By CASEY NEILL
PATTERSON Cheney is in the midst of celebrating 30 years since establishing its head office on Cheltenham Road, Dandenong.
It can now expand the party to include the Greater Dandenong Chamber of Commerce 2013 Premier Regional Business Award and Retail Award, presented at a gala dinner last Wednesday.
Patterson Cheney will soon mark 100 years since its birth in Flinders Street, Melbourne, in 1915, when Mr S. A. Cheney became an assembler of US vehicles.
Bill Patterson bought into the business in 1972 and it’s been known as Patterson Cheney ever since.
The company’s Dandenong operations were originally in Lonsdale Street and a truck dealership was just behind the post office.
These were combined in 1983 on the current site on Cheltenham Road.
Awards chairman James Sturgess said the Bertalli family now owned the company and employed about 170 people in Dandenong and 450 overall.
He said the company had half the average industry staff turnover thanks to a policy of promoting within.
More than 20 per cent of its employees have worked there for more than 10 years.
“Several of their service managers have previously been apprentices with the organisation,” Mr Sturgess said.
“The development from junior to management is through their training programs.”
He said the company was “a constant giver” on the corporate and social responsibility front.
“The group is involved in the Dandenong Valley Job Support program, which they have been assisting over the last three to four years after a suggestion from one of their employees,” Mr Sturgess said.
“The program promotes positive employment of people with disabilities and today the business has around 15 employees through the program.”
The business recently ran a major fundraiser through the Berwick Mercedes Benz dealership which raised more than $10,000 for the Smith Family.
“Local schools are a constant recipient of donations and assistance, such as the group’s sponsorship of National Tree Day at St Frances and Silverton primary schools and they were proud to be recognised as the first five-star environmental dealership to be accredited in Australia.”
Mr Sturgess said Patterson Cheney also had a program that rewarded referrals with a donation to a selected charity.
“Through its investment in brands, equipment and, most importantly, people, the business has enjoyed growth in recent years and sees no reason why that cannot continue long into the future,” he said.
“This investment in development is one reason why the business now turns over in the vicinity of half a billion dollars.”
Patterson Cheney was also nominated for the Employment, Service Excellence and Corporate and Social Responsibility awards.
