Baker names vice president; Hendrick donates to Food Bank, ECCO

Charleston area auto managers were on the move locally, changing job assignments and pledging checks to charity.

Meanwhile, a number of Grand Strand RV parks won top awards recently.

Here’s a closer look.

Fitting the Bill

Bill Gironda recently crossed the street, so to speak, for his new job.

The long-time car salesman and executive has joined Baker Motor Co. on Savannah Highway as vice president.

He previously was general sales manager at Rick Hendrick Import BMW, across the highway.

Gironda started at Baker Motor on Monday. “After a distinguished career with Nissan Motors and BMW, he will oversee all operations alongside our owner and president Tommy Baker at Baker Motor Company’s three locations,” Baker Motor said on its online blog.

He was general sales manager at Hendrick BMW for six years. “During his tenure there the dealership won BMW’s highest honor, the 'Center of Excellence' Award, for three consecutive years," Baker Motor said.

Tommy Baker and Gironda have known each other for 20 years, from the time Baker Motor became the Charleston area Infiniti dealer.

“The two men met through Gironda’s supervisor at the time and Baker’s close friend, Ed Sherman, Infiniti East Region vice president,” according to Baker Motor.

Gironda grew up watching his father and uncles own and operate car dealerships. He started his automotive career in 1986 for Nissan Motors. He handled sales, consulting and merchandising management roles throughout the Northeast for 11 years, Baker Motor said on its blog.

He was employed with Infiniti after helping to launch the luxury brand. His later position with BMW North America brought him to Charleston, where he handled BMW sales and marketing management for the Carolinas and Georgia.

A New Jersey native, Gironda lives in Mount Pleasant with his wife, Donna, and two daughters, Nicole and Jennifer.

Grand Strand lands RV campground, park winners

When it comes to private “mega-parks,” the Myrtle Beach area is an honored spot, at least based on a national group’s awards ceremony last month.

The Denver-based National Association of RV Parks and Campgrounds handed out trophies at its yearly Outdoor Hospitality Convention at the Westin Savannah Golf Resort & Spa in Savannah.

Winners came from seven states.

The group’s highest honors, sponsored by Good Sam, were the “Park of the Year” awards. In the mega-park of the year category, Ocean Lakes Family campground in Myrtle Beach took home the top prize.

Another major trophy was the association’s “Plan it Green Award,” which recognizes campgrounds’ efforts to be environmentally friendly.

Lakewood Campground & Nature Trails in Myrtle Beach won in the large-mega park category.

Separately, four South Carolina campgrounds and RV resorts received “A” grades as part of GuestRated.com’s fourth annual consumer satisfaction survey.

More than 30,000 consumers submitted online reviews of campgrounds, RV parks and resorts across the United States, according to the national RV parks and campgrounds association. The locales are all affiliated with the association.

“Consistently earning an overall ‘A’ grade from guests is difficult, and our 44 winners this year represent less than 2 percent of all of the nation’s campgrounds. But what is even more impressive is that 12 of this year’s winners have also received this award four years in a row,” said Bob MacKinnon, president and chief executive of GuestRated.com.

“Consumers should take the time to check out the ratings that are posted for

each campground on GoCampingAmerica.com because that’s the quickest way to tell which parks are best meeting — and exceeding — guest expectations,” said Paul Bambei, the association’s president and chief executive.

The South Carolina parks scoring highest were Magnolia RV Park & Campground www.magnoliarvparksc.com in Kinards, a two-time “A” grade location; Myrtle Beach Travel Park www.myrtlebeachtravelpark.com in Myrtle Beach, scoring “A” for the first time; Ocean Lakes Family Campground www.oceanlakes.com in Myrtle Beach, racking up the “A” grade for the fourth time; and Willow Tree Resort www.willowtreerv.com in Longs, logging its third “A” grade.

For more information, visit www.arvc.org, www.GoCampingAmerica.com,

or www.GuestRated.com.

Charleston Drive pitches in

Sometimes restocking the shelves is the best way to get a charitable group back in readiness after the busy holiday season.

That was the goal of the Charleston Drive for Hunger fundraiser, sponsored by Hendrick Auto Group of Charleston.

From Jan. 2-11, the group donated money so that Lowcountry food pantry shelves could get a jump start on 2012 supplies.

Hendrick Auto Group of Charleston — made up of the local Hendrick car stores — recently donated $4,000 each to the Lowcountry Food Bank and East Cooper Community Outreach.

Reach Jim Parker at 937-5542 or jparker@postandcourier.com.