For 70 years, Eggleston, a nonprofit organization headquartered in Norfolk, has been providing vocational training and employment opportunities for disabled Tidewater citizens.

Eggleston, named for local philanthropist Louise W. Eggleston, was initially established as the Tidewater Vocational Center in 1955 and later renamed to honor Eggleston for her generosity in bequeathing a building to house the organization’s operations.

“We’ve come a long way,” said Paul Atkinson Jr., vice president of business operations for Eggleston. “We’ve grown exponentially.”

Paul Atkinson Jr. is the vice president for business operations with Eggleston. (Bob Ruegsegger/For The Virginian-Pilot)

While Eggleston manages a number of business entities, ranging from document conversion and shredding to laundry services, the company’s automotive center is probably the most unique of all its business models.

“We help people with disabilities. Our mission is creating education, training, and employment opportunities,” said Atkinson. “We do that for all employees, myself included. I’ve learned a lot working here,” he said. “I’m the most unlikely used car salesman. That’s one of the many hats I wear here.”

Eggleston’s auto donation platform has prospered for more than 25 years. It has proven to be a significant fundraiser for the organization. Proceeds from the auto center’s auctions subsidize programs for individuals with disabilities which might otherwise never have existed.

Twice a month, donated automobiles are auctioned from this auction block that bears the slogan — “Buy a Car Change a Life.” (Bob Ruegsegger/For The Virginian-Pilot)

“We need employees who have one foot in two worlds. They need either the experience or the aptitude for the business line and then also for the human services side,” Atkinson said. “In the automotive center we need someone to work on cars who also wants to help others. Those qualities don’t always come together in the same package.”

Eggleston’s auto facility contains an auto detailing shop where a team of detailers prepares donated automobiles for auctions held at two-week intervals every other Saturday.

Detailing includes a basic interior cleaning including a vacuuming of all the upholstery and a wipe down of the hard surfaces — and maybe some spot extractor on the carpet if needed.

“All of the vehicles which are donated to us are detailed prior to sale,” Atkinson said. “It’s one of the ways we try to be good stewards of the donations and maximize their value at auction,” he said.

With the auto auctions, Atkinson hopes to create a “win-win-win” outcome for his organization, donors, and customers. While it is always incumbent upon the consumer to assess the relative condition and value of the vehicle prior to purchase, Eggleston assists potential buyers by hosting “preview days” on the Thursday and Friday before each auction during which customers can inspect the vehicles scheduled for auction on Saturday. Potential buyers are offered a “leg up” and allowed access to documents connected with the vehicles, including internal evaluations generated by Eggleston and notes made by company technicians.

“I want to get a high price at auction to raise funds for the organization, a good tax deduction for the donor, and then have the buyer feel as if they got a good product,” Atkinson said.

Most of the donated vehicles are towed to the auto center and a few are driven in by the donors.

Advertising over the years has helped to familiarize the community with the Eggleston name and promote its reputation and services.

“We use a variety of things (for marketing). We have television commercials and radio commercials. We use a number of digital services,” said Kristen Ricks, Eggleston’s director of marketing. “We use traditional Google ad words to make sure our site is found while doing searches — as well as social media.”

The workplace culture at Eggleston is designed to let employees know how important they are to the process and initiates frequent checks to make sure the needs of their employees and their clients are being met.

“To me, it’s the people here. I like getting to hear their individual stories and having them tell me about their successes,” Ricks said. “I enjoy seeing the excitement that individuals in our program have. Watching them thrive and live their best life is very rewarding.”

At the Eggleston Automotive Center on Military Highway in Norfolk most of the excitement seems to arrive for employees and clients in preparing for and hosting the biweekly auto auctions. Atkinson’s automotive team works on a two-week cycle to put together the sale. That’s when they see the real fruits of their labors.

“There’s an opportunity in working at Eggleston to find something you can be passionate about and to connect with our mission and to other people,” Atkinson said. “That’s the common thread I see from people who stick around at Eggleston. They either came with that passion or they got it while they were here.”

https://www.pilotonline.com/2025/11/17/eggleston-automotive-center/