Charlie Trauscht, Brian Coster, and Will O’Hara Honored with the Prestigious 2023 Zeigler Legacy Tribute Award

 

Charlie Trauscht, Brian Coster, and Will O'Hara Honored with the Prestigious 2023 Zeigler Legacy Tribute Award


Zeigler Auto Group presented three new winners with its coveted Zeigler Legacy Tribute Award at its annual holiday party on Saturday, December 9, 2023. Service Director Brian Coster, and GM Will O'Hara-both from Zeigler BMW Nissan INFINITI of Orland Park-along with Mercedes-Benz of Hoffman Estates Finance Director Charlie Trauscht were its newest honorees. The Zeigler Legacy Tribute is the highest honor anyone can receive in the organization, exemplifying a leader who has impacted numerous lives throughout their tenure at the organization. 


Kalamazoo, Michigan (December 10, 2023) - Will O'Hara, General Manager, Brian Coster, Service Director, and Charlie Trauscht, Finance Director, are Zeigler Auto Group's newest recipients of the prestigious Zeigler Legacy Tribute Award. O'Hara and Coster, are both from Zeigler BMW, Nissan and Infiniti of Orland Park; and Trauscht is from Mercedes-Benz of Hoffman Estates.


The Zeigler Legacy Tribute is a coveted award that exemplifies a leader who has impacted numerous lives throughout their tenure at the organization. Since 2009 the award has been the highest honor anyone can receive at Zeigler with only a small number of winners chosen annually and a total of only 23 winners so far. 

  

 "Most people go through life wondering if they have made an impact on others, I no longer do. This award has filled me with Joy and reaffirms my belief that no matter how big we grow, we always make time to recognize how we got here," said Trauscht, Mercedes-Benz of Hoffman Estates Finance Director and 2023 Zeigler Legacy Tribute Award Winner.


All three winners took center stage at the annual Zeigler Auto Group holiday party, where they all received words of appreciation from CEO Aaron Zeigler, and Zeigler founder Harold Zeigler; as well as applause from their family and colleagues. The accolade is made even more special with team members often joining the honoree on stage to help Aaron and company founder Harold Zeigler present the coveted award, while sharing what the award-winner means to them. This award is another display of Zeigler's ongoing commitment to sustaining and expanding a World-Class Culture.


 


"It means so much to me that my colleagues thought this of me to be presented the Legacy Tribute Award. Zeigler has been an amazing organization to be part of and by far, the BEST place I have ever worked for. Personally, our organization drives me to want to exceed and do more and more! Thank you again for this amazing award!" said Coster, Zeigler BMW, Nissan and Infiniti Service Director and 2023 Zeigler Legacy Tribute Award Winner.


There is seldom a dry eye when the winner is announced and standing ovations from the Zeigler team of over 1200 people in the audience. The winners are presented with a beautifully framed award with their name, and a written diamond drop from the company's CEO and president Aaron J. Zeigler, as well as countless other messages from friends, family and team members.



"It is an honor to receive the Legacy Tribute Award, the Zeigler organization is filled with some of most vibrant and talented people in the industry and I am truly humbled to be chosen for this award. Leaving a legacy is about how you impact others to dream, inspire change and develop the future generations. Life is about the people around you and the small moments that have a huge impact.  I am truly blessed to be so fortunate to be selected to receive such a great honor," said O'Hara, Zeigler BMW, Nissan and Infiniti GM and 2023 Zeigler Legacy Tribute Award Winner.


All three winners will be guests on Zeigler's Driving Vision Podcast hosted by Sam D'Arc and will share what it means to be honored with this prestigious award personally and how it inspires them to continue creating a legacy in others every day.


Past recipients include notable Zeigler leaders such as Dan Scheid, Matt Thomas, Mike Van Ryn, Ray Griffin, Mike Connolly, Jason Gumbis, Kevin Galer, Sandra Klavins-Maslen, Melissa Kuiper, Joe St. Germain, Bob Kuehl, Mike Davidson, David Gould, Lindsey Myers, Tom Kellogg, Bill O'Hara, Ken Francisco, Chryl Procarione and Chris Zeppenfeld. Also among past winners are current company CEO and president Aaron J. Zeigler, and founder and past CEO and president Harold Zeigler.


About Zeigler Auto Group

Zeigler Automotive Group is one of the largest privately-owned dealer groups in the U.S. with 84 franchises across 41 locations in Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, and Michigan. Vehicle brands represented include all of the domestic and the majority of the imported manufacturers.


Besides its extensive automotive portfolio, the organization owns and operates Zeigler Motorsports, an 85,000-square-foot motorsports dealership and action park, offering 19 different powersports brands, plus its own onsite restaurant: Trak Houz Bar & Grill. Additionally, Zeigler Motorsports houses the Elevate Leadership & Team Building Academy, an executive training company.


The Kalamazoo-based dealer group also owns and operates Zeigler Pre-Owned of Chicago, three Byrider franchises, three finance companies, several insurance firms, and a leasing firm.


Founded in 1975, the organization employs over 2,500 people, ranking among the top 1% of automotive dealers in the nation with estimated annual sales of $2.2 billion for 2022.


The family-owned and operated company is well known for its commitment to both customer service and employee satisfaction. Zeigler is regularly recognized as one of the Best and Brightest Companies to Work for in the Nation, also earning similar accolades in Wisconsin, Chicago, and Michigan. Besides these prestigious accolades, Zeigler is also one of Glassdoor's 100 Best Places to Work in the U.S. for 2023, and among Glassdoor's top 10 U.S. companies for work-life balance.


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