November 2024

Q4

WHEELERS & DEALERS

Driven | Learner | Kind | Team Player

2025

Q1

WHEELERS & DEALERS

Driven | Learner | Kind | Team Player

COMPANY UPDATE

Jeff Niesen

President | Van Horn Automotive Group

Team,

2024 wasn’t without its challenges, and while we may not have achieved every goal, we made meaningful progress in key areas:

Improved total retail sales volume by 995 units
Increased fixed operations gross profit by $6 million
Raised fixed absorption from 67% to 70%
Returned WCC to a path of consistent profitability
Increased showroom closing percentage by 10%

The biggest challenge in the business remains the shrinking front-end gross profit on vehicle sales. This is largely due to supply and demand dynamics, as the new car supply for our brands has nearly doubled over the past year. This increase has drastically reduced front-end gross profits on new car sales.

Additionally, there is still a supply crunch in the wholesale market for used vehicles. While used vehicle values are declining, there is a continued disconnect in the wholesale market. We can improve front-end gross profits for used vehicles by intensifying our efforts in acquiring vehicles from sources other than wholesale auctions, focusing on acquiring customer trade-ins, and delivering a tailored, one-on-one experience for every guest. Creating unique and positive customer experiences not only fosters positive sentiment but also reduces the need for higher advertising spend to attract customers.

Despite these challenges, your hard work, resilience, and dedication have not gone unnoticed. Together, we are laying a solid foundation for a brighter 2025. As we enter the new year, we are presented with exciting opportunities and a clear vision to guide us forward. Our main goal for 2025 is PROGRESS, not necessarily perfection. By focusing on continuous improvement, we will continue to move the needle forward.

Thank you for everything you’ve contributed this year. I’m optimistic about what we’ll achieve together in 2025 and look forward to seeing us grow as a company and as a team.

Wishing you and your loved ones a happy and successful 2025!

Sincerely,

Jeff Niesen

IN THE NEWS

Christmas Party

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Honda Auto Show

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Russ Flips Whips

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🎳 Van Horn Hits the Lanes for Youth Mentorship 🎳

Team members from across the Van Horn Automotive Group showed up to support Big Brothers Big Sisters of WI Shoreline at their annual Bowling Event!

We had participation from locations across our automotive group—from Stevens Point and Manitowoc to Sheboygan County—coming together to support youth mentorship and make a positive impact in our communities.

Special shoutout to our crews from Van Horn CDJR of Manitowoc, Van Horn Nissan of Stevens Point, Marketing and the BDC team who came ready to bowl, connect, and represent what it means to Amaze both inside and outside the workplace.

As an employee-owned company, we’re proud to champion causes that align with our values. Whether it's behind the wheel or at the bowling alley.

💙 2025 Pay It Forward Recap – $7,500 Donated Across Our Communities! 💙

Van Horn Automotive Group proudly continued our Pay It Forward initiative throughout 2025, partnering with local Chambers and community events to support nonprofits chosen by everyday heroes in our communities. Thanks to your support and participation, we donated a total of $7,500 this year to causes that matter!

Here’s a look back at the impact we made together:

Lomira Annual Banquet – Citizens of the Year, Phil and Jackie Luedtke, selected the Lomira Fire Department to receive the $1,000 donation.
Portage Business Council Annual Dinner – The winner from Oso Brewery directed their donation to the Interfaith Food Pantry.
Elkhart Lake Annual Chamber Dinner – Van Horn was honored to be recognized as a Chamber Champion! The Pay It Forward winner from Quit Qui Oc selected the Humane Society of Sheboygan County.
Manitowoc Awards of Distinction – Mike Foti presented an additional award, and the Pay It Forward recipient chose Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Shoreline.
Stoughton Annual Meeting – A representative from Fort Littlegreen selected Imagine Academy for their $1,000 donation.
Sheboygan Annual Champions Gala – A guest from Bookworm Gardens won and directed the donation right back to Bookworm Gardens.
Plymouth Chamber Annual Awards Dinner – Jackie Pottratz from Allechant Boutique chose Project Angel Hugs as her nonprofit of choice.

Additionally, Van Horn proudly attended the Samaritan’s Hand and Habitat for Humanity Annual Galas and more to show continued community support.

👏 A huge thank you to everyone who helped make this initiative a success—from our team members attending these events to the incredible organizations making an impact every day. Your involvement keeps our mission alive: People. Purpose. Passion.

To learn more about these opportunities visit: 2025 Events & Guest Lists

Van Horn Sponsorship Spotlight: Amanda Lucksted Leads the Way

Amanda Lucksted Shines at Dale Carnegie Women’s Leadership Academy 🌟

Please join us in celebrating Amanda Lucksted for graduating from the Dale Carnegie Women’s Leadership Academy—an opportunity she earned through a company-sponsored scholarship!

Not only did Amanda complete the program with excellence, but she was also honored with the Breakthrough Presentation Award, recognizing her exceptional personal and professional growth throughout the academy.

This program empowers women to strengthen their leadership skills, and Amanda is excited to bring those insights back to the workplace. We’re proud to support her on this journey and look forward to the continued impact she’ll make here at Van Horn!

