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Liz and Bob Pietroske (center) of Pietroske Inc. in
Manitowoc and Two Rivers, are flanked by 2005 WATDA
Chairman Mike Schlossmann of Milwaukee and WATDA President
Gary D. Williams, Madison. Pietroske is named 2005 Wisconsin
Dealer of the Year and WATDA’s TMQDA nominee for
2006.
Bob Pietroske’s 43 years in the retail auto and
truck industry started on the wash rack at Hamachek
Chevrolet in Manitowoc in 1962. He worked hard to move
up the ladder and worked most positions in the dealership.
He’s come a long way.
Pietroske is Wisconsin’s 2005 Dealer of the Year,
president of Pietroske Inc.of Manitowoc and Two Rivers,
and WATDA’s Time Magazine Quality Dealer Award
(TMQDA) nominee for 2006. He will represent Wisconsin
in the national TIME Magazine Quality Dealer Award (TMQDA)
competition at the National Automobile Dealers Association
Convention in Orlando, Florida on February 11, 2006.
The TMQDA is one of the most prestigious awards given
on a national scale. It honors the “best of the
best” from Wisconsin and every dealer nominated
must consider it the highest honor to be nominated by
his fellow peers. Wisconsin Distinguished Professor
Jack Nevin of the UW-Madison School of Business completes
a very detailed analysis of each TMQDA applicant.
“Bob is as passionate about making his dealership
a success as he is about helping others and his community,
“ said Mike Schlossmann, WATDA Chairman of the
Board. “A point of pride for Bob is that he has
helped others gain ownership of their own dealerships
and has little employee turnover in his dealership family.”
“Without the pride and dedication of the people
in my dealerships, this award would not be possible,
“ said Pietroske. “My employees and people
like General Manager and Vice-President, Dale Kocourek,
who has been with me for 28 of my 43 years in the business,
are a tremendous asset to our dealership.” Pietroske
also acknowledged his wife, Liz, for her support during
the many hours he was working or away on business.
Bob is masterful at making dreams become realities.
Pietroske Inc. of Manitowoc and Two Rivers is franchised
in Buick, Chevrolet, Pontiac, GMC Truck and Chevrolet
Medium Duty Truck. He rates first among dealers with
the same franchises in his zone and Bob has continued
to grow and prosper regardless of the economic conditions
of the area.
Soon after purchasing his first dealership in 1977,
Pietroske had the opportunity to start a major branch
of his business in leasing in 1980. His Two Rivers dealership
was purchased in 1990 and he constructed his new Buick
facility one year later. Even as Manitowoc lost manufacturing,
and unemployment became the highest in the state, Bob
has continued to invest and expand because he believes
in his community.
“Bob is as passionate about making his dealership
a success as he is about helping others and his community,
“ said Mike Schlossmann, WATDA Chairman of the
Board. “A point of pride for Bob is that he has
helped others gain ownership of their own dealerships
and has little employee turnover in his dealership family.”
Pietroske In.c is a complete General Motors Flagship
facility with Buick, Chevrolet, Pontiac, GMC Truck and
Chevrolet Medium Duty Truck franchises. Pietroske rates
first among dealers with the same franchises in his
zone and he has continued to grow and prosper regardless
of the economic condition of the area. He is one of
over 60 franchised dealers from more than 19,500 nationwide
nominated for the 37th TMQDA annual award, which was
won in 2002 by John Bergstrom of Neenah – a first
for Wisconsin.
In his acceptance of Wisconsin’s Dealer of the
Year Award, Pietroske noted, “Ever since I started
washing cars, I knew I wanted to sell them. I did. I
wanted to become a sales manager and became one. My
dream someday to own a dealership gave me the courage
to buy one at age 34. Then I vowed to sell more cars
than any other dealer in Manitowoc County. That dream
came true this year!”
As the son of a local dairy farmer and one of nine
children, Pietroske wanted to prove himself. While attending
Lakeshore Technical College, he started washing cars
and getting his first full-time job was an accident
when he applied for a job as a tire changer at the same
dealership.
“I was wearing a suit the day I applied, so they
put me in the office---but every other career move I
made after that was calculated and deliberate, “
Pietroske said.
Pietroske has made a difference for the industry and
his community. Bob has served on numerous industry councils
including WISCO, a cooperative of over 600 dealers with
annual sales of $27 million. He served as the WISCO
chairman of the board in 2003.
For years, without pay, he personally oversaw the management
of the Inn on Maritime Bay, a city anchor, in order
to keep it open during difficult economic times. It
is now prospering. He has also received recognition
for his support of the Wisconsin and U.S. Jaycees, Wisconsin
Easter Seals and is an active member and former director
of the Manitowoc Chamber of Commerce.
Bob has served two terms as president of the Travelers
Protection Association of America, during his 40-year
relationship with TPA, a national organization dedicated
to lending aid to the deaf and near deaf. TPA has raised
over $14 million for programs benefiting the deaf, their
families, widows and orphans. Bob has also received
the National Merit Award from TPA for his service and
dedication.
Bob and his wife, Liz, funded seven scholarships for
the deaf this year through TPA. Student recipients learn
that their career opportunities are not limited to teaching,
counseling human relations or accounting. They consider
becoming managers in the business world and Bob and
Liz are proud to help them discover other possibilities.
He noted that his most heartfelt contribution has been
to people in need.
Recently Pietroske Inc. led a major initiative for
the Hurricane Katrina Relief Fund. He helped the Manitowoc
community collect and load seven semi-trucks with food,
water and supplies to Lafayette, Louisiana.
In his speech, Pietroske noted, “My most rewarding
community service that I have done is to help the homeless---whether
it is to find a job, an apartment or just to buy them
a meal.”
Bob led the Travelers Protection Association of America
(TPA) as president in 1994 for two consecutive terms.
His 40-year relationship with TPA, a national organization
dedicated to lending aid to the deaf and near deaf,
earned him a national merit award for his support and
leadership.
This year, Bob and his wife, Liz, funded seven scholarships
for the deaf through TPA. Students learn that their
career opportunities are not limited to teaching, counseling,
human relations or accounting. “They consider
becoming managers in the business world and I am proud
to be a part of a pledge to help them,” said Bob.
“I know [what] it feels like to have a disability,
but I chose not to be disabled,” he said, “
In November of 2002, for the first time, due to illness,
I was not able to go to work. I had open heart surgery
which included four bypasses and I consider myself very
lucky to have a second chance at life.”
Congratulations Bob Pietroske!
Liz and Bob Pietroske are proud to be a part of the
WATDA family. Pietroske was recently named Secretary/Treasurer
of the WATDA Board of Directors for 2006.
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