Van Horn Automotive Group Announces Executive Appointments

June 16, 2017

Van Horn Automotive Group announced today the appointments of Adam Gaedke and Tim Goeckerman as platform vice presidents and Mark Watson as vice president of variable operations. The appointments are effective immediately.

As platform vice presidents, Gaedke and Goeckerman will oversee the operations and profitability of each assigned dealership, and their departments, including: sales, financing, service and parts. They will foster good working relationships with manufacturer and lending institutions, and monitor programs and policies related to customer satisfaction.

Gaedke will maintain his General Manager duties at the Van Horn Chevrolet and Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram Fiat locations in Plymouth, WI. His responsibilities will extend to two more Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram dealerships in Stoughton, WI and Manitowoc, WI and Van Horn Budget Auto in Plymouth, WI. Goeckerman will maintain his General Manager duties at the Van Horn Hyundai locations in Fond du Lac, WI and Sheboygan, WI. His responsibilities will extend to the Van Horn Ford dealership in Oconomowoc, WI.

“Adam and Tim have proven their ability to operate successful dealerships over the years,” said Dick Strong, President, Van Horn Automotive Group. “Their business acumen, process improvement and strong leadership skills will establish best practices for others to learn from.”

As vice president of variable operations, Watson will optimize the efficiency of sales operations at all dealerships. This will include proper training, compliance and process execution for all sales and finance personnel.

“Mark has been an excellent finance director with a passion for training others,” said Teresa Van Horn, Chief Operating Officer, Van Horn Automotive Group. “His energy and drive for continuous improvement made this appointment an easy decision.”

Chuck Van Horn, Chief Executive Officer, Van Horn Automotive Group added “I have deep gratitude for each of these young leaders. They served as role models in developing a prosperous culture for both our company and our community. I am honored to have them leading this growing organization.”

Goeckerman joined Van Horn Automotive in 2005 as a business manager for Van Horn Hyundai in Fond du Lac, WI. Through the years, he held positions of sales manager, general sales manager and most recently as general manager for two Hyundai locations in Fond du Lac, WI and Sheboygan, WI. Prior to joining Van Horn Automotive Group, Goeckerman served as business manager at Bergstrom Automotive. He received a BS in business administration with finance emphasis from Marquette University in Wisconsin.

Gaedke joined Van Horn Automotive in 2003 as a salesperson for Van Horn Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram Fiat in Plymouth, WI. He ascended through positions of greater responsibility landing his most recent role as general manager for Van Horn Chevrolet and Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram Fiat locations in Plymouth, WI. A University of Wisconsin-Stout graduate in Technology Education, Gaedke was a school teacher in the Sheboygan area before coming to Van Horn Automotive Group. Further education includes the completion of the NCM General Manager Executive Program.

Watson came to Van Horn Automotive Group in 2002 as a sales and finance manager at Van Horn Chevrolet in Plymouth, WI. After years of proven success, Watson advanced to his most recent position as finance director for the Van Horn Automotive Group. He is currently on the board of directors for the Van Horn Automotive Group and hosts annual WDS Advancement Academy training for next generation leaders. His prior experience includes car sales at Fairway Ford in South Carolina and finance manager at Performance Chevy Buick GMC in South Carolina.

The Van Horn Automotive Group is a family born, employee owned automotive group with headquarters in Plymouth, Wisconsin. Founded in 1966 by Joe Van Horn as a single Chevrolet dealership, and purchased by his children: Chuck, Teresa and JP Van Horn, the Van Horn Automotive Group has grown to include 10 automotive dealerships, a finance company, a real estate business and several insurance companies. The group employs over 500 people in Southeastern Wisconsin.

Teresa Van Horn "Dances with the Stars" for Charity

5/22/17

On Saturday, May 20, Teresa Van Horn participated in the Movers & Shakers Gala at Lakeland University. Celebrating its 10^th year, Gala proceeds support student scholarships and raise money and awareness for local charities in Sheboygan County. 

Teresa Van Horn and dance partner, Jay Morth, perform at the 2017 Movers & Shakers Gala

In 2015, Teresa Van Horn performed in this event with a group, and awarded a scholarship to a Sheboygan County Christian High School student. “It was fun, but I was kind of in the background; more of a cheerleader,” said Van Horn. This experience, and a little coaxing from around the office, inspired Teresa to participate as a featured contestant in 2017.

Van Horn Automotive Group volunteers performing at the 2015 Movers & Shakers Gala

At this year’s event, Teresa Van Horn partnered with a talented, professional ballroom dancer, Jay Morth to perform a foxtrot routine. Her charity of choice was Samaritans Hand, a non-profit drug and alcohol clinic that provides assistance for recovering addicts in the Sheboygan County Area. “I chose Samaritan’s Hand because there is such a great need for their services in our county. Drug and alcohol addiction has adversely affected the lives of too many people. Helping them and their families overcome that addiction and getting back to leading happy, successful lives is crucial,” stated Van Horn.

