Global Auto Celebrating Anniversary With Car Giveaway
February 6, 2020 at 2:22 a.m.
Global Auto Celebrating Anniversary With Car Giveaway
By David [email protected]
The car is a 2007 Ford Focus, and the drawing for it will be held at Saturday’s anniversary event between 10:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. There also will be drawings for free oil changes, and a variety of vendors will be on hand, according to Global Auto Marketing Coordinator Raquel Hoyt. The WRSW radio station will be broadcasting live, while Nelson’s will be selling chicken. Proceeds from Nelson’s will provide tools for the Warsaw Area Career Center students who apprentice at the Global Auto training facility.
Global Auto was started Jan. 1, 1995, at 802 S. Buffalo St., Warsaw, by Norman Hoyt, though the building looks different now then it did originally.
“We are a full-service automotive repair facility. We specialize in imports and Europeans specifically. We service all makes and models,” he said.
Hoyt started the automotive business after working at a dealership for a number of years and wanted to go out on his own.
“We have grown significantly,” he said, attributing that simply to word of mouth. “Now we feel we’re the best kept secret in Warsaw.”
Starting out, Hoyt was the sole employee but added one person within the first year. As of Wednesday, he said there were five employees and four student apprentices.
Global Auto isn’t the only thing that keeps him busy. The most recent addition Hoyt put on his building was a training facility.
“The need for technicians is so huge, and getting them after high school has not been that successful at producing the quality technicians we need, so about four or five years ago, (Warsaw Community Schools Superintendent) Dr. (David) Hoffert and I started a conversation, and a few years later, they were able to start that (automotive course) with Warsaw Area Career Center. I came on board, teaching at Valley,” Hoyt said.
He didn’t feel like he had enough space at Tippecanoe Valley High School.
“Being attached to a working facility is almost a must today, in my opinion, due to access all the subscriptions and everything that are necessary now to be able to even work on many parts of the vehicle due to electronics,” Hoyt said. “So we are able to access all that, plus the students are able to see a shop in action and be a part of it. I think that’s a huge advantage. So we built the facility here, and the school system was helpful in getting it launched in this facility.”
He said they already have six students apprenticing – four with him and two at other shops, and there’s a request for two more immediately. “So the need is there.”
While Global Auto will be celebrating its 25th anniversary this weekend, Saturday is also another sort of anniversary for the business.
“Of all things, Saturday is the anniversary of the fire – Feb. 8, 2007. I call it global warming day,” Hoyt joked.
He said he decided to rebuild and keep going because “I didn’t know of anything else to do at that time. We were able to utilize the facility down on Prairie Street, and nine months later we moved back in. It was a difficult year, but we definitely came out the better for it.”
Hoyt said he believes Global Auto is more in-tune with today’s technology than anybody in the county. They are able to work on every make and model.
“I’d like to see it grow,” he said. “And bring in some new technicians and students as they become available. I think the training facility will have to grow as well, perhaps even branch into adult training as well. And I’d like to see some help on the teaching side.”
The car is a 2007 Ford Focus, and the drawing for it will be held at Saturday’s anniversary event between 10:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. There also will be drawings for free oil changes, and a variety of vendors will be on hand, according to Global Auto Marketing Coordinator Raquel Hoyt. The WRSW radio station will be broadcasting live, while Nelson’s will be selling chicken. Proceeds from Nelson’s will provide tools for the Warsaw Area Career Center students who apprentice at the Global Auto training facility.
Global Auto was started Jan. 1, 1995, at 802 S. Buffalo St., Warsaw, by Norman Hoyt, though the building looks different now then it did originally.
“We are a full-service automotive repair facility. We specialize in imports and Europeans specifically. We service all makes and models,” he said.
Hoyt started the automotive business after working at a dealership for a number of years and wanted to go out on his own.
“We have grown significantly,” he said, attributing that simply to word of mouth. “Now we feel we’re the best kept secret in Warsaw.”
Starting out, Hoyt was the sole employee but added one person within the first year. As of Wednesday, he said there were five employees and four student apprentices.
Global Auto isn’t the only thing that keeps him busy. The most recent addition Hoyt put on his building was a training facility.
“The need for technicians is so huge, and getting them after high school has not been that successful at producing the quality technicians we need, so about four or five years ago, (Warsaw Community Schools Superintendent) Dr. (David) Hoffert and I started a conversation, and a few years later, they were able to start that (automotive course) with Warsaw Area Career Center. I came on board, teaching at Valley,” Hoyt said.
He didn’t feel like he had enough space at Tippecanoe Valley High School.
“Being attached to a working facility is almost a must today, in my opinion, due to access all the subscriptions and everything that are necessary now to be able to even work on many parts of the vehicle due to electronics,” Hoyt said. “So we are able to access all that, plus the students are able to see a shop in action and be a part of it. I think that’s a huge advantage. So we built the facility here, and the school system was helpful in getting it launched in this facility.”
He said they already have six students apprenticing – four with him and two at other shops, and there’s a request for two more immediately. “So the need is there.”
While Global Auto will be celebrating its 25th anniversary this weekend, Saturday is also another sort of anniversary for the business.
“Of all things, Saturday is the anniversary of the fire – Feb. 8, 2007. I call it global warming day,” Hoyt joked.
He said he decided to rebuild and keep going because “I didn’t know of anything else to do at that time. We were able to utilize the facility down on Prairie Street, and nine months later we moved back in. It was a difficult year, but we definitely came out the better for it.”
Hoyt said he believes Global Auto is more in-tune with today’s technology than anybody in the county. They are able to work on every make and model.
“I’d like to see it grow,” he said. “And bring in some new technicians and students as they become available. I think the training facility will have to grow as well, perhaps even branch into adult training as well. And I’d like to see some help on the teaching side.”
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