Page 35 - GIADA-April2017

MARKETING

But they made a go of it, and eventually “When I was busy raising our kids, Tom control it, then you can certainly drive
moved into their current dealership at 10 was working 18 hours a day,” she said. forward.” n
Mile and Haggerty roads. Holzer recently “Then my husband had two strokes, back
finalized a deal to purchase the adjacent to back, and it took him away from the
Pepper Square shopping center so she business. They gave him six months to a
could make room for a new collision shop. year, but he lived for another 13 years.”

“I was so proud when Tom bought the It was the longest time the two spent to-
dealership,” she said. “It was one of the gether since they were married.
reasons I couldn’t close it down when he
passed away. I knew I had to continue “When I went to work, I walked in his
what he had started.” shoes and I understood all the challeng-
es he dealt with every day,” she said. “We
Holzer said she felt like a fish out of water had so many good moments, and I’m just
when she first arrived in Michigan. De- grateful we had those years together. We
cades later, she couldn’t imagine calling fulfilled a dream.”
anywhere else home.
If you can reverse, you can drive
Check out the view “My first car was an Oldsmobile
Taking over the dealership at the coupe – probably about 1954,” Hol-
age of 70 taught Holzer that she 5zer said. “I fibbed and told my fa-
4was never too old to start a new ther I already knew how to drive because
career. It also made her reflect on her hus- he didn’t have much patience. I did learn
band’s life. one thing: if you can back a car up and

GIADA Independent Auto Dealer APRIL 2017 | 33