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2012 SESSION


SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 188
Commending Donnie Keene.
 
Agreed to by the Senate, February 23, 2012
Agreed to by the House of Delegates, March 2, 2012
 

WHEREAS, Donnie Keene of Cedar Bluff, owner of Don’s Auto Exchange, Inc., was named the Virginia Independent Automobile Dealers Association Quality Dealer of the Year for 2010; and

WHEREAS, the Virginia Independent Automobile Dealers Association (VIADA) Quality Dealer of the Year award recognizes independent automobile dealers for their contributions to the industry, community and professional service, and adherence to a code of ethics; and

WHEREAS, Donnie Keene is the third generation of his family to run the automotive sales company; his grandfather opened an independent dealership 50 years ago, and Donnie began working for his father and grandfather when he was 10, washing cars and sweeping the lot; and

WHEREAS, Donnie Keene worked at the automobile lot through high school, obtaining his sales licenses while he was a student at Southwest Virginia Community College; he then managed a second lot that the company had recently opened; and

WHEREAS, when Donnie Keene purchased the company from his father in 1991, he wanted to stay up-to-date with current business practices and that motivation continues today; he started a rental service; began to use the Internet to sell cars at Don’s Auto Exchange, and is involved with social media sales; and

WHEREAS, Donnie Keene served as president of VIADA in 2009–2010 and was chairman of the board in 2010–2011; he has served on the board of the National Independent Automobile Dealers Association and is a Certified Master Dealer; and

WHEREAS, the staff at Don’s Auto Exchange has been very loyal to the company, boasting a combined century’s worth of sales experience; as the dealership has grown it has remained a family business as Donnie Keene’s wife and children enjoy helping out at the company; and

WHEREAS, Donnie Keene’s strong emphasis on customer satisfaction has resulted in a great deal of repeat business; over the years, many customers, their children, and grandchildren have bought cars from Don’s Auto Exchange; and

WHEREAS, Donnie Keene served two terms as town councilman in Cedar Bluff and was vice mayor during his second term; he has been a member of the board of the Cumberland Plateau Planning Commission and is a charter member of the Cedar Bluff Fire and EMS Department; and

WHEREAS, church and community activities are very important to Donnie Keene; he is a member of Calvary Baptist Church, and he supports the American Cancer Society, the Ronald McDonald House, and the local Shop-With-A-Cop program which helps underprivileged families; and

WHEREAS, Donnie Keene’s excellent business acumen and dedication to the automobile industry, his community, and the Virginia Independent Automobile Dealers Association make him an outstanding recipient of this prestigious award; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the Senate, the House of Delegates concurring, That the General Assembly hereby commend Donnie Keene for his selection as the Virginia Independent Automobile Dealers Association Quality Dealer of the Year for 2010; and, be it

RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the Senate prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to Donnie Keene as an expression of the General Assembly’s appreciation for his achievement and best wishes in his future endeavors.