New Lisbon, WI -- After more than 44 years Mark Rudig is no longer an auto dealer in Juneau County. It happened at the stroke of midnight on Friday, April 30th when it was finalized that Rudig sold his interest to his three Associate Partners at Rudig Jensen Ford Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram and ABRA Auto Body in New Lisbon. Rudig said:
"It is great to be able to step away on my own terms, my own decision. It is also great to be putting the dealership into the hands of three extremely capable people whom I have worked together with for many years; Bobbi Southworth, Derek Nelson, and Jordan Schmidt. There comes a time…when it is time to go and I have arrived at that time"Â
While the three new owners Nelson, Southworth, and Schmidt are equal partners in all the Rudig Jensen entities, including; the Ford dealership, the Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram dealership, the Quick Lube and Wash, and Abra Auto Body and Glass of New Lisbon. The auto manufacturing companies require one person to be named the Dealer and that title cannot be shared. Rudig explains who that person is and the uniqueness of it:
"The three new owners have named Bobbi Southworth as the Dealer for the auto dealerships. Since there can only be one, the fact that it is Bobbi is extra special because of all the New Auto Dealers in the state of Wisconsin there are only approximately 30 women upper management/dealers. Of those 30 women, Bobbi is the only one who came up through the ranks. Meaning it was not a family-owned business that she inherited nor was it a result of becoming the dealer from the death of a spouse."
Southworth started 16 years ago at Rudig Jensen as an Executive Assistant/Bookkeeper and eventually became an Associate Partner. Now she is the only female dealer in the state of Wisconsin who worked her way there. Another plus, Bobbi is a Juneau County native. The other two partners are also from the local area and have been with Rudig Jensen for over 10 years each.
Mark Rudig announced:
"Derek Nelson was born and raised in the area and has worked at the dealership for nearly 14 years. Derek is a true professional sales consultant which is why his responsibility will be to lead the Sales Team along with numerous other duties. Jordan Schmidt, a Camp Douglas resident started with me 10 years ago when I also was a Segway Dealer. I knew right then that the sky was the limit for him. Jordan's position will be General Manager of the Dealership"
The new owners in a joint statement regarding the dealership name:
"Rudig Jensen and ABRA Auto Body in New Lisbon have approximately 50 wonderful associates and we look forward to each and every one remaining with the organization under our ownership. We have no plans to change the name in the near future. Mark Rudig has built a name that holds a lot of value in our Community for decades and we plan to continue what he has built and taught each of us. That being said we have a lot of work to do to fill the void that he has left at the dealership. We appreciate all the opportunities he has given us, and we look forward to proudly serving the Community the way he did. Community first will continue to be our Moto."
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