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As American As Apple Pie With 4th of July around the corner, we know everyone in Augusta and the surrounding areas will be enjoying their own family traditions.Popular Independence Day pastimes range from spending the entire day around the lake to a simple BBQ at home.But one thing that seems to be a constant at the family parties?The desserts.Pie in particular seems to be a traditional American dessert that’s as old as America itself. But what variety of pie is the real American tradition? We’ve all heard the saying, “as American as apple pie and baseball.”But is apple pie the true American pie? We decided to ask around the Milton Ruben Toyota sales department to find out. While asking the staff about their thoughts on pie as an American (or family) tradition, we received a large variety of answers.But one thing was clear: apple was the favorite. The reasons varied from Chuck Easters’ answer, “Apple pies are easier to make, (because) apples are more readily available all year,” to Dwayne Kanyton’s, “Apples are popular in our culture: ‘an apple a day keeps the doctor away.’You never hear any cultural references to cherry pie” Some of the staff had different opinions. Some people don’t like pie at all (how un-American!).A few of the sales staff stated that they have other preferences over apple pie such as pumpkin or cherry. When asked if they thought any other pie flavor was more American, the answer was always a resounding, “no.” So there you have it folks, according to our team, there’s nothing more American than apple pie! Happy 4th of July from all of us here at Milton Ruben!

The next time you’re in our Showroom, you may see a new face behind our legendary Sales Desk. Randy Hirneisen is our newest Sales Manager. He’s quickly climbed the ranks in our Toyota store, and we couldn’t be prouder to introduce him to you. Randy has worked at Milton Ruben as a Sales Consultant since March 2016. In addition to this full-time position, Randy is also an active-duty Sergeant at Fort Benning in Columbus, GA. Originally from Davenport, FL., Randy now lives in the CSRA with his wife, Mallory, and his three children, all under the age of six. Despite being busier than most, Randy still applied for the promotion to Sales Manager last month. “I think I put in more time than the regular person, and showed more dedication,” he said about earning the position. “Plus, they knew about my performance as a Sales Consultant, and that contributed .” Already, Randy’s noticed that being a Sales Manager requires more responsibility. But he’s also aware that he has more control in the overall tempo of the sale, and that he gets to be more hands-on with Sales Consultants. Between his easy demeanor and family history, it isn’t surprising that Randy’s done so well in our dealership. His father has been in the car business for 34 years, and currently works in Grovetown. When Randy told his father that he would also be entering the industry, Randy’s father was proud. “He taught me almost everything I know, and then the rest I learned here,” Randy said. As the newest Toyota Sales Manager, Randy’s not finished with his training yet. Currently, he’s mastering his skills as a desk manager and working on helping customers as efficiently as possible. His ultimate goal is to become the General Manager of a dealership, a dream that, at this rate, seems unstoppable.

Routine maintenance and being proactive about your vehicle is important at any point in the year, but we always like to focus on keeping your car healthy at the beginning of the summer. With the brutal heat, and likely road trip or two planned, your car works hard throughout the most-relaxed season. Of course, our team of certified prof essionals is always willing to inspect your vehicle, and Multi-Point Inspections (offered with every service) cover many of the suggestions below. But, just to be aware of common summer problems, here are a few things to think about as the temperatures rise: Certified Technician Dennis Miller repairs the air conditioning in a 2013 Dodge Durango. How to Prepare for the Weather In the South, it’s hard to imagine surviving without air conditioning in your home and in your vehicle. However, it’s also difficult to think about your air conditioning until you need it, and chances are, it went through a period of time with little use in your vehicle. Make sure that when you turn your air conditioning on, it blows cold air without any unusual smells or noises. Under the hood, inspect your air conditioning for any damaged belts or fins. Speaking of cooling, it’s also important to to keep your engine cool to prevent the vehicle from overheating. Check that there are no leaks in your radiator, and that you have proper levels of (clear, not cloudy) coolant. While we’re all hoping for a sunny summer, now is also the time for thunderstorms. You may have used your wiper fluid to de-ice your windshield in the winter, so check to see if you still have enough. If your wiper blades are streaking the windshield or peeling in any way, it’s time to replace them. Certified Technician Juan Castillo works to rebuild the engine in a 2012 Scion iQ. How to Prepare for a Road Trip To ensure safety, we recommend a full inspection before embarking on a long or challenging road trip. While it’s always a good idea to have a professional check the battery, engine and any lights that have come to life on the dashboard, there are a few things you can do yourself before entering our Service Lane. Inspect your tires for tread and cuts, and check that the air pressure is in accordance with the numbers listed on the driver’s side door. Be sure to do the same for the spare tire, and check that the jack is still in working order. Pay attention if your brakes are starting to take longer to work, or if you notice noises or pulsations of any kind. A minor brake problem can soon be detrimental, so keep up to date with the state of your brake pads and fluid. If your vacation includes towing of any kind, double check the hitch. Ensure that the safety chains are in order, and that the brakes and lights are working on any trailer you may use. Abide by your vehicle’s gross vehicle weight (GVW), and take special care when packing for proper load distribution.

