CEO, Stotz Equipment Co., Avondale, Ariz. (2013 Dealership of the Year)

“In 2001, we purchased 6 locations from 4 owner groups in Utah and Idaho over the course of 4 months (Mistake #1). To manage the new stores we hired people from outside the company (Mistake #2). Viewing travel as an expense, we limited the travel between the old stores and the new stores (Mistake #3). The stores performed poorly for years. Eventually we ran out of patience, fired the general manager and started over from scratch with 5 people steeped in the company culture traveling to the new stores — every week — until we got things turned around. It took time, but today we are very proud of those stores and their performance.