SUCCESS STORIES | DIANE SAUER This big wheel is a woman

Diane Sauer has made her mark in the auto dealership business.
By NANCILYNN GATTA
VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT
Diane Sauer is unassuming about her accomplishments.
They include being the owner of Diane Sauer Chevrolet in Warren, winning the 1999 Athena Award sponsored by the Regional Chamber and receiving the 2003 Governor's Award for Women's Excellence in Enterprise. Yet, she doesn't see herself as a pioneer for women in a profession that has been historically populated by men.
"I never did it to be a trailblazer. I did the things because I enjoyed doing them and that's what my interests were," said Sauer.
Career path
Leaving her small western Ohio hometown of Coldwater to attend Ohio State University set in motion her career path and her home life. She graduated from OSU with a major in accounting.
An introduction to a fellow classmate was the beginning of her association with the Mahoning Valley. Her husband, Kurt Sauer, is a native of the region. "I met my husband-to-be at Ohio State and I knew I'd be moving here."
In the mid-1970s, with bachelor's degree in hand, Sauer moved here. Unfortunately, the business climate wasn't what she had anticipated.
"I actually enjoyed cost accounting and I wanted to work for industry. When I moved here, that's right when the steel firms were closing down, so there weren't very many jobs for industrial cost accounting," Sauer said.
Because the possibilities to work in her first choice of accounting had narrowed, Sauer decided to explore a field that wasn't something she had considered as an undergraduate. Being flexible in her career path would eventually lead to becoming the owner of an automobile dealership.
"I applied for a job at the dealership [Paul Martin Chevrolet in Warren] and was hired as a member of the office staff, an office manager trainee," said Sauer.
Buys the business
After working at the dealership for more than 20 years in various capacities, she was offered the opportunity to purchase the Chevrolet franchise. Because Paul Martin was impressed by her work ethic, problem-solving ability and qualifications, he gave her the chance.
"You have to prove yourself as a competent person," said Sauer. "All people want, I think, basically is to work with and for someone that they feel is competent," she added.
When deciding to purchase the dealership, she had to consider the responsibilities.
The Chevrolet dealership includes new cars, used cars, parts and service and a body shop.
Sauer ultimately realized the benefits of ownership and the sense of accomplishment that accompanied this endeavor.
"[It's] the old adage of working for yourself. The automobile business is a challenge every day. As in all businesses, it's ever changing. Trying to keep up with the technology and just the changing business climate," she said.
Once Sauer decided to purchase the dealership, she encountered the positive aspects of running her own business.
"Obviously the best reward is working for yourself. The satisfaction of seeing successes and learning from them and from doing a good job. To me, that's the best part of it," she said.
Diversity
Since she started in the automobile field, Sauer has realized that the customer base has changed. A large consumer group is women and minorities. This was not the case when the dealership opened in 1958. At that time, men purchased cars from men.
"Obviously we hire whoever we feel are the best people for the job. Diversity in all areas is important because we need to mirror our customers that are coming in to buy from us. So we try to maintain a diverse work force," she stated.
How does her female perspective affect the way she runs her business? "Maybe the way I look at decisions and how they will impact my employees and my employees' families," Sauer said.
"I may pay more attention to that than someone else. I am always worried about a team approach in solving problems and trying to bring all the people in and listen to their points of view and try to gain a consensus among all the key players when key decisions are made that impact everyone in the dealership," she said.
She takes her obligations to her company and her employees seriously.
"Knowing that there's 90-some people that I'm responsible for -- granted they're responsible for themselves, but we all are in this together and they look to me for leadership and to maintain a viable company that is progressive -- that's the biggest satisfier for me," Sauer said.
Community involvement
Though running a successful business would be enough to fill most people's day, Sauer is an example of the saying, "If you want something done, ask a busy person." Her involvement with the community is abundant.
"From a business viewpoint, I think it's important for business people to give back to the community that supports them," she said.
"From a personal viewpoint, I guess I just like doing it. I'm a high-energy person. I don't enjoy sitting still. I like to have a lot of irons in the fire. Personally, it keeps me going to have a lot of things going on in my life."
Sauer was the president of the Rotary Club of Warren in 1997-98. When she took over the position, she was as the first female to hold the office in the organization.
She is a member of the Better Business Bureau of Mahoning Valley board of trustees, Warren Area Chamber of Commerce, American Red Cross, Trumbull Memorial Hospital Association and United Way of Trumbull County (vice chairman).
She is also involved with professional associations as the president of Automobile Dealers Association of Eastern Ohio and is a board member of On Star Dealer Advisory Board and Ohio Automobile Dealers Association. She is also a member of the Diocese of Youngstown Foundation.
Organized
To accomplish everything that she does in a day, Sauer has to be organized. "Sometimes I would agree with that. Sometimes not, when I have to be two places at one time. I think, 'how did I do that?'" she said.
She also gave credit to the people who help support her so she can accomplish as much as she does.
"It takes, in my case, a good organization that I have at the dealership and family support as well," she said.
In addition to her husband, Kurt, her family includes two children, Matthew and Gretchen.