👏 Way to go, Amanda!

Volunteer Program Reminder

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ANNOUNCEMENTS

Baby Announcements

Life Resources Monthly Webinars

I Own It Winners

2023 Volunteers

Retirements

CONGRATULATIONS! KIA's Max Umbs (Selected to KIA's Skills National Cup)

Who Owned It?
If you catch one of your fellow employees going the extra mile for the dealership, your team or a customer; please nominate them to be recognized at the next Town Hall meeting. Winners will receive a trophy for their work station for the month, and they will be entered into larger prize drawings throughout the year.
Nominate a Coworker
Share Your Celebrations!
We are always looking for new exciting content for our quarterly newsletters. Did you get married, have a new grandchild, a graduation in your family, a wedding anniversary, etc? We want to share your celebrations! To have your celebration featured in the newsletter send an email to Paige in HR at:
[email protected]
Revamp of our Apparel Store!
When you visit, you'll immediately notice our expanded selection of items and the addition of four distinct logos to choose from: Van Horn, WDS, Cloudlot, and WCC. Notably, our volunteer blue Van Horn shirt is now conveniently available at your nearest parts department, and we're pleased to offer it at a new price of $5. So, if you're in the market for some fresh apparel, be sure to check it out!
Order Apparel

UPCOMING EVENTS

Looking to participate in a Van Horn Event

or even use your volunteer hours?

View All Events

WORK ANNIVERSARIES

April

May

June

1 Year

Blake Dillavou

4/1/2024

Keith Kornely

4/1/2024

Val Plouff

4/4/2024

Jesus Barrera Vargas

4/09/2024

Robert Klug

4/9/2024

Jacob Sturm

4/15/2024

Trevor Peters

4/16/2024

Maxwell Stephenson

4/17/2024

Oscar Rivadeneyra

4/18/2024

Emma Jamrosz

4/22/2024

Andrew Smith

4/22/2024

Austin Vande Zande

4/22/2024

Zach Jaschob

4/26/2024

Jack Hutter

4/29/2024

Shahmeer Khan

4/29/2024

Aleicea Avina

4/30/2024

2 Years

Jocelyn Gahagan

04/03/2023

Jacob Rubsam

04/03/2023

Dave Slatinshek

04/03/2023

Vanhsay Ratsimeuang

04/05/2023

Javonte McMiller

04/10/2023

Kyle Swangstu

04/10/2023

Sylvain Ly

04/18/2023

Mitchell Kietzmann

04/24/2023

3 Years

Nicholas Randall

04/04/2022

Nathan Stierna

04/04/2022

Elijah Tuesburg

04/04/2022

David Eagle

04/11/2022

Jody Leischner

04/18/2022

James Barber

04/25/2022

Kevin Barnes

04/25/2022

Chris Meyer

04/25/2022

4 Years

Amanda Lucksted

04/05/2021

Gwen Mayers

04/12/2021

Thomas Junk

04/13/2021

Jessica Michaels

04/19/2021

James Fromm

04/23/2021

6 Years

Wilfred Vande Slunt

04/29/2019

7 Years

Kristen Storm

04/09/2018

John Heal

04/17/2018

Barbara Pahl

04/30/2018

Edward Pahl

04/30/2018

8 Years

Ryan Thiel

04/17/2017

9 Years

Anthony Mendez

04/18/2016

Dustin Medved

04/21/2016

11Years

Mark Schnell

04/25/2014

17 Years

Kyle Fale

04/01/2008

1 Year

Ricky Raeder

05/02/2024

Chris Jentges

05/06/2024

Jeff Dean

05/06/2024

Brian Strandt

05/06/2024

Jonathan Hartman

05/07/2024

Peter Karczewski

05/09/2024

Haziel Perez

05/10/2024

Deklin Steiner

05/10/2024

Eric Adams

05/15/2024

Fernando Huerta

05/15/2024

Charles Reschke Jr.

05/16/2024

Greg Barber

05/20/2024

David Kramer

05/20/2024

Billy O'Dwyer

05/20/2024

Alex Reimer

05/27/2024

Shelby Schroeder

05/28/2024

Jacob Knight

05/28/2024

2 Years

Jacob Armentrout

05/08/2023

Justin Dassow

05/08/2023

Waycee Thomas

05/15/2023

Peyton Veenendaal

05/15/2023

Bailey Hetzel

05/22/2023

Henry, Daniel J.

