John Bergstrom has long been revered, not only for his work in auto retail, where he oversees 1,600 employees, but for contributions in corporate boardrooms and with local nonprofits.

In June, the CEO of Bergstrom Automotive in Neenah, Wis., was recognized in the Glassdoor Employees’ Choice Awards, honoring top CEOs in 2019. He ranked No. 21 of 100 leaders.

Bergstrom, 73, opened his first store, a Chevrolet outlet, in 1982 with his brother Richard Bergstrom. The business has grown to 30 dealerships and 35 brands.

The company, with a keen focus on customer service and known for its clean bathrooms, continues to evolve. Last year, Bergstrom launched Upfront Pricing, a no- haggle strategy for new and used vehicles.

Bergstrom’s business acumen has been benchmarked by peers, and he’s been recognized with entrepreneurship awards and for serving on boards ranging from Advance Auto Parts and Kimberly-Clark Corp. to the Green Bay Packers’ executive committee.

Many of Bergstrom’s dealerships routinely land on the Automotive News Best Dealerships To Work For list, including eight rooftops this year.