PPL Motor Homes is celebrating 50 years of business in Texas and has big plans to spread the enthusiasm. Company leaders Juan Tejeda and Diana LeBlanc-Link recently announced a year’s worth of celebrations centered around the company’s customers, vendors, suppliers and other business partners.
The company also is in the midst of a leadership transition. Diana LeBlanc-Link, who was named dealership president in 2010, is stepping back. Juan Tejeda was named CEO last year and is leading day-to-day operations.
“(Tejeda) came in because I am ready to do what I love most about this: talking to the people,” LeBlanc said. “So, I am retiring, but I am not going away because I believe this melting pot of young, vibrant energy that Juan has brought into the company, coupled with my 42 years and a lot of our seasoned team — it is a melting pot, and it is going to be a great pot.”
During its five decades, executives said PPL has become the largest RV consignment dealership in the U.S. with three locations in Texas. Main Street Capital, the company’s financial partner, helped PPL expand its footprint to three dealerships, and will be the driving funding for further geographic expansions, according to LeBlanc and Tejeda. Beyond just used vehicles, PPL Motor Homes offers a few new models, in addition to providing financing options, a parts store and a service center.
Tejeda and LeBlanc anticipate the company expanding into new locations elsewhere in the U.S., although specifics are not yet ready to be released.
“We are going to do our best to be smart and serve those that need it most,” Tejeda said. “In terms of specifics, we are not going to be in just one specific area — it is going to be across the United States.”
Tejeda said inventory shortages have been a concern, the company has met demand and is seeing some inventory improvement.
LeBlanc said economic challenges forced the company to downsize its staff size by nearly 90% after 2019. However, the company rehired many employees and now has regained its full staff size, plus some.
“In the Houston area…we went from 100 employees to 11 that for the next month carried the business, did whatever it took,” LeBlanc said. “What I learned through all of it was that when the going gets tough, the PPL team is the most amazing team ever and they did whatever it took…We became a leaner, greener fighting machine.”
LeBlanc said Tejeda embodies the new team’s drive, passion and desire to serve their customers. She commended the team’s ability to learn from their failures, and said the company is ripe for expansion as it celebrates its 50th anniversary.
PPL will celebrate the anniversary with multiple private and community events expressing the company’s gratitude for its customers, employees, partners and family, who were all pivotal to the growth and success of the company over the last half-century.
For more on celebration events and the company’s history, visit PPLMotorHomes.com/50thAnniversary.
