When he joined the Motor State Distributing team in 1999, Joe brought nearly 20 years of experience in the automotive parts business with him. Since then, his passion for motorsports and involvement in organizations such as the National Street Rod Association and Hot Rod Industry Alliance, has helped him build customer relationships throughout the industry. Joe has restored and customized several vehicles for his own collection, including a 1960 Corvette, a '66 Chevelle, and a '39 Ford Street Rod. Joe can often be found on the golf course when he's not in the office or working on his next project car.
Since his start at Motor State Distributing in 1983, Craig has worn many hats, both within and outside the sales team, often at the same time. Whether he’s working with a customer to resolve an issue, helping to plan a company event, or mentoring a member of the sales team, Craig’s diverse experience and passion for the industry shine through. Being able to work with people while learning about and experiencing new automotive performance products makes his role a dream job for him. An avid Jeep fan who is not afraid to hit the trails, Craig has owned a number of Jeeps over the years, from an ’83 CJ7 up to his current 2018 Wrangler Unlimited Rubicon. When he’s not at work, he is usually busy camping, off-roading, and spending time with his family and grandchildren - and odds are good there will be a Jeep somewhere in the mix!
They say that racing and a passion for motorsports is in the blood. Darren gives credence to that statement, as the third generation of the Lane family to share in a love for this industry. A graduate of Western Michigan University, Darren is a driving force behind Motor State’s growth internationally and in the eCommerce field, working diligently to expand Motor State Distributing’s reach into new markets and channels. With a continuous focus on improving efficiencies and profitability, Darren has also worked closely with suppliers to expand drop-ship programs and inventory data sharing.
With more than three decades of experience at Motor State, Troy loves working in the motorsports field and helping customers from all areas of the industry. Since he was old enough to drive, he has been an active part of the performance street and strip scene. Having built and raced a number of classic performance cars, including a ’67 Chevy II, ’72 Nova, and a ‘76 Camaro, Troy is currently looking forward to his next project car. His spare time is focused on family, and attending motorsports events of all kinds.
Ben has been with Motor State Distributing since 2002 and joined the sales team in 2004. A Southwest Michigan native, his passion for racing motorcycles translated easily into a love for cars and drag racing, and he enjoys talking with and meeting people who share that interest. He is currently working with his three sons on building a LS-powered ‘05 Chevy pickup that he expects will find its way to the track when it’s ready. Ben stays busy spending time with his family and cheering on his sons in their sports activities, and tries to hit the links a couple times a week in his never-ending quest to improve his golf game.
Bill joined Motor State Distributing in 2001 because of a passion for motorsports, and a desire to work with and assist others with that same love for racing. His strong knowledge in automotive service and parts management has made him an asset to his coworkers and customers alike. As a third-generation racer, Bill carries on the family tradition by building and racing his own non-winged sprint cars. When he’s not at work or at the track, Bill can often be found on the golf course.
Originally from Petoskey, Michigan, Bob earned his degree in Automotive and Diesel Performance at the University of Northwestern Ohio and spent two years working in a machine shop, before coming to Motor State Distributing in 2011. While sales were a distinct change of pace, being able to talk with and assist customers who share his love for racing made the switch one he has never regretted. Bob’s experience racing dirt UMP modifieds and working on different projects in the garage helps him relate to his customer. He looks forward to spending time with friends and family and getting to the track to race.
A graduate of the University of Northwestern Ohio with a degree in Business Administration and a specialty in high-performance automotive technology, Bob joined the Motor State Distributing sales team in 2005. He loves the motorsports industry and looks forward to helping customers locate the ideal solution for their specific application. An active racer in the VROA, Bob drives and maintains a 1935 Pontiac Coupe Vintage Modified car that his father, brother, and he built together. A passionate family man, he looks forward to spending time with his wife and three daughters, vacationing, and enjoying outdoor activities.
When Brent joined the Motor State Distributing team in 1990, Brent brought plenty of retail experience and a love for cars. From his first days coming in with his older brother to get parts, he has enjoyed seeing people bring their automotive visions to completion. He has honed his own automotive skills by restoring several Ford vehicles, ranging from a ‘71 Ranchero to an ’85 Mercury Cougar, as well as a custom-built mid-engined dune buggy. Brent also enjoys traveling and learning more about historical events.
