Employee Spotlight- Lorenta Swearengen

Lorenta Swearengen is a service technician at Jim Butler Chevrolet. He's been giving Jim Butler customers exceptional car service for the past year and a half. Lorenta was born in St. Louis, but didn't stick around long. He considers himself an "army brat", having moved from home to home across the country with his favorite stop being in Hinesville, Georiga. Mr. Swearengen is a motivated and busy man. He juggles being a student at UMSL and a father of one with top-notch vehicle service. Lorenta recently received his bachelor's degree in business administration and is anticipating going back for a masters degree in human resources. After that, the sky's the limit! 

When Lorenta isn't busy working or taking classes, he enjoys taking his son to the St. Louis Zoo and watching St. Louis Rams football games.

Favorite vehicles of the past and present:

Past- '69 Buick Rivera 

Present- Pontiac G8

Favorite saying: "Live everyday like your last"

*And starting the first week of January 2013, Lorenta and our other service technicians will be on site to do super quick vehicle alignments as well as FREE alignment checks. Follow us on Twitter and Facebook for more information regarding our quick alignment service in the near future.

New Chevy Performance Sedan making its way to the US

Chevy has been testing an all-new RWD performance sedan they call the “SS”. 

The new SS is coming stateside and will arrive in Fenton at Jim Butler Chevrolet in the near future thanks to General Motor’s Australian Division. Beyond that, there are only tidbits of information to gather. Pricing of the vehicle, who they will market to and what sort of features the SS will have available are all questions consumers are curious about. The biggest question though, has to be, what’s under the hood?

General Motors and Chevrolet have an abundance of engine options to choose from for the SS. Beginning with the standard 4-cylinder and 6-cyl, to turbocharged 4-cyl or 6-cyl, or even the All-American V8. The best part is, according to a source at GoAuto.com, the new SS model may be getting a supercharged engine similar to the that powers Chevrolets Camaro ZL1…we can only hope.

To view Jim Butler Chevrolets current selection of vehicles including the ZL1, click HERE. For more information on the new Chevrolet SS you can follow us on TWITTER and FACEBOOK

Employee Spotlight- Robin Forsythe

Jim Butler Chevrolet would like the welcome Robin Forythe to our team!

Robin is new at Jim Butler Chevy. She was born and raised in the St. Louis area and has worked in Customer Service for 8 years providing smiles and excellent customer assistance. When she isn't meeting and greeting Jim Butler customers, Robin enjoys travel, dance, sports and spending time with the people she's closest with, specifically her husband and 3 nephews. When she's on vacation traveling she has two favorite spots, Gulf Shores and Colorado! Robin loves the mountains in the spring and beaches in the summer. She tries to make an annual trip to Colorado every year. 

When she's in town she likes to spend her free time watching St. Louis sports, like rooting on the St. Louis Cardinals to win another World Series or cheering on the St. Louis Blues to have a hockey season. Unfortunately she is also a big Green Bay Packers fan! Just kidding Robin :) Go Rams!

Favorite Vehicles of the past & present

Past: Daewoo Lanos

Present: 2013 Camaro SS

Saying to live by: "The world would be a better place if everyone would smile more"

Thanks Robin, and welcome to the Jim Butler Team!

Jim Butler and The Original Corvette Club of St. Louis Bring you the 2nd Annual Corvette Car Show

St. Luke's Mobile Mammography Unit is coming to Jim Butler Chevrolet

Jim Butler Chevrolet is teaming up with St. Luke’s Hospital to bring St. Luke’s mobile Mammography Unit to Jim Butler Chevrolet in Fenton, MO on October 5^th from 8am-1:30 pm. To make an appointment, you can call St. Luke’s at 314.205.6565.

Annual screenings are recommended for women over 40. Please bring your insurance card and a photo ID. All screening mammograms performed by St. Lukes Hospital are checked with the ImageChecker® For more information call the number above or visit St. Luke's website HERE.

Lisa Lang- Employee Spotlight

Lisa Lang is the Assistant Office Manager at Jim Butler Chevrolet. She has been a part of the Jim Butler Chevy Team for 3 years and has 20 years of experience in the automotive industry.

