Marty Stoll always knew he’d end up in the car business. You could say it runs in the family.
“My dad was in the car business; my grandfather worked in cars; my great-grandfather back in the 1900s started a repair shop…” he explained. “Then my grandfather Lowell Martin worked at that repair shop. He eventually started selling cars. They built a new facility in 1979 on Gratiot Road in Saginaw and helped turn it into what it is today.”
That building on Gratiot Road is now Garber Chevrolet Saginaw in Michigan where Marty now works as the New Car Sales Manager.
He’s following in his family’s footsteps…and he wouldn’t have it any other way.
Family Ties
To be honest, Marty didn’t love school.
“I wasn’t a school guy; I didn’t care for it,” he explained. “But I was around the car business a lot. I’m so glad I found out about selling at an early age.”
Marty studied Business at Lansing Community College, but he quickly felt the tug towards the family business. In 2006, he started selling cars under the leadership of his uncle Jim Martin at his dealership in Alma, Michigan.
“I took a lot out of that experience,” Marty said. “It was a small area, and I had to learn how to do a lot of different things because there wasn’t just one person dedicated to that role. I learned so many tools of the trade and approaches to the business.”
Marty worked there for 6 and a half years. In 2012, his uncle Jim sold the dealership. But Marty wasn’t left in the cold. He joined his family at Martin Chevrolet in Saginaw as Assistant New Car Manager.
Then Garber and Martin struck a deal.
“In 2017, Garber acquired Martin Chevrolet,” Marty explained. “From one family to another, it was the perfect match. Both my grandfather and Dick Garber did a lot for the community. It was a good fit.”
A phone call also offered Marty extra reassurance.
“I got a call from Dick Garber, and that’s when I knew this was going to be alright,” he said.
Marty joined the Garber team…and a new kind of family.
Making an Impact
As the New Car Sales Manager at Garber, Marty is proud and thankful for who he works alongside each and every day. This includes Mike “Wengo” Wenglikowski, the General Manager of Garber Chevrolet Saginaw.
“Wengo here has been a great leader and better friend,” he said. “He listens to people. He always has an answer. If there’s a problem, he always has a resolution that is best for everyone involved.
Across the board, Garber provides a network of resources that makes it easier to get the job done.
“Garber provides support,” he said. “If you have a question, you have a whole network of people to reference. There’s not much they haven’t seen before. At Garber Management Group, we have IT, Digital Marketing, HR…they’re phenomenal. They are at a whole new level and they help us constantly to make sure we can give the customer the best experience.”
Marty said he relates to those who aren’t big into school, just like when he was a teenager. At Garber, car sales offer longevity and allow you to be in customer’s lives…not just for a day, but for decades.
“We’ve got a diverse team with a diverse background,” he said. “It doesn’t matter if you went to college or not. What matters is if you are a people-person. You have to be a chameleon and get along with everyone. You aren’t trying to sell a car today. You’re trying to sell a car for the rest of their lives. I have families that come through the door: the parents, then the kids, then the kid’s kids.
Garber is especially involved in the community, Marty added. It’s something that makes him proud to be a part of this company.
“You are used to saying, ‘This is what I do’ to people and who you’re employed by,” Marty explained. “It’s nice to let people know we aren’t just going to sell you a car; we also sponsor your kid’s baseball team. We donate to United Way. We fixed the train for the Thomas Township Parks & Recreation for Roethke Park. It’s important to be a part of your community, and Garber understands that.”
Marty said he’s changed because of Garber’s influence on his life: both personally and professionally.
“I’ve learned a lot about myself thanks to Garber,” he said. “I’ve learned a lot about building relationships with people. What you say can affect other people. I use a lot of that outside of work and within my personal relationships.”
At the end of the day, Marty values his customers – and he feels valued as a team member.
“You’re not a number here,” he said. “This isn’t a job. It’s a career.”
Fast Five
First concert? Richard Marx with my parents
First car? Pickup my grandpa got. Purple.
Favorite food? Steak
Three words to describe your personality? Outgoing, Type A, Funny
Bucket list item? Play the top 10 golf courses in the country