A part of the Motor State Distributing sales team since 1988, Brian knows drag racing. As an experienced drag racer, engine builder, and fabricator, Brian uses his skills at the track and in the shop to provide his customers with top-notch guidance with their own projects. His engine building skills are highly sought-after in the racing community, and his ability to connect with people helps him use those same talents to assist customers from across the motorsport’s spectrum.
When Bryan started out at Motor State Distributing as a part-time co-op student back in 1989, he probably couldn’t have imagined that it would become a career spanning more than three decades, most of it on the sales team. His experience in building and racing his own cars, including his prized 1968 Camaro, give him added insights when assisting customers. When he’s not helping customers or assisting in catalog development, Bryan can be found hunting, fishing, and exploring trails and two-tracks with his UTV.
Corey brings a decade of phone and counter sales experience to the Motor State Distributing team. As a second-generation circle track racer who also enjoys drag racing and building his own custom LS swap vehicles, he also knows what goes into building a winning machine. In his free time, Corey stays busy with his wife and children, attending races, and working on various project cars with his father and friends, from a 700-whp supercharged LS-powered pickup to lifted 4x4s to a restored ’87 Monte Carlo.
A Motor State Distributing sales team veteran since 1996, Jerry has found himself behind the wheel of almost everything you can imagine, including pavement and limited late model race cars, hot rods, Vettes, and 4x4 trucks. His racing experience earned him a Limited Late Model season championship at Kalamazoo Speedway – experience that allows him to assist customers with first-hand knowledge. Jerry enjoys spending his free moments with family and staying involved with racing at local tracks.
When Joe joined the Motor State Distributing sales team in 1995, he brought more than 20 years of prior experience in automotive parts sales with him. His extensive knowledge of engines and drivelines, along with a love for drag and circle track racing, have made him a valuable resource for customers and team members alike, and he is constantly researching new products to stay at the leading edge of the market. In his spare time, Joe is an active outdoorsman who enjoys hunting, fishing, and gardening.
When you grow up drag racing and building hot rods, Motor State Distributing just seems like a logical place to be. A graduate of Western Michigan University with a degree in Marketing, John has been part of the team since 2001. With a ’27 altered drag car and several street rods behind him, John offers his customers solid advice born from years of experience. When he’s not working on his current project, a 1932 Flathead-powered Ford Roadster, he can be found cheering on his favorite Detroit sports teams.
Jon joined the Motor State Distributing sales team in 2012. As a pavement late model racer himself, he finds inspiration in working with his customers to build and improve their race cars. Jon looks forward to the challenges that each day brings and seeing everyone’s hard work pay off in the end makes it all worthwhile. When he’s not at work, he’s usually at the track racing or assisting other teams as a spotter, or in his shop working on his racecars, often assisted by his Australian Shepherd.
Jonathon grew up near Motor State Distributing, and has been part of the team since 2015, working in order prep and inventory handling before joining the sales team in 2018. This experience gives him a special appreciation for his customers' needs and the challenges they often face. Jonathan takes pride in being able to assist them in overcoming those challenge as the automotive and motorsports industries continue to grow. Outside of work, his time is focused on his family and his role as a part-time minister.
A Motor State Distributing veteran with more than 25 years’ experience, Mike joined the sales team because he is a racer at heart. With his own circle track cars and banked clay go-kart track, Mike uses his experience to help other racers perform better. Mike appreciates the ongoing commitment that Motor State Distributing has made to innovation and efficiency in the industry. Besides nearly 30 years racing his own asphalt and dirt circle track cars, he also serves as the crew chief for his son, who has grown up racing. He also puts in time working on his ’66 big block Chevy Impala convertible and a lifted ’78 Chevy 4x4 truck, as well as motorcycling, snowmobiling, golfing, and spending time with family.
