Joe has worked in and with the Automotive industry for more than 35 years. He and his business partner opened Stith-Atkinson Advertising in 1983. This full-service advertising agency provided marketing services for a variety of local, regional and national accounts that represented a variety of industries including national automotive, sporting goods, automotive dealerships, pharmaceutical companies, manufacturing, insurance and financial products, and apparel retailers. After 25 successful years, Joe chose to step away from the agency business to pursue a career in the automotive retail industry.
In late 2008, he joined Tael Motor Company (Mercedes- Benz) as Director of Operations. During his tenure at Tafel the dealership experienced a significant increase in market share and sales growth in New, Used and Fixed operations. In 2016 Joe was promoted to Executive Vice President of Peterson Automotive Collection overseeing operations for multiple dealerships. He served in that role with the organization until he joined AAG (Automotive Apprenticeship Group) as President in January 2021.
Joe has served on multiple automotive industry committees as well as the Board of the Louisville Salvation Army, Advisory Committee for CASA, Advisory Committee for Blessings in a Back Pack and volunteered with multiple charitable and community organizations. He is married to wife Lisa, and they have two children.
