For the 13 th consecutive year, the Ford Motor Company has bestowed one of its highest honors , the President’s Award , on Columbia Ford .

“ The President’s Award is reserved for dealerships that have made a commitment to deliver exceptional sales , service and vehicle ownership experiences to their customers , ” according to a press release from Ford .

Columbia Ford General Manager Chris Messier said that the award demonstrates his employees’ commitment to customer service , in every aspect of the dealership .

“ It just goes to show that every customer counts 100 percent , and in tough economic times , we have a lot to be proud of , ” he said . “ Every employee is vital in our customer service process . It is really a team effort , ” he said .

Approximately 200 out of nearly 4 , 000 dealerships nationwide receive the honor , according to the Ford Motor Company’s Web site .

Despite the recession , Messier said that Columbia Ford is still performing well this year, a fact that he attributes to a strong customer base . “ We have about a 65 percent returned customer rate , ” he said .

Messier said that there has been a large increase in activity in the past 30 days , attributable to the federal government’s Car Allowance Rebate System stimulus program , otherwise known as “ Cash for Clunkers . ” He said that customers should “ take a half hour and come to their local dealership to see what they can get . Many customers don’t even know that they qualify , ” he said .

Columbia Ford , located on Route 6 in Columbia , has been family-owned and operated since 1991 .