11th Annual Tom Cosenzi Driving for the Cure Charity Golf Tournament

TommyCar Auto Group Raises $1 Million for Dana-Farber Cancer Institute

SPRINGFIELD, MA- The 11th Annual Tom Cosenzi Driving for the Cure Charity Golf Tournament was all about the MILLION. The tournament celebrated an important milestone, providing $1 Million Dollars to Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.

The Tom Cosenzi Driving For The Cure Charity Golf Tournament hosted their 11th Annual Tournament on Monday, August 19th, 2019 at Twin Hills Country Club and Elmcrest Country Club, both in Massachusetts. Players enjoyed 18 holes of golf at one of the area’s top premiere private golf courses, a delicious lunch, exciting on-course activities, an evening cocktail reception with live entertainment from Noah Lis and Hayden Taylor, a gourmet dinner, amazing

raffle prizes, silent and live auctions. Attendees also heard from Dr. Wen from the Neuro-Oncology Department at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute about the impact that their support has on brain cancer research.

“The Tom Cosenzi Driving for the Cure Charity Golf Tournament is grateful for our Presenting Sponsor JM&A Group and our Platinum Sponsor Southern Auto Auction, as well as the over 150 generous sponsors, supporters and volunteers, so deeply committed to positively impacting the lives of patients at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute,” stated Carla Cosenzi, Co-founder of the Tom Cosenzi Tournament. “Thanks to them, we have raised $1,086,487.50 in the last 11 years to Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.”

To contribute to the 12th Annual Tom Cosenzi Driving For The Cure Charity Golf Tournament or to learn how to be involved in this year’s event, visit TomCosenziDrivingForTheCure.com

About TommyCar Auto

TommyCar Auto operates five dealerships: Country Nissan in Hadley, MA; Country Hyundai in Northampton, MA; Northampton Volkswagen in Northampton, MA; Volvo Cars Pioneer Valley in South Deerfield, MA and the all new Genesis of Northampton, Northampton, MA. Carla J. and Thomas M. Cosenzi assumed ownership of the dealerships in the Pioneer Valley region following the untimely death of their father Thomas E. Cosenzi, whose tireless work over several decades helped grow the business into the successful one it is today.

TommyCar Auto Group, Hampshire County Sheriff's Office Raise Money for Dana-Farber: No Shave November

NORTHAMPTON — TommyCar Auto Group joined forces with the Hampshire County Sheriff’s Office and Sheriff Patrick Cahillane for No Shave November, an event devoted to ‘growing’ cancer awareness while raising funds to support cancer prevention, research, education about cancer prevention, as well as those fighting the battle. It’s a month-long journey in which participants forgo shaving and grooming in order to evoke conversations, while raising cancer awareness.

The Sheriff’s Office has a policy that prohibits beards; however, for one month this year, that policy was suspended, and officers were allowed to grow beards for a one-time donation. Throughout the month of November, deputies and staff were given the opportunity to opt out of the dress code, growing out their facial hair, for a donation of $20 to the Tom Cosenzi Driving for the Cure Charity Golf Tournament, which supports the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.

Employees of TommyCar Auto Group, which includes Country Nissan, Country Hyundai, Northampton Volkswagen, Volvo Cars Pioneer Valley, and the new Genesis of Northampton, also joined in this campaign, donating the money they would spend on shaving to the charity.

In total, the Sheriff’s Office raised $2,700, which Carla Cosenzi, president of TommyCar Auto Group, matched, resulting in a donation of $5,400 to the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.

“We were honored to partner and match the contributions that the Hampshire Sheriff’s Office raised to the Tom Cosenzi Driving for the Cure Charity Golf Tournament,” Cosenzi said. “Thanks to this event, we’re able to help make a difference and hopefully one day find a cure for cancer.”

To read the full article, click here.

Carla Cosenzi Seen At The 2019 Bay Path University President's Gala

Carla Cosenzi, left, of Northampton, and Kayla Currie, of Suffield, Connecticut, pose for a picture at the third annual Bay Path University President's Gala at the Sheraton Springfield Monarch Place Hotel on Saturday night. (Steven E. Nanton photo)

To read the full article, click here.

