Holiday Today Winter 2021

HOLIDAY

www.holidayautomotive.com 321 N Rolling Meadows Dr. Fond du Lac, WI 54937

TODAY

Holidayautomotive.com/newsletter Winter 2021 - Edition 40

ANNIVERSARIES FRED FINSTAD - 27 YEARS JOHN STRANDS - 27 YEARS TOM KUITERT - 26 YEARS JIM KOENIGS - 25 YEARS GREGORY SASS - 25 YEARS CHRIS NEWTON - 20 YEARS JOHN KARLS JR - 18 YEARS KEVIN EBERT - 16 YEARS DAN FARIS - 14 YEARS ALISSA WITTHUHN - 13 YEARS RUTH CORNING - 13 YEARS ANDREA CROSSMAN - 12 YEARS CHARLIE WILHELM - 12 YEARS TY LAVEY - 12 YEARS JOSEPH SAWICKI - 11 YEARS NEIL SONNENBERG - 11 YEARS DENICE STERNAT - 11 YEARS TIM WHEALON - 11 YEARS JOHN BARBER - 10 YEARS ALEXANDRA OZOLS SWENSON - 10 YEARS MACY FINK - 10 YEARS GREGORY BEMIS - 9 YEARS BRIAN BIERMANN - 9 YEARS

DALE DRISCOLL - 9 YEARS STEVE ERDMANN - 9 YEARS RYAN ERICKSON - 9 YEARS BRICE GOLDAPSKE - 9 YEARS KATHY GROESCHEL - 9 YEARS KRIS HETTENHAUS - 9 YEARS GLENN HOLTZ - 9 YEARS PATTIE NETT - 9 YEARS DAVID OLSON - 9 YEARS THOMAS SCHOENFELDT - 9 YEARS BRAD STEINMAN - 9 YEARS JENNY STEINMAN - 9 YEARS NATE TRYON - 9 YEARS BRIAN VAN DORT - 9 YEARS ELLEN ZIMMERMAN - 9 YEARS SEAN-RAY AVILEZ - 8 YEARS DAVID WITT - 8 YEARS JORDYN SCHALK - 7 YEARS JORDAN DAUN - 6 YEARS TONY DEICH - 6 YEARS CHRIS HOLMES - 6 YEARS JACOB NINNEMAN - 6 YEARS JAMIE SCHNEIDER - 6 YEARS ANDREW DAWSON - 5 YEARS SETH JOHNSON - 5 YEARS ERIK PETERSON - 5 YEARS SCOTT THERN - 5 YEARS STEVEN GUELL - 5 YEARS

BECKY FREUND - 5 YEARS GREGORY VAN DE KREEKE - 5 YEARS ZACHARY BROEHM - 4 YEARS RONALD NEITZEL - 4 YEARS ARTHUR BRATTON - 4 YEARS KARL LANGE - 4 YEARS DUSTIN SING - 4 YEARS TYLER SOMMERFELDT - 4 YEARS TIM REILLY - 3 YEARS HANNAH WHITFIELD-SINCLAIR - 3 YEARS NICHOLAS KAMPHUIS - 3 YEARS JACK MCGHIE - 3 YEARS EMILY KREMER - 3 YEARS JAFAR NIKKHAH - 3 YEARS STEVE FROH - 2 YEARS SAM MENGERT - 2 YEARS STEVEN OUIMETTE - 2 YEARS EVAN JENSEN - 2 YEARS MICHAEL HARDGROVE - 2 YEARS KAILEE PHILLIPS - 2 YEARS JASON KIRSCH - 1 YEAR GARY SCHNEIDER - 1 YEAR MAC ERTEL - 1 YEAR DANIEL SING - 1 YEAR JENNA BUECHEL - 1 YEAR PHIL GILLINGHAM - 1 YEAR JULIA MILLER - 1 YEAR JEREMY MORRIS - 1 YEAR

GMC HUMMER EV

FORD MUSTANG MACH-E

THE ALL-ELECTRIC

REVOLUTION PAGE 5

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

M

any feel that 2020 isn’t a year we’d choose to re-live given the opportunity. But the reality is that it forced us to adapt to a rapidly changing and uncertain world. We got through it together. And, thanks to our ability to adapt to the marketplace as a team we were successful. We broke a few records along the way and maintained our position as the premier automotive destination in Wisconsin. 2021 is here and it will bring changes of its own. That’s okay. Actually its fantastic.

Change must be a regular part of our lives. We resist it. We welcome it. We hate it. We love it. We want things to stay the same. We want things to advance. The natural impulse is to be concerned when we hear “we’re going to make

EXTRA MILEAward JORDYN SCHALK

Thor

Our Holiday Elite sales & service team members are driven the extra mile to deliver the absolute best in customer experiences. By providing unparalleled service, Holiday Elite earn the trust of their customers by helping them find or maintain the vehicle of their dreams. Please join us in congratulating our class of 2020 Holiday Elite.

DIAMOND

PLATINUM

GOLD

SILVER

DIAMOND

PLATINUM

GOLD

SILVER

TONY DEICH

HOLIDAY BUDGET CENTER

SETH JOHNSON

HOLIDAY BUDGET CENTER

JENNY STEINMAN

HOLIDAY FORD

SHAWN PRICE

HOLIDAY MAZDA

Congratulations to Finance Manager, Jordyn Schalk on receiving the Holiday Automotive Extra Mile Award! This traveling trophy is given to a Holiday employee who goes above and beyond to represent Holiday, help a team member or care for a customer.

Jordyn was nominated by Bobbie Daun, Sales BDC, who stated, “Jordyn has been covering the Holiday Budget Center Finance Department for months now, sometimes alone and working very late to finish deals - with other’s being out of the office, along with training and preparing Chris Holmes for the Finance Team.

I’ve had the opportunity to listen closely to her putting out finance deals and really taking every moment and detail to make sure our guests are completely taken care of through the whole process. She deserves some recognition from all of us here at the Budget Center for her hard work!”

Thank you for going the extra mile for our guests and our team, Jordyn! We’re incredibly proud to have you on Team Holiday!

Adapt On!

