Bauer Built promotes pair to VP positions

DURAND, Wis. — Bauer Built Inc. promoted Wade Brantner to vice president of property and Andrew Thompson to vice president of technology during a recent shareholders meeting.

The appointments became effective April 1.

Mr. Branter is responsible with assisting all operating divisions with property, buildings, equipment and vehicle management issues, and he will coordinate and maintain lease agreements by communicating with landlords, tenants and location managers.

Mr. Branter also supervises the company's safety and risk management department, along with overseeing Bauer Built's Oil Division.

Mr. Brantner has held various positions with Bauer Built since he joined the company in February 1990 as a manager trainee in Red Wing, Minn. He was named assistant store manager in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, in August 1995 and later was promoted to the store manager in Wausau, Wis., Waterloo, Iowa, and Durand and Eau Claire, Wis.

In 2005, he moved into the corporate office in Durand as the director of associate dealer programs. His most recent position was director of property, vehicles and equipment, which has has done since 2017.

In his role, Mr. Thompson executes information management strategies and services for the company and ensures the integrity of company data, the availability and accessibility of systems and applications and the usability and relevance of business information for decision making.

Mr. Thompson started his career with Bauer Built in 2017 as director of technology. He was responsible for the recent network upgrade at all Bauer Built facilities.

Bauer Built was founded in 1944 by G. F. "Sam" Bauer as a bulk petroleum business but shortly the company began selling tires and related services. Bauer Built operates 35 tire and service centers, six Michelin retread plants and two wheel-refinishing operations, in nine Midwest states.