Zeigler Auto Group has moved beyond being one of the Chicago area’s best companies to work for.

Now it’s elite.

The Michigan-based dealership group, which operates 15 locations in the Chicagoland region, was presented with an Elite Award for Employee Education and Development last month during the Chicago’s Best and Brightest Companies to Work For award ceremony.

Zeigler has been selected as one of Chicago’s Best and Brightest Companies to Work For in each of the past seven years, but the Elite Award was the first for its Chicago stores. Zeigler earned an Elite Award in the Milwaukee region as the Best Medium Business in 2023.

In all, Zeigler owns 41 dealerships in Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana and Michigan.

To be considered for Elite Awards, organizations must be among the top 5% of the Best and Brightest Companies to Work For winners.

“Zeigler Auto Group exudes excellence whenever you interact with any of their team members.” said Jennifer Kludge, CEO of National Association for Business Resources, which presents the Best and Brightest awards. “To achieve Elite status is a huge accomplishment, and not only did they score high in all scoring categories, they were in the top 10% of the field of companies.

“This shows it’s not about an award, but about a positive culture and making them a best and brightest workplace.”

In a news release, the Zeigler said the award in the Employee Education and Development category represents an investment in its employees for ongoing growth.

“I firmly believe that investing in our team’s growth is one of the most important things we can do as a company,” Zeigler Auto Group president Aaron Zeigler said. “Our career development and education programs reflect our D.R.I.V.E. values — develop, reputation, integrity, vision and execution — and set us apart as a leader in the industry.”

Zeigler earned the recognition with its Zeigler University, a leadership and development program focused on continuous individual and group growth. The program offers live and recorded sessions in a portal accessible to all employees, featuring more than 4,000 videos geared toward mastering their craft as well as personal topics such as investing and personal finance.

In addition, Zeigler regularly invites experts and innovators from various industries to share their personal and professional experiences through its Zeigler University guest speaker series.

Vice president of talent development Mike Van Ryn called the award “a milestone moment” that “reflects years of dedication to building a strong culture and investing in our people” through the program.

“Our training program has truly enriched the lives of so many team members who have embraced the opportunity to grow and develop,” he said. “To be honored in this specific area validates everything we’ve worked so hard to create across the organization. You can see the impact of our development efforts every day — and you can feel the difference in our stores. I’m incredibly proud of our team.”

Montana dealer adds another Big Sky State location

Aaron Jones has doubled his holdings in the Big Sky State.

The owner-operator of Courtesy Ford in Conrad, Mont., has acquired Havre Ford in Havre. Mont., from the Steinmetz family, according to Performance Brokerage Services, which advised on the transaction.

Havre Ford, which has been in the Steinmetz family for more than 30 years, is led by president Charlie Steinmetz, his brother Steve and their father Peter Steinmetz, the dealership’s original owner.

The store will continue to operate under it’s the Havre Ford name.