Careers at Don Ayres Auto Group

Vision & Mission

Don Ayres Honda has proudly been family-owned and operated for over 54 years. Don Ayres, driven by a lifelong passion for cars, started his journey in the automotive world by repairing and selling cars alongside his father from a young age.

In 1970, at just 27 years old, Don Ayres founded Don Ayres Pontiac, becoming the youngest General Motors dealer in the country at that time. His dedication and love for cars led to the acquisition of a Honda franchise in 1973, marking the beginning of a legacy.

In 1996, Sara Ayres, Don's daughter, joined the family business, bringing new energy and ideas. The company continued to expand, and in 2019, Don Ayres Acura was formed, further solidifying the family's presence in the automotive industry.  Today, Sara Ayres operates both Don Ayres Honda and Don Ayres Acura, continuing the family tradition of excellence and commitment to customer service.

VISION: Through the passion and commitment of our team, we create the ultimate dealership experience.

MISSION: Create a world-class customer experience by focusing on the details. Provide the right sales and service solutions based on honest interactions with customers. Meet the needs of those we serve by concentrating on the little things. Every time.

Our Core Values

“At Don Ayres, we pride ourselves on continuing to operate the business with the same priorities of hard work, integrity, and service that my father started 54 years ago. We also instill those values across every Don Ayres team member. We move into the future strongly committed to serving the Fort Wayne and the surrounding communities with the latest in Honda and Acura vehicles.” – Sara Ayres

Integrity: At Don Ayres, Integrity is about making a personal choice to “do the right thing” every time, building trust with our customers, employees and business partners every day.

Respect: We welcome diverse points of view and experiences. We are considerate of others’ feelings, needs and time with the goal of creating open communication and deeper understanding.

Friendship: At the foundation of friendship is an honest relationship founded in trust and creating a sense of belonging. It is our desire to build a workplace of long-lasting friendships among our employees, customers and business partners.

Achievement: We are goal-oriented and passionate, constantly pushing our own limits to create the best possible customer experience and workplace for our employees. Through the fulfillment of these goals, we pride ourselves in being recognized as the leader in our region, state and country.

Personal Growth: We elevate one another by making ourselves and others better creating opportunities for growth and development through training, career paths and accountability for creating the best customer experience.

Community: We are committed to making meaningful contributions to our local community

Our Commitment to Service Excellence

Dealership Awards

Over the span of 54 years in business, Don Ayres has achieved numerous awards, garnering significant respect and admiration from both the manufacturers we represent and fellow dealers.  His vision was simple: to provide quality vehicles and exceptional service to his community. What began as a modest operation has since grown into one of the region's most trusted and respected dealerships.

With an unwavering commitment to customer satisfaction and a keen eye for business, Don Ayres built his brand on honesty, integrity, and a genuine desire to help people find the perfect car for their needs. Over the years, he expanded his dealership, earning a reputation for excellence in both sales and service.

Today, Don Ayres Honda and Acura continue to honor his legacy, upholding the values that made his name synonymous with automotive excellence. From our showroom to our service bays, we carry forward Don’s belief that every customer deserves the best possible experience.

President's Award
The annual award is Honda’s most prestigious honor, presented to Honda dealerships for exceptional performance in all facets of their operations — new vehicle sales, Honda certified pre-owned sales, email capture rate, dealer service effectiveness, genuine parts effectiveness, brand representation, and customer service experience. Don Ayres has won 21 President’s Awards, with it’s highest consecutive win streak being 14 awards. 

Precision Team Award
The Precision Team Award is the most prestigious honors that Acura can grant to dealerships. The award recognizes Acura dealerships that deliver exemplary results among the full spectrum of operations. Participating dealerships are measured against other performing criteria in terms of client treatment, sales and service performance. To achieve an award such as this, takes a complete and total commitment to excellence throughout the entire dealership team. Don Ayres Acura was 1 of 56 to receive the Precision Team Award for 2021 for both Sales and Parts and Service.  Don Ayres has won this award again in 2022 and 2023.

Accelerated Service Elite Award
The Acura Accelerated Service Elite Award recognizes top performing Parts and Service Departments who are able to service clients with speed and convenience. Don Ayres Acura was 1 of 33 to receive the Service Elite nationally.

DealerRater
DealerRater's Dealer of the Year Award Program recognizes a select number of car dealerships throughout the United States and Canada for outstanding customer satisfaction as expressed through customers' online reviews posted on DealerRater. Don Ayres Honda won the Indiana Honda DealerRater Dealer of the year Award for the 10th consecutive year in 2023. Don Ayres Honda has also won DealerRater’s Consumer Satisfaction Award 9 times in a row, with the most recent award being won in 2023.

Reader's Choice
The Fort Wayne Newspapers Reader’s Choice awards is a program where the readers of the Journal Gazette nominate and then vote on the top business in various categories. Don Ayres Honda was nominated in Automotive category and won Best Domestic Dealership, Best Import Dealership, Best New Car Dealership, Best Used Car Dealership, Best New Car Salesperson, Best Used Car Salesperson, Best Auto Body Shop, and Best Auto Detailer.

Organizations we proudly support

Don Ayres supported many causes in the Fort Wayne community. In 1998, he and his business funded the lighting for the new ballpark at Time Corners Little League, resulting in the league being renamed Don Ayres Little League and has remained a strong supporter since that time.

Sara Ayres continues the tradition of collaborating closely with our community, and as an employee, you'll have the opportunity to contribute as well. We work alongside numerous local organizations, charities, and events, aiming to support our community and those in need.