About Us

Mike Puetz - Owner
Mike grew up in Altura, Minnesota and graduated from Lewiston High School in 1978 and Rochester Technical College in 1980. He worked on his family farm with his parents until 1987, when he started his career in automobile business. He sold vehicles until 1993 then became General Manager of Chrysler Winona and the General Manager and co-owner of KIA Direct in West Salem, Wi. In June of 2001 he became General Manager of Sugar Loaf Ford and in 2005 became the owner. In July of 2008, Mike and Bill Hutmacher bought out Bill's partner in Chrysler Winona which today they run together.

Mike lives in Winona with his wife, Stephanie. They have four children, three grown and one at home. He enjoys hunting, fishing, motorcycling and travel whenever he gets the chance. Mike considers the automobile business "without a doubt, the most interesting and rewarding business one could ask for!"

Bill Hutmacher - Retired Owner
Bill grew up in Park Ridge Illinois and lived there until he was 23. He graduated from Western Michigan University with a Business degree in 1965. Bill worked for Chrysler Corporation in Detroit, Chicago, Des Moines, and San Francisco. He also worked for Mars Oldsmobile in Chicago and Hawkeye Dodge in Des Moines Iowa. Bill purchased a 25% interest in Sheaffer Chrysler Plymouth Inc. in Fort Madison Iowa. in 1972. He sold his interest in Sheaffer to buy Hutmacher Chevrolet in Washington Iowa and sold Hutmacher Chevrolet to purchase Sugar Loaf Ford. Bill worked for the Wabasha County Sheriff's Department as a Deputy and Chief Deputy from 1990 to 1998. Bill also worked for the Charlotte County Sheriff's Department from 2001-2003. He enjoys boating, motorcycling, racquetball, scuba diving and fishing.

JoAn Moham - Financial Services Advisor
JoAn began her career in the automobile business in August of 1969 when the dealership was owned by Tousley Ford. She worked in the office doing payroll, accounts receivable & payable, titling, etc. At that time everything was hand written in journals. In 1977, with the ownership change, she became Business Manager for the Dealership. JoAn lives in Homer with her husband Harold. They have two married children and one "perfect" granddaughter. In her spare time JoAn enjoys spending time with her family, her dogs Whisper, Sophie and Annie, gardening, swimming, interior decorating, and exploring Homer history. She is a member of the Homer Church, its choir, teaches Sunday School and is active in the Homer Civic Association. She's also a member of the Pickwick Chapter OES, Anytime Fitness and the Winona County Historical Society. She says, "I'm committed to customer service which results in exceeding customer's expectations - going the extra mile not only ensures a happy customer, it ensures repeat business and lasting friendships - I love the automobile business!"

Harold Moham - Parts & Service Director/Customer Relations Manager
Harold started in 1959 when the dealership was named Owl Motor Co. He did detailing before he became the manager of the Service Department. In his spare time he enjoys spending time at his hobby farm where he raises quarter horses. Harold is a member of the Homer Church and President of the Homer Civic Association.

Michael Harrison - Sugar Loaf Ford/Chrysler Winona Service, Parts and Collision Center Director
Mike Harrison began his career as dispatcher in May of 1988 after being honorably discharged from four years of service in the US Navy. He was promoted to Service Manager in 2003 and enjoys the diversity of his position. Mike is a great communicator and says it’s the most important aspect of achieving exceptional service results. "It all begins with listening to the customer’s description of their service concern and then relaying it clearly to the technician."

Mike is the proud father of twin daughters, Kendra and Kaysie. In his spare time he enjoys fishing, golfing, camping and his pug named Lacey. Mike resides in rural Winona.

Mary Schneider - Parts Manager
Mary grew up right here in Winona. Her love for automobiles started in high school. She attended many drag races at the track near Eau Claire, Wisconsin then known as Amber Green. Mary Said "I knew then I had to learn more about them!" Mary attended the Minnesota State College Southeast and graduated in 1982. She started working for Sugar Loaf Ford in the Parts Department and has been there ever since.

Mary is on the board of directors for the Automotive Technology division at the Vo-Tech and has been asked to give speeches at the Vo-Tech and WSU. Mary's hobbies include traveling, camping and boating.

Rod Trachta - Collision Center Manager
Collision Center Manager, Rodney Trachta is a Cresco Iowa native. He’s a graduate of Crestwood High School in Cresco, Iowa, attended NICC in Calmer Iowa, and graduated from Southeast Minnesota Technical College, Winona, Minnesota with a degree in Automotive Collision Repair and Auto Mechanics.

Rod joined our Sugar Loaf Ford family in September of 1997 and began climbing through the ranks as an automotive technician. After three years of mechanical and technical repairing, he was promoted to Service Writer/Dispatcher and enjoyed learning the fine art of customer service. In 2003, he was promoted to Assistant Collision Center Manager being the apprentice of a 43 year veteran Manager. Upon his mentors’ retirement on January 1, 2013, Rod was promoted to Collision Center Manager.

Rod is multi-talented and always is there to assist with anything from computer problems to helping organize our annual Mustang Run. His hobbies are collecting and restoring antique tractors, camping, motorcycling (yes he and his wife own Harley’s), rooting for the Iowa Hawkeyes and the Minnesota Vikings.

He and his wife Annette live in Winona.

Lora Ehlenfeldt - Controller
Lora was hired in the spring of 1993 as a part time cashier. She later moved into a full-time position as Title Clerk and has now been promoted to Controller. Lora was born in Minneapolis and moved to the Winona area to be closer to her family. She and husband Al have 5 children, one of which is still at home. Her oldest daughter Kendra has graduated from SE Tech with an Accounting degree, and her youngest daughter Kara will be attending Wisconsin Tech in the fall. In her spare time she likes to camp, and spend time with family.

Roxie Ressie - Receptionist
Roxie grew up on a farm outside of Lewiston, Mn and lived there until 9th grade, graduating from WSHS. She lived in Minneapolis for 23 years before moving back to Winona in the spring of 2008 when she started at Sugar Loaf Ford as our Receptionist. She loves working with people and is great with our customers. She loves animals, enjoys time with family, traveling, horseback riding and spoiling her cats.

Brenda Thicke - Title and Accounts Payable Clerk
Brenda was born in Minneapolis and moved to Winona when she was 13. She enjoys fishing the Mississippi for sunfish , camping and her dog, Kiefer. She lives with her significant other in Winona and says she is delighted to be a part of the Sugar Loaf Ford family since 2011.