ELITE 2020

2

CHRIS NEWTON & BILL LIND

some changes.” But the reality is that everything will be fine, and to thrive in business you need constant change….evolution….innovation. Holiday Automotive can and should be on the cutting edge of the industry. The only limiting factor is how quickly we embrace and celebrate change.

Change will come this year and it will be alright. When we embrace change, we adapt, evolve, and innovate while Holiday Automotive becomes even better. C.A.N.I.

JOE GRIESE

HOLIDAY GM

HEATHER DORN

HOLIDAY GM

BILL LIND

HOLIDAY FORD

KRIS HETTENHAUS HOLIDAY GM

JOE WEGE

HOLIDAY FORD

DAVID OLSON

HOLIDAY FORD

JOHN KRUG

HOLIDAY MAZDA

TYLER MILLER

HOLIDAY FORD

JEREMY WHITTY

HOLIDAY MAZDA

MIKE EGLI

HOLIDAY GM

DALE KUEHL

HOLIDAY GM

TYLER SOMMERFELDT HOLIDAY MAZDA

JOHN KARLS

HOLIDAY GM

BRANDEN LYNCH

HOLIDAY FORD

BRIAN BIERMAN

HOLIDAY FORD

RYAN ERICKSON

HOLIDAY FORD

KEVIN EBERT

HOLIDAY GM

KEITH STEPHANIE HOLIDAY GM

KEN KLASKE

HOLIDAY FORD

TOM HANEWALL HOLIDAY GM

JESSE WALTON

HOLIDAY GM

DALE DRISCOLL

HOLIDAY FORD

STEVE BEY

HOLIDAY FORD

TOM POPP

HOLIDAY GM

Winter 2021

Top level leadership changes announced beginning Feb.1

Congratulations to Chris Newton and Bill Lind: our newest recipients of the oliday Automotive Extra Mile Award! This traveling trophy is given to a Holiday employee who goes above and beyond to represent Holiday, help a team member or care for a customer.

Earlier in the month GM Customer Experience Manager, Andy Steger had a customer who was hoping to take delivery of his truck later in the day on a Monday. If that Monday didn’t work out for delivery, the customer would then have to wait until the following weekend for his new vehicle. Andy reached out to Chris, who worked with Bill late into the night that Monday to get the safety inspection completed. Due to the hard work of Chris and Bill, the customer was able to drive home that same night in his new truck.

“My customer was so happy and excited that he was able to take home his new truck Monday night! A huge thank you to Bill and Chris for making this happen and creating another Holiday fan! Nice work gentlemen!” - Andy Steger Thank you to both Chris and Bill for your hard work in making Holiday worth the trip!

WELCOME TO TEAM HOLIDAY

O

n January 27, in an allstaff communication to staff, Mike Shannon, Sr., Holiday Automotive’s Chairman and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) announced the following: Team Holiday, I have exciting news to share! Effective February 1st we are making some top-level leadership changes: I will continue to fulfill the role of chairman but am stepping down as CEO. Thor will become CEO and Michael will be our new President and remain as COO. Rounding out the executive team will be Bill Agnew, Executive Vice President, Scott Basler, Chief Financial Officer and Willie Beyer, Vice President of Service and Customer Care.

These moves—along with

Winter 2021

MIKE SHANNON

THOR GILBERTSON

MICHAEL SHANNON JR.

E.J. LeDonne

Customer Experience Manager., Ford SCOTT BASLER

BILL AGNEW

WILLIE BEYER

your continued dedication to our mission—help position us for what is sure to be a very exciting next-chapter in the automotive industry. Please join me in congratulations and support of Thor and Michael in their new roles and know that we are grateful for all you do to make Holiday worth the trip!

Sussex native and Marian University graduate, E.J. enjoys watching and playing football, baseball and basketball. 4-wheeling and fishing are also favorites. He hopes to become a restaurant owner someday and have a home with land, complete with farm animals & dogs.

Derek Bublitz

Quick Lube Technician, GM Area native who lettered in wrestling at Campbellsport H.S., Derek was a state correctional officer before joining our team. An outdoors guy, he likes hunting, camping and farm work. Other favorites: Country singers, bacon cheeseburgers, war movies and Mustang Shelby GT.

7

WELCOME TO TEAM HOLIDAY Nathan Polzin

Edward Saiberlich

Glass Technician, GM

Service Lane Greeter, Ford

Originally from Wisconsin Rapids, Nathan enjoys shooting, hunting, racing, and hanging out with friends.

He and Kylee, his wife of 2 years, are expecting their first child in March. A firefighter for the town of Algoma, he hopes to someday travel to Europe and own an auto shop.

Area native, Ed and his wife Pam are parents to 4 kids and grandparents to 6. He looks forward to retirement and coaching his grandkids in sports activities. Some favorites: Wisconsin teams, Italian food, comedy movies, Ford Explorer & Mustang and summertime.

Jeff Arndt

Detail Dept. Manager, Budget Center A bicycling enthusiast, Jeff rides the 100 mile century ride in Door County each September. He’s worked in manufacturing for over 30 years holding many leadership roles. In the future he looks forward to enjoying more travel with Patty, his wife of 23 years.

Lemuel Rodriguez

Jeffrey Pratsch

Quick Lube Tech, Mazda

Service Lane Greeter, Ford

Born in San Juan, Puerto Rico and now a Ripon resident, Lemuel likes spending time with his girlfriend and family. Future plans are to pursue a career as a firefighter or mechanic. He’s a fan of action movies and food from Panda Express.

Jeffrey spent 43 years in the Human Resources Field before joining us. He enjoys getting out golfing, biking and doing some volunteering.

He and his wife Rhonda have been together for 31 years.

Scholarship reciepients Austin Nett, Seth Fischer and Sean Bialoszynski shown here with Dick Beyer, Willie Beyer, Mark Jensen and Thor Gilbertson.

SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM BENEFITS TECHNICIANS OF TOMORROW

Service Lane Greeter, Ford

Jeffrey Richter

Service Lane Greeter, Ford

Greeter & Hydrotech, Ford

Mary Jane Scherer

Tonya Haendel Service BDC, Ford

Quick Lube Tech, GM

Fond du Lac born and raised, Jeff was in the role of a sales rep before joining Team Holiday. Married for 27 years, he and his wife Barb have raised 4 kids. He is a fan of golf, the Wisconsin Badgers, and the Summer season.

