The Performance Development Center (PDC) automotive retail training and development arm of JM Family Enterprises, Inc., has expanded its training offering by adding a series of proprietary courses in sales, sales management, fixed operations/service and reconditioning and is making this new training available to automobile dealers nationwide, according to Lou Feagles, president of Financial Services, JM&A Group and World Omni Financial Corporation.

"The PDC has established a reputation as one of the premier finance and insurance (F&I) training providers in the industry," Feagles said. "We are leveraging that training skill and combining it with JM Family's expertise in other areas of dealership operations, such as sales and sales management, to offer dealers proven retail training to improve the profitability and performance of all areas of their dealership."

The PDC has been gearing up for this launch for the last 18 months and has hired top-flight curriculum developers, beefed up its training staff by hiring experts from the automotive industry, and created a dedicated sales force, according to Bruce Foster, PDC director.

"The PDC is an industry leader in providing real-world training that changes behaviors and results in sustainable improvements in performance," Foster said. "Our trainers combine hands-on retail car experience with the latest adult learning techniques to teach skills that can be applied immediately."

The rollout of PDC's new training program is backed by a major print advertising campaign, "Get the Inside Track on Selling Outside the Box," and is slated for the National Automobile Dealers Association (NADA) Convention and Exposition Feb. 3-6 in Las Vegas. PDC associates and informational brochures will be available at Booth #1860.

The new PDC training modules incorporate the latest methodologies and learning technologies including role-playing, videotaping, pre- and post-program assignments, rehearsals, case studies, online learning and testing. The modular programs allow for customization and flexibility to meet dealers' needs, according to Foster.

The Performance Development Center's new courses include:

* Target 2001 Automotive Sales Training, a five-day program for new hires

* Customized five- and 10-day advanced sales training programs in Professionalism and Today's Customer, Leasing, Negotiations, Internet Sales, Customer Service, One Price Selling, and Closing Strategies

* Target 2001 Automotive Management Series: Sales Leadership, Managing by Objectives, and Coaching

* ASM (Assistant Service Manager) 2001 - Service Personnel Training Program

* Used-Vehicle Reconditioning Training and Consulting Program

PDC training is offered at the Deerfield Beach, Fla., headquarters, and St. Louis, Mo., Customer Service Center, as well as by request at geographically centered locations throughout the country and at individual dealerships.

For more information or to schedule PDC training, call 1-800-553-7146.

About JM Family Enterprises, Inc.

JM Family Enterprises, Inc., (www.jmfamily.com), ranked by Forbes as the 19th largest privately held company in the U.S., is a $6.6 billion diversified automotive corporation whose principal businesses focus on vehicle distribution and processing, finance and warranty services, and insurance products and services.

Among JM Family's core companies are JM&A Group (www.jmagroup.com), one of the largest providers of finance and insurance products in the automotive industry, and World Omni Financial Corporation, a provider of automotive financial products and services.