2013 Winner | Dealer.com
During the final weeks of 2013, an announcement was made epitomizing one of the opportunities of business growth. Dealertrack Technologies announced a merger with Dealer.com, representing a culmination of 15 years of expansion and innovation for the Burlington based company Dealer.com. The merger represents even more opportunity on the horizon for transformation in automotive retail as two tech companies join forces.
Not only a success story for Dealer.com founders and employees, this is also a moment for Burlington, VT to shine as an incubator for the rise of a technology company in our region employing today over 800 people. The merger announcement in 2013 should only illuminate the unique story of vision and growth of Dealer.com.
Great companies start with an idea and an inspiration. Dealer.com’s idea was to make the car buying process better, faster and simpler. And their inspiration was technology. In 1997 that spark led Mark Bonfigli, Rick Gibbs, Mike Lane, Jamie LaScolea and Ryan Dunn to found Dealer.com and begin redefining the expectations of the auto industry.
By bringing a full suite of digital marketing tools to OEMs and dealers, coupled with direct consultation to make those tools work harder for customers, they helped to change the digital face of the industry.
But they didn’t just focus on the world outside – they looked inward, to see how they could create a work environment that was unlike any other – where the desire to be creative, innovative, healthy, expressive and fun were nurtured and appreciated at a whole new level.
It was the collective fostering of these missions that made Dealer.com what it is today: an 800-person strong company with bi-coastal offices serving 40 percent of the auto industry’s marketing needs; all made possible through a culture rich in openness, wellness, development, community engagement, and individuality.
Dealer.com’s approach to corporate social responsibility affects every area of their existence, from their community involvement to their use of natural resources to the wellness programs they offer their employees. Dealer.com believes that positive change comes from being a positive role model and contributor to the places in which they live and work. P.E.A.C.E. represents their own unique point of view on being a socially and environmentally responsible employer, community member, and corporate citizen.
Over the past four years, Dealer.com has more than doubled its workforce while continuing to better the organization through new products and product enhancements. With Silver and Gold LEED certified buildings and a 216 panel solar panel array on their roof, their commitment to the planet is on the forefront. The company’s unique commitment to culture, with a focus on health and wellness, makes it one of the most desirable places to work.
With the merger, Dealertrack plans to establish Dealer.com’s Burlington, Vermont, headquarters as a center of excellence for digital marketing solutions, along with Dealertrack’s Dallas, Texas, office. Based on the strength of Dealer.com’s brand, Dealertrack will retain the Dealer.com name in the marketplace to represent Dealertrack’s advanced and complementary set of digital marketing products and services.
Showcasing the essence of business growth while maintaining a strong commitment to the wellbeing of employees and the community, Dealer.com has risen to the top and easily stands among the top three competitors for the Deane C. Davis distinction.
With its World Headquarters located in Bethel, Vermont GW Plastics has built a reputation as one of Vermont’s most respected employers and successful manufacturers. Recognized as a global industry leader in plastics manufacturing, GW’s focus is on high technology injection molding, tooling and contract manufacturing of precision thermoplastic and silicone components and assemblies for the world’s most successful companies.