Conklin welcomes new general manager

Conklin Cars in Newton has a new general manager, but Jay Hill is a familiar face for many, as he is working on his 20th year with Conklin.

Hill began as general manager on Oct. 13. He said his main priority is to get Conklin back into the community, earning people’s trust and supporting organizations and the community in general. Community involvement is an area Hill said has been lacking in the past few years, but as a born-and-raised Newtonian, he said he wants the “strong future” of the dealership to be but a small part of the growth of Newton and Harvey County.

Hill said he got into the car business out of necessity. While working in the mobile home industry in the 1970s, the company closed, and he needed a job. He went to work for Don Ralph Ford, a former Newton dealership. After a stint in southeast Kansas, he and his wife moved back to Newton in 1990, and he went to work for Holstine Motors, which was bought by Conklin Cars the next year. He has been a salesman, sales manager and corporate trainer.

As general manager, Hill is responsible for the entire sales department, including customer service. He said he is customer oriented and works to make sure people are “happy with their vehicles and happy with us.” He said he has taken strides to improve the service department “100 percent,” and he hopes residents of the county will at least stop by and give Conklin a chance to earn their business.

While the economy is a big factor working against the car industry right now, Hill said another factor is what he considers a misperception of American-made cars. While many gravitate toward foreign cars, Hill said American cars today have increased safety, value and reliability.

Conklin Cars is at 1500 E. Third St. in Newton, or visit www.conklincars.com.