When he joined the Motor State team in 1999, he brought nearly 20 years experience in the automotive parts business. Since then, his passion for motorsports and involvement in organizations such as the National Street Rod Association and Hot Rod Industry Alliance has helped him build customer relationships throughout the industry. Joe has restored and customized a number of vehicles for his own collection, including a 1960 Corvette, a '66 Chevelle, and a '39 Ford Street Rod, to name a few. Joe can often be found on the golf course when he's not in the office or working on his next project car.
Since his start at Lane Automotive in 1983, Craig has worn many hats, both within and outside the sales team, often at the same time. Whether he’s working with a customer to resolve an issue, helping to plan a company event, or mentoring a member of the sales team, Craig’s diverse experience and passion for the industry shine through. Being able to work with people while learning about and experiencing new automotive performance products makes his role a dream job for him. An avid Jeep fan who is not afraid to hit the trails, Craig has owned a number of Jeeps over the years, from an ’83 CJ7 up to his current 2018 Wrangler Unlimited Rubicon. When he’s not at work, he is usually busy camping, off-roading, and spending time with his family and grandchildren - and odds are very good there will be a Jeep somewhere in the mix!
They say that racing and a passion for motorsports is in the blood. Darren gives credence to that statement, as the third generation of the Lane family to share in a love for this industry. A graduate of Western Michigan University, Darren is a driving force behind Motor State’s growth internationally and in the eCommerce field, working diligently to expand Motor State’s reach into new markets and channels. With a continuous focus on improving efficiencies and profitability, Darren has also worked closely with suppliers to expand drop-ship programs and inventory data sharing.
Helping customers is a way of life for Alex. From working with his dad in the family business to assisting customers picking up their orders at Motor State, ensuring customer satisfaction is a top priority for him. Alex looks forward to assisting customers in finding the parts they need, whether they are building a race-winning car, or getting a beloved classic car back on the road. In his spare time, Alex is an avid woodworker, and takes on projects of all sizes and types.
A SW Michigan native, Bill came Motor State in 2001 because of a passion for motorsports, and a desire to work with and assist others with that same love for going fast. His strong knowledge in automotive service and parts management has made him a valuable asset to his coworkers and customers alike. As a third-generation racer, Bill carries on the family tradition by building and racing his own non-winged sprint cars. When he’s not at work or at the track, Bill can often be found on the golf course.
Originally from Petoskey, Michigan, Bob earned his degree in Automotive and Diesel Performance at the University of Northwestern Ohio and spend two years working in a machine shop, before coming to Motor State in 2011. While sales was a distinct change of pace, being able to talk with and assist customers who share his love for racing made the switch one he has never regretted. Bob’s experience racing dirt UMP modifieds and working on different projects in the garage helps him relate to his customer. He looks forward to spending time with friends and family, and getting to the track to race.
A graduate of the University of Northwestern Ohio with a degree in Business Administration and a specialty in high-performance automotive technology, Bob joined the Motor State sales team in 2005. He loves the motorsports industry, and looks forward to helping customers locate the ideal solution for their specific application. An active racer in the VROA, Bob drives and maintains a 1935 Pontiac Coupe Vintage Modified car that his father, brother, and he built together. A passionate family man, he looks forward to spending time with his wife and three daughters, vacationing, and enjoying outdoors activities.
A part of the Motor State team since 1990, Brent came on-board with plenty of retail experience and a love for cars. From his first days coming to Lane Automotive with his older brother to get parts, he has enjoyed seeing people bring their automotive visions to completion. He has honed his own automotive skills by restoring a number of Ford vehicles, ranging from a ‘71 Ranchero to an ’85 Mercury Cougar, as well as a custom-built mid-engined dune buggy. Brent also enjoys traveling and learning more about historical events.
A part of the Motor State sales team since 1988, Brian knows drag racing. As an experienced drag racer, engine builder, and fabricator, Brian uses his skills at the track and in the shop to provide his customers with top-notch guidance with their own projects. His engine building skills are highly sought-after in the local racing community, and his ability to connect with people helps him use those same talents to assist customers from across the motorsports spectrum.
When Bryan started out at Motor State as a part-time co-op student back in 1989, he probably couldn’t have imagined that it would become a career spanning more than three decades, most of it on the sales team. His experience in building and racing his own cars, including his prized 1968 Camaro, give him added insights when assisting customers. When he’s not assisting customers or assisting in catalog development, Bryan can be found hunting, fishing, and exploring trails and two-tracks with his UTV.
