COLUMBIA - Workers at the state Division of Motor Vehicles can have both "fun and customer service," an agency reformer told 1,000 workers at their first-ever statewide training Wednesday.

That reformer was J.T. Gandolfo, a car dealer who volunteered to help Gov. Mark Sanford achieve his goal of making the agency more efficient, started off the daylong "DMV Quality Meeting" at the Koger Center downtown.

Sanford, who made DMV reform a cornerstone of his campaign and administration, spoke to the group for 20 minutes before the actual training began.

"Y'all have been beat up in the press," Sanford said.

Sometimes "you have great people in a system," but the system is dysfunctional because something is off just a smidge.

Wednesday's training was about making it right, the governor said. The goal was to have employees' work recognized as professional and efficient.

He told them to emulate great brands such as Coca-Cola and McDonald's. Their strength is that they fill a need in the marketplace, and they are consistent.

Experts are working on the computer problems the agency had after it switched to a new system last year, and those will eventually be worked out, Sanford said.

"Technology's important, but ultimately, people are more important," he said.

Marcia Adams, a trainer for the agency, said its new "Quality Vision" was developed by employees at a series of meetings across the state.

"We're making changes that make it easier for you to serve our customers," Adams said.

One of the biggest is online services, most of which will be available by the end of June, she said. "So people can go online instead of standing in line."

Also part of the plan is helping workers think of themselves as public service professionals, Adams said.

"When someone asks you where do you work, what do you say?" she asked. The answer was a chorus of giggles.

To build quality, employees have to start by changing their own attitudes, but part of the goal is to make them proud to say they work at the DMV, Adams said.

"We are also trying to educate the public, so they are more prepared for transactions," she said.

The agency shut down all its offices Wednesday so employees could attend the training. Officials said all but a few people who were sick or on vacation attended.