With roots in the Sheboygan and Plymouth area, Gary now calls Fond du Lac home.

He and his spouse were married in February. He’s a fan of faith based movies and Mexican food.

Painting and drawing are two of Mary Jane’s favorite activities. She grew up in the Manitowoc area and schooled at Fondy High and MPTC. She is a fan of comedy movies, pasta, and summertime.

A Fondy area native, Tonya enjoys spending time with family & friends. She’s a fan of camping, hiking, bonfires and bowling. Future plans, she’d love to visit all 50 states. Among her faves: comedy movies, Italian food, country & pop music and the Pack.

An Oshkosh native and grad of West High School, Isaac likes spending his free time snowboarding, gaming and lounging with family. He’s a fan of apples, Toyota’s RAV4 and the Green Bay Packers.

Alexander Henschel Detailer, Budget Center

An area native & experienced lifeguard, Alexander is a fan of water tubing and weight lifting. He hopes to become a chiropractor in the future.

These days he’s schooling at UW Oshkosh’s campus in Fond du Lac. 4-faves: cheeseburgers, summer, Ford Mustang Shelby & the Pack.

6

Gary Harvey

Stephanie Huebner

Tyler Jackson

Customer Experience Manager Budget Center

Fleet & Commercial Asst.

Manager Ford

Experienced in roles such as Hemodialysis Technician and Certified Nursing Assistant, this mom of 6 is a fan of the outdoors and walking.

Checkboxes on Stephanie’s faves list: steak, Autumn, the annual Lifest Christian Music Festival held in Oshkosh and, the Pack.

Fondy native & WLA grad, Tyler enjoys being outdoors, hunting, fishing, sturgeon spearing & spending time with his son and fiancé. He prides himself on working hard and being the best at all he sets out to do. 3-Faves are, Asian food, action movies, the Pack.

Isaac Fromolz

Emma Gilbertson

Tyler Hendricks

North Fondy is home for Emma, who worked in banking as a customer service rep before joining Team Holiday. She enjoys artsy stuff, time spent outdoors hiking with Marlo, her dog, a meal of chicken tacos and the fall season.

From Appleton, Tyler was deployed twice to Afghanistan during his 10 year military career. A father of one, he enjoys motorcycle riding, and working on his project car. Some faves: summer, action movies, pizza & Ford Mustang GT.

Greeter & Hydrotech, Mazda

Collision Technician, Collision Center

See TEAM HOLIDAY, Page 7

Winter 2021

O

ne of the many ways our leadership team sows seeds in the ongoing search for talent is through active involvement in the Wisconsin Automobile and Truck Dealers Association (WATDA) Technician Scholarship Program. Holiday Automotive has been a longtime champion and supporter of the program through generous annual donations to the WATDA Technician Scholarship Fund, and through the dedicated efforts of a cross section of service department leaders and staff.

Each year, WATDA’s Technician Scholarship Program provides a path and financial resources to area high school students aspiring to pursue a career as a skilled technician in the field of automotive or collision repair. Dick Beyer is one of those that has had a hands-on role with the program for upwards of 20 years.

“We are part of a consortium with other stakeholders including Envision Greater Fond du Lac, many area high schools and counselors, WATDA, technical institutions such as Fox Valley Tech and Moraine Park Technical College, and Snap-On Tools. Many members of our own team also play a role” said Beyer. For evidence of the program’s worthiness look no further than inside our own shops.

Technicians within our ranks who have benefitted from the program include the likes of Mike Medinger, Jeremy Whitty and Jacob Ninnemann.

How does it work? In the early stage of their involvement qualified candidates participate in a school-to-work phase and are able to earn while they learn. For part of their school day, they remain responsible for studying and successfully completing classwork alongside their high school peers.

Winter 2021

Scholarship program recipients Austin Craig (left) and Kailee Phillips.

But unlike their classmates, they transition from the school room to one of our dealerships service centers on certain days, typically serving a role as a quick lube team member for the first year.

“This provides them practical real-world experience and exposure to the inner workings of the shop, the processes, team dynamics and the importance of everything from safety to courtesy, communication and customer satisfaction,” Beyer continued. “If the relationship is proving to be mutually beneficial, their role is expanded in the second year. They become a member of an internal team, working alongside more seasoned technicians and under the mentorship of a crew chief, concurrent with participating in one of the technical college two-year degree programs at FVTC or MPTC,

some of which are even brand specific, such as GM’s ASEP (Automotive Service Educational Program) and Ford’s ASSET program (Automotive Student Service Educational Training).

Participants are gaining experience, being compensated as an employee, and in most cases, offsetting some of the expense of their schooling through the WATDA scholarship or other grant programs. The end goal is that they gain traction in a rewarding, durable and stimulating career and in many instances, decide to stay on and remain part of Team Holiday.

“It’s a winning combination” says Beyer. To learn more simply reach out to service manager Danny Pierce at GM, Tim Foulk at Ford or, Mark Jensen at Mazda, VP/Fixed Operations Director, Willie Beyer, or GM Service Manager emeritus Dick Beyer.

3

IN THE

SPOTLIGHT

TIM LANGILLE & BRICE GOLDAPSKE / IT SPECIALISTS

Tim Langille

S

Brice Goldapske

ociety has never been more reliant on the Internet and overall connectivity than now. Our mobile and other devices bridge us to each other, to our customers, friends, family and the world. Over the course of the past 3 decades the internet has morphed from a way for the US military to stay connected globally, to the always-on lifeline for most of us. Dependable connectivity is so common today that we tend to take it for granted. That is until your service is interrupted, or glitches hinder your machines performance, or a nefarious hack breeches the security systems, putting confidential and private data, possibly yours or your customers or loved ones, at risk, and sometimes crippling the systems we depend on.

Fortunately, we have the dynamic duo of Tim Langille and Brice Goldapske, Team Holiday’s IT Specialists looking out for us.

These two serve as guardians of our systems, advisors, enablers and architects of future advancements, and first responders for a myriad of issues that occasionally cause trepidation in the workday. One thing is certain: you want these guys on your side!

We were curious to learn what early influences drew them into the IT field. For Tim, it was while attending school at U.W. Stout.

