While it was a virtual event held, in part, to honor him and his family's accomplishments, Steve Nerheim found himself awestruck.
It wasn't just because a fellow tire dealer — who lived in another country, thousands of miles away — also was being honored for a different accomplishment. It was because of why he was being honored and how much he had done for his community.
As he listened to the presentation, Mr. Nerheim just knew he had to recognize Rodrigo Valle Hernandez, owner of Tijuana-based Grupo Tersa, who was named the 2020 Tire Business Tire Dealer Humanitarian of the Year.
"It's just Incredible, just moving, such an amazing thing that has been doing," Mr. Nerheim said. "I knew I had to do something."
So Mr. Nerheim, vice president of Waukegan Tire & Supply Co. — the 2020 winner of the Top Shop Award, given by Tire Review magazine — reached out to Tire Business. Family-owned Waukegan Tire operates three locations north of Chicago (Waukegan, Park City and Grayslake), a short drive from the Wisconsin border.
Last month, Mr. Nerheim's gift arrived: a letter to Mr. Valle, along with an engraved bottle of Woodford Reserve double oaked bourbon whiskey.
The bottle reads:
2020 TIRE BUSINESS
Humanitarian of the Year
Rodrigo Valle Hernandez
Grupo Tersa
"If it doesn't hurt, you haven't done enough."
Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico