Raising Community Spirit: Spotlight on Alex Perdikis

Working in the auto dealership industry since 1997, Alex Perdikis has a great deal of experience in regard to interacting and building positive business relationships with consumers. Alex’s dedication to offering quality customer service and his willingness to aid community members in need are highly valuable traits in both the business world and in humanitarian efforts. Currently serving as the General Manager of Koons of Silver Springs Automotive, Perdikis demonstrates his strong sense of community spirit within the Greater Washington D.C. area in various ways.

Raising Funds for Charity

One significant example of Alex’s interest in human welfare is his fundraising efforts for the National Capital Area’s chapter of the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS). Inspired and assisted by his wife Dresden, who battled cancer herself, Perdikis and his fundraising team utilized a grassroots campaign to raise $146,000 for the LLS charity in the first half of 2014. Recognized for his community-oriented nature, LLS nominated Alex as one of their Man of the Year candidates. The money that his team raised for charity goes toward financing leukemia and lymphoma therapies and treatments.

Offering Free Services to Furloughed Employees

Living and working near Washington D.C. gave Perdikis the opportunity to extend generosity toward the federal government employees in his community who were furloughed from their jobs in October of 2013. His Koons of Silver Springs dealership withstood a loss of revenue so that these government workers could receive free car inspections, oil changes and tire rotations. This act of community goodwill on the part of Perdikis and other Koons employees was offered to furloughed workers owning vehicles of all makes and models. The dealership also assisted interested parties with financial incentives on new-car purchases.

Contributing to Safety Awareness

His work in the auto industry and interactions with car buyers in the Greater Washington D.C. area help to motivate his stance on the importance of safe driving. In an effort to educate his community on the risks of driving while preoccupied, Perdikis lent his support to the cause of establishing Distracted Driving Awareness Month in April of 2014. Via Gazette.Net, an online publication focused on Maryland news, he announced his commitment to practicing safe driving habits at all times and urged his fellow community members to refrain from activities such as texting or taking photographs while behind the wheel of a car.

Improving the Auto Industry

During the summer of 2009, when the U.S. auto industry was in extreme financial crisis, Alex was serving as Executive Vice President of Jim Koons Automotive Company. The Koons dealerships in Alex’s geographical area sought to stimulate growth in the auto industry by implementing the Cash For Clunkers program at their locations. Through this government program, customers received vouchers that allowed for the trading in of their old vehicles in exchange for new, energy-efficient cars. Alex was not only pleased by the success of this program in regard to the auto industry itself, but was also able to assist community members in receiving great deals on newer vehicles.

Alex Perdikis Makes “40 Under 40” List

Alex Perdikis Koons of Silver Spring automotive dealership owner has been included in Automotive News “40 Under 40” list. An annual recognition program, the magazine’s list features 40 owners of new car dealerships. These owners are all under the age of 40, yet have achieved extraordinary levels of success.

Automotive News reviewed nominations from dealerships across both Canada and the United States before making a final decision. The leading auto publication profiled the nominees in its July 14th issue, prior to announcing the winners in this highly competitive industry sector on July 24th. Perdikis issued a statement in response to the honor, crediting his team of staff for the success of his Koons of Silver Spring location.

Perdikis, whose dealership in Silver Spring, Maryland opened in 2010, services and sells new Fords, Mazdas and Lincoln models in addition to his large pre-owned vehicle operation. His Koons of Silver Spring dealership has more than 100 employees and was also recently named one of Washington Business Journal’s “Best Places to Work” for the fourth year in a row. The journal evaluates employers based on a slate of criteria that includes employee morale and support.

A 1997 graduate of the University of Richmond’s E.Claiborne Robins School of Business, Perdikis worked in multiple dealership aspects immediately after leaving school. He became part of Koons Lincoln/Mercury Volvo’s accounting team in the same year as graduating after interning as a service assistant, porter and detailer during his school years. In December of 1997, he joined the sales team at Koons of Tysons Corner and became the top salesperson within just three months and quickly became Sales Manager.

During his sixteen years with Koons of Tysons Corner, Perdikis would become Executive Vice-President, leading that Koons location to the highest volume Chrysler and Chevrolet dealer in the mid-Atlantic region. During his tenure, the organization earned the “Jack Smith Leadership Award” and “General Motors Mark of Excellence Award” for its achievements in sales, leadership and customer service and “Dealer of the Year” from GMAC annually.

After spending time with Koons Tysons Toyota and serving as the Jim Koons Automotive Company’s Executive Vice President, Perdikis decided it was time to move onto the next challenge: owning his own dealership. During his time with Koons Tysons Toyota, he was responsible for a variety of areas, including sales and customer service. Perdikis was an integral part in many of the organization’s acquisitions, which included Dodge, Buick, Mazda, Kia and Jeep franchises.

In May of 2011, he took on the responsibilities of the General Manager and became a partner of the new Koons of Silver Spring dealership. The location has thrived under his leadership, and Perdikis currently also serves on the Washington Area New Automobile Dealers Association board in addition to being a supportive husband and father of three daughters. When he’s not working, his hobbies include working out and family time.