PODCAST · leisure
SAAB in the Rearview Mirror
by John Christensen
This podcast is a celebration of all things Saab from the perspective of ex-Saab corporate employees who witnessed the day-to-day operations of one of the best company environments in the automotive business. It is an insider’s look at the mostly good times at Saab shared through the stories of those that lived them. My time at Saab started in December 1984 and lasted just shy of 39 years with my retirement in October 2023. It was a great run and I look back with fond and fun memories as do most of my fellow “ex-Saabies” who I will be chatting with in the weeks and months ahead. Thank you for joining me on this “road trip” as we look in the rearview mirror at Saab.
Episodes
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Dave Schurk Part 1
Despite being interrupted by a bear, this week’s guest is long time Saab Technical Services employee Dave Schurk. Part One of our conversation begins with Dave’s early career working for his local Peugeot dealership including servicing my father’s 1974 Peugeot Diesel 504! Dave has had an...
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Steven Wade
One of the most influential and widely read Saab Bloggers and Webmasters in the “Saabosphere” and eventual Saab employee, my guest this week is writer, reporter, photographer and videographer Steven “Swade” Wade. Steven started writing about his love for Saabs in 2005 and created several highly...
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Bob Allard
Joining me this week on the Podcast is longtime Saab and Saab contracted employee Bob Allard. Bob started at Saab in 1985 in Orange, Connecticut and stayed on until long after the Norcross, Georgia office was vacated. Bob was involved in the early days of computer equipment and software at Saab...
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Vincent Donroe-Wells BONUS Episode
So many memories came flooding back that Vincent and I knew we had to record a Bonus episode! Join us as we chat about Vincent’s many good times at Saab both professionally and personally. Vincent shares more photos of the good times, talks about the Saab swag he helped create, shares additional...
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Vincent Donroe-Wells
Join me this week on a fascinating journey with my guest Vincent Donroe-Wells. Vincent started as a contracted Account Manager, then came on board with Saab tackling various responsibilities including Merchandising, Auto Shows, Advertising and eventually National Sales Promotion Manager...
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Valerie Torphy
This week’s guest is the effervescent long time Saab Connecticut employee Valerie Torphy. Valerie regales us with stories from her long extensive career in Sales and Marketing which included working with brochure production, dealer analysis, dealer Saab signage, prospective dealer franchise...
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Arsey Miller
There are several ex-Saab employees that can truly be referred to as “legends”. Arsey Miller is one of those people. Join me for an extensive conversation with Arsey as we discuss his years with Saab in jobs ranging from District Parts, Service and Sales Manager, Regional Sales Manager, National...
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Angela Leibowicz
This week I renew an old friendship with someone I worked very closely with and learned a lot from starting from my early days at Saab – Angela Leibowicz. Angela started at Saab in Customer Service for the Eastern Region and eventually became the National Consumer Relations Manager. She has many...
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Walt Lawson
This week witness my most ambitious multi-media YouTube Podcast yet with guest Walt Lawson. Walt started with Saab in 1982 washing cars at the Saab fleet shop. From there he became a Technician, a Technical Representative and then moved to Training Instructor at the Southern Region Technical...
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Doug Blank
Joining the Podcast this week is ex-Saab District Sales Manager and 9-3 Product Manager Doug Blank. Doug’s interesting career includes his time as a Radarman on a U.S. Navy Destroyer to a vehicle painter on the Jeep assembly line and several jobs at Saab as a District Sales Manager and the 9-3...
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Eric Weiss
Original Parts Help Line Creator Eric Weiss joins me this week on the Podcast. Eric started at Saab as a “Senior” Consumer Relations person where I followed in his footsteps as he transitioned shortly to my future role running the Parts Help Line. He then became a field Service Representative...
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Dan David
Joining me this week is long time Saab employee Dan David. Dan joined Saab in 1973 and finished his career in 2005. While at Saab he held several positions in Service, Warranty, Parts, Product Development, Customer Retention, Marketing and many combinations of them throughout his career in the…
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Dale David
My guest this week is another dear friend and longtime Saab employee-Dale David. Dale worked numerous jobs at Saab including Warranty Claims Processor and Supervisor, West Coast Service and Parts Representative, Sales Trainer and Facilities Brand Image and Design Manager. Dale talks about her…
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John Libbos
This week’s guest is long term Saab employee John Libbos. John was with Saab from 1987 to 2012. His many jobs included several Technical Services positions and later as Project Manager for the 9-5 and 9-4X. He also spent several years working in Sweden in the late 90’s as the Aftersales Project...
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Doug Williams
This week’s guest is former Saab Parts Director Doug Williams. Doug worked in the Norcross, GA headquarters in the late 90’s through his early retirement in 2001. During his tenure the parts division moved over 100 million in parts and accessories per year with the help of a dedicated staff....
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Gary Dagesse
I am joined in this week’s episode by long time Saab employee Gary Dagesse. Gary has had numerous field and management positions at Saab. He started in the early 90’s and stayed up until almost the very end of the Spyker years in 2011. He also worked for Ford, Porsche, Jaguar/Land Rover and…
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Mike Raflowitz
One of my many ex-bosses, my mentor, my sometimes life coach and most of all my friend, Mike Raflowitz joins me on the Podcast. Mike had a long and varied career at Saab ranging from Field Representative to operating Saab of Japan (thus the Saab Japanese intro). Mike "Raf" is fun to talk to and…
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Dave Kapitulik
This episode's guest is former Saab Training Department member Dave Kapitulik. "Kap" details his road to being an educator and training instructor/course designer at Saab Automobiles. Dave's long career started in Technical Services and to educating Saab Technicians from all over the USA's east...
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John Sokol and John Ritter
Join me for our first episode featuring ex-Saab Field Representatives John Ritter and John Sokol. We discuss how each became interested in the automotive business, their long careers at Saab, their favorite meetings, brushes with celebrity, life after Saab and much more.
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ABOUT THIS SHOW
This podcast is a celebration of all things Saab from the perspective of ex-Saab corporate employees who witnessed the day-to-day operations of one of the best company environments in the automotive business. It is an insider’s look at the mostly good times at Saab shared through the stories of those that lived them.
My time at Saab started in December 1984 and lasted just shy of 39 years with my retirement in October 2023. It was a great run and I look back with fond and fun memories as do most of my fellow “ex-Saabies” who I will be chatting with in the weeks and months ahead.
Thank you for joining me on this “road trip” as we look in the rearview mirror at Saab.
HOSTED BY
John Christensen
CATEGORIES
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does SAAB in the Rearview Mirror have?
SAAB in the Rearview Mirror currently has 19 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is SAAB in the Rearview Mirror about?
This podcast is a celebration of all things Saab from the perspective of ex-Saab corporate employees who witnessed the day-to-day operations of one of the best company environments in the automotive business. It is an insider’s look at the mostly good times at Saab shared through the stories of...
How often does SAAB in the Rearview Mirror release new episodes?
SAAB in the Rearview Mirror has 19 episodes. Check the episode list to see recent publication dates and frequency.
Where can I listen to SAAB in the Rearview Mirror?
You can listen to SAAB in the Rearview Mirror on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts SAAB in the Rearview Mirror?
SAAB in the Rearview Mirror is created and hosted by John Christensen.
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