She's supports all her St. Louis sports teams as well as the Mizzou Tigers. Her favorite team is the St. Louis Cardinals led by catcher and baby-face heart-throb Yadier Molina. In her free time she enjoys reading adventure and western novels as well as playing softball and bowling with her friends. 

Her favorite vehicles of the past and present?

Past- '69 Camaro

Present- 2012 Camaro ZL1 (faster than a BMW M6!)

Saying to live by is "Always be happy with yourself" - Truer words have not been spoken Lisa!

Jim Butler Chevy is excited to announce the upcoming Corvette C7!

              

Car and Driver received a handful of photos depicting the camouflaged 2014 C7 Corvette. The new Corvette is expected to be available for purchase at Jim Butler Chevrolet at some point in mid-2013. While it is currently undergoing cold-weather testing and covered up as to prevent the public from seeing its full design before completion, we have some tidbits to pass along.

The new C7’s body shares a lot of features of the past model. Chevrolet has chosen to evolve the Corvette body as opposed to revolutionize it. The 2014 body appears to include LED running lights in the headlights as well as the potential for Chevy to abandon the rear window wraparound glass that has become a trademark of the current generation Corvette’s but these are just theories.   

              

While a majority of the information available on the 2014 C7 is hearsay, Jim Butler Chevrolet does have some concrete intelligence on the new sport car. For instance, the Vette will remain a front-engine, rear transaxle sports car that will have a similar suspension to the previous model.

 For the powertrain, expect Chevrolet to hold off on a twin-turbo V-6 until the Corvette C8. For efficiency reasons, expect a slight downsize from a 6.2-liter to a 5.5-liter engine most likely. This smaller engine will continue to use an aluminum block with pushrods and should be similar in HP to the previous model due to a higher compressions ratio and direct fuel injection.

The design of the Corvette, as mentioned earlier, will be an evolution of the current Corvette as opposed to a revolution.  New headlight elements are more narrow and complex. The roof has some ventilation system; either louvers or a scoop similar to the current Z06, Grand Sport, and ZR1. The biggest difference in design on the 2014 C7 will be the back-end. The rear appears to have a boat-tail design along with different taillights, exhaust tips and a modified rear over-hand.

Jim Butler Chevrolet is hoping 2014 C7’s will begin shipping to Fenton, Missouri in the middle of 2013. Expect a price tag similar to the current C7. For more information call 636.349.3222. To view our current inventory of Corvette’s click HERE.

Jim Butler Chevrolet just got in a new shipment of 2013 Chevrolet Sparks and they’re gonna go fast!

Safety, style and efficiency fuse together to create Chevrolet’s first mini car. With convenient technology and original styling the affordable Chevy Spark is one of a kind and built for the future. In the Chevy Spark you’ll stand out from the mini car crowd. With a design that makes itself known and unique colors that turn heads such as Salsa Red, Jalapeno and Techno Pink, you’re sure to get noticed for all the right reasons.

                While the Spark is a “mini car” the space inside is anything but. With more passenger and cargo room than other mini-cars in its class such as the Fiat 500 and Scion iQ, you’ll get the comfort of a sedan with the efficiency and styling of a compact car. The Spark offers an EPA-estimated fuel economy of 38 mpg highway.

                The 2013 Chevrolet Spark has so many great features in addition to fuel efficiency. Come to Jim Butler Chevrolet to test drive the Spark, it’s a driving experience you won’t forget! The 2013 Spark comes standard with electric power steering and MacPherson strut front suspension designed to deliver taut, tight handling. In addition, it comes with Anti-Lock brakes, StabiliTrak stability control, ten airbags and Hill Start Assist at no extra cost.

                The Spark available at Jim Butler Chevrolet in St. Louis is the only car in its class to provide MyLink Radio – a seven-inch color touch screen radio with the ability to display smartphone music, videos, photos and contacts for hands-free phone calls and other functions. It’s also the only car in its class to be covered by a five-year 100k mile Powertrain Limited Warranty which comes with roadside assistance and six months of OnStar!

