Ft. Myers Toyota's Pamela Templeton in Florida Weekly

Sept. 14, 2009 - PRLog -- As Co-owner of Fort Myers Toyota, Pamela Templeton thrives in what most consider a man’s world. When asked what it’s like to hold a position of power in such a testosterone-driven industry, this female dynamo says, “It’s interesting. It really depends on who you’re dealing with, as to the comfort level. The same attribute of firmness or assertiveness which is appreciated in a male is not always as appreciated in a female.”

Ms. Templeton is well-known in the community, and is very involved in the restoration of the Sydney and Berne Davis Art Center. She works with the American Cancer Society on the Making Strides Against Breast Cancer campaign, and is on the board of the Southwest Florida Symphony. Her dealership sponsors a plethora of local events, including the Barbara B. Mann Community Concert Series.

Ms. Templeton considers three other power women her community mentors: Barbara B. Mann, Berne Davis and Madeline Taeni. “I love them dearly,” she says, “and they like me too. We do have some fun together.”

Ms. Templeton was raised in Virginia, where her father had a car dealership. She worked for him in high school, and when he semi-retired, he picked up a Toyota dealership in Sarasota which led to the acquisition of Fort Myers Toyota.

His daughter honed her business chops watching Dad. By age 20, she owned an aircraft cleaning business, servicing planes at Washington Dulles, Washington National (now Reagan) and even Andrews Air Force Base. After five years of success, she swapped snow for sunshine and began managing her father’s affairs.

Regarding the economic events in her industry this past year, the self-proclaimed fiscally conservative Ms.Templeton says the “Cash for Clunkers” program has been a shot in the arm for sales. “I’ve seen a lot of older people getting out of these huge, gas-guzzling ‘boats,’ and they’re thrilled. But the paperwork has been ghastly.”

Ms. Templeton’s current ride is a Toyota Venza. It’s the first Toyota conceived, designed, engineered and solely created in America,” she says. “It’s fabulous. You put those seats down, you could probably get 25 bags of mulch back there.”

On the rare days she’s not working, Ms. Templeton likes to travel to visit her family. But she’s definitely giving 110 percent to the dealership at this point in life. “I haven’t been scuba diving in years,” she says of a favorite pastime.

Excerpts from Libby McMillan’s article in FL WEEKLY

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About Ft. Myers Toyota:
Ft. Myers Toyota is located at 2555 Colonial Blvd, on the big corner of Colonial and Fowler in Fort Myers Florida just west of I-75 exit 136. Ft. Myers Toyota can be found online at www.FmToyota.com, or you can call toll free at 1-888-802-9401.

Ft. Myers Toyota, “The Family Store”, has been serving Southwest Florida, Naples, Fort Myers, Port Charlotte, Estero, Bonita Springs, Venice, Sarasota, and Cape Coral since 1988.