Elite has announced that Ron Haugen and Linc Lewis have joined the company as its newest business development coaches.
In their new roles, Haugen and Lewis will utilize their combined 50 years of experience as successful shop owners to provide one-on-one business-building guidance to current shop owners throughout the U.S.
Haugen started Westside Auto Pros in 1997, and has since built it into one of the largest independent auto repair shops in the Midwest. He is the only shop owner in Iowa to win the AAA Top Shop Award 14 years in a row, and his shop has been voted “Best Local Auto Shop” by Cityview readers for 15 straight years and Best Place for Auto Repair by Des Moines Business Record readers for 12 straight years. Ron has also used his entrepreneurial talents to venture into other industries, including starting a towing and roadside assistance business, turning it into the highest volume AAA provider in Iowa, Minnesota, and Nebraska within two years.
Haugen is actively involved in the industry he has dedicated his career to. He serves on the editorial board of an industry trade publication, is a co-chair for the VISION Training & Expo, is the vice president for the Des Moines Chapter of the Midwest Auto Care Alliance. He has even served as “Ron the Car Guy” on a weekly morning TV show for the past seven years.
While Linc Lewis started his career working in sales, marketing and operations, he has since transitioned to entrepreneur and now has 28 years of experience as a shop owner. His 8,000-square-foot shop, Mezzio Auto, was established in 1933. Lewis used vision, goal setting and commitment to grow it from a company with basic services to the largest, most comprehensive, independent auto repair and service facility in Naugatuck, Connecticut. Today, Mezzio Auto is the only AAA approved auto repairer in the Naugatuck area, and it serves as a NAPA Auto Care Center as well.
“It’s always challenging to find business development coaches who meet Elite’s criteria, so I’m thrilled to be able to kick off 2019 by adding two coaches of Ron and Linc’s caliber to the Elite family. Not only do these guys have incredible track records that show they can take a shop to the top, but they share Elite’s principles, and are passionate about giving back to the industry by helping others,” said Bob Cooper, president of Elite.