Thomas P. Englert is the past CEO of Discount Tire Company, Inc., the world’s largest tire and wheel retailer operating more than 900 stores in 28 states across the country.
As a student at WMU, Mr. Englert began working as an assistant store manager for a Discount Tire in Kalamazoo near WMU’s campus. On his second day of employment, he met Bruce Halle, the founder, who became a mentor and friend. Mr. Englert graduated from WMU in 1974 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in communication and remained at Discount Tire. He advanced with several promotions before moving west with the company to Scottsdale, Arizona in 1981.
Three decades after joining Discount Tire, in 2004, Mr. Englert left his position as executive vice president overseeing supply chain and purchasing for the company, and was named the CEO. He helped to expand the company from 23 to 900 stores, and as CEO grew annual sales from $1.8 to $4.3 billion while quadrupling profits. Five years after taking the reins, in 2009, Discount Tire took top honors as the largest private company in Arizona.
One year later, in 2010, the Arizona Corporate Excellence Award recognized Discount Tire as one of the 25 fastest growing companies in the state. In May 2011, Mr. Englert was named one of the 25 most admired CEOs in the Phoenix area by the “Phoenix Business Journal.” In 2014, The Arizona Business Leadership Association selected Discount Tire to receive their annual Leadership Award.
In January, 2015, Mr. Englert stepped down from his position of CEO but remains an advisor and member of the board of directors. According to “Forbes Magazine,” as of 2015, Discount Tire is the 118th largest privately held U.S. Company.
Mr. Englert has said that leading the company was a humbling experience and that it allowed him to travel the country, meeting store managers and employees who he calls the driving force of the success of Discount Tire.
Today, Mr. Englert and his wife, Cindy, live in Paradise Valley, Arizona. Mr. Englert serves as president of the Cheney Ranch Estates Homeowners Association, and Cindy is an artist who specializes in oil painting. The couple confirmed their commitment to WMU by becoming Life members of the WMU Alumni Association.
As a student at Western Michigan University, Mr. Englert was affiliated with the Phi Sigma Kappa fraternity and was influenced by former communication professor Dr. Jules Rossman