                All it takes is a call to Jim Butler Chevrolet in O’Fallon and you can be driving around in a 2013 Chevrolet Spark tomorrow. View Jim Butler's 2013 inventory of Chevrolet Sparks here. Don’t wait any longer, call today at 866.621.7147 or visit us online at www.jimbutlerchevrolet.com

Employee Spotlight: Linda Tayoan

Linda Tayoan has been with Jim Butler Chevrolet for over 4 years. She’s in charge of Accounts Payable for multiple Jim Butler Auto Group locations.

Car sales run in Linda's family. Her father was in the automotive business for over 50 years and it sure rubbed off on Linda. In her free time when she’s not at the dealership Linda and her husband Ed enjoy racing their cars. Linda and her husband share a 1972 Chevrolet Chevelle that they take to the racetrack on the weekends to burn some rubber; her husband is a champion at the local raceways.

In addition, Linda loves exploring St. Louis. From the Fox Theatre to the Botanical Gardens, Linda is always trying to discover new events, places and restaurants in St. Louis. Her favorite spot currently is Tuckers Downtown. When she’s not racing around St. Louis searching for new and exciting things to do, she enjoys taking their RV to different campgrounds across the region. She is an avid St. Louis Cardinals fan with a big heart as well as being a grandmother of five. Jim Butler would like to thank Linda for her hard work throughout the years and is excited for her future with the company!

Favorite Vehicles:

Past- ’70 Dodge Challenger

Present- ’95 Camaro Z28 with a T-top and big motor

Saying to live buy- “You get what you give. You give a lot, you get a lot”

July 2012-Employee Spotlight-Claudia Halle

Claudia Halle is one of the irreplaceable service receptionists at Jim Butler Chevy. She’s been with the Jim Butler Chevrolet Service Team for over two years now. Claudia grew up in Sullivan, Missouri and currently calls Fenton her home. She enjoys spending most of her time outside that is why her positioning in the service drive is perfect.

When Claudia isn’t working, she spends most of her time outdoors, with some of her favorite hobbies being fishing and going on float trips. Claudia is big sports fan, just as long as it isn’t a basketball game. Her favorite sports teams are the St. Louis Cardinals, Dallas Cowboys and New England Patriots. Claudia has been an integral part of the Jim Butler team and we want to thank her for her hard work and dedication. Great job Claudia!

Favorite Vehicles

Past: ’69 Chevelle SS 396

Present: 2012 Silverado HD 2500 with black tint and huge tires!

Saying to live by: “If you want something done and done right? Do it yourself.”

Employee Spotlight - Mike Thompson

Seasoned service veteran, Mike Thompson has been a Service technician at Jim Butler Chevrolet for 5 years. Mike actually started working on cars when he was 6 years old with his dad. He is originally from the St. Louis Area and enjoys heading to the ballpark for a Cardinals game in his free time.

Mike enjoys playing his guitars, and admires many guitarists such as BB King, Eric Clapton, Led Zepplin, Santana and many others. Typically he plays Country, Gospel and a little Rock & Roll. When he isn't jamming on his six string, he likes to spend time at the park with his 3 grandchildren. Mike's favorite sport is baseball, and obviously he enjoys watching the World Champion St. Louis Cardinals!

Favorite Vehicles
Past - 1957 Chevy Belair
Present - 2012 Dodge Challenger SRT8

Saying to live by "Attention to details now, saves from future mistakes"

Employee Spotlight-Tim Rhame

We'd like to welcome our May 2012 Employee Spotlight and newest addition to our Internet Sales Team, Tim Rhame. Tim is going to be one of our Lead Internet Sales Managers. He has almost 10 years experience in the automotive industry and is from the St. Louis Area. 

Cardinals games, playing golf, shooting washers with friends or cheering on the MU Tigers football team, Tim definitely has some hobbies to fill in his off-time. If Tim had his choice to go on vacation tomorrow, his favorite place to go is San Diego, CA. Tim won't be going anywhere until next month, when he and his fiance get married. 

Favorite vehicle

Past - '69 Pontiac GTO

Present - 2010 Lamborghini Murcielago 

Saying to live by "If you're not first, you're last"

Employee Spotlight - Don Bay

Don Bay is the General Sales Manager at Jim Butler Chevrolet. He is originally from St. Louis and has 22 years of experience in the St. Louis automotive business. Don has consistently lead our Sales Team in annual sales growth each year as well as earning the "GM Mark of Excellence" consecutively through the past few years.