Dress for Success Common Threads Gala 'Celebration of Women'

Carla Cosenzi, president of Tommy Car Auto, Margaret Tantillo, executive director of Dress for Success Western Massachusetts, and Jessica Dupont of Health New England, chair of the board of Dress for Success Western Massachusetts

Dress for Success staged its annual Common Threads gala on April 25 at the Sheraton in Springfield. The event, described as a ‘celebration of women,’ inspires supporters with stories of success and empowerment as recent program participants speak of their achievements and successes.

To view the full article, click here.

Country Hyundai Wins 2019 DealerRater Dealer of the Year Award

NORTHAMPTON — Country Hyundai has been awarded the 2019 DealerRater Dealer of the Year Award and the 2019 Consumer Satisfaction Award, which recognize auto dealerships across the U.S. and Canada that deliver outstanding customer service, based on consumer reviews written on DealerRater.com.

“Car buyers have spoken and have identified Country Hyundai as the best Hyundai dealer to do business with in Massachusetts,” said DealerRater General Manager Jamie Oldershaw. “The quality and number of reviews for Country Hyundai speak volumes of the top-notch experiences they provide to customers.”

The DealerRater Dealer of the Year Awards are based on reviews by new- and used-car shoppers and those who took their vehicles into dealerships for service. Reviewers evaluated Country Hyundai on its customer service, quality of work, friendliness, pricing, and overall experience.

“We want to ensure that our customers are satisfied not only at the time of purchase, but as long as they own their vehicle,” said Carla Cosenzi, owner of Country Hyundai. “The DealerRater Dealer of the Year Award is reflective of our long-standing commitment to create exceptional customer experiences. Exceeding customer expectations is not an easy task. However, this is exactly what we strive to do every day here at Country Hyundai.”

To view the full article, click here.

Carla Cosenzi Seen At Unify Against Bullying Fashion Launch Party

L to R- Unify Against Bullying Operations Manager Werner Maiwald, Sponsor Carla Cosenzi- President of Tommy Car Automotive Group, Executive Director Chris Maiwald, Westfied Starfires Baseball Team owner Chris Thompson, and Board members Bill Cole at the Unify Against Bullying Fashion Show Launch Party taking place at 1350 Main St. in Springfield March 11th. (Ed Cohen Photo)

Difference Makers: She's Been A Driving Force in Business and Philanthropy

Carla Cosenzi says many people who think they know her story believe she segued from a career in healthcare to one selling cars and eventually managing dealerships because her father, Tommy Cosenzi, had been diagnosed with brain cancer.

That’s not really how it happened, said Cosenzi, adding quickly that her father, well before he was diagnosed, changed her career course when he convinced her to put plans to pursue her doctorate in clinical psychology on hold temporarily and spend some time at the family business.

“He said, ‘just come home and do some stuff around the dealership with me,’” she recalled, adding that she was living in New York at the time, having just earned her master’s at Columbia, and was trying to figure out the next chapter in her life. “In retrospect, I know now exactly what he was doing, but at the time I didn’t. He said, ‘I want you help me get our internet department up and going, and I want you to help with the sales process inside some of the dealerships, and just help me do some stuff that I need to get done that I haven’t been able to accomplish.’”

Long story somewhat short, she did all that and really enjoyed it, putting a career in clinical psychology on the shelf, if you will, and starting down a much different road.

To read the full article on Business West, click here

TommyCar Auto Group Adds Volvo Dealership

Carla Cosenzi says that, like most companies in its category, the TommyCar Auto Group is always on the lookout for possible additions to the portfolio of dealerships.

But growth for the sake of growth is not what this venture — started by her father, the late Tom Consenzi, and taken to a new level by Carla and her brother, Tom — is looking for.

“It’s important for us to have the right brand at the right time and the right location moreso than just looking to grow,” she told BusinessWest, adding that all those boxes could certainly be checked with the company’s recent acquisition of Pioneer Volvo in South Deerfield.

