John Bergstrom progresses from Neenah bar owner to Wisconsin Business Hall of Fame
Duke Behnke
NEENAH - John Bergstrom, executive chairman of Bergstrom Corp., is now part of the Wisconsin Business Hall of Fame.
Bergstrom said the honor should be shared by all the employees of Bergstrom Automotive.
"I don't do anything alone," Bergstrom told The Post-Crescent. "We have 1,800 teammates who all help. For me to get a recognition award, it's nice, and I appreciate it, but it's for them — the 1,800 of us."
Bergstrom was one of four laureates honored by Junior Achievement of Wisconsin during the 33rd annual event at the Pfister Hotel in Milwaukee. The other 2023 laureates were Gale Klappa of WEC Energy Group, Todd and Shari Nelson of Kalahari Resorts & Conventions and Paul Purcell of Baird. Purcell was honored posthumously.
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Bergstrom's entrepreneurship began shortly after graduating from Marquette University when he and his brother, Dick Bergstrom, opened a bar in Neenah in the former post office. Since then, he's been a restaurateur, hotelier and co-founder of Bergstrom Automotive, which is headquartered in Neenah.
Today Bergstrom Automotive includes 32 dealerships and is one of the top 75 automotive dealer groups in the country. It sells and services every volume brand sold in the U.S.
Bergstrom said the lessons he learned in the bar business still apply to his job as executive chairman.
"We always try to get to know our customers by their name, so that every time we greet them we can say hello to them personally," Bergstrom said. "It shows that we sincerely care about them. In time they become part of our business family."
Bergstrom has received numerous awards for his professional success, leadership and contributions to the community, including an honorary doctorate degree from Lawrence University on Sunday.
He has served on the board of directors of several organizations including Associated Bank, Kimberly-Clark Corp., WEC Energy Group and the Green Bay Packers.
The Wisconsin Business Hall of Fame was established in 1990 and honors individuals whose business innovations, effective management and civic involvement have made a difference in their companies and communities throughout the state.
Past inductees include Craig Culver of Culver's, Russell Darrow of Russ Darrow Group, Robert Harlan of the Green Bay Packers, Frederick Miller of Miller Brewing Co., Don Schneider of Schneider Trucking, Bud Selig of the Milwaukee Brewers, Dave Skogen of Festival Foods and Don Zietlow of Kwik Trip.
Contact Duke Behnke at 920-993-7176 or dbehnke@gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter at @DukeBehnke.