4

“I had a buddy who got me some work on campus during summer break pulling wire to enable the use of computers and data transmission in the dorms,” he tells us. “There was no CAT5 wiring till then, just phone lines and a modem. We had a 6-person crew working nights mostly, with fans blowing and windows open to help keep cool in the dorms. It’s summer in Wisconsin, and they weren’t air conditioned!” he laughs. That gave way to a role helping students getting connected once school was back in session. For many, it was their first foray into using a computer and internet access. Once out of school, Tim landed a job with Arthur Anderson in Milwaukee as part of their IT Team, then spread his wings working for a couple other support companies, including the one that brought him into the Holiday Automotive universe around 2000. Initially, the dealerships needs were simpler and didn’t require a full-time person.

But within about 4 years company leaders Mike Shannon and CFO Pat McCullough recognized that having a full-time IT person onstaff was a must-have and Tim was the right person. They made him an offer, he accepted, and has led the department ever since.

Brice’s grip on technology began in his youth. “Starting in middle school I got into

PC gaming and I was constantly on my machine. I was drawn to it and realized it wasn’t hard for me to figure stuff out, and that became a natural inertia to pursue IT” he says. He enrolled at MPTC, ultimately pursuing not one, but two degrees, one in networking and one in IT support. That led to landing a position at Service Motors Ford as their IT guy, along with other tasks to help out where he could, from answering phones, photographing cars for online marketing to name a few. When Holiday acquired Service Motors in spring of 2012, Brice was one of the core group of their team that made the move and joined Team Holiday, with his first duties focused on getting the new Ford crew up and running in their new workplace.

Today, things look very different to these guys than the way it was when they first entered the field. “When I started at Holiday, we had nine company cell phones,” says Langille.

“Now we are between 100 and 120…and growing! There was a time when salespeople would bring in their home printer seeking our help hooking them up to their workstation.

Now we have contracts with network printing and scanning ability company wide. Those are just a couple examples.”

Tim and Brice’s remarks echo how today’s pace of business is faster, and point to more people, devices, rooftops and departments within our organization. “We’re always on the go, handling one request then moving on to the next” says Goldapske. Tim adds: “You grow wiser in making choices, standardizing and optimizing systems and processes to help keep things running as smooth as possible.

You learn if you cut a corner, you’re likely going to pay for it later. Our aim is to do it right the first time.” The duo’s world often intertwines with our manufacturer partners GM, Ford and Mazda too, whose standards and improvements need to be met. Tim and Brice also look favorably on some valuable partnerships that have been fostered over the years with key vendors. “They know us well, what matters and how we move. You can confidently tap into their insight and welcome their advice on choices based on trust and track record. They are there for us every step of the way.”

What makes them most anxious? “Being one click away from something really bad going on. I’ve seen other businesses where someone gets a fake resume and all of a sudden, the whole network goes down. They get hijacked and all their files and the network become garbage. That stuff really happens and is really troubling,” says Tim. Brice adds, “We take measures and build in protections, but it’s a never-ending threat. There are phishing attempts all the time, and we do our best to educate our users on the dangers and what to look for”.

Tim adds: “We’ve had some things go wrong here that require urgent action, tracking it down, figuring out who has been impacted and how did it start and then taking necessary steps to correct the mess. It’s literally like trying to find a needle in a haystack and can take weeks of effort.” He urges: “Look and think before you click. If it looks suspicious… don’t try and open it, report it to us right away. We’ll all be better off.”

Winter 2021

THE ALL-ELECTRIC

REVOLUTION

W

ith 2020 in the rearview mirror it’s a perfect time to look ahead with optimism to some of the monumental changes ahead in the automotive world. Let’s start at the first ever all-digital CES 2021. Billed as the most influential tech event in the world, CES serves as a showcase for companies including manufacturers, developers and suppliers of consumer technology hardware, content, technology delivery systems and more, while attracting the worlds business leaders, pioneering thinkers, fans and media who share a fascination for all that’s new.

This year, GM Chairman and CEO Mary Barra presented the official opening keynote at CES. In her remarks, she stated: “At GM, we believe that after one of the most difficult years in recent history, this moment will prove to be an inflection point. The moment when our worlds reliance on gas and diesel powered vehicles will begin transitioning to an all electric future. And GM intends to lead that change.

At General Motors, our vision for the future is a world with zero crashes, zero emissions and zero congestion. The key to unlock that vision is electrification.”

Barra went on to say: “We’re evolving our brand identify and launching a campaign intended to inspire a new generation of drivers, setting a tone of optimism and inclusion. And where GM forges a path, Chevrolet, GMC, Cadillac and Buick will follow… with electric vehicles and experiences that help put everyone in an EV.” The all electric revolution has begun, and at Holiday Automotive we remain committed to staying lock-step with all of it as it evolves. In addition to the sweeping EV changes coming, the new year has ushered in a host of exciting new vehicles and advancements from Chevrolet, Buick, GMC, Cadillac, Ford and Mazda that are now being showcased across the Holiday

Winter 2021

campus. Part of what we sell is the joy of new car, or a “new to you” used car. It’s a part of the unique formula that makes this business so energizing and invigorating to be part of. Sharing what’s new is also a sure way to electrify a conversation and can definitely spark delight in the minds of our customers and fans. So, spread the news!

Future rEVevolutionary Attractions: 2022 Hummer EV: The World’s First All-Electric Supertruck. Initial availability expected Fall of 2021.

2021 Ford Mustang Mach-E: Get ready for 0 to 60 thrills, expansive range and zero vehicle emissions. Expected availability late summer 2021.

Cadillac Lyriq EV SUV: Initial availability expected in first half of 2022

#WORTHTHETRIP

More GM vehicles with Super Cruise: The industries first truly hands-free driving assistance system is expected to be available as an option on 22 GM vehicles including Chevrolet Bolt EV and Bolt EUV by 2023.

GM introduces new logo The new design symbolizes GM’s plan to invest $27 billion dollars into electric vehicle technology through 2025 with 30 planned vehicles in the line-up, including two new vehicles based on the Bolt. The underline below the lowercase “m” is representative of GM’s new Ultium battery platform with the negative space between the “m” and the underline to present an electric plug.

