3 minute read
Long Automotive
What is the secret behind Long Automotive Group’s success? Longevity!
The Subaru and Cadillac dealership group has been serving Massachusetts and surrounding states for over 90 years and counting. A one-stop shop for all automotive needs from new vehicles to service and parts, the family-owned operation has been in the caring and capable hands of multiple experienced professionals who have been a part of the Long Automotive family for decades.
One of those longtime professionals is Tom Schube who is in his 40th year with the parts department. The parts manager started out as a driver and later worked his way into the shipping and receiving departments. Eventually, he wound up working in the wholesale parts department which was managed – and basically built – by his own father, Fred Schube. The company’s owner, Charles Long, asked Tom to take over for his father when Fred entered semi-retirement. Although the elder Schube was semi-retired for a number of years, he remained active with the department until less than a year ago.
“He made it 61 years! You don’t hear about that type of longevity at any dealership,” says the parts manager about his father.
Tom is now on the path toward retirement as he approaches completing four decades with Long Automotive. Semi-retired, he is currently working half days and plans to finish out the year.
As Tom transitions toward retirement, his role will be shared by Skye Mazuroski and Kenny Parker. Mazuroski has been with Long Automotive for well over a decade and has the expertise to step into any role needed, and Parker has been assistant manager of wholesale parts with 40 years under his belt.
The company remains family-owned and operated after 92 years. Although original owner Charles Long has retired, another member of the Long family – Scott Barry – has taken the reins.
Growth has been steady and happening so rapidly that Long Automotive already outgrew the additional 12,000 square foot which was constructed only a few years ago. In fact, they are now looking to add on a satellite warehouse as they are maxed out of space at their current location. Delivery trucks are jammed, and they have pushed up their call times from 9:30am to 8:30am.
“Business has been so good the past couple of years, it’s just crazy!” Tom reports.
He attributes some of the growth to the fact that the chip shortage has led to more vehicles being fixed than replaced, but it’s also due to the personal attention Long Automotive employees give their customers and their ability to provide same day delivery.
In addition to adding onto their storage, they’ve increased their manpower as well. The wholesale team has grown from 29 to 38 people strong in just two years’ time. Many of those in the wholesale parts department have been around for at least two decades such as Tim Leroy (29 years), Al Chamberlain (25 years), Ed Poor (24 years) and Mike Gentile (23 years).
Based on the belief that it’s important to support the local automotive community, Long Automotive has been an active supporter of AASP/MA for many years. They recently renewed their Silver level sponsorship in the association’s Vendor Affinity Program for 2022. Tom always takes part in the AASP/MA annual golf outing, and the company consistently lends its support to that annual fundraising event.
It’s highly likely that with the longevity of its employees and the longevity of its success, Long Automotive is here to stay for the long haul.