2/13/2023

Allan Reseburg

05/23/2023

Kristen Leschke

5/23/2023

3 Years

Terry Wehse

05/02/2022

Gary Schaefer

05/04/2022

Shawn Kunkle

05/10/2022

Ken Newbury

05/18/2022

Tim Donahue

05/23/2022

4 Years

Steve DoBas

05/04/2021

Steve Kujala

05/17/2021

5 Years

Jeremy Watts

05/18/2020

Jason Springer

05/26/2020

6 Years

Michael Augustine

05/07/2019

Dan Ronayne

05/17/2019

Tim Darr

05/17/2019

7 Years

Cody Suddeth

05/03/2018

8 Years

Aaron May

05/22/2017

12 Years

Sarah Dinkelman

05/13/2013

Scott Heinecke

05/22/2013

14 Years

Lisa Mickelson

05/02/2011

Jesse Jaehnig

05/23/2011

23 Years

Matt Klemme

05/27/2002

25 Years

Bruce Vreeke

05/25/2000

38 Years

Dan Welnetz

05/11/1987

1 Year

Mason Carlson

06/03/2024

John Knapp

06/03/2024

April Heinecke

06/03/2024

Justin Pena-Borbon

06/04/2024

Adela Prado

06/05/2024

Dale Piscitello

06/05/2024

Stephanie Zimmerman

06/05/2024

Brennan Van Horn

06/10/2024

2 Years

John Piontkowski

06/01/2023

Jacob Ortega

06/12/2023

Richard Tofte

06/13/2023

Dakota Phippen-Wollam

06/19/2023

Bryce Remy

06/21/2023

Frederick Haack

06/23/2023

Anthony Alexander

06/23/2023

David Yanke

06/26/2023

3 Years

Jeri Johnson

06/01/2022

Jennifer Messenger

06/06/2022

Yusef Qandeel

06/07/2022

Alyssa Glenetske

06/20/2022

Ariana Hendricks

06/27/2022

Jane Weinfurter

06/27/2022

4 Years

Sheila Barger

06/01/2021

Peter Hilbelink

06/01/2021

Kou Vue

06/07/2021

Darren Leher

06/07/2021

5 Years

Christine Preder

06/01/2020

Zach Hasenstein

06/01/2020

Shannon Laehn

06/04/2020

Brenna Prieto

06/15/2020

Rhea Williams

06/22/2020

6 Years

Jake Beringer

06/24/2019

James Grossen

06/26/2019

7 Years

Zachary Walsh

06/18/2018

9 Years

Chris Craemer

06/10/2016

Jared Henning

06/27/2016

10 Years

Brian Tatela

06/04/2015

11 Years

Jean Orozco

06/02/2014

Mark Sloan

06/16/2014

Thomas Malone

06/30/2014

13 Years

Fredric Fabris

06/08/2012

Lindy Guetzke

06/08/2012

18 Years

Amy Horness

06/28/2007

20 Years

Jarred Birschbach

06/13/2005

Chris Otters

06/27/2005

22 Years

Adam Gaedke

06/13/2003

24 Years

Dan Schreiner

06/25/2001

25 Years

Colleen Butler

06/29/2000

27 Years

Dale Klein

06/18/1998

November 2024

Q4

WHEELERS & DEALERS

Driven | Learner | Kind | Team Player

GET TO KNOW

Chase Larson

Marketing Manager

Fun fact about yourself

I enjoy cooking and smoking a variety of food

Favorite hobby, pastime or passion

I am an avid outdoorsman. I love to hunt, fish, camp and capture my outdoor adventures through photography and film.

Favorite Food or Restaurant:

Steak and scallops at Schwarz's Supper Club

What’s on your bucket list?

To live a month in a remote place off-grid

What’s the most interesting place you’ve ever been to?

I stayed at a remote outpost for two weeks, 20 miles north of Armstrong, Canada. That was one of the most interesting places I have ever been to.

If you were a superhero, what would your superpower be?

Power to time-travel

If you could instantly become an expert in something, what would it be?

I actually wouldn't want to be an expert in just one thing. I see value in the philosophy of "master of none"... The idea of being skilled in a variety of different areas than just a single one makes you a more well-rounded person.

If you could live in any time period, past or future, which would it be?

I would like to live in the Wild West time period.

Q & A

How would you describe your team/ culture at your location?

Corina Yang

Marketing

Our marketing team has a lively and energetic culture where everyone brings their own strengths to the table. Whether it’s SEO, content, design, social media, or events, each person has their area of expertise, making it easy to work together. We’re always learning, staying on top of trends, and trying new ideas. Leaders encourage us to take ownership of our work, while providing the support we need, creating an environment built on trust and respect. In our fast-paced world, we adapt quickly to change, all while keeping a positive, inclusive vibe that celebrates both individual and team success.

Trevor Hess

Oconomowoc

Our team has a great culture—it’s energetic, supportive, and feels like a family. After 10 years here, I can say we have a lot of fun while staying focused on helping our customers. Everyone brings a lot of positivity and teamwork to the table, which makes every day enjoyable.

Spencer Smith

Stoughton

At our dealership, our team culture is built on trust, collaboration, and customer focus. We are a tight-knit group that thrives on working together to provide an exceptional experience for every customer. From the sales floor to service and management, we prioritize open communication and mutual support, ensuring that every team member feels valued and empowered to contribute to the dealership's success. Our culture is fast-paced, dynamic, and customer-centric. We all share a commitment to providing top-notch service and delivering value to our clients, whether they're purchasing a new vehicle or bringing their car in for service. We embrace a "one team" mentality, where everyone—regardless of their role—is dedicated to making the dealership a great place to work and a trusted resource for our customers. At the same time, we encourage continuous learning and development to stay ahead in the industry. We celebrate team achievements and always support one another to reach our goals. It’s a place where hard work is recognized, and there’s always room for growth.