Right location? Check. The dealership is only a few miles north on I-91 from the group’s other facilities — Northampton Volkswagen and the adjacent Country Hyundai, as well as Country Nissan on Route 9 in Hadley.

Right brand? Check. Volvo has always been renowned for its quality and focus on safety, and it has recently introduced several new models, including a small SUV, the XC40, that is turning heads in the industry.

Right time? Check. Auto sales in 2018 are just slightly off the levels set in 2017 — although the TommyCar Auto Group has registered growth over that span — but overall volume remains at very high levels.

Overall, this acquisition is solid in every respect, said Cozenzi, adding that that it gives the TommyCar Auto Group its first real entry into the luxury-car bracket, meaning a brand that won’t really compete with the three sold just down the interstate.

To view the full article on Business West click here

TommyCar Auto Supports Anti-Bullying Initiative

TommyCar Auto Group served as the official partner for Unify Against Bullying for the month of October in support of National Bullying Prevention Month. With the help of customer involvement, TommyCar Auto Group was able to donate $4,200 to help an organization accomplish their mission of ending bullying through the celebration of true diversity.

To view the full article on MSADA click here

The Power of Women at Work

Though women buy more than 50 percent of autos sold in the U.S., the number of women who sell them is far less. Women who own dealerships, like Northampton’s Carla Cosenzi, are even scarcer. 

Cosenzi, along with her brother, owns Country Nissan in Hadley, Country Hyundai and Northampton Volkswagen, both in Northampton. The face of the businesses started by her father — gracing their television ads for years — Cosenzi has expertly navigated the rapidly changing the auto sales industry. But working with cars was not actually the road she planned on taking.

“I never really saw myself as getting involved in the family business. I wanted to make my own path,” she said. After graduating from Northeastern University she went on to earn a Masters in Clinical Psychology from Columbia, and saw herself working in the research field. But when her dad convinced her to work for him while she sorted out her career plans, the then 24-year-old found herself surprised. “I fell in love with the business. I loved selling. I loved that it was so unexpected to have this young female on the sales floor. It made the experience of buying a car different than they expected, and for me, it just kind of clicked,” she said.

Cut to 15 years later, and Cosenzi is President of TommyCar Auto Group, running three dealerships and overseeing 105 employees. She’s not only working in a business heavily dominated by men, she’s leading it.

“I really struggled with that for years and years – I think I had to work harder,” she said of working in a world dominated by men. “When my brother came in the business, he walked in and was just accepted day one, even though he was younger and very new. It took me a long time to make my place and make a name for myself. It was boots on the ground. I had to come into my own confidence, but once I built that up, everything changed.”

Cosenzi, who is mom to 4-year-old daughter Talia and 2-year-old son Niko, said having children has impacted the way she runs her business, giving her a newfound “balance.” Motherhood has provided her with a different appreciation for her employees who have kids, and has inspired her to find new ways to give back. The charitable arm of her business, Carla Cares, supports non-profit organizations and causes across the region, provides scholarships and has a presence at community events. Their annual golf tournament, in memory of Cosenzi’s father, Tom, has raised more than $830,000 for Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.

Cosenzi admits it can be a challenge to strike the right work-life balance, but she hopes to be setting an example for her children – especially her daughter.

“I want her to see that I can enjoy my career and still be a good mom,” she said. “I would say that for all moms: it’s possible to do both. Lose the guilt, and find a middle ground. When you’re at work give it 100 percent and when you’re at home give it 100 percent, and try not to cross the two.”

BY AMANDA COLLINS BERNIER, SHAWNA SHENETTE PHOTOGRAPHY

TommyCar Auto Wins Best New Car Dealer

We are honored and excited to share with all of you that we have won Best New Car Dealer for Valley Advocate's Best of the Valley! We could have not done this without the support from our amazing customers and the community. So thank you to everyone who voted for us and a huge CONGRATULATIONS to all the winners this year for Best of the Valley 2018!

