Since its beginning in 1984 under the ownership of Bill Reilley, Sr., CEO, the truck dealership has grown to nine locations including a parts distribution center and headquarters in Milwaukee, Wis., and locations in Janesville, Madison, Monroe, Racine, Random Lake and West Bend, Wis., as well as Rockford, Ill.
“Thirty-five years is a significant milestone and we were inspired to honor it by showing our pride in our employees and by supporting the communities that have helped us create a thriving business,” says Bill Reilley, Jr, president, Lakeside International Trucks.
To help celebrate its 35th anniversary, Lakeside created its “35 for 35 Pay it Forward Program” to give back to the communities served by the dealership in two very tangible ways.
First, Lakeside contributed $35 for every employee to its 2019 Community Fund — for a total of more than $12,000. This fund has been distributed to Homes for our Troops, Rawhide Youth Services, and Truckers Against Trafficking, three important charities that are active nationally and in Lakeside’s local area. Second, Lakeside is providing 35 hours of paid “volunteer time off” to each dealership location — for a total of 280 volunteer hours across all Lakeside locations. Lakeside employees can participate in volunteer activities in their local communities and the dealership will compensate them for their volunteer time.
The company says the program will continue through 2020.
“When my father, Bill Reilley, Sr. embarked on his journey to Wisconsin in 1984, he took on an existing International Truck dealership that was closed due to poor performance and financial difficulties,” Reilley, Jr. “He had a singular goal: To become a successful truck dealer and achieve market leadership in every facet of the business. Since then, driven by a commitment to customer satisfaction and the guiding principle to always do the right thing, Lakeside has flourished and expanded to eight locations and over 350 employees.
“His focus as an owner and dealer principal has always been to positively contribute in the communities where we operate and drive for market leadership — a goal that we all work to toward each and every day.”
