The Kia crew is officially open for business! 🚗✨ Last week, our team gathered for a private Friends & Family event — a special preview for the Kia team and their loved ones to see the beautiful new space before doors opened to the public. This week, we’re thrilled to welcome the community as the store is now officially up and running! Interested in joining the excitement? Explore open roles at WalserCareers.com
Walser’s Nayely Andrade Rodriguez hit the road again with another spotlight, catching up with Esme Garcia Pacheco at Latino-owned Cafeto Shop in St. Paul. What they're saying: Over coffee, Esme, a Customer Specialist at Walser Toyota Bloomington, spoke about how her culture and Walser’s align.☕
Last month, Walser was honored with a prestigious Community Partner Award for our work with the Urban League Twin Cities (ULTC) during their 100th Anniversary Gala. 🏆 Background: The Walser Foundation began partnering with the ULTC and its Black Gems program in 2022. Why it matters: Black Gems brings Twin Cities high school students together, focusing on college and career readiness. 🎓 Since 2022, Walser has hosted Black Gems students onsite for tours and events, contributed to their annual HBCU and Civil Rights tour, and engaged students as summer interns.
Be Part of Something Brand New at Walser Kia! We’re thrilled to announce the opening of Walser’s newest dealership, Walser Kia in Minnetonka! This isn’t just another store; it’s a rare opportunity to build a brand-new team from the ground up with one of the fastest-growing and most innovative manufacturers. Our state-of-the-art facility has been designed with efficiency, innovation, and people in mind. Pairing cutting-edge operational efficiencies with a modern, customer-friendly space. Kia brings a powerful combination of value, modern style, reliability, and safety, all of which perfectly align with Walser’s core values and customer-first philosophy. With industry-leading technology, a commitment to EV innovation, and a fresh new space to call home, Walser Kia is your chance to grow your career in an environment built for the future. Now’s the time to take the next step in your career. Join us in October and be part of the team that launches our brand-new KIA store in November!
🌟 Wrapping up an amazing summer with our NextGen Interns! 🌟 Last Friday marked the final day of the program, and we couldn’t think of a better way to celebrate than with a picnic and a little friendly competition on the volleyball court 🏐☀️. Our interns brought incredible energy, ideas, and passion to Walser all summer long. We’re so proud of everything they’ve accomplished and grateful for the impact they’ve made across the business.
Walser’s newest class of Driven to Succeed scholars came together yesterday for meaningful connections over breakfast. his impressive group of students includes several multi-year recipients of the scholarship. ICYMI: This Walser Foundation program offers up to $10,000 in post-secondary education support for the children/dependents of Walser employees. 🎓 This year’s winners are pursuing a wide range of fields—from pharmacy and pre-med to marine biology, law, information systems, and business analytics. Congratulations to our scholars!
We Showed Up With Pride 🌈 At Walser Automotive Group, we believe in showing up—loudly, proudly, and together. This June, we celebrated Pride Month with heart and horsepower. Our Drive With Pride Employee Resource Group hosted its annual Pride Picnic and proudly represented Walser at the Twin Cities Pride Festival. Thousands stopped by our booth to grab swag, connect with our volunteers, and learn more about what it means to be part of the Walser Way. 🚗 For the first time ever, we debuted a rainbow fleet in the Minneapolis Pride Parade—rolling through downtown with color, energy, and community spirit. ✨ And in Wichita, Kansas, our DWP members led their own Pride celebration with a bold and beautiful parade fleet in the city’s annual Pride event. We’re proud of how our teams across the country brought Pride to life this year. Here’s to showing up, standing out, and driving with Pride—together. #DriveWithPride #TheWalserWay #PrideMonth #WalserLife
🔥 The future of automotive just rolled in. Meet Walser’s 2025 interns — 19 driven students spending the summer exploring every corner of our business. From HR and marketing to sales, IT, accounting, inventory, and more, they’re diving into 12 weeks of hands-on learning, career discovery, and real-world impact. We’re excited to see where this journey takes them — and maybe even welcome a few as future full-time teammates. Let’s go, Class of 2025! 💥
A Wrap on Walser Week of Giving 💙 🪞 Another one in the rearview. Last Friday, we wrapped up Walser’s second annual Week of Giving thanks to support from all of you. ⬇️ By the numbers: • 6 days • 8 events supporting 8 nonprofit organizations • 488.5 hours volunteered • 153 employees volunteered solo • 224 total participants, including employee guests • 4 Ace Rent a Car locations hosted in-store volunteer experiences, packing 720 MATTER snack packs for local school children, first responders, and shelters in their communities Our thought bubble: We’re continually impressed by the way our teams show up for volunteer opportunities this week and always. Our employee's willingness to donate time and energy makes a real difference in our communities—and reflects the Core Values we stand for. 🫶
Going Above & Beyond the Wrench 🔧 ⚙️ Walser’s Jon Olstad, Sr. Manager of Technician Production, was recently spotlighted in Automotive News for his one-of-a-kind role focused on mentoring and developing technicians across 17 Walser stores in Minnesota. The articles talk about the roots of Olstad’s unique position—a rare thing in the automotive industry. • It was a simple idea—create a bridge between new technicians and seasoned pros. 🤝 Why it matters: Today, it’s become one of Walser’s most impactful fixed ops strategies. “What we’re doing is actively driving technician production through technician development,” said Olstad. “Before, we were doing it backward.” The results are real: Walser shops, supported by Jon Olstad and Myron Magstadt, Senior Manager of Service Process & Guest Experience, have hit record flat-rate hours, with technicians making significant gains in proficiency and confidence. What they're saying: One of those technicians, Mikias Tadesse, 22, says Jon’s mentorship has been key to his growth. “I don’t think I’d be this far along in my career without him,” Tadesse, a journeyman at Walser Polar Chevrolet, said. The big picture: With more complex vehicles and fewer experienced techs entering the field, hands-on mentorship isn’t optional—it’s essential. It’s an approach that’s getting noticed nationwide—and delivering real results where it counts. "Technicians are excited because now they know what they need to do to get ahead," Olstad said.