Having grown up only minutes from Motor State Distributing, with a passion for building and tuning his own cars, Paul was already very familiar with the company before he came on board in 2004. With a natural talent for connecting with customers and a love for staying up-to-date on the latest industry trends, joining the Motor State sales team was a perfect fit. Paul is a talented fabricator and welder, and once built a 600+ hp Mitsubishi Eclipse that was his daily driver. In his spare time, when he’s not working in his shop fabricating custom parts for cars, he can be found kayaking the local waterways, carving the backroads with his Suzuki Hayabusa, or trying out the latest regional craft beers.
When you grow up participating in motorsports in Southwest Michigan, it’s almost guaranteed that you know the Motor State Distributing name. As a successful racer with a constant desire to grow and improve, Steve was offered a sales position right out of college, and has spent the past 14 years working with people around the world that share his passion for motorsports. His own experience racing pavement Super Late Models throughout the Midwest gives him helpful insights to assist his customers and ensure their satisfaction. When not racing, Steve is focused on raising his son, enjoying outdoor activities, and attending sporting events.
A lifelong native of Southwest Michigan, Tim has been part of the Motor State Distributing sales team since 1989. When he started working on cars at age 13, he knew that the automotive industry would always be a key fixture in his life. His ability to relate to customer challenges and extensive experience with auto parts and machining make him a wealth of helpful information for customers. Having owned a Corvette and several custom 4x4 trucks over the years, he also enjoys putting his skills to the test in his garage in his free time.
In 2016, Trevor came to the Motor State Distributing team from Chillicothe, OH, where he grew up around dirt modified racing. Being able to help racers get what they need for the track and being involved in a sport that he is passionate about is a huge part of what makes his role at Motor State so satisfying. Trevor enjoys auto racing of all kinds, especially circle track, and has plans to build his own dirt modified to race locally. Until then, he stays busy bowling, video gaming, and riding motorcycles.
Having grown up just minutes from Motor State Distributing, Tyler joined the company in 2016, and moved into sales in 2017. He enjoys the breadth of the motorsports world, and looks forward to shows and races, and meeting people from all parts of the industry. A natural at connecting with people, he enjoys the teamwork of the sales staff. When he’s not at work, he and his wife are both active in sports, playing softball, and bowling. They are also dedicated U of M fans as well as Chicago Cubs, Bulls, and Bears fans. He also stays busy coaching his oldest son’s little league baseball team.
Robert joined the Motor State Distributing team in 2001. His fluency in Spanish and natural gift for connecting with people have been a great value in dealing with our international customers. He enjoys working with a wide range of customers around the globe, and as lead of the International Sales Team, enjoys the new opportunities each day brings. Robert and his son have been working together to restore a 1966 Ford Galaxie, helping to foster an appreciation for automotive skills in the next generation. Outside of work, Robert is a devoted family man, and is active in a wide range of activities with them, from sports to pageants to community events.
With a background in business administration and automotive engineering, this Western Michigan University grad also brings more than 15 years of practical experience to his role at Motor State Distributing. His years of kart building and racing and working as crew chief on his son’s circle track race team help him see things from his customers’ perspective and solve problems when they arise. Doug is passionate about motorsports of all kinds, ranging from race cars to hot rods and muscle cars. When he’s not at work, he enjoys time with his family and new grandson, racing, and playing electric guitar, whether it’s in his church band or jamming out to classic rock.
James joined the Motor State Distributing team in 1995 and has been part of the international sales group for most of that time. As a racing and motorsports enthusiast, he enjoys working with customers around the world, helping them get the parts they need and looking forward to their success. In his free time, James enjoys going camping with his family and recreational shooting.
Joey joined the Motor State Distributing eCommerce team in 2018. Originally from Puerto Rico, Joey has a degree in Business Administration, and enjoys working with customers to come up with the perfect solution for their needs. He enjoys working on his own car, continuously learning new things that also help him address customer inquiries.
Originally from Kalamazoo, Mike came to Motor State Distributing in 2013, working in the warehouse. He quickly transitioned to the sales team, where his love of off-roading and race cars makes it easy to connect with customers across the industry, regardless of where they may be located in the world. As a dedicated Jeep fan who can often be found at Silver Lake Sand Dunes with his custom-built ’86 CJ7, Mike spends his spare time exploring the dunes, at local race tracks, or in his workshop, as he continues to refine and upgrade his Jeep. Amidst all of this, he makes spending time with his family and his young son a top priority.
