MOSES LAKE — Discovery Honda in Moses Lake recently received the 2008 Honda President’s Award and has the trophy to prove it.

More than 1,000 Honda auto dealerships compete for the honor each year.

This year, the number was narrowed down to 157 winning dealerships, including Discovery.

The honor is “presented to top-ranking Honda dealerships across the country and recognizes excellence in all areas of operations — customer services, sales, training and facility operation,” according to a Honda statement.

“This is such a great honor for all of our employees’ hard work for all of our customers in Grant County,” stated Discovery General Manager Randy McNair.

“This has never happened before here in Moses Lake.”

Discovery Sales Manager Dave Sawyer said Honda gives dealerships sales and customer service objectives to meet. For example, selling a certain number of new Hondas per month is one goal.

To meet customer service goals, winning dealerships had to score the highest in the region on telephone customer service surveys, he explained.

“By far, it’s the professionalism of the salespeople,” Sawyer said. “It is them on the front lines. The public decided to stay here and give us a chance. That’s really all you can ask.”

He also attributed the success to Discovery’s new Honda building which the business moved into roughly a year ago, as well as additional inventory that came with the building.

John and Jacie Daschel are Discovery’s owners.