Rihm Monthly Magazine - February 2025 - Magazine - Page 23
RIHM THROUGH
THE YEARS
John established a branch
location in Superior, WI
to support the customer
base in that area. As the
business and truck sales
grew, John acquired more
land on the south side of
the headquarters building
to undeck and park trucks
waiting for repairs in the
shop and for customer
pick-up..
Walter ended
his career as
Chairman of
the Board in
2002 and
passed in
away in 2004.
Rihm Kenworth
is recognized
by Kenworth
Truck Company
with a Silver
Award for Dealer
Excellence.
The National
Association of
Women-Owned
Businesses
presented
Rihm with its
Local Chapter
Pioneer Award.
1998
2002
2012
2014
1997
The
company
was rebranded
as Rihm
Kenworth.
Year of Celebrations
A brand new full
service dealership was
built in Mankato, MN .
2019
Kari Rihm was named the
American Truck Dealers
Association (ATD) Dealer
of the Year for 2022. Rihm
Family Companies also
celebrated 90 years of being
in business and received the
Successful Dealer Award.
2022
2007
2010
2011
2017
2024
Another new branch
operation opened in
Albert Lea, MN. This
dealership was later
moved to a nearby
remodeled/expanded
building in 2021.
Endings &
Beginnings
Welcoming the
4th Generation
Kari J. Rihm became
President and
Dealer Principal
when John lost his
life to brain cancer
in 2010.
John & Kari's children,
representing the 4th
generation, joined the
company in 2011. Son,
JB as Outside Parts Sales
Manager and daughter,
Libby working part-time
doing administrative
work for the company.
More 2011 Milestones:
• New dealership
location in Sauk
Centre, MN was
opened
• Rihm is recognized as
Kenworth's Medium
Duty Dealer of the
Year for the 1st of 3
times from 2011-2014
• Rihm first became
National Women’s
Business Enterprise
Certified (WBNEC)
Establishing
Truck Leasing &
Rental Options
Rihm Kenworth
celebrated 75 years as
a Kenworth dealership.
The dealership location
in Superior, WI officially
re-opened after major
building renovations.
Rihm's acquisition
of an existing
full-service
leasing company
with locations
in MN, WI and
SD provided
customers with
the option to
lease or rent
equipment from
either Rihm
PacLease or Rihm
NationaLease.
2018
Expanding Forward
In a transformative year, Rihm
completed and moved into
two brand new state-of-theart facilities in both South St.
Paul, MN, which became the
new headquarters location,
and a "twin" building in Coon
Rapids, MN. They opened just
two weeks apart, bidding
farewell to St. Paul after 67
years. Additionally, a fullservice dealership in Winona,
MN was also opened.
22
