Each year, Training magazine publishes a Training Top 125 list, assessing companies’ work in areas such as how closely training and development efforts are linked to business goals and objectives.

For its 2019 list, the magazine recognized Sonic Automotive, placing it sixth out of 125 organizations. Sonic Automotive has now placed in the awards program’s top 10 for three consecutive years.

In naming Sonic Automotive to this year’s list, the magazine praised Sonic Automotive’s training team for the following academies and programs that the company offers each year to associates: General Manager Leadership Academy, Variable Operations Academy, Fixed Operations Academy, Managers as Trainers, Leadership at Sonic, and Sonic Sales Process Training. The publication also noted Sonic’s achievement in bringing a return on investment from those programs.

In addition to assessing companies on how closely training and development efforts are linked to business goals and objectives, the publication determines its Top 125 ranking by assessing qualitative and quantitative factors such as financial investment in employee training and development, the scope of training programs, and business impact effectiveness.

“We are highly focused on associate growth, and I’m proud to see our training team being recognized again this year,” Sonic Automotive chief executive officer David Smith said in a news release. “This award is a huge testament to their commitment and dedication to developing best-in-class programs for our associates.”

Training magazine is a 55-year old professional development publication for training, human resources, and business management professionals. The magazine recognized Sonic with the award during the Training 2019 Conference & Expo at Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort in Orlando, Fla. in February. 

“The programs and leadership academies developed by our training team are critical to our company’s ability to develop our associates for long-term growth and success,” Sonic Automotive president Jeff Dyke said. “Fostering an environment of continual learning and development helps our associates get the most out of their careers at Sonic and has a huge impact on our ability to create an unmatched experience for our customers.”