Gettel Automotive Group, a leading automotive dealership group in Florida, has been ranked among the Top Companies in 2009 by the Biz941 magazine. The new recognition is indeed a feather in the cap of the Gettel Automotive Group, which has already made a name for itself as a reliable automobile dealership group and has further boosted its commitment to serve customers better.

Despite the ups and downs in the economy, Gettel, with six dealerships and more than 375 employees, sustains success while at the same time providing best prices and service to their clientele as always. The market is changing everyday and as a top-grossing company, Gettel has taken staying ahead as a challenge. The company plans to expand by spending more than $30 million to open new dealerships and renovate old ones.

According to Biz941, in addition to sponsoring events like Giving Hunger the Blues, the Hispanic-Latino Festival and more, Gettel contributes to an array of local charities, including Big Brothers Big Sisters, Take Stock in Children and the Sarasota Orchestra, as well as providing other free services to more than 20 local nonprofits.

Gettel Automotive Group was founded by Jim Gettel in 1991 with the idea of creating a family owned and operated business. Today, the Gettel Group sells and services six different automotive brands including Toyota, Kia, Nissan, Scion, Hyundai and Acura. Gettel has also invested money into its business and the community through various community events and grassroots marketing, and has taken this period as an opportunity.

• For the third year in a row, Gettel Nissan served as presenting sponsor for Giving Hunger the Blues, which brought together more than 9,000 people and raised close to $100,000 for the All Faiths Food Bank.

• Gettel Nissan served as presenting sponsor for the USTA Senior Father & Son Clay Court Tennis Championship, and has agreed to serve as presenting sponsor in 2010.

• Gettel Nissan is the presenting sponsor for the 2009 Hispanic-Latino Festival in Oct. 2009.

• Gettel Nissan sponsored the Gulf Coast Latin Chamber of Commerce's June Power Lunch Networking event.

• Gettel Nissan sponsored and hosted the first Black Business & Professional Network and Latin Chamber of Commerce joint networking event.

• Gettel Nissan was presenting sponsor for Big Brothers' Big Sisters' "Hill Harper - Mentoring Awareness Day" event.

• Gettel Nissan was presenting sponsor for the "Make A Difference" community cleanup day.

• Gettel Toyota was a major sponsor for Take Stock in Children of Manatee's first 10K Run/Walk, which raised more than $40,000 for college scholarships - that $40,000 is matched dollar-for-dollar by the Florida Pre-Paid College fund.

• Gettel Acura served as presenting sponsor for the 13th Annual Meadows Cup golf tournament. The event raised close to $40,000 for Easer Seals Southwest Florida.

• Gettel Hyundai served as presenting sponsor for the 2008 Meadows Cup.

• Gettel Acura was a major sponsor for Big Brothers Big Sisters' 2008 Sports Legends weekend.

• Gettel Acura hosted the Greater Sarasota Chamber of Commerce's Trustee Holiday Party.

• Gettel Acura served as presenting sponsor for two Sarasota Orchestra (formerly Florida West Coast Symphony) concert series.

• Gettel Acura hosted and co-sponsored the 2009 Men's Health Forum.

• Since January 2009 more than 20 non-profit and for-profit companies and organizations have taken advantage of Gettel Acura's offer to use our state-of-the art Community Room to host off-site meetings for free to save them money during these difficult economic times.

• Gettel Hyundai purchased more than 5,500 tickets to a Sarasota Reds game at Ed Smith Stadium in August 2008, inviting the community to come to the game for free as our way of saying thank you to the community for its support. This resulted in the largest ever crowd - 6,995 people - in attendance at a Sarasota Reds game at the stadium.

• In December all five of the dealerships hosted Manatee Operation Troops Support (MOTS) events the enabled people from the community to send messages of hope, holiday greetings and care packages specifically to men and woman from the Sarasota-Manatee area who are stationed in Iraq and Afghanistan.