Editor’s Note: This blog was originally published in May 2020. Since then, Steve Watson has celebrated his 30th anniversary with America’s Car-Mart. This blog includes some additional information about Steve and this accomplishment.
“That’s him!”
So exclaimed the Car-Mart managers when they spotted Steve Watson two weeks after he had applied for a job at the Discount Auto in Russellville, Ark. (a subsidiary of Car-Mart at the time). While they had inadvertently misplaced Steve’s application, they remembered Steve and knew he was the right person for their vacant position.
Fortunately, Steve returned to the store to check on his application and was ultimately hired on the spot as a full-time Lot Attendant. It was 1995, and he was a college student at Arkansas Tech, Russellville.
If Steve had not checked back, he may not have enjoyed a stellar 30-year career at America’s Car-Mart. That’s eight moves in seven different cities, mostly in Arkansas – Bigelow, Benton, Malvern, Hot Springs, Russellville, Bauxite, and Poplar Bluff, Mo. where he opened the first Car-Mart in that city. He’s held a variety of positions – Lot Attendant, Management Trainee, Account Manager, Senior Account Manager, Assistant Manager, General Manager, and District Manager – earning one promotion after another.
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Fast forward to today, Steve is an Area Operations Manager for America’s Car-Mart in Bryant, Ark. With his vast Car-Mart experience, he’s found his niche in the operations aspect of the business. “I love my position. I truly enjoy managing areas and having multiple dealerships and associates that I can impact,” says Steve, who also worked with co-workers who became supervisors and supervisors who became subordinates.
Every day brings a new challenge, as well as changes to Steve. “The company constantly evolves, and it evolves from the ground up and not from the top-down – what they say will make us a better business and be a better part of the community,” Steve comments. “It’s the lots and the associates that make Car-Mart a special place to work.”
“As I look back at my Car-Mart career, the longer I worked at Car-Mart and the way they treated their associates I wanted to stay. I wanted to be a part of that,” continues Steve. “It’s the best job anyone could have.”
Reflections on 30 years – stories to share
During his tenure with Car-Mart, the affable Steve has enjoyed many notable moments with his fellow associates, customers, and even competitors.
A phone call from the CEO – “Come to Rogers tomorrow,” said Nan Smith. At the meeting with Nan, she said, “You’re promoted again.” That’s how he was promoted to District Manager. “She saw more in me than what I saw,” says Steve, who had been with the company for five years at that time. “Years later, while working in Russellville as the Assistant Manager, I rode with my GM to the meeting. He was my supervisor on the way to the meeting, and I was his Area Operations Manager on the way back.”
Steve’s most proud Car-Mart moment – One of his mentees won ‘Lot of the Year.’ “I worked for him, and I also served as his District Manager. It was great to be there on stage when we won his award,” smiles Steve.
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Steve’s best memories – Seeing his associates advance in their careers is immensely rewarding for Steve. “It’s not about me. What drives me is seeing my people excel,” Steve says. “I love promoting associates. I love working with associates. It’s great to have that ‘lot moment’ where they get the business, and they start excelling. And, then, one day, you’re at a meeting, and your former associate is a General Manager. That’s special.”
A special customer in Little Rock, Ark. – When Steve was an Account Manager in 1997, he worked closely with a customer to help get her into a vehicle. Ten years later, that customer returned to the store. She remembers Steve telling her, “You’re that little skinny account manager who gave me heck.” Steve recalls the serious conversations he had with the customer, and as a result, she bought four vehicles over several years. And this time she brought her 20-year-old grandson to Car-Mart saying this was the only place she would bring her kids to buy a vehicle.
“That tells me that what we do as a company – everything I’ve been taught about the customer experience – tells me we truly do make a difference when we do things right. It’s generational. Three generations buying from Car-Mart because of how we treated them. That’s special,” Steve says.
A competitor in Poplar Bluff – An owner of a competitor welcomed Steve and Car-Mart to Poplar Bluff while surreptitiously offering to buy the store when things didn’t work out for Car-Mart. Many years later, that owner returned to Car-Mart to apologize for the ‘rude conversation’ many years earlier. “Tell him [Steve] I’m sorry and congratulate him on his success,” said the competitor.
“This story tells you that the company – yes, we may stumble from time to time – we made an impact on the community, and other businesses took notice,” recalls Steve.
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Car-Mart – associate and family-focused
For Steve, the family atmosphere at Car-Mart is what makes Car-Mart a special and unique place to work.
“The company is extremely family oriented. I tell people I have two families – my family and my Car-Mart family,” says Steve. “At Car-Mart, everybody knows everybody. The regional management staff knows everyone they oversee, from the lot attendants to the rest of the facility. That makes a good impact for someone who wants to make a career here. And we’re big on promoting from within. It doesn’t matter your background or degree. If you show initiative and are hard-working, you will be offered a promotion at some point.”
Indeed, Car-Mart is a family affair as Steve’s twin brothers once worked for Car-Mart. The Watson boys held three management positions in the company at one point. In addition, his two sons-in-law work at Car-Mart. Brent Haynie is the General Manager at Car-Mart of Berryville, Ark. Kenny Graves is a Sales Associate at Car-Mart of Malvern, Ark. Over the years, six family members have worked for Car-Mart. “It’s the family atmosphere. The company truly takes care of its associates. They care about the personal and family side,” mentions Steve. “The company is more concerned about an associate’s wellbeing. The associate comes first, the business comes second.”
The well-traveled Steve
Moving as a kid prepared Steve to be ready to uproot and move when opportunities and promotions presented themselves at Car-Mart. He grew up in Glenwood, Ark., where his Dad was a forest ranger and his Mom was a teacher. They moved frequently from one small town to another—Hector, Ark.; Joana, S.C.; and Marianna, Ark.
His Father raised pure-blood Beagles in their kennel ‘Valley High Beagles.’ Steve’s childhood nickname was Beagle. They were known as the ‘house with all the Beagles.’ When Steve was 10, he selected a beagle to enter competitions. Named ‘Valley High Jimbo,’ the dog placed 2nd in the nation and was a National Field Champion. Steve’s photos and accomplishments were published in the magazine Hounds and Hunting.
Today, Steve and his family have a Catahoula dog named Sig (named after the gun manufacturer). Steve, a quintessential country boy, enjoys hunting, fishing, and shooting competitions.
“Car-Mart cares about a work/life balance. We’re allowed to enjoy our passions and hobbies,” says Steve. Steve and his wife, Joyce, have six children, ages 21 to 29, and four grandkids, ages eight months to three years.
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On the move to 50 years at Car-Mart
Now, Steve has set his sights on being with Car-Mart for 50 years.
Steve’s goal is to be the company’s first fifty-year associate. He has a plan. He’ll serve as an on-call driver working at least one day a week so he can get his 50-year pin. “It’s part of my master plan. I’m curious what kind of plaque or monument they will come up with,” Steve laughs.
When Steve receives his 50-year milestone, Car-Mart associates will again say, “That’s him!”
Join our team!
If you’re awesome like Steve, and want to work at a company where you can make magic happen, come work at Car-Mart. Go to Car-Mart.com/careers to learn about job opportunities at Car-Mart in our 12-state area.
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