Brad has been involved in the world of eCommerce for nearly twenty years. He is currently completing a degree at the University of California Davis with a specialty in Search Engine Optimization and has been certified by both Google and Yoast in analytics and site structure. Brad has been an automotive enthusiast most of his life, having worked in a hot rod shop prior to beginning his career at Motor State Distributing 14 years ago. He loves the challenges created by the rapid growth in the ecommerce group, building a strong team and constantly working to improve market awareness of the brand. Outside of work, Brad focuses heavily on spending time with his family, staying in shape, and tinkering with his ’97 Jeep Wrangler.
With more than 20 years of drag racing experience, Adam knows what it takes to succeed, on and off the track. Since joining the Motor State team in 2002, he has brought that same dedication to helping ensure the success of our customers. Combine that with his love of motorsports and anything automotive related, and Adam is a natural fit for the eCommerce team.
Apryll has been at Lane for more than 12 years and joined the eCommerce team just over a year ago. A life-long resident of Southwest Michigan, she enjoys assisting customers in finding effective solutions quickly, and constantly works to expand her knowledge of the automotive and motorsports industry. When she’s not working, Apryll is busy with her family, and is actively involved with her daughters’ sporting events.
Austin has been part of the Motor State Distributing team since 2010 and joined the eCommerce team in 2019. Her experience working with customers in different areas of the organization has given her a strong appreciation for the wide range of interests that our customers enjoy. Outside of work, Austin stays active following her kids’ sports activities and working out.
A graduate of Kalamazoo Valley Community College, Steven enjoys being able to apply his passion for cars to his work in the eCommerce team, where he looks forward to new opportunities to grow his expertise every day. Steven enjoys working on his ’73 Camaro, keeping it in top form for car shows and cruises, although he hasn’t ruled out the possibility of racing it someday. He also works hard to stay up on the latest tech and is an avid foodie.
Zach is relatively new to the Motor State Distributing team but has jumped in with both feet. A graduate of Purdue University, Zach brings fresh insights to the eCommerce team, and enjoys working with the group to grow and adjust capabilities in an ever-changing marketplace. He enjoys learning the ins and outs of the motorsports industry and appreciates the positive culture he has found at Motor State Distributing. In his spare time, Zach is a dedicated golfer.
Mario first learned about Motor State Distributing back in high school, when he and his friends would come in to get parts and check out all the cool stuff. That inspired him to join the Motor State Distributing sales team, and 25 years later, he is leading the customer service team, where each day brings new unique challenges and learning opportunities. A dedicated muscle car fan, Mario has owned his share of Mustangs, Camaros, and TransAms, and has always enjoyed all different types of racing. Outside of work, Mario is an amazing chef and an avid golfer.
A Watervliet native, Casey joined the Motor State Distributing team in 2015. Her positive energy and ability to quickly resolve issues made her a natural fit for the customer service team, which she joined in 2019. A dedicated athlete when she was in high school, Casey has continued to stay active by hitting the gym and spending time with friends and family.
Katie’s friendly personality and great problem-solving skills made her a natural addition to the Motor State Distributing team when she came on board in 2018. Attending races and car shows has been a big part of her life, and her time at the track allowed her to get to know many members of the Motor State team, so taking on a role in customer service was a perfect fit. Katie also stays busy with her husband and young son on their blueberry farm, and in her free time, enjoys searching for antiques at local sales, trying out new culinary experiences at home and area restaurants, working in her flower garden, and of course, hanging out at the race track.
First impressions are lasting impressions, and for many Motor State Distributing customers and vendors, one of the first people they speak with is Kerri, who joined the team in 2015. Her friendly, outgoing nature, and pleasure in meeting new people of all walks of life, helps customers feel welcome, whether they are calling for the first time or the fiftieth. A frequent attendee at local racetracks, she shares the passion for motorsports that lies at the heart of the industry. Kerri also stays very active with her family and in her church.
