From Marine Corps to Main Street: Ken Cook on Building a Dealership with Core Values

Ken Cook, owner of BZ Automotive in Indiana, sits down with Bart Nollenberger to share his journey from a short career in the Marine Corps to becoming a successful independent dealer in a market dominated by giants. Ken opens up about the power of core values in shaping culture, why he rewards employees based on those values (including sending a long-tenured couple to Hawaii), and the personal decisions — like giving up alcohol — that transformed his leadership. Bart and Ken also dive into the Johari Window, emotional intelligence, and why the best leaders take an honest look at themselves before asking anything of their team. Whether you're running a dealership, building a business, or leading a team of any size, this conversation will challenge you to raise your own standard.Ken's contact: [email protected] you enjoyed this episode, share it with someone building a business from the ground up. Subscribe and follow Keep the Change on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube.