Randy Carpenter took one of his best employees, Fred Burkeholder, to a Phillies game the other day. Carpenter is general manager of the DeSimone Suzuki dealership in Frankford. Burkeholder, 24, was making a name for himself as a car salesman until his recent arrest on charges of robbery and at
tempted murder. In normal times, you'd expect an employer to immediately fire a worker accused of a crime, especially a violent offense. In the worst economy since the Depression, DeSimone not only helped Burkeholder make bail, the car dealer also brought him back even before the case was resolved. "When people are arrested, they are presumed guilty," Carpenter acknowledged in an interview in his office. "And a car dealership is always fighting image issues. "But we stood by our employee. If more employers did that, we'd all be better for it. We owe them for giving good service. We owe them at least the benefit of the doubt." Carpenter was a 20-year auto-industry veteran when he met Burkeholder, an up-and-comer eager to learn and earn for his 4-year-old daughter, Ay'Shanae. "In order to be a good salesman," Carpenter told him, "you've got to be able to take rejection." Rejection, Burkeholder knows well. Twice convicted of drug offenses, he'd mention his record and doors would slam. "My past holds me back."
tempted murder. In normal times, you'd expect an employer to immediately fire a worker accused of a crime, especially a violent offense. In the worst economy since the Depression, DeSimone not only helped Burkeholder make bail, the car dealer also brought him back even before the case was resolved. "When people are arrested, they are presumed guilty," Carpenter acknowledged in an interview in his office. "And a car dealership is always fighting image issues. "But we stood by our employee. If more employers did that, we'd all be better for it. We owe them for giving good service. We owe them at least the benefit of the doubt." Carpenter was a 20-year auto-industry veteran when he met Burkeholder, an up-and-comer eager to learn and earn for his 4-year-old daughter, Ay'Shanae. "In order to be a good salesman," Carpenter told him, "you've got to be able to take rejection." Rejection, Burkeholder knows well. Twice convicted of drug offenses, he'd mention his record and doors would slam. "My past holds me back."For further details visit as : http://www.philly.com/inquirer/local/20090812_Monica_Yant_Kinney__Car_salesman_hopes_to_gain_mileage_from_breaks.html
