We are truly excited to recognize Brian Baker as the May 2026 Jim Ellis Client Champion. Brian is a Service Advisor at Chevrolet. Brian was nominated by Jamie Warren.
The Jim Ellis Client Champion award has been presented monthly since 2014 to a Jim Ellis team member who goes above and beyond to deliver the Jim Ellis Promise to one of our guests. With more than 1,700 team members in the organization, only a small percentage of team members each year receive this honor.
Here is the story behind why Brian was nominated as the monthly Client Champion:
As the dealership was preparing to close on a Saturday evening around 6:45 p.m., a Suburban carrying a young family with four small children pulled into the service drive with a transmission overheating. The family, who lived in Michigan, had recently had the transmission repaired and were driving home from Florida, hoping to complete the trip straight through.
Although repairs could not begin that evening, Brian immediately stepped in to help ease the family’s stressful situation. While the children were distracted with Corvettes, teddy bears and candy, Brian and his wife helped the parents locate a nearby hotel for the night. He then checked in the vehicle and continued assisting the family well after closing time.
With six people, luggage, pillows and car seats, transportation quickly became another challenge. Recognizing that a rideshare vehicle would not be able to accommodate everyone, Brian borrowed the shuttle vehicle from valet services and personally drove the family to their hotel to ensure they arrived safely and comfortably.
When the dealership reopened Monday morning, Brian contacted the family’s extended warranty company and secured approval for the thermal bypass valve repair that caused the overheating issue. During the inspection, the team also discovered a leaking water pump that likely would have failed during the family’s drive back to Michigan. Brian worked to have both repairs completed by Monday afternoon, helping the family get back on the road as quickly and safely as possible.
Although the family unfortunately spent Easter weekend away from home, Brian’s compassion, urgency and willingness to go above and beyond helped turn a stressful situation into a positive experience during an unexpected setback.
This is not the first time Brian has demonstrated this level of care for others. In fact, he was previously recognized as a Client Champion last year for covering lodging for another client when a repair timeline was going to impact that customer having a place to stay. Brian consistently demonstrates a commitment to putting people first and delivering exceptional care when it matters most.
Congratulations, Brian! We appreciate everything that you do.