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Ken has had a customer service career of 41 years, and Markquart has been fortunate to have him as a team member for 13 years of it! He said his favorite part of his time here was meeting people from all different backgrounds, and the fact that some of his customers are now good friends! When asked for a funny story, Ken recalled his very first sale. He had been trained for two weeks prior to being able to work with customers. Lucky for Ken, his first customer knew exactly what vehicle he wanted, and told Ken to take him straight to the business office! With that, Ken’s advice for anyone interested in entering this field is to remember that “not every day is a homerun.” If you stick to it, rewards will come. In retirement, Ken and his wife, Brenda, plan on traveling a lot and spending more time with their grandchildren. Ken would like to thank all of his customers for their business over the years. Markquart would like to thank you, Ken, for all of your hard work and dedication, and we hope retirement is everything you hope for!

Make those selfies mean something this season with Toyota’s #Selflessie campaign! The campaign started on Giving Tuesday and continues through January 4. Toyota will donate $50 to the Boys and Girls Clubs of America for every photo on Instagram with the hashtag #selflessie. According to @ toyotausa’s Instagram bio, “Your #Selflessie must be in good taste and posted by 1/4/16 1159pmET.” Suggested posts include traditional selfies, group selfies, and selfies of you and your friends doing good such as volunteering. The goal of this campaign was originally to raise $250,000, but thanks to its popularity, the #Selflessie campaign’s goal has been increased to $750,000! So, while you’re snapping selfies with family and friends this holiday season, don’t forget to make it a #selflessie!

The Chippewa Valley Free Clinic in Eau Claire and the Open Door Clinic of Chippewa Falls provide basic health services to members of our community with no reasonable health care alternative. Since their openings, each clinic has seen the number of patients grow drastically year over year. They provide these patients with everything from exams and lab testing, to x-rays and specialty care. Both clinics offer these services at no cost to the patients and aim to take the financial burden off people, so they don’t have to choose between putting dinner on the table and getting their health care needs met. Each clinic also strives to promote ideal health and prevent illness, disease, and disability within the Chippewa Valley. Aside from basic health care, the clinics also offer assistance to those needing to sign up for marketplace insurance. For people with health care needs that can’t be met by the clinic, they are redirected to other resources in the Chippewa Valley. Volunteers and donations from the public are what keeps both of these clinics running. Please visit their websites if you are interested in donating your time, talents, or money! >> Chippewa Valley Free Clinic Website << >> Open Door Clinic Website <<

Markquart Toyota wants to help get the word out about your event! This can include sporting events, fundraisers, concerts, and more. If it’s an event open to the public, we’d like to share it on our website, Facebook, Twitter, and Google+ profiles! Events can be held anywhere in the Chippewa Valley and should be family friendly. Simply submit your event to adachel@markquart.com at least three days prior with the following information. Subject Line: Name of the Event Date & time A short description A way to get more information: website or contact info Cost to enter A high-quality photo is requested for each event From there, we will verify your event is appropriate to share, then schedule it to be posted on our social media channels. We have followers from all over west-central Wisconsin including Eau Claire, Chippewa Falls, Menomonie, Rice Lake, and more! So, if you want to raise more awareness for your fundraiser, concert, community walk, or any other event, submit it to Markquart today! >>Submit Your Event<<

The redesigned Toyota Tacoma is a midsize truck that provides capability, comfort, and good looks so all of you adventurers out there don’t have to compromise. There are five trim levels available: the bold SR, iconic SR5, athletic TRD Sport, highly-capable TRD Off-Road, and the luxurious Limited package. Each package has a slightly different grille to match its styling. The exterior is more chiseled with distinct hood lines and muscular fenders. The rear end has been refreshed with the embossed Tacoma logo on the tailgate and a new taillight design. On the totally refined interior, you have the choice between the double cab and access cab. Standard features include a GoPro mount, backup camera, and more. Available features include dual zone climate control, push button start, Qi wireless charging, Entune Audio, and much more! 2016 Toyota Tacoma drivers can appreciate up to 6800 lbs in towing capacity, or 1440 of payload capacity thanks to the available 3.5l V6 direct injection engine which gets up to 278 horsepower and 265 lbs of torque. In addition, available trailer sway control, multi-terrain select, and hill start assist, allow you to truly customize your truck to your needs. Don’t let the word “midsize” fool you. The Toyota Tacoma is a pickup ready for just about any adventure you can think of. Come see the selection of the redesigned Tacomas near Eau Claire at Markquart Toyota.

An increasing number of children stay at home with no supervision after school or during school breaks. They are left to find their own activities and companionship. The Boys and Girls Clubs offer a safe, positive, and productive place for children to go during these times. Staff and volunteers offer free tutoring and homework help, and youth members participate in activities that focus on five core areas: Character & Leadership, Education & Career, Health & Life Skills, The Arts, and Sports, Fitness, & Recreation. Since 2004, the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Greater Chippewa Valley have positively impacted the lives of more than 5,200 youth, expanding from one club in Eau Claire to locations in Chippewa Falls, Black River Falls, and Menomonie. The Boys and Girls Clubs wouldn’t exist if it weren’t for the support of our community. If you’re interested in learning more, or if you would like to support the club by donating or volunteering, visit their website and make a difference in a child’s life today.

