Harriet Turnof, District Manager, North Jersey
Bridgestone Firestone Retail & Commercial Operations, LLC
By Vivien Luk
For the past twenty-five years, Harriet Turnof has been a trusted team member of BFS Retail & Commercial Operations, LLC (BFRC), a company whose mission is to provide a positive customer experience every time. Harriet's title is District Manager, North Jersey. She manages twenty-nine Firestone Complete Auto Care stores that employ more than 280 team members. Harriet's many responsibilities for leading these team members include holding them accountable to high standards of conduct, as well as providing training and education. She also directs advertising and marketing for her district.
When asked what interested Harriet in working for the automotive industry, her reply was, "I have always had a keen sense for the world of business." She expressed that her passion does not lie within the automotive industry, but lies within the realm of business. She saw BFRC as a business that sold quality products and services where she could become a member of the management team and excel. Her career in the automotive industry has blossomed over her tenure with the company.
Anyone who speaks with Harriet can immediately sense her passion for her work. She is sharp and very knowledgeable about business and the automotive industry. She enjoys working with people and helping store managers become successful. Other perks include the ability to be her own boss and as someone who is self-motivated, Harriet appreciates being able to work autonomously.
An interesting advantage Harriet has over most of her peers is her ability to add a female's perspective in a male dominated industry. About half of the customers in Harriet's district are female. Harriet has taught her male team members that relating to female customers about car care is often different than relating to male customers. Harriet has been able to provide that perspective to keep her customers happy and returning to her stores. Harriet's hard work and outstanding leadership skills won her BFRC's District Manager of the Year Award and her team members District Team of the Year.
However, early in her career Harriet was faced with some challenges when dealing with her peers. "There was an acceptance, but I constantly had to prove myself," expressed Harriet. "It was more difficult since they didn't think that I could understand the industry. But I worked my way up through the ranks, so I have experience and know what I'm talking about." She also had to prove she could perform some of the more physical aspects of her jobs, such as mounting and balancing tires. Despite these early challenges, Harriet has been able to create a friendly work environment that is welcoming to both female and male employees.
For girls who are interested in business or working in the automotive industry, Harriet suggests getting a start by attending car care academies and learning to take care of their own vehicles. She feels that ambition and drive are key factors in succeeding in business, and "women can do anything they imagine."
Both Harriet and her daughter were Girl Scouts and she concluded the interview by saying, "Girl Scouts is a great organization that taught us both to be independent and self sufficient." If you live in the New Jersey area, visit one of Harriet's twenty-nine stores!
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