IRVINE, Calif. -

Autobytel crisscrossed the country to find its “Dealers of the Month” for the first quarter of 2016, and found three managers with more than 70 years of experience in the automotive business.

The company named Jill Scollo, business development center manager at Rothrock Motor Sales; Bill Burns, BDC manager at Taylor Kia of Boardman; and Gary Swartz, general manager of Freeman Toyota as “Dealers of the Month” for January, February and March, respectively.

“We are honored to recognize our first-quarter winners who are truly setting the bar high for the year,” Jeff Coats, president and chief executive officer of Autobytel, said in a news release.  “We are proud to say that these dealers are part of the Autobytel family and prouder still that their dedicated teams, combined with their exceptional processes and level of commitment to their customers, are shining examples for dealers around the country.”

Scollo, BDC manager of Rothrock Motor Sales in Allentown, Pa., said that the dealership has “adapted to the mindset that every customer is an Internet customer, because the new way of purchasing vehicles means that practically everyone starts online.”

Burns, BDC manager of Taylor Kia in Boardman, Ohio, cites a quick response time as the dealership’s key to success: “When we first started with Internet leads, our response time was within 60 minutes, but now we average five minutes … The way we see it, customers make contact with us, so it's our job to reach out to them and provide the right information they are requesting.”

Swartz, general manager of Freeman Toyota in Santa Rosa, Calif., is proud of the dealership’s online presence: “I think the most effective thing you can do is make sure that the follow up is sound, and that you have a safety net … What happens with Internet leads, in general, is that people express interest, communication happens, and it can fall apart very easily, but we have many follow up points and great people to work those leads.”

Autobytel offers leads of online car buyers to registered dealers across the country. The “Dealer Awards Program” recognizes the affiliated dealers who excel in sales, customer service, and have a strong foothold in online and mobile automotive markets.