5

IN THE

SPOTLIGHT

TIM LANGILLE & BRICE GOLDAPSKE / IT SPECIALISTS

Tim Langille

S

Brice Goldapske

ociety has never been more reliant on the Internet and overall connectivity than now. Our mobile and other devices bridge us to each other, to our customers, friends, family and the world. Over the course of the past 3 decades the internet has morphed from a way for the US military to stay connected globally, to the always-on lifeline for most of us. Dependable connectivity is so common today that we tend to take it for granted. That is until your service is interrupted, or glitches hinder your machines performance, or a nefarious hack breeches the security systems, putting confidential and private data, possibly yours or your customers or loved ones, at risk, and sometimes crippling the systems we depend on.

Fortunately, we have the dynamic duo of Tim Langille and Brice Goldapske, Team Holiday’s IT Specialists looking out for us.

These two serve as guardians of our systems, advisors, enablers and architects of future advancements, and first responders for a myriad of issues that occasionally cause trepidation in the workday. One thing is certain: you want these guys on your side!

We were curious to learn what early influences drew them into the IT field. For Tim, it was while attending school at U.W. Stout.

4

“I had a buddy who got me some work on campus during summer break pulling wire to enable the use of computers and data transmission in the dorms,” he tells us. “There was no CAT5 wiring till then, just phone lines and a modem. We had a 6-person crew working nights mostly, with fans blowing and windows open to help keep cool in the dorms. It’s summer in Wisconsin, and they weren’t air conditioned!” he laughs. That gave way to a role helping students getting connected once school was back in session. For many, it was their first foray into using a computer and internet access. Once out of school, Tim landed a job with Arthur Anderson in Milwaukee as part of their IT Team, then spread his wings working for a couple other support companies, including the one that brought him into the Holiday Automotive universe around 2000. Initially, the dealerships needs were simpler and didn’t require a full-time person.

But within about 4 years company leaders Mike Shannon and CFO Pat McCullough recognized that having a full-time IT person onstaff was a must-have and Tim was the right person. They made him an offer, he accepted, and has led the department ever since.

Brice’s grip on technology began in his youth. “Starting in middle school I got into

PC gaming and I was constantly on my machine. I was drawn to it and realized it wasn’t hard for me to figure stuff out, and that became a natural inertia to pursue IT” he says. He enrolled at MPTC, ultimately pursuing not one, but two degrees, one in networking and one in IT support. That led to landing a position at Service Motors Ford as their IT guy, along with other tasks to help out where he could, from answering phones, photographing cars for online marketing to name a few. When Holiday acquired Service Motors in spring of 2012, Brice was one of the core group of their team that made the move and joined Team Holiday, with his first duties focused on getting the new Ford crew up and running in their new workplace.

Today, things look very different to these guys than the way it was when they first entered the field. “When I started at Holiday, we had nine company cell phones,” says Langille.

“Now we are between 100 and 120…and growing! There was a time when salespeople would bring in their home printer seeking our help hooking them up to their workstation.

Now we have contracts with network printing and scanning ability company wide. Those are just a couple examples.”

Tim and Brice’s remarks echo how today’s pace of business is faster, and point to more people, devices, rooftops and departments within our organization. “We’re always on the go, handling one request then moving on to the next” says Goldapske. Tim adds: “You grow wiser in making choices, standardizing and optimizing systems and processes to help keep things running as smooth as possible.

You learn if you cut a corner, you’re likely going to pay for it later. Our aim is to do it right the first time.” The duo’s world often intertwines with our manufacturer partners GM, Ford and Mazda too, whose standards and improvements need to be met. Tim and Brice also look favorably on some valuable partnerships that have been fostered over the years with key vendors. “They know us well, what matters and how we move. You can confidently tap into their insight and welcome their advice on choices based on trust and track record. They are there for us every step of the way.”

What makes them most anxious? “Being one click away from something really bad going on. I’ve seen other businesses where someone gets a fake resume and all of a sudden, the whole network goes down. They get hijacked and all their files and the network become garbage. That stuff really happens and is really troubling,” says Tim. Brice adds, “We take measures and build in protections, but it’s a never-ending threat. There are phishing attempts all the time, and we do our best to educate our users on the dangers and what to look for”.

Tim adds: “We’ve had some things go wrong here that require urgent action, tracking it down, figuring out who has been impacted and how did it start and then taking necessary steps to correct the mess. It’s literally like trying to find a needle in a haystack and can take weeks of effort.” He urges: “Look and think before you click. If it looks suspicious… don’t try and open it, report it to us right away. We’ll all be better off.”

Winter 2021

THE ALL-ELECTRIC

REVOLUTION

W

ith 2020 in the rearview mirror it’s a perfect time to look ahead with optimism to some of the monumental changes ahead in the automotive world. Let’s start at the first ever all-digital CES 2021. Billed as the most influential tech event in the world, CES serves as a showcase for companies including manufacturers, developers and suppliers of consumer technology hardware, content, technology delivery systems and more, while attracting the worlds business leaders, pioneering thinkers, fans and media who share a fascination for all that’s new.

This year, GM Chairman and CEO Mary Barra presented the official opening keynote at CES. In her remarks, she stated: “At GM, we believe that after one of the most difficult years in recent history, this moment will prove to be an inflection point. The moment when our worlds reliance on gas and diesel powered vehicles will begin transitioning to an all electric future. And GM intends to lead that change.

At General Motors, our vision for the future is a world with zero crashes, zero emissions and zero congestion. The key to unlock that vision is electrification.”

Barra went on to say: “We’re evolving our brand identify and launching a campaign intended to inspire a new generation of drivers, setting a tone of optimism and inclusion. And where GM forges a path, Chevrolet, GMC, Cadillac and Buick will follow… with electric vehicles and experiences that help put everyone in an EV.” The all electric revolution has begun, and at Holiday Automotive we remain committed to staying lock-step with all of it as it evolves. In addition to the sweeping EV changes coming, the new year has ushered in a host of exciting new vehicles and advancements from Chevrolet, Buick, GMC, Cadillac, Ford and Mazda that are now being showcased across the Holiday

Winter 2021

campus. Part of what we sell is the joy of new car, or a “new to you” used car. It’s a part of the unique formula that makes this business so energizing and invigorating to be part of. Sharing what’s new is also a sure way to electrify a conversation and can definitely spark delight in the minds of our customers and fans. So, spread the news!