In honor of Mother’s Day, we want to spotlight a couple of our favorite employees: Sales Consultant Dennis Giles, Jr. and his mother, Business Manager Linda Giles. “We’ve been a Milton Ruben family for a long time,” said Linda, who has worked in the dealership for 16 years. Her husband and Dennis’ father, Dennis Giles, Sr., also worked at the dealership and, soon after he retired, Dennis joined the Sales Department, and has been working at Milton Ruben for 10 years. Currently, Dennis and Linda work in the same building, on either side of the Toyota Showroom. While most people can’t imagine working with their mother and/or child, Linda and Dennis consider it to be convenient and beneficial. The two interact throughout the work day, but maintain their professionalism. In fact, while at work, Dennis calls his mother ‘Mrs. Giles’. “We see each other all day,” said Dennis. “It’s not quality time, but it’s good to stay in touch.” Still, it’s undeniable that the two look out for each other. With the decades of dealership experience in the family, it’s easy to seek out help (or offer it). “Sometimes she gives me a hard time…she calls it advice,” said Dennis. “I do it nicely!” laughed Linda. Aside from 12-hour work days, the mother and son stay close through church and weekly family dinners. If one person has to stay late with a customer, the other will call to check in. And, when asked if they talk about the car business out of work, they both agreed that it’s hard not to bring up. “It’s a common denominator in our family,” said Linda. “That and the grandkids.”

Drumroll please! We’re proud to announce our winners for LoseBaby, our annual company-wide weight-loss competition. Between January and April this year, LoseBaby participants swapped recipes, motivational quotes and even yoga poses with each other to try to become healthier. While body-weight percentages were recorded to find the winner, the theme of this year's competition was stress reduction. Participants all signed waivers to guarantee that all new habits were in fact safe, natural ways to become healthier. The two winners (one male and one female) each took home $500 at the end of the competition. And now, here are our 'biggest losers’: Julia Brown and Tommy Swords are our 2017 LoseBaby Winners! Julia Brown — Warranty Cancellation Administrator Brown won through hard work and intense commitment. She stuck to a high-protein diet (“Eat protein until you never want to see another chicken or fish!”) and became a regular in both the cardio and weight rooms at the gym. Brown's advice to anyone looking to develop a healthier lifestyle is simple: “Get off the sugar and eat more vegetables and lean meats. Go to the gym, and just walk more.” Her motivation came from a few places. Last year, Brown came in second-place in the LoseBaby competition. She said that she kept that fact in the back of her mind this year, and it helped to push her even further. And, with a daughter who is a body-builder and coworkers who join her at the gym each morning, Brown has a support system to combat even the most unmotivated feeling. Acknowledging the need for moderation, Brown did take a break once during the competition, during a vacation to Biloxi, Mississippi. She plans on spending her $500 cash prize on another vacation this summer. However, Brown says she’s not finished losing. “I still have a goal. I’m still working. I still go to the gym every morning.” Tommy Swords - Business Manager Swords says he owes his success to the Atkins Diet, especially since his routine featured “not a drop of exercise.” When LoseBaby was announced, he decided to utilize the 90-day timeline. “I was planning on going on a diet anyway, so I just decided to win the contest!” Swords said, laughing. Swords speaks highly of Atkins, calling it the perfect diet for him. Though the diet focuses on lowering carbohydrates intake, Swords still ate whatever he wanted. He called this the key to success. “Find the right diet for you so that you won’t get bored, and commit to it,” he said. Though he didn’t originally plan to give away all of his winnings, Swords is donating his entire prize to Rabbi Kirt Schneider. He’s so fond of Atkins that he says he’s happy to go back to it at any time. However, that didn’t stop him from visiting Dairy Queen after his final weigh in for LoseBaby. -- -- -- -- Congratulations to all of our winners and a huge shoutout to everyone who participated! We’ll see you next year! Women Winner: Julia Brown - 7.1% 2nd Place: Ashley Stevens - 5.9% 3rd Place: Nicole Cain - 5.7% Men Winner: Tommy Swords - 12.9% 2nd Place: Andy O'Harrow - 7.4% 3rd Place: Jeff Hennen - 5.4%

The tourists that were here for golf are long gone, but we have our own “green” for you to try! Through the end of the month, our Toyota Parts Department has turned into an easy and unique one-hole course. The rules are simple: try your hand at our careful setup, and in one lucky stroke, you could win. No playoffs here. All it takes is one try for you to have a shot at cash and prizes from Milton Ruben Toyota. So, when you’re in for service this month, and you get tired of the free coffee, the many TVs, the complimentary computers and the loaded Showroom, we invite you to take a stroll down the hill to our Parts Department. You may drive away a winner (although we know you always feel like a winner at Milton Ruben).

