Career moves

by Annisha Mohammed

Being John Navarro, building manager of Manhattan Motocars, is like playing politician. But unlike most legislators, this politico leaves all involved parties satisfied: “When a customer walks in and has a problem, I make sure they don’t have a problem.” That’s saying a lot, when you consider the high-maintenance clientele of a dealership that houses Gallardos to the left and Phantoms to the right.

“When someone needs something done, they call me ’cause they know I’ll get it done,” says the 45-year-old Staten Islander. A former driver for the company, he now runs the staff that delivers the cars to their privileged owners. He also quiets the screaming customers who call him after hours with songs of flat tires and lost keys. And when Cam’ron’s “Oh Boy” video needed a Lambo, Johnny was the one pulling it up to the curb. He can also be glimpsed chauffeuring the Simple Life girls around New York in the show’s shopping-spree episode. “The perks are good when you treat customers with respect,” says Johnny, who gets Nets box seat tickets and nights in the Hamptons, all for free.

“Every day I’m amazed,” says the Mexican-born overachiever. “From where I came from to where I’m at gives me a sense of pride.” A tenth grade dropout, he proved himself by doing the “extra thing.” Go ahead and call it a comeback, ’cause super-ambitious Johnny is a ladder-climbing success story.

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