education
• Impact A Hero
• JEWELS of Fort Bend
• Kendall Currie Benefit Fund
• Knights of Columbus
• Lamar ISD
• Literary Council of Fort Bend County
• Local Churches
• Missouri City Police Department Food Drive
• Oyster Creek Rotary Club
• Police and Fire Departments
• Safari Texas Salute to Fort Bend
• Shriners Hospitals for Children
• Stafford MSD
• Stafford Youth Basketball Association
• Sugar Land Rotary Club
• Toys for Tots
• Veterans of Foreign Wars
• Youth in Philanthropy
Organizations looking for Classic support can complete an e-form on the dealership’s website at www.classicchevyhouston.com/Charitable-Contribution, and a team member will respond.