In an industry traditionally dominated by men, Tami Willett has not only carved out a place for herself – she’s set a high standard for leadership and integrity. As the General Manager of Luther Westside Volkswagen in St. Louis Park, Willett brings over 26 years of experience in the automotive landscape, including 15 dedicated years at the Westside dealership. Her journey has been marked by growth, and an unwavering commitment to her team and customers.
Willett’s entry into the car business was inspired by friends and family already working in the field. “The more they talked about it, the more intrigued I was,” she recalls. The fast pace and people-focused nature of the business appealed to her desire for a non-monotonous career. “There weren’t many women in the space, so I saw it as a fun challenge.”
That mindset would carry her far. Beginning in car sales, Willett steadily climbed the ranks – moving into finance, then managing both new and used car departments. She eventually became a general sales manager and, later, the first female general manager in the Walser Automotive Group. That position took her to the prestigious NADA Dealer Academy in Washington, D.C., preparing her for senior leadership. After eight years with Walser, she transitioned to Luther Automotive, drawn by the company’s people-first values and long-standing reputation.
“My moral compass just aligned with Luther,” Willett says. “The tenure here is unbelievable – several employees have been with the company for over 30 or even 40 years. That says everything about the culture.”
Willett’s leadership style is grounded and hands-on. “I’m a doer, not a delegator,” she explains. With a campus that spans two buildings, she gets her steps in daily – literally walking the floor, connecting with team members, and staying closely involved in operations. “I’ve done every job here,” she says. “It keeps me grounded and in tune with the day-to-day tasks of my staff.”
This approach has fostered a collaborative and supportive workplace culture at Luther Westside Volkswagen. Willett emphasizes teamwork across the dealership’s traditionally siloed departments – new cars, used cars, service, and parts. “We’ve worked hard to tear down those silos,” she says. “It’s not about finger-pointing when something goes wrong – it’s about solving problems together for the customer.”
Her efforts are particularly visible in how she values the dealership’s service and parts teams – groups often working behind the scenes. “Service doesn’t get the glory,” Willett notes. “They’re in the heat, fixing broken cars, and often don’t get the emotional highs that come with a car sale.” With more than 60 employees in those departments, she’s made it a priority to celebrate their work just as much as the sales staff, including them in store events and company-wide recognitions.
That sense of unity extends beyond operations. Willett takes pride in knowing her employees personally – learning about their families, hobbies, and even their pets. “We spend more time here than we do with our families, so we should enjoy being here,” she says. “It’s about creating an atmosphere where we conduct serious business – but we do it with heart.”
Beyond the showroom, Willett and her husband, Mike, find peace at their cabin in Balsam Lake, Wisconsin, where they enjoy long pontoon rides and time with their boxer dogs, Molly and Kane. The couple is deeply involved with local dog rescues, particularly the Minnesota Boxer Rescue, often hosting adoption and awareness events at the dealership. “We lost one of our dogs, Champ, recently,” Willett shares. “It’s been a tough adjustment, but our new rescue, Kane, keeps us on our toes.”
She’s also a proud mother. Her daughter Dakota is an RN working with seniors – a career path Willett speaks of with admiration, noting the shared passion for caring and service that runs in the family.
As for the future of the automotive industry, Willett is focused on electric vehicles (EVs). “We’ve jumped into EVs with both feet,” she says, noting that training, infrastructure, and customer education are key priorities as the market shifts. Consumer confidence may be volatile, but Willett believes in adapting and staying ahead of the curve.
After more than two decades in the business, Tami Willett’s motivation remains simple yet powerful: creating an environment where people thrive. “We’ve worked hard to build a place where it’s more than just a job,” she says. “It’s a career, a community, and for many of us – a second home.”
2370 MN-100, St Louis Park | 952-377-4100 | westsidevw.com