Don’t get us wrong. Every vehicle that drives off our lot is special, because we know just how life-changing it can be to an individual. And we know that beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Some of our employees get excited about a truck they have to climb to get into, while others drool over the latest hybrid technology. This difference of opinions has prompted heated "car-talk" for decades. But vehicles that commemorate a significant milestone will always hold a unique place in our hearts. Maybe they remind us how far the auto industry has come. Maybe they bring back memories of our first car. Or perhaps they just make us excited to see what’s next. Either way, 2017 is a wonderful year for special Anniversary Editions for several of our brands. Here’s a spotlight of a few of them: 2017 Toyota Corolla 50th Anniversary Special Edition The most popular car in the world turned 50 this year and it looks like Toyota threw a black tie soiree. The Special Edition oozes sophistication, from its special badging to its 17-inch alloy wheels. The car comes in Black Cherry Pearl, Blizzard Pearl and Classic Silver Metallic, and features Black Cherry contrast accents throughout the interior to add a stylish touch of luxury. 2017 Chevrolet Camaro 50th Anniversary Edition The legendary Camaro also turns 50 this year, and, to honor it, Chevy released anniversary editions in both coupe and convertible 2LT and 2SS models to celebrate the classic style AND performance of the vehicle. It’s built to move, but once it slows down, check out the distinct Nightfall Gray Metallic color with special 50th Anniversary stripes, badges, and grille. And, when you’re not driving, relive history with the web page Chevy put together highlighting the six generations of the Camaro. 2017 Jeep Wrangler 75th Edition The Jeep Wrangler technically turned 75 last year, but that hasn’t stopped Jeep from continuing the celebration into 2017. Available in the Wrangler and Wrangler Unlimited, the 75th Anniversary Editions, in a nod to their predecessors in WWII, include a bronze interior and exterior and premium wheels, as well as the special badges that prominently feature 1941, the year of the first Wrangler.

We’ve always been proud to have Certified Technician Travis Baxter in our Chevrolet Service Department. But we’ve been feeling extra proud lately, since Baxer was named a “World Class Technician” by General Motors on October 1. Certified Technician Travis Baxter holds his World Class Technician statue. According to GM’s website, “The program provides technicians with the opportunity to validate their knowledge and demonstrate their skills to their employers and — most importantly — to customers in all automotive service areas.” To sum up, the World Class Technician is “the ‘one and only GM expert.’” Baxter began working toward this highest honor in April 2014, soon after he was hired by Milton Ruben Chevrolet. Milton Ruben sponsored Baxter’s classes, which included online courses and in-person challenges outside of Atlanta. Specifically, he completed nine Master Technician Certifications and their accompanying Automotive Service Excellence Certifications. Baxter says his favorite part was working with his teachers, most of whom were World Class Technicians themselves. By his estimate, Baxter is only one of two World Class Technicians in the CSRA. According to GM, there are currently 1,250 World Class Technicians in the country. Baxter installs camshaft lifters in a Chevy Silverado. Milton Ruben Chevrolet Service Manager Blake Taylor says he’s very proud. “This is good for not only our dealership, but the industry as a whole,” he said about Baxter’s achievement. “It’s a privilege to have him here being the best that he can be.” We couldn’t agree more with Taylor. To schedule your Service Appointment, click here or call (706) 955-2243.

To the employees of Milton Ruben, finding a cure for breast cancer is personal. Our employees, as well as their friends, neighbors, families and community members have been afflicted and affected by this disease, and we have once again decided to come together as a company to spread awareness for breast cancer and collect funds for treatment and a cure during the month of October. If you see one of our employees wearing a pink ribbon during the month of October, that means that he or she has donated to University Hospital’s Breast Health Center’s Mobile Mammography Unit. The center has been accredited by the National Accreditation Program for Breast Centers (NAPBC), a program administered by the American College of Surgeons. University has the first and longest-running nationally accredited breast health center in the region and is only the second one in the state to be honored with this recognition. Several of our employees are also participating in University Hospital’s 16th Annual Miracle Mile Walk on Saturday, Oct. 15 in Downtown Augusta. We encourage you to walk in the event, or even start a team. If you see the Milton Ruben Drive Babies, be sure to stop us and say hi! With these fundraising efforts, Milton Ruben Superstore is trying to raise a combined $1,500. If this happens, Milton Ruben Toyota General Manager Chuck Easters has agreed to let an employee throw a pie in his face! For more information on University Hospital’s Breast Health Center, click here. For more information on the Miracle Mile Walk, click here.

