Some people stumble into their careers by accident. Others are practically born into them. Amy Benner falls squarely into the latter category, though her path to becoming a cornerstone of Central Maine Powersports in Lewiston, Maine, took a few unexpected turns along the way.
"I always used to joke that when I was younger, I didn't go to camp. I went to dealership camp because my dad was a dealer and I just wanted to go to work with him," Benner explains. "I would polish the bikes in the morning and sweep the floor, and then ride my dirt bike out back for the afternoon." This childhood was an early education that would shape Benner’s entire career.
Like many young people, Benner initially thought she would venture beyond the family business to find her "real" career. After high school and college, she moved to Boston for work, convinced that city life held the answers. The experiment was short-lived–coming home every weekend was exhausting. When her father suggested she work at the dealership until she found a better job, she agreed. That temporary arrangement became permanent 18 years ago.
"For a while, I was like, I'll get a real job someday. And then I was like, wait. Like, this is a real job," Benner laughs. The realization came gradually, but it stuck. Today, she can't imagine doing anything else.
Central Maine Powersports sits in a sweet spot that perfectly captures Maine's outdoor lifestyle. Located in Lewiston, about 30 minutes north of Portland, the dealership serves customers who have remarkable access to diverse terrain. "One really cool thing about our location is that in a half an hour, you can be in the mountains, you can be on the coast. You can be in Portland, which is a pretty big city," Benner explains. This geographic advantage isn't lost on their customer base, who use their machines year-round.
Central Maine Powersports’ approach to customer relationships also sets them apart. Every new unit sale includes something most dealerships skip: a comprehensive tour of the entire operation.
"We do do a dealership tour on all new unit delivery, so they've met people outside of just the sales department." Benner explains. "They get a scope of the culture in our whole store. People feel really comfortable. They see that on our staff, everybody gets along. We're like a big group of friends." Customers leave as part of an extended community.
Perhaps the strongest testament to Central Maine Powersports' culture comes from former employees. "It happens more times than not–former employees will come back and they'll say, ‘this was my favorite job. It was best place to work,’" Benner notes.
Current customers echo this sentiment, with many becoming genuine friends over the years. "We had so many customers who've done business here for years. They're part of the family.”
The family atmosphere extends to the next generation as well. Benner's six-year-old son loves visiting the dealership.
At Central Maine Powersports, the old-fashioned values of personal service, community involvement, and genuine expertise have become their competitive advantage in the digital age. In an industry where customers have countless options for purchasing machines, Benner and her team have built something that can't be replicated online: authentic relationships that turn transactions into lasting connections. "If we weren't doing it right, we wouldn't still be here," Benner says.
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