It's official — a fourth generation will carry on the tradition at the Knudtsen Chevrolet dealership in Post Falls.

Lauren Benedict, daughter of Knudtsen Chevrolet President Eve Knudtsen, was approved by General Motors to be a partner, successor and executive manager of the dealership.

The news was confirmed Monday.

"I feel excited that it’s official," Benedict, 27, of Coeur d'Alene, said Tuesday. "I’ve been working toward this in this capacity for a while."

Benedict is a 2013 Lake City High School graduate. She dual-enrolled at North Idaho College while in high school and graduated with a high school diploma and an associate's degree in hand. She attended Gonzaga University as an undergrad and received her business administration degree in 2015. In 2019, she received her master's in organizational leadership. In 2021, she completed National Automobile Dealers Association Academy.

She is the great-granddaughter of Clifford Knudtsen, who opened Knudtsen Chevrolet in downtown Coeur d'Alene in 1939 with the help of his brother Wayne G. Knudtsen. Clifford ran the business until his son, C. Wayne Knudtsen, took over in 1955. In 1995, his daughter Eve was appointed to the position. Eve and her brother, Eric Knudtsen, managed the dealership together until Eric announced earlier this year he'd be stepping away from daily operations to pursue real estate work.

Benedict has worked at the dealership for seven years, in human resources and management. She said she wasn't on pins and needles regarding confirmation from General Motors because she expected everything would be approved. The anticipation of the phone interview with the company was more intense, she said.

"My uncle sold me his share, technically, in January, so this is just making it official. Now I actually know what my job title is,” Benedict said with a laugh. "I’m excited."

Benedict said her late father who died almost three years ago, Dave Benedict, was looking forward to this day.

"He worked for us selling cars and probably from the day I started working here about seven years ago, he told his customers that I would be the fourth generation owner," she said. "He would be very proud."

She said the industry runs in her blood from both sides of the family.

"I really do love what I do," Benedict said. "On the Knudtsen side, we have three generations before me of Chevrolet dealers. On the Benedict side, my grandfather was a general manager at an Oldsmobile dealership in Wisconsin and my dad worked for General Motors until moving here to marry my mom."

The approval of General Motors, with which Knudtsen Chevrolet has a personal service agreement, means the dealership at 1900 E. Polston Ave. is now 100% female owned.

"That’s something that sets us apart, certainly in this area," Eve said Wednesday morning.

She said it was unexpected for Benedict to follow in her and Eric's footsteps.

"She was not raised in the business," Eve said. "My brother and I, we were. We came to work here in high school."

She and Eric were contemplating their exit strategies when the economy tanked during the Great Recession. Eve said they didn't encourage any of their kids to go into the business, but one day Benedict, who was job hunting at the time, asked if she could help with a project. Eve put her on rewriting the employee handbook, something she had been meaning to get to for years.

Benedict excelled at the task, finding outdated policies and demonstrating masterful human resources skills.

"She's really good at digging in and asking, 'Why?'" Eve said. "When she was all done, my managers came to me and said, 'We'd like you to keep Lauren on staff, make her a team member.'"

Eve said her attorney agreed that Benedict's work was exemplary and that the dealership was in need of a human resources department. So she asked if Benedict wanted to join full time, and she said yes.

The rest is Knudtsen family history.

"My brother was just thrilled," Eve said. "He was just overjoyed we’re going to have a fourth generation, that it isn't going to end with us."