Q&A: Jason Jenkins

Q: What brought you to Prescott and how long have you been here?
A: My wife and I had been visiting my parents in Sun City a couple of times per year and we would sometimes make the trip up to Prescott for a day. In 2011 my father had a heart attack. Shortly after, my wife offered that if I wanted to move somewhere closer to my parents, she would be OK with leaving her hometown of Bartlesville, Oklahoma.
We quickly started doing research on the Prescott area. We put in notice at our current jobs, sold our house and rented a vacation home at the Prescott Country Club in Dewey and proceeded to bring our belongings and the dogs for a one month trial on Nov. 17, 2011. That one-month turned into six months and starting a small business.
Q: How did you become interested in your career field?
A: I have always been into cars. My wife explains me to her friends as the person who has a bucket list of cars he wants to own, instead of places he wants to travel to. In 2014, I came to Tim’s Subaru (former name of this location) attempting to trade in two of my cars on a new WRX STI. I was unable to make a deal with the current sales manager. A few weeks later, after selling both of the cars and my business, I came across a Craigslist ad looking for “Salesmen” at the same store.
I thought: “I’ve always been a car guy, how hard could it be to go in there and climb to the top?”
Q: What is the biggest reward of your job?
A: I knew we could sell cars with integrity and make it much easier and more fun for customers. I have watched this great team we have at Findlay Subaru Prescott make that a reality and change the perception of a car dealership and car salesperson. I’m most proud when a customer walks into my office to tell me: “It just feels different in here” and “This is the best experience I’ve ever had buying a car.”
Q: What is your favorite Prescott activity?
A: I enjoy dirt biking with my two kids, Novi and Hank. A close second is an early morning hike at Watson Lake. It is a beautiful place to be for sunrise and a good sweat.