Rick Case Honda named top dealer

South Florida auto dealership group owners Rick and Rita Case had double reason to celebrate Monday: Rick Case Honda in Davie was honored with the 2017 Honda President’s Elite award — and this was the 10th year the dealership has received the top honor.

The President’s Elite Award recognizes that Rick Case Honda had the biggest volume in sales last year of all Honda dealerships in the country, as well as the best customer service and employee training.

“No other dealer in the country has received the President’s Elite Award 10 years in a row,” said Rita Case, co-owner with her husband of Rick Case Automotive Group, headquartered in Sunrise.

Rick Case, who has been in the business for more than 50 years, said the 10 years of top Honda honors “is all because of our 300 associates … They work really hard to make sure customers are 110 percent satisfied … whether in sales, service or parts.” Rick Case said his automotive group, which includes nine dealerships in Broward County and five in Georgia, has reached $1 billion in sales for the past three years.

Among the benefits of buying from Rick Case Honda: The dealership doubles the manufacturer’s warranty to 10 years or 100,000 miles for new cars, and provides that same warranty to used cars sold; and it offers discount gas and free car washes to customers, he said. The 16-year-old Davie dealership on Monday was decorated with No. 10 gold balloons, as a team of Florida and California executives from American Honda Motor Co. entered to the “Star Wars” theme and employees’ cheers.

The Cases were presented the award Monday by Henio Arcangeli Jr. , senior vice president of the automobile division of American Honda, and Ray Mikiciuk, assistant vice president of sales. “Not only has this dealership been successful [in sales], but the level of service you provide is top-notch,” Arcangeli said.

Marc Riley, general manager for Rick Case Honda in Davie, said the award is the result of the “people culture” that Rick and Rita Case have built in the company. “Thank you for what you do every single day,” Riley told employees. “Without people, we’re nothing.”

In 2016, Rick Case’s other dealerships in Davie were recognized for top sales in the country. Case’s Volkswagen, Fiat and Alfa-Romeo dealerships each recorded higher sales volume in 2015 than any other dealership for its brand. Rick and Rita Case have won numerous awards for their dealerships as well as for their philanthropy in South Florida. In 2016, the Cases made a $1 million gift toward Cleveland Clinic Florida’s expansion in Weston.

Rick Case also was inducted into Nova Southeastern University H. Wayne Huizenga School of Business and Entrepreneurship’s Hall of Fame in 2001. Last year, NSU named its recreational arena the Rick Case Arena in honor of a donation to the university. In 2003, the Cases won the Excalibur leadership award from the Sun Sentinel Co.