Photo courtesy of Laura Wills Photography
Where were you born?
I was born in St. Louis, Missouri.
Where did you go to college?
I attended Southern Methodist University, University of North Texas and Rutgers University. I graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in English and Political Science.
Tell us about your family.
My wife’s name is Lisa, and my grandmother, Dorothy, is 95.
Tell us briefly about your current career.
I left Stivers Lincoln Mercury in 2005 to open Stivers Ford in 2006. We had purchased the assets of Mid States Ford. We had a very large learning curve in terms of sales and service because of the number of Ford models. The auto business experienced tremendous change from 2008-2010, and we adapted with the times. We put a lot of time into finding and training the right people, and it has paid off.
We added Lincoln to our Ford dealership, and have been Iowa’s#1 Ford Lincoln dealer since 2010. We completed a 14,000 square-foot expansion in 2013. We were recently awarded the President’s Award by Ford Motor Company. We’re the only dealership in central Iowa to achieve it. It’s Ford’s most prestigious award, and only the top 10% of dealers earn it.
What are your hobbies and interests?
I like to read when there is no football or hockey to watch.
What do you like most about living and/or working in Waukee?
I live and work in Waukee, so being a part of intelligent growth is exciting. I like seeing familiar faces everywhere I go. I like greeting friends when they come to the dealership. Being involved with the Waukee Chamber of Commerce, Waukee Arts Council, the Waukee Leadership Institute, and several other organizations means that I get to meet other people that are also highly engaged in the activities and opportunities in Waukee.
What motivates and inspires you?
I’m inspired by the life lessons and values that my parents instilled in me – honesty, hard work and treating others as you would like to be treated. I also like the quote: “If you don’t have the time to do it right, when will you have the time to do it over?”
Do you know anyone we should feature for future editions of Faces of Waukee? Let us know! Visit our contact page and drop us a line.