In 1999, Arthur Patsouris had sold his family restaurant in Connecticut and wondered what the future held for his family: Deanna, his wife, and his two children, Dino and Alexa. A trip to Vermont had sold them on the state as a new home, but a new career would also have to accompany the move.

Arthur has been a serial British car enthusiast – who else would drive and MGB and a used Jaguar XJ-6? Since 1988, he’d also owned and enjoyed a ’69 Series IIA Bugeye and a Series II-A 109” pickup. Rovers North had kept him supplied and informed all those years, so it was no surprise that in 2000 Deanna would visit the website and note an employment opportunity. He’s been with Rovers North now for 7 years.

Long time Rovers North customers remember Arthur as a knowledgeable, friendly voice on the telephone, dispensing invaluable advice while securing orders for customers. Now, he’s become the Sales Manager, with a whole new set of responsibilities.

“We’re not a bureaucratic company, so my new position doesn’t change my relationship with our customers. A lot of my time is devoted to training newer staff members and providing technical expertise when necessary. I’m also responsible for the training sessions we hold twice a month for information on Rover systems, the ever-changing model lines, and newer Rover parts. We’ll bring a Rover into the shop, put it on the lift, and provide a hands-on demonstration of a product or system. Mark Letorney is invaluable here, for he keeps us on top of all the Rover lines.”

“We might focus on a particular engineering system, such as braking, and do common repairs and maintenance. We also get to see the relationship of the parts on our shelves to their role in the vehicle.”

“I work closely with Rachel Wright in customer service and serve as the problem-solver for the sales staff. I also work closely with our shipping, procurement and administrative staff, too.”

“Rovers North is a fascinating place to work. Everyone is a Rover enthusiast. We receive anywhere from 50-100 telephone calls a day, and that doesn’t include internet inquiries. We love talking with customers about their Land Rovers in their lives.”

“When I came to Rovers North I had little V- 8 or coil spring experience. In the late 1990’s a buddy in Connecticut had a ’91 Range Rover Great Divide model. He asked me a lot of questions I couldn’t answer. Now I’ve learned so much working here –between Rovers North staff, Rover repair shop owners, and helping people over the phone diagnose and fix their Land Rover problems.”

What are the biggest changes Arthur has seen in 7 years? “Well, our customer base has grown hugely since 2000. Many of our new customers did not come out of the traditional British car base. Many Range Rover Classic and Discovery owners purchased their cars without a huge awareness of the Land Rover marque values. They’ve owned – or still own – more ordinary cars. They’re delighted and surprised to find that we know the vehicles so well and that Land Rover Classic Parts and Rovers North support them so well.”

Arthur has his family live in East Berkshire, VT, a charming rural town about 40 miles from Westford, and looks forward to adding more vehicles to the interesting list of Land Rovers he’s owned over the years.

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