We’ll admit that we go weak in the knees when we see a vehicle that’s obviously cared for. Whether it’s a car with 200,000 plus miles or a personalized truck, we appreciate a good automobile. But it’s not just shiny metal that warms our hearts. Hey, we’re not robots! We at Milton Ruben Toyota also get that warm fuzzy feeling when we see an animal in a happy home. And we’re not the only ones. That’s why we’re excited to partner with the Friends of the Animal Shelter, or FOTAS, for their third annual “Playing Fore the Pets” Charity Golf Tournament in Aiken, SC. Looking back at last year’s event, it was an easy decision to sponsor the tournament again. From brunch to golf to General Manager Chuck Easters getting to ride in an actual helicopter, it was a day of fun in addition to a day of giving. This year, the tournament will be at Woodside Plantation Country Club on Monday, Sept. 26. Join us for our TWO Par 3 holes on the course. Make a hole-in-one, get a brand new Toyota Camry. Start practicing your swing now! After the tournament, FOTAS is bringing back their Helicopter Ball Drop. Pre-numbered golf balls will be dropped from 300 feet over a designated hole at Woodside Plantation Country Club. You can “buy” a ball with a ten dollar donation to FOTAS, and the corresponding numbered ball that lands in (or closest to) the hole wins $1,000! There is still time to sign up your team for the golf tournament, and balls for the helicopter drop are still available for purchase. Visit http://www.fotasaiken.org/golf-tournament-save-the-date/ for more details. We can’t wait fore the event! The mission of FOTAS is to support the Aiken County Animal Shelter by promoting animal welfare and responsible pet ownership so that one day, no adoptable animals will ever need to be euthanized in the shelter.

Like Guitar Pull? Then you’re going to want to ‘like’ us on Facebook! Milton Ruben Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram wants to send you to the 18th annual Kicks 99 Guitar Pull. Tickets just went on sale, but we’re giving you the opportunity to win a set of two tickets every single week until the event on November 15! All you have to do is ‘like’ our Facebook page once, and then check back every Thursday at 4 p.m. to see if you won. It’s that easy! This year’s Guitar Pull stars Cole Swindell, The Band Perry, Kelsea Ballerini, Trace Adkins, Kane Brown and Chris Janson. The jam-packed night will take place at the James Brown Arena in Downtown Augusta. Official Rules: NO PURCHASED REQUIRED. Must be 18 years or older w/ Valid Driver License or Picture ID. Single Ticket Valued at $50. Odds based on number of entries. Contest Not In Conjunction w/Facebook. Weekly Tickets Winner Will Be Posted On: www.facebook.com/MiltonRubenChryslerJeepDodge: The Thursday Of Each Week By 4PM. Weekly Winner Must Come By Milton Ruben Chrysler-Dodge-Jeep-Ram To Pick Up Ticket Vouchers The Friday After…Any Time Between 9AM-6PM. Ticket Voucher Has No Cash Value. The Actual Tickets Will Be Available for Pick Up The Week Before The Event, Must Have Ticket Voucher To Receive Tickets. For More Information About The Contest, Please Contact Molly Nicholson at: socialmedia@drivebaby.com.

Visit us at our open job fair Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday August 23-25th from 9:00-2:00 each day in the Milton Ruben Toyota showroom. Tremendous growth has created the need for immediate hires in the positions of Sales Consultants, Technicians, Service Advisors, Call Center representatives and Accounting staff, to name a few. Milton Ruben aims to employ energetic, enthusiastic, goal-driven individuals who are interested in receiving world-class customer service training and aspire to a long-term professional career in automotive sales or service. “The automotive industry is changing. It has become essential that we meet customers’ expectations,” says Chris Snader, Executive Manager of Milton Ruben Auto Group. “Hiring individuals we can invest in, and who will prioritize the customer experience, puts us at the forefront of that movement.” Employment at Milton Ruben offers various schedules and pay plans, insurance benefits, 401(k) match, and a team-oriented atmosphere to help you establish a successful and stable career. Recent graduates, military veterans, customer service professionals, and those interested in transitioning from other sales industries or who are seeking a career change should apply. Milton Ruben Toyota is located at 3514 Washington Rd. in Augusta, GA. No appointments are necessary to apply. Applicants should arrive in professional dress and be ready for an interview, with at least one copy of a resume. If candidates cannot attend, you may apply online.