Doug’s Northwest Cadillac honored by Shoreline Breakfast Rotary Club

Pictured:

• Pete Rigby – Director of Therapies, Northwest Hospital and Medical Center
• Mary Filipovic – Nursing Supervisor, Northwest Hospital and Medical Center
• Mark Ikegami – General Manager, Doug’s Northwest Cadillac
• James Abbott – President, Shoreline Breakfast Rotary Club
• Garry Schriefer – Service Manager, Doug’s Northwest Cadillac
• Bill Dunbar – Vocational Services Chair, Shoreline Breakfast Rotary Club

On April 13, 2011, the Shoreline Breakfast Rotary Club awarded its Business of the Year Award to Doug’s Northwest Cadillac for its exemplary contributions to the community.

During the December 2008 ice storms that paralyzed most of Seattle, Mark Ikegami, Marilyn Greenberg and the rest of the staff at Doug’s stepped up and provided transportation to Northwest Hospital patients and staff who would otherwise have been stuck in the hospital. They cheerfully reprised that incredible feat each time they were called upon since then. In fact, Doug’s Cadillac is now included in Northwest Hospital’s disaster plan as a resource for transportation support.

If a hospital cannot discharge patients who are ready to go home in a timely fashion, it can lead to the hospital not being to take in patients needing to be admitted. It is also critically important for a hospital to refresh staff. The ice storms of December 2008 severely affected Northwest Hospital’s ability to discharge patients and rotate staff.

Outside of the box thinking led to a call to Doug’s Northwest Cadillac and Hummer. Mark and his team didn’t hesitate – they immediately sprung into action and rounded up drivers and vehicles to transport patients and staff. Working long hours and on treacherous roads in neighborhoods as diverse as – West Seattle, Magnolia, Queen Ann, and Richmond Beach to name a few – the team kept hospital beds open and refreshed staff. 

Mary Filipovic, Nurse Supervisor at Northwest Hospital, marveled that Doug’s Cadillac even “refused to accept reimbursement for gasoline expenses.”

For service above self, Shoreline Breakfast Rotary Club was pleased to recognize Doug’s Northwest Cadillac dealership with its Business of the Year Award.