Future rEVevolutionary Attractions: 2022 Hummer EV: The World’s First All-Electric Supertruck. Initial availability expected Fall of 2021.

2021 Ford Mustang Mach-E: Get ready for 0 to 60 thrills, expansive range and zero vehicle emissions. Expected availability late summer 2021.

Cadillac Lyriq EV SUV: Initial availability expected in first half of 2022

#WORTHTHETRIP

More GM vehicles with Super Cruise: The industries first truly hands-free driving assistance system is expected to be available as an option on 22 GM vehicles including Chevrolet Bolt EV and Bolt EUV by 2023.

GM introduces new logo The new design symbolizes GM’s plan to invest $27 billion dollars into electric vehicle technology through 2025 with 30 planned vehicles in the line-up, including two new vehicles based on the Bolt. The underline below the lowercase “m” is representative of GM’s new Ultium battery platform with the negative space between the “m” and the underline to present an electric plug.

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WELCOME TO TEAM HOLIDAY Nathan Polzin

Edward Saiberlich

Glass Technician, GM

Service Lane Greeter, Ford

Originally from Wisconsin Rapids, Nathan enjoys shooting, hunting, racing, and hanging out with friends.

He and Kylee, his wife of 2 years, are expecting their first child in March. A firefighter for the town of Algoma, he hopes to someday travel to Europe and own an auto shop.

Area native, Ed and his wife Pam are parents to 4 kids and grandparents to 6. He looks forward to retirement and coaching his grandkids in sports activities. Some favorites: Wisconsin teams, Italian food, comedy movies, Ford Explorer & Mustang and summertime.

Jeff Arndt

Detail Dept. Manager, Budget Center A bicycling enthusiast, Jeff rides the 100 mile century ride in Door County each September. He’s worked in manufacturing for over 30 years holding many leadership roles. In the future he looks forward to enjoying more travel with Patty, his wife of 23 years.

Lemuel Rodriguez

Jeffrey Pratsch

Quick Lube Tech, Mazda

Service Lane Greeter, Ford

Born in San Juan, Puerto Rico and now a Ripon resident, Lemuel likes spending time with his girlfriend and family. Future plans are to pursue a career as a firefighter or mechanic. He’s a fan of action movies and food from Panda Express.

Jeffrey spent 43 years in the Human Resources Field before joining us. He enjoys getting out golfing, biking and doing some volunteering.

He and his wife Rhonda have been together for 31 years.

Scholarship reciepients Austin Nett, Seth Fischer and Sean Bialoszynski shown here with Dick Beyer, Willie Beyer, Mark Jensen and Thor Gilbertson.

SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM BENEFITS TECHNICIANS OF TOMORROW

Service Lane Greeter, Ford

Jeffrey Richter

Service Lane Greeter, Ford

Greeter & Hydrotech, Ford

Mary Jane Scherer

Tonya Haendel Service BDC, Ford

Quick Lube Tech, GM

Fond du Lac born and raised, Jeff was in the role of a sales rep before joining Team Holiday. Married for 27 years, he and his wife Barb have raised 4 kids. He is a fan of golf, the Wisconsin Badgers, and the Summer season.

With roots in the Sheboygan and Plymouth area, Gary now calls Fond du Lac home.

He and his spouse were married in February. He’s a fan of faith based movies and Mexican food.

Painting and drawing are two of Mary Jane’s favorite activities. She grew up in the Manitowoc area and schooled at Fondy High and MPTC. She is a fan of comedy movies, pasta, and summertime.

A Fondy area native, Tonya enjoys spending time with family & friends. She’s a fan of camping, hiking, bonfires and bowling. Future plans, she’d love to visit all 50 states. Among her faves: comedy movies, Italian food, country & pop music and the Pack.

An Oshkosh native and grad of West High School, Isaac likes spending his free time snowboarding, gaming and lounging with family. He’s a fan of apples, Toyota’s RAV4 and the Green Bay Packers.

Alexander Henschel Detailer, Budget Center

An area native & experienced lifeguard, Alexander is a fan of water tubing and weight lifting. He hopes to become a chiropractor in the future.

These days he’s schooling at UW Oshkosh’s campus in Fond du Lac. 4-faves: cheeseburgers, summer, Ford Mustang Shelby & the Pack.

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Gary Harvey

Stephanie Huebner

Tyler Jackson

Customer Experience Manager Budget Center

Fleet & Commercial Asst.

Manager Ford

Experienced in roles such as Hemodialysis Technician and Certified Nursing Assistant, this mom of 6 is a fan of the outdoors and walking.

Checkboxes on Stephanie’s faves list: steak, Autumn, the annual Lifest Christian Music Festival held in Oshkosh and, the Pack.

Fondy native & WLA grad, Tyler enjoys being outdoors, hunting, fishing, sturgeon spearing & spending time with his son and fiancé. He prides himself on working hard and being the best at all he sets out to do. 3-Faves are, Asian food, action movies, the Pack.

Isaac Fromolz

Emma Gilbertson

Tyler Hendricks

North Fondy is home for Emma, who worked in banking as a customer service rep before joining Team Holiday. She enjoys artsy stuff, time spent outdoors hiking with Marlo, her dog, a meal of chicken tacos and the fall season.

From Appleton, Tyler was deployed twice to Afghanistan during his 10 year military career. A father of one, he enjoys motorcycle riding, and working on his project car. Some faves: summer, action movies, pizza & Ford Mustang GT.

Greeter & Hydrotech, Mazda

Collision Technician, Collision Center

See TEAM HOLIDAY, Page 7

Winter 2021

O

ne of the many ways our leadership team sows seeds in the ongoing search for talent is through active involvement in the Wisconsin Automobile and Truck Dealers Association (WATDA) Technician Scholarship Program. Holiday Automotive has been a longtime champion and supporter of the program through generous annual donations to the WATDA Technician Scholarship Fund, and through the dedicated efforts of a cross section of service department leaders and staff.

