Cutter Automotive Galleries has created a training center to service its dealerships in Honolulu, Pearl City and Waipahu.

Former Cutter General Manager Gary Scheuring will head the new department, which will offer courses on management, finance and automobile sales, as well as assistance for service advisers and employees at the auto parts counter. The training center, which held its opening Friday, is at 900 Ala Moana Blvd., Suite 200.

The dealerships are owned by brothers Marc and Jarrett Cutter.

"This is a huge commitment on behalf of the Cutter family," Scheuring said. "We’ll be working with all levels in the dealerships from the GMs on down. With a company of over 400 people, there are lots of opportunities to grow and develop."

Cutter Automotive has spent the past couple of months developing curriculum. The management courses include sales and leadership, communication skills and goal setting. Finance management includes office setup, selling skills, bank relations, and legal and compliance issues. There is an automobile sales series for beginners as well as veteran sales people and assistant managers.

"Anyone that comes in contact with a customer will have training on people-handling skills," Scheuring said.

Jarrett Cutter, the company’s chief operating officer, said the company is committed "to growing our own."

"Turnover within companies is so costly, and oftentimes by hiring from the outside, we don’t always know what we’re going to get. Lots of bad habits out there and not a lot of quality training being offered anywhere. We’ve come up with the best curriculum possible."