The Black Friday Sales Event is going on now at Markquart Toyota! Get up to $750 Bonus Cash towards the finance or lease of select 2015 models, on top of all other offers! Qualified customers can get an extra $750 off the following 2015 models: Prius Prius c Prius v Avalon Avalon Hybrid Or, you can get an extra $500 bonus cash towards the financing or lease of a 2015 Toyota RAV4. Hurry in to Markquart Toyota to see what other great deals we have for Toyota’s Black Friday Sales Event! It’s only going on until November 30, so visit us today off HWY 53 between Eau Claire and Chippewa Falls!

You may not realize it, but more 70,000 people living in west-central Wisconsin relied on food received from programs supplied by Feed My People Food Bank in 2014. Feed My People Food Bank bridges the gap between food manufacturers and hunger-relief organizations to help put food on the table for these families. Feed My People “rescues” food before it goes to waste and distributes it to food pantries, community meal sites, shelters, etc. They also assist Meals on Wheels with distributing food boxes to individuals who are homebound, and provide over 2,000 meals to students on the weekends when school meals aren’t available. Their large warehouse and six refrigerated trucks enable them to distribute food to these other hunger-relief organizations. And, without the surrounding community, none of it would be possible. Local farmers, retailers, and companies donate food and products, while individuals can help by donating their time and money. According to Assistant Director, Suzanne Becker, “every $1 donated equals $10 worth of food.” If you’re interested in volunteering or donating, visit the Feed My People website!

The Toyota Smart Key allows the driver to unlock and start the vehicle without actually using the key. As long as the key fob is in your pocket or purse, you can simply use the touch of a finger to unlock your driver door, passenger doors, and trunk, as well as start the engine. Use Toyota Smart Key to Unlock Your Doors This will only work if you have the key fob on you as it is unique to your vehicle and “signals” to your vehicle that you have permission to open and start it. However, it is still nice to not have to physically get your keys out every time you want to open the doors – especially come winter time! Starting Your Car with Push Button Start To start the engine, the key fob can be in your pocket, in your purse, or simply in the vehicle. From there the vehicle must be in park. Just put your foot on the brake and press the Engine Start Stop button. When you’re ready to turn your vehicle off, just put it in park and press the button again. The Toyota Smart Key system is available on many new Toyota models at Markquart Toyota near Eau Claire. Simply ask your Product Specialist for availability and more information!

It’s that time of year again. The weather is getting cooler, Holiday shopping commercials have begun, and 98.1 is playing Christmas music already. In addition, We are excited to bring back Markquart Gives Back. Markquart has been blessed by the support of a great community, and now we want to give back by helping organizations that serve those who need it most. So, from November 12 until Christmas, Markquart Motors and Markquart Toyota are donating $100 for every new and used vehicle we sell. We have a goal of $50,000, and the money will support the following organizations: The Boys and Girls Club of the Greater Chippewa Valley Providing a safe, positive and productive place for youth to go after school and during school breaks. Feed My People Food Bank Rescuing food before it is wasted & distributing it to people in our community who struggle with hunger. Chippewa Valley Free Clinic & Open Door Clinic Providing basic health services to members in our community with no reasonable health care alternative. With your help we hope to raise over $50,000!

Entune™ is the name of Toyota’s audio and tech packages. There are four of these packages including Entune Audio, Entune™ Audio Plus, Entune™ Premium Audio, and Entune™ Premium JBL® Audio. Depending on the Toyota model and the wants and needs of the driver, these audio systems offer everything you need to stay connected while driving. Some of the most popular features include, Bluetooth®/streaming, iPod®/USB2.0/AUX, advanced voice recognition, navigation, and the Entune™ App Suite. The complete list of each package's features is as follows: All of this is available on either a 6.1-inch or 8-inch touchscreen The difference between Entune™ and the Entune™ App Suite is that the Entune™ App Suite is an available feature within an Entune™ Premium Audio or Entune™ Premium JBL® Audio package. This app suite allows you to access apps like Slacker Radio, iHeartRadio, Facebook Places, Pandora®, Yelp®, and more. If you need more information on what these various packages offer, contact a Product Specialist at Markquart Toyota at 715-834-4440.

In the environment of outrageous offers and professional negotiators, cutting through the hype can be difficult. So, what should you do? Ignore the hype, and power your decision with reason and research. You deserve a low price, a fair trade, and affordable payments all explained in a simple, straight-forward way. That is exactly how we do it at Markquart Toyota. Our sales process is designed to explain what you are paying and how we arrived at that price. We give you everything you need to make an intelligent decision. So, if you’re more impressed by reason and research rather than a giant gorilla or a lot full of balloons, Markquart Toyota would love to assist you in finding a great vehicle with affordable payments. Visit us just of HWY 53 between Eau Claire and Chippewa Falls.