Employee Spotlight: Corvette Specialist Aaron Rekkedahl

Exclusive car. Exclusive salesperson. That’s the deal when it comes to buying a Corvette. Every dealer with Corvettes on its lot must be Corvette-certified with a Corvette-credentialed specialist on hand. At Walser Polar Chevrolet, that’s Aaron Rekkedahl.

Rekkedahl, a Sales Manager who joined Walser in 2017, has always been a self-described car guy. After just two months on the job, he transitioned from Walser’s Mazda location in Burnsville to his favorite brand, Chevrolet. Earlier this year, he took that passion for the brand with the bowtie to the next level. He enrolled for certification at the Spring Mountain Corvette Driving School in Pahrump, Nevada—a three-day training in all things Corvette.

For Rekkedahl, the training was a no-brainer.

“I’m a big car guy and want to know as much about these cars as I can. I can also hold conversations with customers better than most because of that. So, I figured that this would be a good opportunity to be able to share my passion and knowledge with people,” Rekkedahl said.

According to Rekkedahl, Corvette buyers are looking for a good deal like anyone else, but even more so, they want a ‘Vette enthusiast who knows as much about the car or more. Rekkedahl said the experience is a personal one.

“We make the process personal. Customers can come in, sit down, and design the specs of their car from the start. We keep in contact throughout the build, so buyers are always a part of the process. It’s more than buying it from the first person you see.”

Every customization starts with the basics—body style, trim level, exterior, and interior colors. But, to Rekkedahl, one of the most talked-about options is now standard on the C8—the Front Lift feature. The hydraulic front-axel lift system is a first in Corvette history, giving drivers the ability to raise the nose of the vehicle on command protecting against steep approaches and speed bumps. The system utilizes GPS to store up to 1,000 locations to automatically adjust for places a driver has been before.

“If I was going to build a Corvette, I would pick a 2LT Coupe in Zues Bronze Metallic with a black interior,” Rekkedahl said.

No matter how a customer chooses to customize their Corvette, it’s still a special moment when one arrives on the lot. Earlier this month, Rekkedahl and the team at White Bear Lake took in the last of their 2020 orders allocated by Chevrolet. The 2020 convertible, featured in Arctic White, was one of three granted for the year. The vehicles are such hot commodities, they’re typically sold before they hit the lot.

At the end of the day, Rekkedahl said selling a brand he loves and a model he’s passionate about is what makes the job fun. He said educational opportunities like the Corvette specialist training he did are open to Walser employees who want them.

“These training initiatives helped me grow not only in my profession but also in my personal life. It’s a new challenge to grow,” he said.

Interested in starting your career in automotive?

Check out our latest openings across all of our retail locations at WalserCareers.com.