Gus Gill had a good feeling about 91原创 Hyundai.

Fresh out of high school and looking for work in the summer of 1997, Gill was pounding the pavement trying to find employment.

鈥淣obody wanted to hire me, I was too young and inexperienced,鈥� he said.

Gill had earlier dropped off a resume at 91原创 Hyundai and decided to drop by unannounced at the 91原创 dealership to see if they had made a decision.

No other applicants did that, so Gill鈥檚 initiative impressed the dealership鈥檚 sales manager enough to offer him a job.

He had no idea that this first post-high school job would become a career,

鈥淲hen you come out of high school, you don鈥檛 have a really clear indication of what you want to be doing,鈥� he explained.

鈥淚 took the job in hopes of making some money (and) when I got into it, I really enjoyed talking to the people and the staff, and the friendships you form.鈥�

When Gill began, he spent the first couple of days learning about the vehicles and all their features. And by the end of his first week, he had closed his first couple of sales.

鈥淚t was more excitement than anything else,鈥� he described about the feeling.

鈥淟ike victory. And it felt good to be able to put a sale together and be one of the guys.鈥�

Gill has been with the local dealership ever since.

After four years, he was promoted to the sales manager position, which he held until 2005.

But following the death of owner Ed Debuc 鈥� 鈥渙ur fearless leader鈥�, Gill says 鈥� the dealership experienced some challenges as Debuc鈥檚 widow and daughter ran the business.

Needing someone who had the experience they were lacking, Gill was brought in as a partner, with the intent of buying the whole store in a few years.

And after serving as the dealership鈥檚 general manager, the takeover became complete this past spring when Gill took over as the owner.

He still carries that same enthusiasm from when he first started the job.

鈥淚 love dealing with people, (whether) it is staff or customers,鈥� Gill said.

鈥淚 have always had fun doing this, ever since I started, and it has been pretty much my only job.鈥