MOUNT VERNON — Ryan Sponsler, vice president of Donley Auto Group, recently purchased a majority ownership in the Mount Vernon location of Donley Ford Lincoln Mercury. He also holds a minority ownership in Donley’s other dealerships in Galion, Ashland and Shelby.

Sponsler began his career with Donley in 1995 as a salesman and later finance manager. He has been with the Mount Vernon location since it became part of the Donley Auto Group in 2001.

“I came down here to run this store as a general salesman and became general manger and sales director for the other locations as well as Mount Vernon,” Sponsler said.

“In June, I purchased majority ownership in Mount Vernon location and a minority ownership in our other three dealerships,” Sponsler said. “We’ve been working on it for about six months.”

In today’s shaky economy, Sponsler feels confident in his decision to buy into the dealership.

“The future for Ford looks really good. I’ve been with Ford going on 15 years and I’m very confident of their product. This has been a family business for 32 years,” Sponsler said.

Sponsler has lived in Mount Vernon since 2002, with his wife, Kerri (Donley), and their two daughters, Corin, 13, and Marisa, 11.

“I love the community here. I wouldn’t have made this investment had I not wanted to be part of this community for the rest of our lives,” he said.

After doing business in Knox County for seven years, Sponsler expects continued prosperity.

“I expect us to keep growing. Ford has been the most stable auto company through the recession. I look for us to grow twice as much in the next seven years.”

The Mount Vernon location has 35 full- and part-time employees working in four departments — new car sales, used car sales, service and parts. The Donley group has more than 130 employees.