Some might think that Don's focus is just selling cars, but his family #1 in his life. Don has 4 kids and is happily married. When he is not at the dealership he enjoys spending time with his kids, and especially likes cheering for them at their baseball games and soccer games. Don's hobbies include biking, hiking, golf and poker. St. Louis Cardinals baseball and Blues hockey, are Don's two favorite teams to follow.

Favorite Cars
Past  - 1980 Chevrolet Corvette
Present - 2012 Chevy Tahoe

Saying to live by "Try to do the right thing everyday"

Employee Spotlight - Kim Hausmann

Celebrating 4 years at Jim Butler Chevrolet, we'd like to congratulate Kim Hausmann, Service Advisor, for her excellent customer service. Kim started out in the automotive business back in 1996 and has loved working at the vibrant Butler Chevrolet location in Fenton. She grew up in Ellisville but now lives in South County with her husband and three kids. Her pride and joy aside from her kids, is her 4 great grand-children whom she loves playing with whenever she gets time. 

Kim loves rock'n roll, and her husband even has his own band "Vynal Tap." When they aren't occupied with their grand-children or going to a gig on the weekends, they take a short road trip down to the Lake of the Ozarks. They have a cabin on the lake and enjoy getting out on the water for a little boating with the family. In St. Louis, Kim likes to go for walks in Forest Park and when things warm up, go to the Muny. 

Favorite sports teams - Cardinals baseball, St. Louis Blues

Favorite vehicle of the past - 1966 Chevelle SS, convertible or hardtop

Favorite vehicle of the present - 2012 Chevy Equinox or Traverse

Saying to live bye "Only a life lived for others is worth living" -Albert Einstein 

Employee Spotlight - Shelly McGrael

Introducing our newest team member at Jim Butler Chevrolet, Shelly McGrael is our new Business Development Manager at the Chevy and KIA location. Shelly is a St. Louis native with a background in the insurance industry for over 10 years. Last year, she decided to make a career change and took the leap over to the automotive industry. Shelly has always had a knack for customer service and sales techniques.

Shelly's dad was actually the Service Manager at Jim Butler Chevrolet for 27 years, and she even worked at the Watson Rd. store when she was 16 year-old. We look forward to her becoming a key factor in serving our customers with the best customer service in St. Louis.

Shelly isn't always at the dealership, and when she gets a chance, she enjoys one of her hobbies. Shelly is an avid antique hunter and restorer, enjoys camping with her family and also bbq'ing with friends during the warmer months in St. Louis.

Favorite vehicles
Past - 1985 Chevy Camaro IROC Z28
Present - 2013 Chevrolet Corvette 427

Saying to live by "When you know better, you do better" --Maya Angelou

Employee Spotlight - Tracy Hankins

Tracy Hankins is our Controller at Jim Butler Imports and Jim Butler Chevrolet. She originally started with Jim Butler Auto Group's Saturn locations about 14 years ago. Tracy was born and raised in the St. Louis Area. There is actually a funny story about her first car buying experience.

When Tracy was still in college looking to buy her first new car, she shopped all over with her dad. They drove all over St. Louis but ended up buying her New 1991 Chevy Cavalier from the dealer that treated him right, Jim Butler Chevrolet on Watson Road. Who would have known that she would end up working at Jim Butler Chevrolet a few years later?

Since Tracy oversees a lot of the behind the scenes work at two Jim Butler stores, she is often spending a lot of time at the dealerships. When she isn't at work, she really likes to enjoy her kids. She is married with two boys and a girl. Their favorite thing to do is explore the parks all over the St. Louis Area, especially hiking trails less traveled. Tracy can always be found rooting for the home team no matter how good or bad they are doing. Finally, reading has become something that she rarely has time for but she does love reading, particularly the "Harry Potter" series.

Favorite cars of past and present - Tracy doesn't necessarily have a favorite vehicle of the past, but she did have a blast last summer when she got to take home a New 2011 Chevy Camaro Convertible SS.

Saying to live by "Where ever you are, be there"