Our Team

 
Since 1922, when my grandfather started the first of our companies, our family has stood for honesty, integrity, trust, doing what's right, courtesy, and customer service, with mutual long-term relationships for both customers and employees. These qualities have carried over into everything my grandfather has done, and my father, uncle, and now my two brothers, two cousins, and I do with all of our businesses. We intend to continue all of our efforts and business endeavors now and in the future, in the same manner to ensure that we are exceeding our customer’s expectations!
 
It has been my dream ever since I was a little girl to work with my father on an everyday basis in conjunction with all of our businesses. I have been working with our companies since I was 15 years old. I attended Hamline University from 1993-1995 and Northwood University from 1995-1997, upon which time I graduated.

Through my passion of physical and emotional holistic healthcare and development, I have become a Certified Hendricks Conscious Living and Loving Coach. Please find my profile on the link listed below. http://www.hendrickscoaches.com/north-america/united-states/midwest-united-states/
  
I am truly blessed to be surrounded by some of the most amazing, talented, and dedicated individuals in the world that are on my team at the Mills Automotive Group! I am grateful for each of their individual and team contributions, hard work, personal responsibility, and continued growth that I am part of witnessing on a daily basis! I truly love my team!
  
On my journey thus far, my personal and professional growth and development have been immensely impacted by these individuals and/or companies in various ways. And, from the bottom of my heart, I am grateful!

 
A Willmar native, Jeff has been in management since 1993 and joined Mills Ford Chrysler as service manager in September 2003. He was promoted to general manager of the dealership in 2007, and then to his current position in 2013. He is the father of three children, Jack, Lindsey and Nolan. Outside of work, he enjoys spending time with his family, working around the house, hunting and traveling.

Originally from Avon and the youngest of eight children in her family, Kathleen is a graduate of Holdingford High School and the College of St. Benedict with degrees in accounting and business finance/management. Her career started with Larson Allen CPA as director of administration in the retirement plan division, then on to UPI as distributions manager. She has more than nine years experience in automotive.  Kathleen and her husband, Paul, have two sons. The family lives in Pequot Lakes. She enjoys hunting, fishing, camping, gardening, cooking, singing at weddings, playing the guitar and family time.

A North Dakota transplant, Bonnie joined Mills in 2008 after 30 years in radio advertising sales. She has a business management degree from the University of North Dakota and Valley City State University. She enjoys yard work, golf, boating and spending time with her grandchildren. Bonnie and her husband, Norm, live in Brainerd.
 

Bret joined Mills in 2011 after working 13 years as a systems engineer at Syvantis Technologies. He and his wife, Lacie, have three children. The family lives in Pillager, where Bret has been a member of Pillager Area Fire and Rescue since 2002, and a city council member since 2000. A graduate of Benson High School, Bret attended St. John’s University, and graduated from St. Cloud Technical College with a degree in network administration. He enjoys hunting, fishing, snowmobiling and home remodeling.
 

 
Brady joined the Mills Ford Sales team on September, 2003.  He was previously employed with the Mills GM Detail Department since September, 1999.  Brady grew up in the Brainerd Lakes Area, and recently graduated from the College of Saint Scholastica. When he's not working Brady enjoys biking and spending time with his friends.

 
Mike has lived on Bass Lake in Merrifield since 1993. He grew up in the Whipholt area and graduated from Walker High School. He has 4 children- Jessica, Kelsey, Stephanie & Jared; a son-in-law (Dan Tougas) and two granddaughters (Ciera and Alexis). Mike enjoys all the outdoor activities including fishing, hunting, motorcycle riding in the summer and snowmobiles in the winter.

Monty graduated from NDSSS and spent 19 years in the Automotive Retail Business. He joined the Mills family in 2000 and is currently QuickLane manager. Monty says the best part of his position is helping people. Monty and his wife, Michele, live in Baxter with their three children. Monty enjoys all sports and likes to spend time with family.

 
Before joining Mills GM, Paul had been manager of the Mills Automotive Group Customer Care Center since 2008. He was also previously with Gateway Computers and MCI WorldCom.  Born in Rapid City, SD, Paul graduated from Lawton-Bronson High School in Lawton, IA, and attended Western Iowa Technical College in neighboring Sioux City. His family includes wife, Kerri, their three children, Kristi, Brooke and Brenden, plus one granddaughter, Haylee. When he’s not helping customers with their cars at Mills GM, Paul enjoys collecting farm toys, old pick-ups, camping and watching or playing football with Brenden.

 
Ray began his career in the car business in 1988. He joined Mills GM in June, 1997. Ray is a lifelong Brainerd area resident and enjoys NASCAR and tinkering in his garage in his spare time.

Brent leads the service team after having worked as a sales and leasing consultant at Mills GM. He was previously general manager at Best Buy in Baxter for nine years. Besides Baxter, his 18-years with the company included positions at stores in Blaine, Edina, Apple Valley and St. Cloud.    He was a psychology student for three years at Viterbo College, LaCrosse, WI, and started working part-time for Best Buy during college.

Brent and his wife, Julie, are both natives of Blaine and graduated from Blaine High School. They have three sons, Cody, Cole and Landon. The family lives in Baxter and is very active in football, hockey and baseball. They also enjoy boating and spending time with friends.
 

 
Originally from Lakeville and a graduate of Lakeville High School, Bart has a long history in automotive after starting with Tanner Motors in 1994. Tanner later bought the Brainerd Honda dealership, and Bart has been general manager at Honda since 1997. Bart and his wife, Nicole, a science teacher at Brainerd High School, have two children, Cole and Cami. The family lives in Baxter. He served in the U.S. Coast Guard at Woods Hole, Mass., has a degree in law enforcement from Central Lakes College and studied criminal law at Bemidji State University. Bart enjoys riding his Harley Davidson, watching his kids’ sporting events, hunting and other family outdoor activities.

 
After working as a DJ in the area, Steve started selling cars when he was 20.  He has been with Honda since 1998 in sales and finance. Steve is a 1996 graduate of Shell Lake (Wis.) High School and lives in Baxter with his wife, Nacoal, and their children, Kyler and Kennedee, who are very active in lacrosse, hockey, football and gymnastics.  Steve enjoys music, softball, poker and volunteers for community projects.

 
Dane has worked in automotive since 2008.  He is a native of Brainerd and a graduate of Brainerd High School and Central Lakes College.  Dane has a degree in social work from St. Cloud State University, and is currently working on a degree in organizational behavior/management at the College of St. Scholastica.  He served from 1990 to 1996 in the U.S. Army Reserves as a heavy equipment operator and combat engineer.  For 15 years, Dane was manager of Milender Residential Services, a foster care facility for developmentally disabled adults.  He lives in Brainerd with partner, Cammie, and her daughter, Alexandra, and enjoys fishing, hunting, exercise and poker.

A veteran of the automotive industry beginning in 1990, Kevin came to Mills Ford-Jeep after four years as service manager at Swenson Motor Company.  Born and raised in the Willmar area, Kevin is a graduate of Willmar High School, and a retired 19 year member of the Willmar Fire Department.

Kevin and his wife, Greta, have two daughters, Olivia, and Grace.  Outside of work, Kevin enjoys boating and attending his daughters’ many basketball, softball and cross country games.

Dan joined Mills Auto Center in October of 1988. Dan and his wife Linda have 4 children; Connor, Ava, Audrey and Charles. In his free time he enjoys golfing and spending time with his family and friends.