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This is Chris Redgrave for Zions Bank Speaking on Business.
When I asked Jewel Lee Kenley how she became the president of Ed Kenley Ford in layton, I wasn't expecting to hear it was because she and her husband were in a terrible car accident in 1993, and she lost the love of her life, Ed Kenley.
She was critically hurt and spent nine months recovering. When faced with a thriving auto business and a staff of employees not sure what would happen to them or the business, Jewel Lee stepped up in a big way. She took over the company, and the rest is history.
She's a great example of what women are doing in business. Did you know that around 10 million firms are owned by women, and they employ over 13 million people? This generates around $2 trillion in sales.
Not only did she keep this company going but she continued the fierce loyalty to the customer base and the employees that Ed Kenley Ford is famous for, and it has paid off. She stabilized the business and threw herself into community service. She opened a community amphitheater in partnership with the city of Layton in memory of her husband and named it the Kenley Centennial Amphitheatre.
In her spare time, you'll see Jewel Lee volunteering for Hill Air Force Base, something she's done for many years now. She has a real sensitivity for people and set up the Car Barn as a means for teens trying to get a car, for those trying to establish credit or for people who just need a second chance.
Some of her employees worked for Ed and have been on board for 30 years. At least half the staff has been with the dealership for 20 years or more. This dedicated and talented group is comprised of 13 master certified technicians, making them an RAV dealership. This means if no one else can fix the car it comes to Ed Kenley Ford. This dealership is one of only a few that consistently gets the highest ratings for customer satisfaction.
For Zions Bank, I'm Chris Redgrave, speaking on business.