When Carla Cosenzi walks into the room, just about everyone knows who she is. The face of the Tommy-Car Auto Group, Cosenzi and her dealerships, Country Nissan, Country Hyundai, and Northampton Volkswagen, are no strangers to the Pioneer Valley. Pinpoint advertising and revolutionary car-buying programs like Click, Drive, Buy make doing business with Cosenzi a welcome alternative to what can be a stressful endeavor. But no matter how many times she wins Cosenzi still finds it exciting. “There’s so much community support,” she says. “The Valley has such an eccentric mix of businesses and people who join together to support each others’ success …. We’re proud to be a part of the businesses that make up the Valley.”

To see a full list of the winners visit http://valleyadvocate.com/2018/04/18/best-new-car-dealer-2018-tommycar-auto-group-country-hyundai-country-nissan-and-northampton-volkswagen/

TommyCar Auto Group Gives Back to Local Veterans

"NORTHAMPTON — Carla Cosenzi, president of TommyCar Auto Group, recently presented Jack Collins, director of the Northampton Veteran Affairs Medical Center, with a check for $1,480.

All three of the TommyCar Auto stores, Northampton Volkswagen, Country Nissan, and Country Hyundai, held the same promotion throughout the entire month of November. For every car sold, each dealership would donate $10 to the Northampton Veteran Affairs Medical Center. The stores were able to raise a total of $1,480.

“Our veterans have dedicated and sacrificed their lives to protect and keep our country safe. As a business owner, it’s my obligation to give back to our veterans when our veterans give so much,” Cosenzi said."

Article Courtesy of Business West: Read Full Article Here

Tom Cosenzi DFTC Recognized As One Of Jimmy Funds Leading Tournaments in 2017

The Tom Cosenzi Driving For The Cure Charity Golf Tournament was recognized in 2017 as one of Jimmy Fund's leading fundraising tournaments. The Tom Cosenzi Driving for the Cure Tournament had a record breaking year, raising over $125,000 in its 9th year for Dana Farber Cancer Institute. They're looking forward to topping their record amount as they prepare to hold their 10th annual tournament on August 20th, 2018 at Twin Hills Country Club in Longmeadow, MA! 

MSADA Auto Dealer Magazine - Charity Counts October 2017

Carla Cosenzi president of TommyCar Auto Group was featured in MSDA Auto Dealer Magazine's October 2017 Charity Counts issue. The article highlighted both Carla's and TommyCar Auto's charitable contributions over the years. Carla speaks of continuing the legacy of her father and incorporating giving back to their community as part of the everyday culture within each of the dealerships. 

Article Courtesy of MSDA Auto Dealer Magazine: Read the full article here

Driving for the Cure Golf Tournament Raises Record Amount

Pictured: Left to Right: Patrick Wen, MD, Director, Center for Neuro-Oncology Dana-Farber Cancer Institute; Tommy Cosenzi and Carla Cosenzi,  Founders of the Tom Cosenzi Driving for the Cure Charity Golf Tournament.

HADLEY — The Tom Cosenzi Driving for the Cure Charity Golf Tournament set a new fund-raising record by raising $131,300 to support Dr. Patrick Wen and his research colleagues in the Center for Neuro-Oncology at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.

The tournament was held on Aug. 21 at Twin Hills Country Club in Longmeadow and Elmcrest Country Club in East Longmeadow, followed by a dinner at Twin Hills Country Club attended by more than 300 guests. The dinner featured a performance by Noah Lis from The Voice along with John Dennis, celebrity emcee of the WEEI/NESN Jimmy Fund Radio-Telethon and featured a raffle and live and silent auctions. The event’s platinum sponsor was Edmunds.

The tournament was started by Carla and Tommy Cosenzi, co-presidents of TommyCar Auto Group, to honor the legacy of their father, Tom Cosenzi, who passed away from a glioblastoma in 2009 and dreamed of a cure for brain cancer. What started as a small, four-team tournament in 2009 has grown to become one of the largest charity tournaments in Western Mass., with more than 52 teams and 300+ participants.

