After 27 years with Devils Lake Cars, Wayne is closing out a career that spans nearly every era of the modern car business — from rotary phones and phone books to computers, cell phones, and now AI.
His journey began in the spring of 1992, when he applied for a sales position at Marketplace Ford Lincoln Mercury. After a walk-in interview with Bob Bye and a conversation with sales manager Mike Anderson, Wayne was offered the job and started the very next week.
His first day looked a lot different than today. The sales office had an army surplus metal desk, a rotary dial phone, and a phone book. The routine was simple: start with the letter “A” in the phone book, cold call people one by one, introduce yourself, and ask whether they — or someone they knew — might be ready to buy a car.
Dress slacks, a collared shirt, and a tie were required. If you forgot yours, management had one ready for you. Wayne admits he owned a clip-on at first, but learned pretty quickly how to tie a real one.
In 1993, Wayne left Marketplace. But before he did, he had a brief exit interview during which Renard asked him a simple question: What position would bring you back? Wayne’s answer came without hesitation — the finance office.
Six years later, in October of 1999, the phone rang.
Bob Bye called with an opportunity: there was an open chair in finance. After about a week of thinking it over, Wayne took the leap — a decision he still considers one of the proudest of his career.
His first day in finance was hardly glamorous. There was still an army surplus desk, a phone on the wall, and stacks of paper contracts. His “training” lasted all of five minutes.
“Here’s your desk, phone, and contracts to fill out and mail in,” he was told. “Good luck.”
Back then, the tools were green-screen computer terminals, handwritten credit applications, and calls to lenders made on a rotary dial phone. Someone on the other end would eventually call back with an approval or decline. No computers. No cell phones.
That changed in 2000. After graduating from finance training school, Wayne helped bring in the dealership’s first computer setup. They went to Radio Shack, bought a Tandy computer and printer, and overnight, the way they worked started to change.
Over the years, Wayne watched the entire industry evolve — from newspaper ads and cold calls to digital marketing, smartphones, and artificial intelligence. But for all the technology that changed, one thing never did.
“The best way to talk to people is still in person,” he says.
Wayne spent 12 years as a Finance Manager before being promoted to Finance Director in 2012, overseeing finance managers across the Ford, Chevy, and Toyota stores. It remains one of his favorite chapters of his career because it gave him the chance not just to do the work, but to train, develop, and lead others.
In 2014, he stepped into the General Manager role at Lake Chevrolet — a position he has held ever since.
He credits much of his success to the people who believed in him and helped shape his career, especially Renard, Bob Bye, Jeremy, Dave Anderson, and Ben. Their guidance, trust, and example left a lasting mark.
When asked what makes a dealership truly work — beyond simply selling cars — Wayne’s answer is immediate: communication and spending time together outside of work.
That people-first approach has defined much of his leadership. If someone takes his office tomorrow, the advice he hopes they remember is simple:
“Never ask someone to do something that you wouldn’t do.”
It’s advice his coworkers say he lived every day.
Ask the people around Wayne what they’ll remember most, and you’ll hear the same themes again and again: patience, humor, leadership, and the way he made people feel included. Team members describe him as thoughtful, down-to-earth, hardworking, friendly, and generous — someone who led with consistency and calm, even under pressure.
Many say they’ll miss his sense of humor the most. From hearing him say “Holy Cow!” during sale ads to his ongoing battles with the fax machine, Wayne had a way of making the dealership feel lighter, even on stressful days. Others mention the everyday conversations they’ll miss — talking sports, fantasy football, golf, or simply stopping by his office for a laugh.
Coworkers also point to the way Wayne took care of his staff. Stories about Wayne grilling food for the team, making sure everyone felt included, and creating an atmosphere where people felt appreciated are common throughout the dealership. One employee shared, “Wayne always makes everyone feel like part of the team.”
Others describe him as a great leader who made people feel welcome from day one, whether they worked directly with him or not.
As he retires, Wayne says what he is most proud of is not a title, a number, or a milestone — it is the people.
“Everyone that I have worked with and the relationships we have built.”
He’ll miss the everyday rhythm of dealership life — walking the store, checking on things, watching the coffee, and talking with customers.
What won’t he miss?
Snow days- especially cleaning up after the snow stops.
Retirement, however, already sounds like a good fit.
His plan is straightforward: golf when it’s windy, fish when it’s not, and visit the grandkids as often as possible.
Wayne and his wife, LeAnn, have been married for 39 years. Together they have two daughters, Jennifer (Heather) and Katie, and two grandchildren, Blair and Asher.
After 27 years, Wayne leaves behind more than a long career. He leaves behind a stronger dealership, generations of people he helped train and encourage, and a culture built on trust, communication, laughter, and relationships.
And in an industry transformed by technology, that may be the part that mattered most.
Please join us as we celebrate Wayne on Friday, May 29, 2026, from 2-4 p.m. at Lake Chevrolet GMC! There will be a short presentation at 3:15 p.m.
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