Adam Smith, Calculated Risk owner/president; Saul Elizondo, GM and new part owner of Lumberjack Harley-Davidson; Neil Noble, Calculated Risk partner; at signing.
Elizondo started at Lumberjack Harley-Davidson as a salesperson in 2015, with no motorcycle or auto sales experience. In fact, he even cancelled two job fair interviews at Lumberjack, certain he didn’t have a chance at being hired with his limited relevant experience. But after eventually interviewing and joining the Lumberjack team, and being top salesperson monthly from January 2016 to May 2017, he was promoted to sales manager. And just over a year later, in September 2018, he was promoted to general manager of the store, overseeing 15 team members in motorcycle and retail sales, financing, service and parts.
“I never thought that when I started here as a salesperson that one day I would be a part owner of the store,” said Elizondo, who is 36 and a Houston native whose wife is from Lufkin. “But this is what Adam does. His ultimate goal is to help his team members find long-term success in their careers. He wants to make sure his dealerships are performing well and are in good hands so that ultimately, one day in the future when he steps away, he is confident they will continue to be successful.” Smith has also made Shane Talbert, general manager at his Dallas-Fort Worth dealership Texas Harley-Davidson, the largest Harley-Davidson dealership in Texas, a part owner of that store, and long-time team member Neil Noble a partner in Calculated Risk Motorcycle Group.
“My goal is not just to build successful dealerships, but to build successful teams and team members,” said Smith. “Saul is one of our hardest-working people and he and his team have transformed Lumberjack into what we call ‘the biggest little Harley shop in Texas’: small in size but big in sales numbers.
“Saul has taken the dealership to a whole new level of success, from the outstanding team he has built, to the riders in the community and the financial results. I couldn’t be more proud of him. He has earned all of the success he has achieved,” added Smith.
In 2017, while Elizondo was sales manager, the Lumberjack Harley-Davidson was recognized by the Nacogdoches Chamber of Commerce as the Best Place to Buy a Motorcycle. In both 2016 and 2019, the store was awarded Harley-Davidson Bar & Shield awards, the highest honor given by Harley-Davidson USA, one based on sales, customer service and operational measures, and earned by very few dealerships.
“The message I have for anyone out there who may be hesitant to try something new is to take a chance,” said Elizondo. “If you believe in yourself and surround yourself with people who believe in you, you can be successful.”
