Living by the Golden Rule
Menard Auto Sales

In 1958 when Rodger Menard started a pre-owned vehicle business by purchasing the land and building the facility in rural Ruma, IL, he probably didn’t dream that his company would make history as the oldest, new Jeep dealer in the state.

Today, though Rodger is gone, his son Rodney and grandsons Riley and Austin are the driving forces behind Menard Auto Sales’ continued success. Rodney serves as the company’s Dealer Principal and Riley and Austin are learning the business as sales associates. While it has added square feet, Menard Auto Sales is in the same original location.

With a successful pre-owned business underway, in 1967 the company was granted the opportunity to launch its first new vehicle dealership, Jeep. Then in 1998 it added the Chrysler Dodge Plymouth brands. Following Rodger’s passing, Rodney took the wheel and with two young sons, relied heavily on hiring talented, local people to help him operate the pre-owned and new car businesses. He succeeded in keeping many long-term employees by applying the family values his father instilled in him. Menard has several staff members that have been with the company since the 1960’s.

According to Riley, his father Rodney lives by the golden rule.

“We don’t live in a perfect world, but my dad believes in the importance of treating people as you would like to be treated,” he says. “My dad is very humble, and we have all learned so much from him about leading with kindness.”

One of Riley’s favorite sayings he learned from his dad is “the bitterness of poor-quality lasts long after the sweetness of low prices is forgotten.” He has brought this wisdom into his relationships with customers who sometimes are just seeking a bargain.

Another best practice Rodney established was to allow employees to borrow 4-wheel drive vehicles during bad, snowy weather. “We ask people to come to work, so we think the least we can do is make sure they get here safely on sometimes slick rural roads,” Riley explains.

Looking ahead, Riley’s dream is to continue to thrive in the same manner the company has always done, and to enjoy another 67 years making customers happy.