The 2017 lineup included seven area celebrities:

• Conrad Barrows - sponsored by the Melitta S. and Joan M. Pick Charitable Trust and his charity was the Wisconsin Military Network. 
• Kristin Blanchard - sponsored by the Grover Family Foundation and her charity was the Lakeshore Community Health Care.
• David Gallianetti - sponsored by Sun Graphics Media and his charity was the Sheboygan Public Education Foundation. 
• Lindsay Harrison-Eirich - sponsored by friends of Lindsay Harrison-Eirich and her charity was Sharon S. Richardson Community Hospice.
• Lauren Hydock was sponsored by Masters Gallery Foods and her charity was the Sheboygan County Humane Society. 
• Teresa Van Horn - sponsored by Van Horn Automotive Group and her charity was Samaritans Hand. 
• Amber Willis - sponsored by Legend Larry's and her charity was Camp Evergreen.

For a full recap of the event, including results and photos, visit www.moversandshakersgala.org.

Van Horn Donates Van to Sheboygan County Humane Society

3/28/2017

It's officially spring, and to kick the season off, Van Horn Automotive Group has donated a 2012 Chrysler Town & Country Touring to the Sheboygan County Humane Society.

The Sheboygan County Humane Society is an open admissions shelter (that turns no homeless animals away) located in Sheboygan, WI. For over 50 years, they have been providing care for the lost and mistreated  animals of Sheboygan County. They take care of 2,500 pets a year, so every donation they get helps so much. Leah Helms, Executive Director of the Sheboygan County Humane Society, said that food and care-taking costs add up to about $275/animal. 

"The employee owners at Van Horn hold a special place in their heart for animals. They are the innocent ones. They don't have the power to protect themselves in our society. Van Horn really wants to help those who are innocent victims," says Chuck Van Horn.

Van Horn is very fortunate to be able to donate a van to help with some of the organizations needs for the pets. They often need vans to pick up large donations, to bring animals to vet services, to bring in aluminum cans to get weighed and turned in, and to run errands. It is important to have transportation methods to rescue abused or neglected animals from a poor environment.  The vans also help with transport to adopt-a-pet events and to local assisted living facilities to bring the pets for visits with the patients.

Leah Helms wanted to thank Van Horn saying,“When a community joins together we can do powerful things. Thank you Van Horn for supporting SCHS; together we are making our community a better place to live."

Adam Gaedke, General Manager, presenting keys to the Sheboygan County Humane Society 

To learn more about the Sheboygan County Humane Society, visit them at 3107 North 20th Street, Sheboygan, WI 53083 or online at www.myschs.com.

Here is a list of current donation items needed: http://myschs.com/donations/

Teresa Van Horn designates Movers and Shakers Donation to Samaritans Hand

3/17/2017

On May 20th, Teresa Van Horn will take the stage at Lakeland University's annual event, the Movers and Shakers gala. This year, the event features 7 local celebrities that will dance with a professional dancer in hopes of winning a $10,000 donation to the charity of their choice. Teresa has chosen Samaritans Hand of Sheboygan, Wisconsin to be the recipient of the donation. 

Samaritans Hand is the only faith-based, non-profit, drug and alcohol clinic that helps recovering addicts in the Sheboygan County area. Established in March 2011, the outpatient clinic has grown and blossomed within the community. Kent "Kully" Kollath, the Director of Samaritans Hand, said in the last two months, they have helped over 200 people alone.

Samaritans Hand holds completely anonymous group sessions in Sheboygan at their location on 8th street, at Word of Grace Church in Sheboygan Falls, and at New Life Community Church in Plymouth. They want to get the word out to the community about their services in order to help as many people as they possibly can.

Van Horn Automotive Group has donated $40,000 to Samaritans Hand in order to help them continue the good they are doing within the community. All the money donated to Samaritans Hand stays in the Sheboygan County communities which really helps clean up our local communities and helps provide safer environments to live in. As Kully stated, "Drugs are about supply and demand. If we take away their demand, the drug dealers will move on."

Teresa Van Horn stated, "I chose Samaritan’s Hand because there is such a great need for their services in our county.  Drug and alcohol addiction has adversely affected the lives of too many people.  Helping them and their families overcome that addiction and getting back to leading happy, successful lives is crucial." 

From right to left: Julie Conard, Program Administrator, Samaritan's Hand, Teresa Van Horn, COO, Van Horn Automotive, and Kent "Kully" Kollath, Director, Samaritan's Hand

Samaritan's Hand executive director Kully Kollath also said,"that as a non-profit, it's not about stock piling money, but more like we put the funds to work for us.  The more money we raise, the more people we can help & ultimately the better our community becomes."

To vote for Teresa for Movers and Shakers and help get the donation to Samaritan's Hand, please visit http://moversandshakersgala.org/vote/ and vote for Teresa!

To learn more about Samaritans Hand and how you can get involved please visit: 

http://www.samaritanshand.org/Section/About/index.html

Van Horn "Pays-it-Forward" to the Sheboygan County Community

3/1/2017


Last week, the Sheboygan County Chamber of Commerce held their 2017 Chamber Champions Gala at the Osthoff. Van Horn Automotive Group sponsored the Pay-it-Forward moment, which consists of a random drawing of the guests at the gala (local company employees) and a donation of $1,000 to the recipient of the winner's choosing.