When you grow up drag racing and building hot rods, Motor State Distributing just seems like a logical place to be. A graduate of Western Michigan University with a degree in Marketing, John has been part of the team since 2001. With a ’27 altered drag car and a number of street rods behind him, John offers his customers solid advice born from years of experience. When he’s not working on his current project, a 1932 Flathead-powered Ford Roadster, he can be found cheering on his favorite Detroit sports teams.
Jonathon grew up near Motor State, and has been part of the team since 2015, working in order prep and inventory handling before joining the sales team in 2018. This experience gives him a special appreciation for his customers' needs and the challenges they often face, and he takes great pride in being able to assist them in overcoming those challenge as the automotive and motorsports industries continue to grow. Outside of work, his time is focused on his family and his role as a part-time minister.
A Motor State veteran with more than 25 years’ experience, Mike joined the sales team because he is a racer at heart. With his own circle track cars and his own banked clay go-kart track, he uses his own experience to try to help other racers perform better, as well. Mike appreciates the ongoing commitment that Motor State has made to innovation and efficiency in the industry. Besides nearly 30 years racing his own asphalt and dirt circle track cars, he also serves as the crew chief for his son, who has grown up racing. He also puts in time working on his ’66 big block Chevy Impala convertible and a lifted ’78 Chevy 4x4 truck, as well as motorcycling, snowmobiling, golfing, and spending time with family.
Having grown up only minutes from Motor State with a passion for building and tuning his own cars, Paul was already very familiar with the company before he came on board in 2004. With a natural talent for connecting with customers and a love for staying up-to-date on the latest industry trends, joining the Motor State sales team was a perfect fit. Paul is a talented fabricator and welder, and once built a 600+ hp Mitsubishi Eclipse that was his daily driver. In his spare time, when he’s not working in his shop fabricating custom parts for cars, he can be found kayaking the local waterways, carving the backroads with his Suzuki Hayabusa, or trying out the latest regional craft beers.
A lifelong native of Southwest Michigan, Tim has been part of the Motor State sales team since 1989. When he started working on cars at age 13, he knew that the automotive industry would always be a key fixture in his life. His ability to relate to customer challenges and extensive experience with auto parts and machining make him a wealth of helpful information for customers. Having owned a Corvette and several custom 4x4 trucks over the years, he also enjoys putting his skills to the test in his garage in his free time.
In 2016, Trevor came to the Motor State team from Chillicothe, OH, where he grew up around dirt modified racing. Being able to help racers get what they need for the track, and being involved in a sport that he is passionate about is a huge part of what makes his role at Motor State so satisfying. Trevor enjoys auto racing of all kinds, especially circle track, and has plans to build his own dirt modified to race locally. Until then, he stays busy bowling, video gaming, and riding motorcycles.
With more than three decades of experience at Motor State, Troy loves working in the motorsports field and dealing with customers from all areas of the industry. Since he was old enough to drive, he has been an active part of the performance street and strip world, having built and raced a number of classic performance cars, including a ’67 Chevy II, ’72 Nova, and a ‘76 Camaro, and is currently forward to his next project car. His spare time is focused on family and sports, and attending motorsports events of all kinds.
With a background in business administration and automotive engineering, this SW Michigan native and WMU grad also brings more than 15 years of practical experience to his role at Motor State. His years of kart building and racing and working as crew chief on his son’s circle track race team help him see things from his customers’ perspective and solve problems when they arise. Doug is passionate about motorsports of all kinds, ranging from race cars to hot rods and muscle cars. When he’s not at work, he enjoys time with his family and new grandson, racing, and playing electric guitar, whether it’s in his church band or jamming out to classic rock.
James joined the Motor State team in 1995, and has been part of the international sales group for most of that time. As a racing and motorsports enthusiast, he enjoys working with customers around the world, helping them get the parts they need and looking forward to their success. In his free time, James enjoys going camping with his family and recreational shooting.
With more than 20 years of experience in International Sales at Lane Automotive, Lindy understands the ever-changing international marketplace. His appreciation for different cultures and his ability to bridge the occasional language barrier has led to him building not just strong customer relationships but also lasting friendships around the world. When he isn’t adjusting for time zones to assist customers an ocean away, Lindy enjoys spending time with family and cruising the backroads on his motorcycle.
