Coinciding with International Women’s Day, Nissan highlighted a pair of success stories on Friday from one of its franchised stores in the Southeast.

One recapped the success within a family legacy, while the other highlighted the success of a salesperson originally from Central America, prompting her to say the car business “changed my life.”

Nissan recounted that when Jane Vaden Thacher joined her family’s business in 1994, she set an ambitious goal. Vaden Thacher wanted to open and own a brand-new dealership at a younger age than her father, who opened his first dealership at 41 years old.

And in 2001, at the age of 34 — and as a mother of a toddler and 3-month-old twins — she did, according to a news release from Nissan.

“I have always done things a little differently,” Thacher said. “I think because I’m a woman and because I’m a mom, it naturally gives you a different perspective.”

Now president of Vaden Automotive, Thacher owns and operates nine dealerships, including four Nissan locations, throughout southeast Georgia and the South Carolina Lowcountry.

Besides turning new and used vehicles, Nissan pointed out that Thacher developed a robust community partnership program to thoughtfully select sponsorships and volunteer events.

“We don’t just sign a check and call it a day,” she said. “I only want to work with folks who want a true partner.”

One of the dealership group’s more recent partnerships is with Bluffton Self Help in Bluffton, S.C., which helps immigrants to the U.S. learn English and a variety of life skills.

Currently, the OEM said, about 40% of sales at the Vaden Nissan Hilton Head store is to customers whose first language is something other than English.

Thacher said partnering with community organizations like Bluffton Self Help is mutually beneficial because the dealership can recruit new employees who reflect their communities, which helps bring in more customers.

“I think it’s important for people who don’t look like an old-school car salesman to be part of the team,” Thacher said.

Working with the literacy center has been a major part of Valentina Ramirez’s experience since she joined Vaden Nissan Hilton Head as a salesperson in 2019.

Originally from Venezuela, Nissan indicated Ramirez knew very little English when she started working for the company.

“That first month was difficult,” Ramirez said. “I was confused and struggling with my English.”

But the dealership worked with Ramirez to improve her English and connected her with community events, including at Bluffton Self Help, where she was able to meet more members of the Spanish-speaking community.

Nissan highlighted Ramirez quickly became known for her friendly approach, and she worked diligently to build her customer base.

“Most customers didn’t realize there was someone who can help them in their native language,” Ramirez said. “Now, I have a lot of referrals.”

And in December, Nissan said Ramirez sold 31 cars — more than any other salesperson at Vaden Nissan Hilton Head.

Nissan mentioned business has gotten so busy for Ramirez that her parents are now part of the Vaden team, too.

In addition to helping their daughter with customers, her mother is a custodian, and her father works in the service department, specifically with Spanish-speaking customers.

“This business changed my life,” Ramirez said. “The only thing you have to do is be open to learning.”