LEADERSHIP LOWDOWN Steve Miksta Product Owner of SPEAR at VIP Mortgage Partner with Howard Fleischmann Partner of Community Tire Pros and Auto Repair
VIP Mortgage is a retail mortgage lender, based out of Scottsdale, AZ, although they have offices in several states across the country. VIP’s vision has always been to restore the reputation of the mortgage industry and they believe in attracting people with HEART, who can in turn accomplish more together than they ever could alone. VIP is built on relationships and is always focused on providing what is best for their employees, as well as for the end customer.
Steve Miksta was nationally ranked among the top 1% of loan originators in 2012. Instead of continuing to grow his production, Steve believed there was a greater opportunity in streamlining the mortgage process and assisting Loan Originators across the country in providing a better service to their customers. Steve partnered with VIP Mortgage in 2013 with the vision of building out an enterprise platform on Salesforce that would maximize company efficiencies, while attracting top Loan Originator talent. To date, VIP has grown over 50% since Steve’s arrival, while many competitors have continued to see volume drop. VIP continues to expand recruitment of top producing loan officers throughout Arizona, as well as in the other markets where they operate.
Steve is originally from a Chicago suburb and received a degree in Information Systems from the University of Illinois. Steve is now married to his wife, Dawn, and they recently gave birth to their son, Remington.
Follow Steve and VIP Mortgage on LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
Community Tire Pros & Auto Repair has been serving its communities since 1945. They strive to make a difference in their clients’ lives and believe in creating lifelong relationships. Thus allowing their clients the comfort of providing preventive maintenance service and tires when it’s timely of date, weather-worn & appropriate, rather than reacting to only break down; this allows our clients to budget and maintain a lower cost of vehicle operation. Community Tire Pros is centered around the community; both in their name andtheir company culture. They chose the name to reflect the true image and beliefs their company and associates stand for, their “Community” Tire Pros and Automotive Service Repair. They believe in giving to, and supporting, their local community and they have built a reputation for providing the highest level of honest and professional service in their industry. They center their service around you, as their valued customer, and want to earn 
your repeat business. With their Reward Program, you earn points with repairs and NEW CUSTOMERS 1st visit receives $25 of, Try us & Take us for a TEST DRIVE!
They are a certified partner with AskPatty.com, creating a female-focused environment and positive experience for all our women consumers. They specialize in ALL Vehicle repairs/NEW Tires/ Vehicle manufacturer required service & updates. (excluding collision repairs)
They have six service facilities, North Phoenix, Tempe/East Phoenix, West Glendale, Downtown Phoenix, Metro Center & minutes from the Sky Harbor Airport.
Howard Fleischmann Sr. has been in the industry for the past 49 years, starting his career in Tucson in 1969. After 27 years in the automotive wholesale business, he ventured into the retail auto repair business. In 2008, he went to his teams & recreated their direction of the business. Howard & his wife, Pat went to the clients instead of waiting for them… good old grassroots, Networking! We are a “Hassle-Free.Guaranteed” Tire Pros to satisfy everyone to the best of their ability! Ten years later are a few accolades to their Team Efforts: Proud to be the National “Top Shop” of the year by Tire Review /Tire Industry by our peers!
Community Tire Pros is part of their community and participate in worthwhile “Give Back” programs. They have been honored with the BBB Ethics Award, Impact Award from the Phoenix Chamber of Commerce, Spirit Award from the WP Carey Business Center of ASU, twice awarded the TOP 5 SHOP national finalist in Tire Review Magazine-Tire Industry, AAA TOP SHOP Award for years running, AZ Central Reader’s Choice, Phx Business Journal Ranking AZ, Diversity Champions-Phx Business Journal, A+ BBB rating, One Community “Spotlight on Success” award, Business for Success Award by Governor Brewer, Phoenix Gay Pride Grand Marshall’s, another honor to be given yearly to a recipient is the Pride “Patricia & Howard Spirit Award” for forwarding thinking allies, etc. Their accolades deems their Customers Satisfaction! They specialize in Fleet Service and know the importance of keeping you Safe & on the Road!
The Leadership Lowdown was created to share the REAL story behind valley leaders’ rise to the top, and the truth about what it takes to TRULY succeed in life and business. Hear the raw stories of these leaders’ journeys…the pitfalls, the victories, and all of the heartaches and triumphs in between.
Follow Howard and Community Tire Pros on LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter.
ABOUT YOUR HOST
Jodi Low is an accomplished corporate trainer, inspirational speaker, and the Founder and CEO of U & Improved. Jodi has trained thousands of entrepreneurs and executives on how to build a booming business, master a mindset for success, and achieve the lifestyle they desire through heart-fueled leadership.
Through U & Improved—an award-winning personal and professional leadership development company based in Scottsdale—Jodi has redefined traditional leadership training by creating a sustainable and actionable model that is personal, challenging and meaningful to each and every individual who enrolls in any of the two-and-a-half-day experiential training classes. She and her elite training team have advanced the charge in heart-based leadership
development and empower U & Improved graduates with knowledge, tools and awareness to immediately be more effective and responsive leaders at work, home and within their communities.
Among her many accomplishments as a Valley leader, Jodi launched a teen leadership program in 2014 to empower young adults to become more confident, motivated and focused stewards of our future. In 2016, she founded a non-profit arm of the company—the U & Improved Leadership Foundation—that makes the program more accessible to deserving teens.
Jodi has been recognized by industry publications and organizations for her work in leadership development and serves as a source of inspiration within the community. In 2015, she was honored as an “Outstanding Women in Business” by the Phoenix Business Journal and by the Phoenix Suns and National Bank of Arizona with the “Amazing Women” award. She has received both the prestigious “Diversity Leader of the Year” and the Scottsdale Chamber of Commerce’s “Sterling Award.” She was also awarded a Silver Stevie Award for Female Entrepreneur of the Year 2015 and was a finalist for the Junior League of Phoenix’s Valley Impact Award. Jodi is a devoted single parent who volunteers her time at her daughters’ school programs and with organizations such as Angel Mamas, where she’s served on the board for three years.
