"Rising Leader" At Fred Beans Completes Ford Training Program

DOYLESTOWN, PA — Chris Gilbert, who has worked to grow the Mobile Service operations for Fred Beans Ford dealerships, has graduated from Ford Motor Company's Rising Leaders training program. He was one of only 20 participants from across the U.S. to complete the year-long program.

"It's a privilege to have participated in Ford Rising Leaders," said Gilbert. "I had the opportunity to network with dealer colleagues and interact with key program executives throughout my time while also learning more about the business, and I'm leaving with even more confidence in Ford."

Over the year, Gilbert and the other participants had opportunities to create connections with peers from across the country and take a behind-the-scenes look at the company. With a mix of in-person and virtual sessions, the group was exposed to dealer forums, Ford executive leadership, and unique Ford product and history experiences.

"We created this program to invest in our future leaders and further strengthen our dealer network," said Elena Ford, chief dealer engagement officer with Ford Motor Company. "The success and positive feedback shared will allow us to grow Rising Leaders significantly in the future."

Ford offers several in-person training programs for its dealers, ranging from product information to customer experience. Rising Leaders offers a new experience targeted specifically for future dealer leadership. This small forum and access to Ford insights allow for an intimate learning experience to assist the next generation of dealers.

Gilbert most recently helped Fred Beans Automotive Group build and scale its Mobile Service operation across all eight Ford dealerships, growing it to more than 1,000 monthly appointments in just six months. He previously served as assistant service manager at Fred Beans Honda of Abington and worked directly out of college as a sales consultant for Fred Beans Subaru of Doylestown.

Before committing to a career at Fred Beans Automotive, founded by his grandfather, Gilbert worked in investment banking. He graduated magna cum laude from the University of Richmond with a B.S. in Business Administration.

Fred Beans Automotive Group owns and operates 30 dealerships, with the eight Ford stores located in Boyertown; Doylestown; Exton; Langhorne; Mechanicsburg, Pa.; Newtown; Washington, N.J.; and West Chester. Also under the Fred Beans umbrella are 10 Fred Beans collision centers (9 franchised CARSTAR), two AutoExpress locations, a parts warehouse, two Carquest locations, four Autorents rental locations, and commercial truck sales. Find all operations at fredbeans.com/.