Mike Tasche & Teresa Van Horn pick Scott Pieper as the Pay-it-Forward winner
at the Chamber Champions Gala 2017

Scott Pieper, Logistics Coordinator at Masters Gallery Foods, was the lucky recipient of the Pay-it-Forward moment. He choose to pay it forward to the Sharon S. Richardson Community Hospice in Sheboygan Falls, WI. He stated that he choose Sharon S. Richardson Community Hospice as he had heard wonderful things about their care-giving and he recently had a friend pass away there. 

Sharon S. Richardson Community Hospice is the only locally-owned, community-based hospice provider in Sheboygan County. They provide compassionate and high-quality end of life care for local community members in home and at their facility in Sheboygan Falls.

Van Horn has sponsored the Pay-it-Forward donation for the past three years, benefiting other local organizations such as the Sheboygan County Cancer Care Fund and
RCS Empowers Inc. 

Teresa Van Horn believes it is very important as a pillar of the communities we live to give back to the community and support one another. "We have been very fortunate to have the support of our communities these past 50 years.  Pay-it-forward gives us the opportunity to say thank you and give the community the additional opportunity to help each other out.  The support that communities receive from our business and the many other businesses will help us to continue to grow and remain strong for the future," says Van Horn.

Scott Pieper & Teresa Van Horn present check to Sharon S. Richardson Community Hospice

For more information about the Sharon S. Richardson Community Hospice, please visit http://www.ssrhospicehome.org/.

Van Horn Donates Chevrolet Volt to Meals on Wheels of Sheboygan County

2/21/17

A Chevrolet Volt will soon be zipping around Sheboygan County over the noon hour thanks to the continued generosity of the Van Horn Automotive Group. As a direct result from a pilot program with Sheboygan Aurora Medical Center, Meals On Wheels of Sheboygan County began delivering meals to the far reaches of Sheboygan County, affectionately known as the “hinterland” among those who deliver meals. This resulted in a need for a more fuel-efficient vehicle.

Immediately after learning about the need of an eco-friendly vehicle, Van Horn quickly offered to donate a 2014 Chevrolet Volt. Van Horn has provided a three-year lease, for the gas-electric hybrid, and offered Meals On Wheels the option to purchase the Volt at the end of the lease for just $1.

Teresa Van Horn presenting the Chevrolet Volt to Meals on Wheels Representative

 “I mentioned to Dave Heather, a long-time Meals On Wheels supporter and former owner of Lakeland Automotive, that we could use an economical vehicle for our expanding county route. He offered to reach out to his friends in the automotive world, and Teresa Van Horn immediately jumped in to help – again. We are so blessed to have generous people like Dave and Teresa, and companies like Van Horn Automotive Group in our community. We can’t thank them enough,” said Meals On Wheels CEO Kelly Heyn.

Meals On Wheels of Sheboygan County has grown from one route in Sheboygan in 1970

to 29 routes serving the entire county today. Two years ago, after hearing about Meals

On Wheels’ need for a garden vehicle, Van Horn donated a 2000 Chevy Silverado pick-up truck.

- Article written by Meals on Wheels of Sheboygan County

To learn more about Meals of Wheels of Sheboygan County, visit:

http://www.freshmealsonwheels.org/

Van Horn Employee's Give Back to Salvation Army

12/08/16


It's that time of year again. The time to remember to love thy neighbor, promote peace on earth, and give back in your communities. Van Horn wanted to give back this year and partnered with the Salvation Army to do so.

The first weekend in December Van Horn employee's, including Teresa Van Horn, reached out to the community by committing their time to bell ring at the Plymouth Walmart.

From 8:00 to Noon, Van Horn employee's greeted Saturday morning shoppers with cheery songs and thank you's in order to raise money for the Salvation Army. Van Horn pledged to match all donations that were donated during the time of the Van Horn bell ringers.

We are still waiting on the total amount, but there will be updates to follow.

Van Horn Employees Cathy Schultz, Lindsey Nygaard,

and Hillary Kammerzelt spreading some holiday cheer

For the past month, Van Horn locations have had little Christmas tree's displayed with families names and gifts in each store. Each tree represents two families from the community that the Salvation Army has selected to help out this holiday season.

Van Horn Employee's volunteered to take a tag or more and buy each gift on the tag. We had an overwhelming response from our employees. Here are the results from our Plymouth Salvation Army Adopt-a-Family.

Ginger Weimer of the Salvation Army, Sarah Rieder and
Tina Tasche presenting the gifts to the Salvation Army

The gifts will be distributed by the Salvation Army to each family anonymously this weekend. 

Van Horn is proud to support the Salvation Army this Christmas. After all, Dr. Suess said it best with his line "Maybe Christmas, the Grinch thought, doesn't come from a store."

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays from all of us to all of you!