Last year we talked with Cornwell distributor Eddie Neugebauer to learn about his time in the industry and how he's impacted his community and customer base.
For Neugebauer, giving back comes naturally. Whether it's helping individuals get back on their feet, making sure a young victim of a shooting can feel like a normal kid again, or donating bikes to children in the community, Neugebauer tries his best to give when he can.
The call to give
About 11 years ago, before becoming a mobile tool dealer, Neugebauer was let go from his job the weekend of a big move.
"It was a real rough go for about six months," he admits. "I was almost homeless as a single father with two daughters. We were literally almost out in the street."
In the midst of the chaos and uncertainty that came with that big change, Neugebauer decided to use his newfound free time to help two unhoused individuals get off the street. With help from donations, he was able to get them set up in a hotel and make sure they were fed.
"I passed that project on later down the line, but they wound up helping those guys get housing and really turn their lives around," Neugebauer says. "When I started doing that, that's when my life kind of turned around."
For Neugebauer, giving back and pouring into others has put him in a cycle of goodwill. Despite the tough times he was experiencing, by feeding goodness into the universe he's been able to get that same goodness back.
How to get involved
One day while driving through his town, Neugebauer saw what looked like a homeless encampment and thought, "Maybe these people need a little bit of help."
"I grabbed as many customers as I could and fed as many people as I could," Neugebauer says. "I think we served close to 1,000 plates last year."
Giving back can be as simple as seeing a person or group in need in your area and having the courage to step up and help. It doesn't have to be a solo endeavor, as Neugebauer often relies on the help of his customers and others in his community.
If you have a desire to give back to your community, but aren't sure where to start, Neugebauer suggests starting small by volunteering at local food drives.
Local Facebook groups can be a great avenue for finding people in need as well. Something as simple and routine as driving your daily route can open your eyes to areas in your community that might need a little extra love.
More than a tool guy
In his Tales from the Road article, Neugebauer calls himself a "bartender" and "therapist" to his customers. He's there for them on the good days, the bad, and the downright ugly. For Neugebauer and dealers like him, selling tools is more than just making sure your technicians have the products they need to perform repairs.
In his time in the industry, Neugebauer has recruited three people to Cornwell and he tells them all the same thing:
"Your job is to go out there and make friends. The rest follows."
About the Author
Elli Carder
Assistant Editor | PTEN & Professional Distributor
Elli Carder is an assistant editor for Endeavor Business Media's Vehicle Repair Group. With a background in professional and creative writing, Carder helps edit for both Professional Tools and Equipment News (PTEN) and Professional Distributor magazines, as well as VehicleServicePros.com.
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