EAST LIVERPOOL 2 Valley men buy dealership

The troubled dealership has made money since June, the new owners say.
THE VINDICATOR, YOUNGSTOWN
EAST LIVERPOOL -- Two men who have had leadership roles at several Mahoning Valley car dealerships have bought Buckman Chevrolet Buick.
Rob Fellman and Clayton Cline have renamed it Mountain Chevrolet Buick.
The two have been operating the dealership since June when the dealership filed for bankruptcy protection from creditors. The sale became final last week.
Chuck Buckman owned the dealership for the past 15 years, but it had operated under other names since 1934.
Managers' policies
Fellman, a Boardman native, said he and Cline can make the dealership work because they are hands-on managers who will watch expenses and make sure customers are satisfied.
"We're here from bell-to-bell every day. We're personally involved with the customers," Fellman said.
The dealership has been profitable since they took over in June, he said. Last month, the dealership ranked No. 3 in vehicles sales in Columbiana County.
Fellman, 43, had been finance manager at Youngstown Buick Pontiac GMC Truck in Boardman. He has worked at various dealerships owned by the Sweeney family for the past eight years.
Cline, 33, a Howland native, had been general manager of John Seretti Chrysler Plymouth Dodge in Calcutta. The two had worked together previously at Eagle Chevrolet in Hubbard.
Fellman said they intend to keep the dealership in the city and hope to buy other dealerships.