From touring Europe as a musician, where he learned to overcome the occasional language barrier, to working as a marine service technician in college, Nick brings a unique combination of skills to the International Sales team. His marine engine experience inspired Nick and his father to restore and maintain a number of classic Oldsmobiles. In his free time, Nick enjoys driving his classic cars, working on small engine, and restoring vintage snowmobiles.
Pete spent several months working in the Motor State Distribution Center before moving into International Sales. This experience, combined with a passion for cars and many years of working on a variety of motors for everything from farm equipment to a 340 ‘Cuda, in his youth, give Pete a special appreciation for our customers’ needs. He looks forward to taking on another classic car project, and as a former competitive shooter, he enjoys target shooting and handloading.
A SW Michigan native, Brad has been involved in the world of ecommerce for nearly twenty years. He is currently completing a degree at the University of California Davis with a specialty in Search Engine Optimization, and has been certified by both Google and Yoast in analytics and site structure. Brad has been an automotive enthusiast most of his life, having worked in a hot rod shop prior to beginning his career at Lane Automotive 14 years ago. He loves the challenges created by the rapid growth in the ecommerce group, building a strong team and constantly working to improve market awareness of the brand. Outside of work, Brad focuses heavily on spending time with his family, staying in shape, and tinkering with his ’97 Jeep Wrangler.
Apryll has been at Lane for more than 12 years, and joined the eCommerce team just over a year ago. A life-long resident of SW Michigan, she enjoys assisting customers in finding effective solutions quickly, and constantly works to expand her knowledge of the automotive and motorsports industry. When she’s not working, Apryll is busy with her family, and is actively involved with her daughters’ sporting events.
Chance brings his experience in order fulfillment and his love for motorsports to the Customer Service team, where he can apply his natural talent for helping solve customer issues. A fan of anything that goes fast, from dirt track racers to exotics, Chance enjoys working on cars, going to the local race tracks, and playing golf.
A second-generation member of the Motor State family, Shelby combines her first-hand experience in our Distribution with customer service and data management skills built up during her previous career as a sheriff’s deputy and dispatcher to help support the fulfillment sales team. In her free time, she likes to support her husband’s street stock and modified racing efforts, and spend time with her two children doing crafts and watching movies.
Originally from the Chicago area, Brianna brings a wealth of customer service experience to Motor State. She loves connecting with people and helping customers resolve issues and stay up to date on their orders. A dedicated Chicago Blackhawks fan, Brianna also enjoys spending her time playing softball and doing some serious off-roading with her husband in her Jeep.
A Watervliet native, Casey joined the Motor State team in 2015, working in the Customer Pickup area. Her positive energy and ability to resolve issues made her a natural fit for the customer service team, which she joined in 2019. A dedicated athlete when she was in high school, Casey has continued to stay active by hitting the gym and spending time with friends and family.
Having lived in the local area her whole life, Jodi jumped at the opportunity to join the Motor State customer service team, where she is focused on providing our customers with the best possible experience. In her free time, she enjoys watching dirt track racing and spending time with her family and grandchildren.
Kathy brings more than 3 decades of customer service experience to Motor State, experience driven by one core belief: doing everything possible to ensure customer satisfaction. As someone who loves working with numbers and detail, she finds processing returns and assisting customers a fun challenge. When she’s not at work, she enjoys watching her favorite football and softball teams.
Growing up, Kim spent a lot of time around hot rods and classic cars, and loved listening to her father share racing stories. This love of old cars, combined with extensive experience in both wholesale and retail companies, makes Kim a natural fit at Motor State. She has a natural ability to connect with coworkers and customers alike, and strives to provide the best possible customer service. Kim loves her time with family, and spends her free-time working in her rose gardens and “wild bird sanctuary”.
A lifelong resident of SW Michigan, Lori brings more than 3 decades of experience in sales operations with world-renowned brands to Motor State. A family interest in classic sports cars, combined with a focus on accuracy and understanding her customers makes her a natural fit for the team. Lori is the proud mother of three grown children, and an avid reader.
A native of southwest Michigan, Stacy grew up around muscle cars and racing. She brings a wealth of experience in customer service and sales to her role at Motor State, and enjoys the opportunity to apply those skills to the performance auto industry. In her time away from work, Stacy enjoys outdoors activities including fishing and helping out on a friend’s pumpkin farm.
