I’ve always prided myself on my work ethic and my perseverance. Both have made me the professional I am today.

I needed both my first day in 2012 as the fixed ops director at a New Jersey Toyota store. The day before I started, Hurricane Sandy hit the area. When I walked in that first day — OK, waded — there was 4 feet of water in the shop and no power. I had faced adversity in the past and persevered, but the situation made me wonder if I could do it again.

In two weeks, we were able to get the facility up and running — thanks to portable trailers and a lot of plywood. The waiting area was cold, but we served bagels and hot coffee.

To my surprise, customers showed up — even some who followed me from my old store.

What didn’t surprise me was why they showed up. They felt valued and heard, and this new dealership team was reliable and ready to help them.

My perseverance was shining through in a way I had never experienced and became a foundational model for the staff. There was no drama. No one quit. We all worked together. We were a team.

I’ve had to overcome many obstacles throughout my life. I am a first-generation American who went to elementary school more proficient in Italian than English.

I left school at 16 to become a diesel engine mechanic. Days were long, the work was hard, and I loved it. After 12 years, I went to work for a food supplier and settled into a management role. I enjoyed the work but felt unfulfilled.

Because I had always loved the automotive industry, I decided to open a repair shop with a friend. We had a steady stream of customers, mostly immigrants who worked as limo drivers in New York City. But the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks impacted their work and eventually ours. We were forced to close the doors by year’s end.

I was hesitant to work at a dealership because I wasn’t familiar with the day-to-day duties and was concerned about whether I could adjust to the culture. Nevertheless, I took a job as a service writer at Prestige Toyota of Ramsey in New Jersey. I quickly realized I not only found it fascinating, but also fulfilling.

I later became a service manager and started a business development center to increase our outreach to customers. But after 10 years, I felt the need for a new challenge.

After Prestige Toyota, I took a job as fixed ops director at Hackensack Toyota. It was a well-functioning shop with a veteran staff.

But instead of cruising, I was fueled to grow more. I was driven by the impact I could have on not only a company, but all employees within the automotive industry. I discovered the more I created an environment where employees felt valued and part of the decision-making, the more productive they became.

Inspired by this, I pursued my general manager license through the NADA Academy, graduating as president of my class. In my wildest dreams, I never would have expected my perseverance to have taken me this far. It was unimaginable.

My challenge today is to create the drive, the itch, the perseverance in a whole new generation of techs, writers and managers. I encourage them daily to dig deep and find the dedication and ambition to make a difference. To be the writer whom the customer asks for by name, the manager who keeps the department in the green.

There’s a well-known quote from poet Maya Angelou that I encourage my staffers to remember and follow each day:

“I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.”