stigma in the industry. “Understanding that cus- tomers are reaching out to you to solve a problem with a vehicle or to complete a repair job is an opportunity to provide customer satisfaction so Sandhill Auto Salvage does everything in their power to make the parts buying process quick and pleasant.” Offering quality parts with a warranty is too,” she says. “Like any profession, as auto recyclers we must stand behind the sale with outstanding parts warranties and follow up customer service.” For Mitzi it is not about selling a part, it’s about gain- ing a lifelong customer!

Sara Wilken Vice President/Secretary/Treasurer

Wilken Auto Salvage Nashua, Iowa www.WilkenAndSons.com 8 Years in the Industry

tion family business when Sara Wilken reluctantly W

ilken and Sons was an operating three-genera-

joined the team alongside her husband in 2006. Now as Wilken Auto Salvage, the business that was established in 1955 has seen unprecedented growth. Fortunately for Sara, her husband, Andy Wilken, has been in the business his entire life so he was confi- dent in the industry and in a family-run operation. When the couple married in 2003, Sara had no interest in working together and, in fact, told him, “I would never have anything to do with the salvage business,” it just wasn’t something she was interested in. Just three years later, in 2006, Wilken Auto Salvage opened a second salvage location and things started getting a lot busier at the family business. It was clear the family needed all hands on deck! So in 2007, after lots of convincing from her hus- band, Sara started working at the salvage facilities. It quickly became a decision she has never regretted. The experience she gained was a huge benefit when the business expanded rather quickly adding three newly-acquired locations in the past three years. The five sites are spread throughout the northeast quadrant of Iowa, so every day Wilken and the staff are running in different directions

November-December 2015 | Automotive Recycling 47