Each year, WATDA’s Technician Scholarship Program provides a path and financial resources to area high school students aspiring to pursue a career as a skilled technician in the field of automotive or collision repair. Dick Beyer is one of those that has had a hands-on role with the program for upwards of 20 years.

“We are part of a consortium with other stakeholders including Envision Greater Fond du Lac, many area high schools and counselors, WATDA, technical institutions such as Fox Valley Tech and Moraine Park Technical College, and Snap-On Tools. Many members of our own team also play a role” said Beyer. For evidence of the program’s worthiness look no further than inside our own shops.

Technicians within our ranks who have benefitted from the program include the likes of Mike Medinger, Jeremy Whitty and Jacob Ninnemann.

How does it work? In the early stage of their involvement qualified candidates participate in a school-to-work phase and are able to earn while they learn. For part of their school day, they remain responsible for studying and successfully completing classwork alongside their high school peers.

Winter 2021

Scholarship program recipients Austin Craig (left) and Kailee Phillips.

But unlike their classmates, they transition from the school room to one of our dealerships service centers on certain days, typically serving a role as a quick lube team member for the first year.

“This provides them practical real-world experience and exposure to the inner workings of the shop, the processes, team dynamics and the importance of everything from safety to courtesy, communication and customer satisfaction,” Beyer continued. “If the relationship is proving to be mutually beneficial, their role is expanded in the second year. They become a member of an internal team, working alongside more seasoned technicians and under the mentorship of a crew chief, concurrent with participating in one of the technical college two-year degree programs at FVTC or MPTC,

some of which are even brand specific, such as GM’s ASEP (Automotive Service Educational Program) and Ford’s ASSET program (Automotive Student Service Educational Training).

Participants are gaining experience, being compensated as an employee, and in most cases, offsetting some of the expense of their schooling through the WATDA scholarship or other grant programs. The end goal is that they gain traction in a rewarding, durable and stimulating career and in many instances, decide to stay on and remain part of Team Holiday.

“It’s a winning combination” says Beyer. To learn more simply reach out to service manager Danny Pierce at GM, Tim Foulk at Ford or, Mark Jensen at Mazda, VP/Fixed Operations Director, Willie Beyer, or GM Service Manager emeritus Dick Beyer.

3

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

M

any feel that 2020 isn’t a year we’d choose to re-live given the opportunity. But the reality is that it forced us to adapt to a rapidly changing and uncertain world. We got through it together. And, thanks to our ability to adapt to the marketplace as a team we were successful. We broke a few records along the way and maintained our position as the premier automotive destination in Wisconsin. 2021 is here and it will bring changes of its own. That’s okay. Actually its fantastic.

Change must be a regular part of our lives. We resist it. We welcome it. We hate it. We love it. We want things to stay the same. We want things to advance. The natural impulse is to be concerned when we hear “we’re going to make

EXTRA MILEAward JORDYN SCHALK

Thor

Our Holiday Elite sales & service team members are driven the extra mile to deliver the absolute best in customer experiences. By providing unparalleled service, Holiday Elite earn the trust of their customers by helping them find or maintain the vehicle of their dreams. Please join us in congratulating our class of 2020 Holiday Elite.

DIAMOND

PLATINUM

GOLD

SILVER

DIAMOND

PLATINUM

GOLD

SILVER

TONY DEICH

HOLIDAY BUDGET CENTER

SETH JOHNSON

HOLIDAY BUDGET CENTER

JENNY STEINMAN

HOLIDAY FORD

SHAWN PRICE

HOLIDAY MAZDA

Congratulations to Finance Manager, Jordyn Schalk on receiving the Holiday Automotive Extra Mile Award! This traveling trophy is given to a Holiday employee who goes above and beyond to represent Holiday, help a team member or care for a customer.

Jordyn was nominated by Bobbie Daun, Sales BDC, who stated, “Jordyn has been covering the Holiday Budget Center Finance Department for months now, sometimes alone and working very late to finish deals - with other’s being out of the office, along with training and preparing Chris Holmes for the Finance Team.

I’ve had the opportunity to listen closely to her putting out finance deals and really taking every moment and detail to make sure our guests are completely taken care of through the whole process. She deserves some recognition from all of us here at the Budget Center for her hard work!”

Thank you for going the extra mile for our guests and our team, Jordyn! We’re incredibly proud to have you on Team Holiday!

Adapt On!

ELITE 2020

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CHRIS NEWTON & BILL LIND

some changes.” But the reality is that everything will be fine, and to thrive in business you need constant change….evolution….innovation. Holiday Automotive can and should be on the cutting edge of the industry. The only limiting factor is how quickly we embrace and celebrate change.

Change will come this year and it will be alright. When we embrace change, we adapt, evolve, and innovate while Holiday Automotive becomes even better. C.A.N.I.

JOE GRIESE

HOLIDAY GM

HEATHER DORN

HOLIDAY GM

BILL LIND

HOLIDAY FORD

KRIS HETTENHAUS HOLIDAY GM

JOE WEGE

HOLIDAY FORD

DAVID OLSON

HOLIDAY FORD

JOHN KRUG

HOLIDAY MAZDA

TYLER MILLER

HOLIDAY FORD

JEREMY WHITTY

HOLIDAY MAZDA

MIKE EGLI

HOLIDAY GM

DALE KUEHL

HOLIDAY GM

TYLER SOMMERFELDT HOLIDAY MAZDA

JOHN KARLS

HOLIDAY GM

BRANDEN LYNCH

HOLIDAY FORD

BRIAN BIERMAN

HOLIDAY FORD

RYAN ERICKSON

HOLIDAY FORD

KEVIN EBERT

HOLIDAY GM

KEITH STEPHANIE HOLIDAY GM

KEN KLASKE

HOLIDAY FORD

TOM HANEWALL HOLIDAY GM

JESSE WALTON

HOLIDAY GM

DALE DRISCOLL

HOLIDAY FORD

STEVE BEY

HOLIDAY FORD

TOM POPP

HOLIDAY GM

Winter 2021

Top level leadership changes announced beginning Feb.1

Congratulations to Chris Newton and Bill Lind: our newest recipients of the oliday Automotive Extra Mile Award! This traveling trophy is given to a Holiday employee who goes above and beyond to represent Holiday, help a team member or care for a customer.

