SPECIAL INTEREST 
A Woman's Place - Deborah Seavey
Extraordinary People in Unexpected Places
by Angie Allen
photos by Steve Egan

A woman’s place is no longer in the kitchen. Nowadays, we see women performing the same tasks as men, proving that they are capable of doing a job as well if not better than their counterparts.

For Deborah Seavey, manager of Buffalo Tire on Wake Forest Road and Hodges Street, her daily grind consists of making sure that your car is up to speed and running as smoothly as possible. Yes, that’s right. It’s no longer the days of walking up to Frank or Bob to get your oil change . . .this time, you’ll be staring Debbie in the face!

This story began on a day like any other. I was sitting in the stark white room of Buffalo Tire waiting for my routine oil change when I heard a voice.

“Have you noticed any vibration when you drive your car?”

My first reaction, “Uh oh!”

That voice had come from Deborah Seavey, and as I looked up frightened and confused, she reassured my fears and we began to speak, woman to woman about cars and maintenance.

Now, I know what you are thinking. . . “Women, talking about cars? Gimme a break!”

Well, as it turned out, Debbie knew her stuff, and as a woman, I found her quite interesting and refreshing. It felt good to have someone speak to me that wasn’t condescending and at a level I could fully understand.

Debbie, a single mother from the Bronx, New York came to North Carolina nineteen years ago. After many years in accounting and retail, Debbie just wasn’t making the money she needed and decided to embark on a new career.

This fresh enthusiasm for a new career came when Debbie felt that she was being burned at too many repair shops. After having regular maintenance done to her car, she got fed up with the additional costs and unanswered questions.

But Debbie had an advantage, or was it? Her father was a mechanic, but as Debbie explains, “He never taught me anything about cars, only how to change my oil and change a flat tire. Other than that, he would always say, ‘Oh, there’s nothing wrong with your car.’”

So, here she was-ready and willing to begin her career in the automotive industry, unsure of where to turn, when she found a mechanic, who as it turns out has become a long-time friend to Deborah.

“I simply picked his brain and made him teach me everything he knew,” Debbie says laughingly. “I asked questions and I watched him and that’s how I learned and from there I began my career.”

Moving from Sears Automotive to Leith Mercedes-BMW Automotive, Debbie came to Buffalo Tire, where she has been in management for the last four years.

Although Debbie had proved her knowledge of the automotive business to me, I still wanted to know what it must have been like for her, as a woman, in this business. Had she felt the need to prove herself?

“I hit a few bumps along the way”, Debbie explains, “but those customers that had a hard time dealing with me as a woman soon found out that I treated them like I would want to be treated, and those are the ones that keep coming back. If you tell people and show people this is what’s wrong and this is what is going to happen if you don’t fix it and put the ball in their court, they often will make the right decision. Honesty is the key and by treating people the way you want to be treated, you will keep them coming back ten-fold.”

Debbie has a way of speaking that wakes you up and makes you listen. Through a bright smile, Debbie peaks my interest by explaining some goals she has established for herself, her team and her store.

“I want to make a difference,” she states. “When I see my repeat customers come in, I know they trust me and feel comfortable enough to keep coming back. That’s when I know I’ve made a difference in their lives.”

As for her employees, Debbie couldn’t have said it more truthfully. “Inspire them. Trust them, and treat them the right way. You’re going to get a lot more from them if you do that. I’m lucky, because I have a great crew.”

As a woman who has limited experience with car maintenance, I wanted to know if Debbie had any suggestions that she would like to share. Without forethought, Debbie emphasized in her hearty voice that she tells everybody, men and women the same story. I make them aware that it is time for an oil change, alignment or rotation.

She continues by stating, “When you jump from place to place for an oil change, you don’t get one steady place that looks at your vehicle and checks things. There is no way to keep up with the maintenance because there is no is no one there to remind you. When you come into my shop, let’s say for a tire rotation, I automatically look in your history and find out what should be done, what needs to be done and what’s coming up so that I can remind the customer so they can maintain their vehicle.”

Debbie believes that she and her team at Buffalo Tire give you the service that you deserve.

“We want to know your name and we want you to understand and feel comfortable when you bring your car in. We don’t treat our customers like they are just another number. We make it more personalized, that’s what we are trying to accomplish.”

Owner of Buffalo Tire, Tom Marchisello, spoke with me a few minutes about Debbie and told me some of the attributes of having her as an employee.

“Recent trends show more women making the major purchasing decisions on their car buying, repair and tire choices. I think the most positive thing about Debbie is that when women come into the store, they feel comfortable talking to her because she can relate and explain to them in terms they understand.

“Personally, I think it is much easier explaining repair problems to women. The male factor (ego) is not there. When a woman comes in, she genuinely wants to learn what is wrong with her car, which makes it easier for people in our business who sincerely want to do a good job, explain what needs to be done to the customer.”

After a delightful talk and a cup of coffee, it was time for me to go. You meet so many people day after day, but Debbie really had the ability to inspire. Her dedication and enthusiasm for her career shines through her smile and voice, which is the only type of person that I would want to trust to work on my automobile. She represents not only what great customer service is all about, but as a woman, she adds a little something extra to this grueling profession.

Publisher’s Note: In late March, I received an anonymous call asking me to do a special interest story on a FEMALE manager of a repair shop. The caller, who was female, was telling me about her wonderful experience. I didn’t think much of it until Angie Allen, our promotions manager, went into the Buffalo Tire store on West Hodges Street to have her Isuzu serviced. Angie didn’t tell the manager that she worked for Auto Insight so no preferential treatment was given. Upon Angie’s return to the office, she was ranting and raving about her incredible experience with a very unique manager that has carved a special niche in a male dominated field. This story is an inspiration to all that appreciate exceptional service and provides applause for the underdog!