Automotive News - October 16, 2017 - Supplement - S35

OCTOBER 16, 2017 | 35

Chef strives to offer
more nourishing menu

Members of the fleet department's fitness
subgroup include, from left, Ruben Santana,
Shauna Hood and Kevin Moore.

PACK

continued from previous page

were precursors to his health problems. "A lot
of times people are afraid to go to the doctor
but it's important to have things checked out
and get help while you can."
O'Don Mosby, a dealer trade manager in the
new-vehicle sales department, won the initial
challenge, dropping 15 pounds, or 6.9 percent
of his weight.
The dealership's health and wellness program prompted several employees to arrange
doctor visits, resulting in a few having previously undiagnosed problems discovered and
treated.
Molina and others at the dealership credit
the program for bringing health and wellness
to the forefront of the workplace.
"I love what I do here and this is another
reason I love the dealership," said Monica
Olivarez, a receptionist who joined the program as a way to spur healthier habits she
hopes will influence her 4-year-old son. "I
thought it would be something that would
be fun to do, that we could all encourage
each other. And Drew started us out with
walking groups."
Crysdale broke his foot while running soon
after the program started, but that hasn't
slowed the program participants.
Kevin Moore, a fleet manager and 10-year
dealership veteran, said that he and his
co-workers have created their own fitness
subgroup.
"A lot of our [dealership] employees have been
here 20 years or more, so there have been quite a
few heart attacks and other health issues," said
Moore. "When Drew put this group together, we
decided to go even further."
Now the members of the fleet department
regularly discuss health and wellness, challenging each other on steps and fitness minutes.
"You can tell that everyone's attitude is better now," said Moore. "It's fun to see people
eat a little better, move around a little more.

hef Paul Flores was one of the
major motivators for the health
and wellness program at Sam
Pack's Five Star Ford in Carrollton, Texas.
Although the program launched in April,
Flores brought healthier eating to the
dealership about a year ago. That's when
he launched Cowboy Chic Catering in the
Dallas area, after years of working as the
executive sous chef for Westin Hotels.
"I just really wanted to make a difference,"
said Flores. "I wanted to bring that healthy
eating experience to other people. I can relate to the people who work in the garage
and parts and service. In a way, I work in a
garage, a food garage, where I work with my
hands and depend on my colleagues. We
succeed through teamwork. I felt the need to
bring food to help nourish them."
Alex Sagcal, the dealership's public relations manager, already had a stable of caterers with whom he worked when Flores
approached him about catering the Saturday employee lunch. Flores' healthful and
tasty food won over Sagcal, who decided
to give the local upstart a chance.
"Everyone really enjoyed the food," said
Sagcal. "And our dealership likes to do
what we can to support newer businesses
in our community. Now, though, [Flores]
has gotten so busy that we mainly use him
for our corporate events."
Flores caters for dealerships throughout
the Dallas-Fort Worth area and said that
he specializes in showing how favorites -
dishes such as pot roast, salad and truffled

And we're taking this challenge beyond the 60
days. We aren't going to stop just because the
contest ends."
Moore's co-worker Ruben Santana often
shares healthful low-carb recipes, while
Moore has been known to share vegetables
from his at-home garden. "We are also working to introduce exercise to more people,"
said Moore, noting he and Santana joined a
gym together. "We are a family. We all spend
so many hours a day together, it makes us all
feel better to know we're all trying to be
healthier."
Moore said he hopes the health and wellness
program extends to the other Sam Pack dealerships. He'd like the dealerships in the Dallas-Fort

Chef Paul Flores compares his job to those
of the dealership employees. "In a way, I
work in a garage, a food garage."

mashed potatoes - are healthful alternatives to fast food and other common eats.
He also incorporates superfoods such as
avocado, extra virgin olive oil and turkey into his menus.
"I'm a native Texan and I have a pretty
good idea what people here enjoy," he said.
"But I also infuse Latin, Italian, Asian and
other flavors in the food. I call it Texasian or
Texalian."
His customers, including Sagcal, just call
it delicious.
"You know, this isn't all about the dollars," said Flores of catering. "This gives me
a reason to get up in the morning, bringing
healthy food to hard-working people. I'm
trying to make a difference in people's
lives."
- Nancy Dunham
Worth area to engage in friendly competitions.
Alex Sagcal, the store's public relations
manager, said plans are underway to expand
the program, including activities planned by
Crysdale and a physical trainer, the son of Brian Huth, the auto group's director of marketing and special projects.
"As a dealership, we realize that we spend
more time with our 'work family' than anyone else. So to extend some caring, in the
form of starting a health and wellness program, is the least we can do," Sagcal said.
"And in keeping our employees healthy, we
realize that support affects morale, affects
employee productivity and that impacts the
bottom line." a

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