Proceeds from tournament sponsorships help Dana-Farber researchers design novel clinical trials to test and develop targeted therapies that have not previously been studied in brain tumors, initiate several clinical trials in immunotherapy, and conduct groundbreaking basic research to guide new therapeutic approaches. Since its inception in 2009, the Tom Cosenzi Driving for the Cure Charity Golf Tournament has donated $830,712.

“Every year, I think it’s the best one yet,” said Carla Cosenzi. “However, I’m proud to say that our players and sponsors continue to come through, making each year more successful than the last.”

Visit tomcosenzidrivingforthecure.com for information about the 2018 tournament, which will mark the event’s 10th year.

Article Courtesy of Business West

Despite Some Dire Projections, Dealers Having a Solid Year

Carla Cosenzi says TommyCar Auto Group is seeing continued growth across all its lines, despite projections for an industry-wide downturn.

'“We actually expected to start to see a downturn, and internally, we were trending for that,” said Carla Cosenzi, a principal with TommyCar Auto Group, which operates Country Nissan in Hadley, Country Hyundai in Northampton, and Northampton Volkswagen. “That was the rhetoric within the industry, but we’re not seeing that; we’re trending upward at all our locations this year.”'

Read the full article here on Business West

Baystate Children's Hospital 'Hope on Wheels'

In partnership with Balise Hyundai, Country Hyundai and Gary Rome Hyundai, Hyundai Hope on Wheels presented Baystate Children’s Hospital with a $50,000 grant in support of patient care. Hospital leaders gratefully accepted the gift in June, at a special event featuring a signature handpainting ceremony during which our pediatric oncology patients adorned a Hyundai vehicle. To see highlights of the ceremony, please visit the Baystate Health channel on youtube.com and search for “Hyundai Hope on Wheels.”

To view the full annual report, click here.

Auto Dealers Predict Sales Will Continue Rising

Carla Cosenzi says sales have been on the rise for several years at TommyCar Auto Group, and she expects this trend to continue at its dealerships.

"Meanwhile, Carla Cosenzi said last year was a great one for TommyCar Auto Group, which includes Hyundai, Nissan, Buick, GMC, and Volkswagen franchises. Some stores did especially well, including Hyundai, which experienced strong demand for entry-level vehicles.

“Hyundai gives customers a lot of value for their dollar, including technology, safety, and the aggressive pricing people are looking for,” Cosenzi explained, noting that consumers are excited about the fact that new technology is standard in many brands of entry-level models and ranges from adaptive cruise control to lane assist, collision warning, and backup cameras.

TommyCar is expecting another excellent year, and the sales of the new Volkswagen Golf All Trac station wagon, which has all-wheel drive, accelerated right after it was released. In addition, SUVs and crossovers are becoming increasingly popular, such as the 2017 seven- passenger Nissan Rogue and Volkswagen Tiguan.

“People want the space, comfort, and luxury they provide. They are more expensive than compact cars, but with interest rates and gas at all-time lows. they’re affordable,” Cosenzi noted."

Read the full article here on Business West

The Modern Car Dealership Is All About Customer Experience

"Northampton Volkswagen and Country Hyundai, two neighboring stores in TommyCar Auto Group, opened their doors in 2014 with a similar focus on the customer experience. People bringing their cars in for service are met with high-speed doors followed by a porter who shows the way to a waiting room decked out with a TV, wi-fi, business workstations, smartphone jacks, free drinks and snacks, and even complimentary bicycles outside in case customers would rather take to the nearby bike trails instead of waiting indoors.

“We designed everything for the comfort and convenience of the customer,” said Carla Cosenzi, president of TommyCar. “We’re doing everything with the customer in mind.”"

Read the full article here on: Business West

Operation Kidsafe event set for Saturday in Northampton

SPRINGFIELD, MA (WGGB/WSHM) -It's important to be prepared for even the most unthinkable events, and that's why a 'Kidsafe' event is being held this weekend in Northampton.  Carla Cosenzi from Country Hyundai and Northampton Volkswagen joined Western Mass News at 12:30 p.m. to tell us more.

Watch the full interview here on: Western Mass News