Veterans at Walser
Five members of Veterans at Walser on teamwork, deployment, Guard service and building a civilian career at Walser Automotive Group, LockLeed’s Q2 2026 Patriot Award recipient.
Our Q2 2026 Patriot Award
LockLeed International presented Walser Automotive Group with its Patriot Award for the second quarter of 2026, recognizing Walser’s dedication to recruiting, hiring and retaining veterans, and our ongoing partnership.
Angela Leathley, Vice President of Veterans at Walser, and Jackson Rusnacko, Talent Acquisition Specialist, joined the LockLeed team for the presentation. The plaque was made by Mike Wolbrink and Jody Younger of Younger Gunworks in Le Center, Minnesota.
“We guarantee a conversation for every veteran who applies for a job at Walser.”
Lindsey T., Director of Talent Acquisition, Walser
Serving customers since 1954
Walser Automotive Group dates to 1954, when Jack Walser opened his first Oldsmobile lot in South St. Paul. His sons, Paul and Andrew Walser, took over the company in 1997, and today Walser has dealerships across the Twin Cities and Wichita.
Walser is known for its “One Person. One Price.” approach: one upfront price and a dedicated single point of contact for every customer.
Built around service
Veterans at Walser (VAW) is Walser’s employee resource group for team members who have served or are serving, their families and their allies. Launched in 2024, it brings together veterans from every branch of the military.
The group works with Walser’s human resources team and managers from recruiting through onboarding and beyond, and connects members with resources such as job training, mentorship and mental health support. Its aim is to make Walser the automotive retailer of choice for veterans and the military community.
Support that shows up in practice
Minnesota automotive retailer named a Beyond the Yellow Ribbon Company, a Minnesota Department of Military Affairs program recognizing employers that support service members, veterans and military families.
Walser, November 2025Walser’s 12-month, 2,000-hour on-the-job sales training program is approved for federal and Minnesota GI Bill benefits.
Walser, February 2026Named a Community Heroes honoree by the Minnesota Automobile Dealers Association for outstanding service to Minnesota communities.
Walser, November 2025Working together to hire veterans
LockLeed and Walser Automotive Group announced an exclusive partnership for 2026. Walser’s plans for the year, shared with us by Dayna Kleve, Director of Diversity, Engagement and Foundation, include a dedicated veteran employment recruiter and a peer-to-peer mentorship program for military-connected employees.
From Walser’s team
“Thank you so much to the LockLeed International team. Your partnership in connecting with Veterans to careers in automotive has been amazing! We look forward to continuing to build on this momentum!”
“Thank you for this honor. We are grateful for this relationship. Excited for all we will do together.”
“Last year, we set the foundation, became a Beyond the Yellow Ribbon Company and built the groundwork. This year, we’re building on that and are already having great success in hiring veterans.”
“Some of the guys in my National Guard unit mentioned Walser getting the BTYR [Beyond the Yellow Ribbon] certification and seeing them connect the dots has been rewarding.”
Five members of Veterans at Walser
The statements featured in the video, as they appear on each member’s card.
TroyWalser Brooklyn Park HyundaiU.S. Air Force
“The military taught me the importance of team work and taking pride in my job, which helped me progress into a Sr. Service Advisor role at Walser.”
JohnWalser St. Paul SubaruArmy National Guard
“The military also taught me to adapt quickly to changing situations and always focus on finding a solution, which has been valuable in providing a great experience for both my coworkers and customers at Walser.”
DylanWalser Nissan WayzataAir National Guard
“Walser provided a wonderful gift basket with signed cards and goodies before deploying then paid a portion of my salary while on Active Orders, which was very much appreciated! They made the hard times better.”
DrewWalser Nissan WayzataArmy National Guard
“Walser has been tremendously supportive of my military commitment in finding coverage while I am away and providing 96 hours of paid time off for my annual 2-week training.”
JacksonWalser Corporate OfficeU.S. Army and Army National Guard
“My goal as a Veteran Recruiter is to help service members, Veterans, and military spouses successfully transition into rewarding civilian careers while showcasing the opportunities available at Walser.”
Thank you, Veterans at Walser
Service carries forward. LockLeed International connects employers with military-trained professionals for direct-hire roles, and we are proud to share how employers like Walser support the people who served.
Sources: Walser Automotive Group, About Walser, Walser history, Veterans at Walser, Beyond the Yellow Ribbon designation, GI Bill eligible sales training and MADA Community Heroes. Award, partnership and team quotes: LockLeed’s Patriot Award announcement and other posts on LockLeed International’s LinkedIn.