Jacquie Hower, 29
Director of OperationsZimmerman’s Automotive Service Inc.
In April, Jacquie Hower watched Zimmerman’s Automotive Service’s Family Service Day unfold before her, later realizing that this would become one of the most defining moments of her career.
Hower, who was in charge of the coordinating the event, says, “It was one of the biggest undertakings I have ever taken in my career. And it was very fun.”
Working with New Hope Ministries to find 16 families in need, Hower and her team serviced their vehicles.
“For one vehicle we found out that the family had four tires that were completely separated, and steel belts were also completely separated, and we actually had four used tires in our tire bay,” Hower says. “We just keep some of those on hand just in case someone can’t get brand new tires, and we were able to replace all four tires for them, free of charge.”
A third-generation businesswoman, Hower has been working full time at her family-owned shop for nine years, and her concern for others and passion for the automotive aftermarket shine through her desire to help the families who attended Family Service Day.
Hower’s primary job is to work with the daily accounting. She also aids in human resources, trains directors and handles community relations. “I do a lot with our community as well, and I get out with our Chamber of Commerce, network with other businesses too.”
Hower continues to learn all she can to help improve her business by taking online courses with Northwood University in its aftermarket management program. She plans on finishing her bachelor’s degree.
The young professional owes much of her success to the support of her family, who taught her how to run a business. Throughout her career working for Zimmerman’s, she’s learned “to make it not all about yourself…You need to make sure you’re not just taking care of yourself, but you’re taking care of the people around you.”