Earlier in the month GM Customer Experience Manager, Andy Steger had a customer who was hoping to take delivery of his truck later in the day on a Monday. If that Monday didn’t work out for delivery, the customer would then have to wait until the following weekend for his new vehicle. Andy reached out to Chris, who worked with Bill late into the night that Monday to get the safety inspection completed. Due to the hard work of Chris and Bill, the customer was able to drive home that same night in his new truck.

“My customer was so happy and excited that he was able to take home his new truck Monday night! A huge thank you to Bill and Chris for making this happen and creating another Holiday fan! Nice work gentlemen!” - Andy Steger Thank you to both Chris and Bill for your hard work in making Holiday worth the trip!

WELCOME TO TEAM HOLIDAY

O

n January 27, in an allstaff communication to staff, Mike Shannon, Sr., Holiday Automotive’s Chairman and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) announced the following: Team Holiday, I have exciting news to share! Effective February 1st we are making some top-level leadership changes: I will continue to fulfill the role of chairman but am stepping down as CEO. Thor will become CEO and Michael will be our new President and remain as COO. Rounding out the executive team will be Bill Agnew, Executive Vice President, Scott Basler, Chief Financial Officer and Willie Beyer, Vice President of Service and Customer Care.

These moves—along with

Winter 2021

MIKE SHANNON

THOR GILBERTSON

MICHAEL SHANNON JR.

E.J. LeDonne

Customer Experience Manager., Ford SCOTT BASLER

BILL AGNEW

WILLIE BEYER

your continued dedication to our mission—help position us for what is sure to be a very exciting next-chapter in the automotive industry. Please join me in congratulations and support of Thor and Michael in their new roles and know that we are grateful for all you do to make Holiday worth the trip!

Sussex native and Marian University graduate, E.J. enjoys watching and playing football, baseball and basketball. 4-wheeling and fishing are also favorites. He hopes to become a restaurant owner someday and have a home with land, complete with farm animals & dogs.

Derek Bublitz

Quick Lube Technician, GM Area native who lettered in wrestling at Campbellsport H.S., Derek was a state correctional officer before joining our team. An outdoors guy, he likes hunting, camping and farm work. Other favorites: Country singers, bacon cheeseburgers, war movies and Mustang Shelby GT.

7

HOLIDAY

www.holidayautomotive.com 321 N Rolling Meadows Dr. Fond du Lac, WI 54937

TODAY

Holidayautomotive.com/newsletter Winter 2021 - Edition 40

ANNIVERSARIES FRED FINSTAD - 27 YEARS JOHN STRANDS - 27 YEARS TOM KUITERT - 26 YEARS JIM KOENIGS - 25 YEARS GREGORY SASS - 25 YEARS CHRIS NEWTON - 20 YEARS JOHN KARLS JR - 18 YEARS KEVIN EBERT - 16 YEARS DAN FARIS - 14 YEARS ALISSA WITTHUHN - 13 YEARS RUTH CORNING - 13 YEARS ANDREA CROSSMAN - 12 YEARS CHARLIE WILHELM - 12 YEARS TY LAVEY - 12 YEARS JOSEPH SAWICKI - 11 YEARS NEIL SONNENBERG - 11 YEARS DENICE STERNAT - 11 YEARS TIM WHEALON - 11 YEARS JOHN BARBER - 10 YEARS ALEXANDRA OZOLS SWENSON - 10 YEARS MACY FINK - 10 YEARS GREGORY BEMIS - 9 YEARS BRIAN BIERMANN - 9 YEARS

DALE DRISCOLL - 9 YEARS STEVE ERDMANN - 9 YEARS RYAN ERICKSON - 9 YEARS BRICE GOLDAPSKE - 9 YEARS KATHY GROESCHEL - 9 YEARS KRIS HETTENHAUS - 9 YEARS GLENN HOLTZ - 9 YEARS PATTIE NETT - 9 YEARS DAVID OLSON - 9 YEARS THOMAS SCHOENFELDT - 9 YEARS BRAD STEINMAN - 9 YEARS JENNY STEINMAN - 9 YEARS NATE TRYON - 9 YEARS BRIAN VAN DORT - 9 YEARS ELLEN ZIMMERMAN - 9 YEARS SEAN-RAY AVILEZ - 8 YEARS DAVID WITT - 8 YEARS JORDYN SCHALK - 7 YEARS JORDAN DAUN - 6 YEARS TONY DEICH - 6 YEARS CHRIS HOLMES - 6 YEARS JACOB NINNEMAN - 6 YEARS JAMIE SCHNEIDER - 6 YEARS ANDREW DAWSON - 5 YEARS SETH JOHNSON - 5 YEARS ERIK PETERSON - 5 YEARS SCOTT THERN - 5 YEARS STEVEN GUELL - 5 YEARS

BECKY FREUND - 5 YEARS GREGORY VAN DE KREEKE - 5 YEARS ZACHARY BROEHM - 4 YEARS RONALD NEITZEL - 4 YEARS ARTHUR BRATTON - 4 YEARS KARL LANGE - 4 YEARS DUSTIN SING - 4 YEARS TYLER SOMMERFELDT - 4 YEARS TIM REILLY - 3 YEARS HANNAH WHITFIELD-SINCLAIR - 3 YEARS NICHOLAS KAMPHUIS - 3 YEARS JACK MCGHIE - 3 YEARS EMILY KREMER - 3 YEARS JAFAR NIKKHAH - 3 YEARS STEVE FROH - 2 YEARS SAM MENGERT - 2 YEARS STEVEN OUIMETTE - 2 YEARS EVAN JENSEN - 2 YEARS MICHAEL HARDGROVE - 2 YEARS KAILEE PHILLIPS - 2 YEARS JASON KIRSCH - 1 YEAR GARY SCHNEIDER - 1 YEAR MAC ERTEL - 1 YEAR DANIEL SING - 1 YEAR JENNA BUECHEL - 1 YEAR PHIL GILLINGHAM - 1 YEAR JULIA MILLER - 1 YEAR JEREMY MORRIS - 1 YEAR

GMC HUMMER EV

FORD MUSTANG MACH-E

THE ALL-ELECTRIC

REVOLUTION PAGE 5