Kevin Wellnitz, Army Reserves – Warrant Officer 2003 – 2014

In October of 2013, Kevin Wellnitz fulfilled his desire to use the skills he learned from both the Army and college to purchase a full-service station and tire dealership in Orfordville, Wisc.

“In talking with my Dad, he had mentioned to me that Bill Sather, the previous owner of Sather’s Service, had been trying to sell the service station. Thinking that might be a good way to use my skills, I dove in headfirst. Within four months of quitting my job in Monroe, I was the proud owner of Sather’s Service,” he says.

Sather’s not only offers gas, the store sells new and used tires, repairs tires, performs oil changes, and sells batteries.

Wellnitz joined the Army Reserves in 2003. The first half of his military career was spent as a transportation coordination manager. He was later promoted to Mobility Warrant Officer and oversaw the administrative side of transportation for the Army, including ships, trucks, and trains.

Serving in the military not only helped Wellnitz pay for college, where he earned a bachelor’s in mechanical engineering from the University of Wisconsin Platteville, he also learned leadership and people skills, he says. This influenced how Wellnitz runs his business every day and how he treats customers and keeps his shop.

“I address anybody that walks in the door as sir or ma’am no matter the age, and the shop has to be organized and clean. Everything has its place. I like things put back where they belong, and I like to keep things clean and presentable because you never know who might walk in that day,” he says.

Wellnitz says his favorite thing about being a tire dealer is taking care of his customers by being fair and honest.

“I always tell anybody who walks into my door for a tire quote that I am in business to make money, but I am not here to take advantage of you. I will be upfront and honest to ensure that the customer is getting the product they want for the best price I can give them,” he says.