Tom Greenlee, Sr, owner of Pic-N-Save Auto Recyclers, has over 40 years experience in the auto dismantling business. Beginning in 1967, Tom went to work for Pete Hastert - owner of Rockford Auto Parts in Rockford, Illinois. From 1967 to 1986, Tom and Pete became partners and best friends.

In 1986, Pete decided to get out of the business and sold Rockford Auto Parts to Tom. From 1986 to 2001, Tom, Sr. and his son, Tommy, Jr. operated Rockford Auto Parts, serving the greater Chicago and Rockford areas. Tommy, Jr. took care of sales, and seven additional employees handled vehicle dismantling. Customer Service was - and continues to be - Tom's speciality. He's always enjoyed a huge following, as he stands behind every part he sells, and goes that extra mile for his clients.

hands-on, then and now

At Rockford Auto, Tom bought all the vehicles, drove the flat-bed to haul vehicles to the yard, and delivered parts all over Rockford and Chicago - as he does today for Pic-N-Save. Tom likes delivering parts as it keeps him in contact with his customers. Back in Rockford, a tradition began that Tom continues today: when Tom drops off parts, he likes to stick around and see what they're working on in the shop. Knowing his lot so well, Tom can usually tell whether he has a part his customer might need - and that part usually gets delivered to the customer the very next day.

Heading West to Retire ... MAYBE

When Tom decided to retire in 2001, Rockford Auto Parts enjoyed the reputation as one of the best yards in northern Illinois. He sold Rockford Auto Parts to the Hoffman brothers from Chicago. There was no question where Tom wanted to retire: the Carson Valley, where he had visited frequently since the early '80's. Never looking back, Tom and his wife, Carol, headed west and purchased a home in Gardnerville, Nevada. After two years of retirement, Tom missed the business, so he and Carol decided to go back to work.

recreating a successful formula

At the time Tom and Carol purchased Pic-N-Save, it was a closed yard and needed a lot of work. Tom had all the experience ... Carol picked it up along the way. After seven years of rebuilding and restocking the yard, Pic-N-Save is now a full-scale dismantling yard with 8 1/2 acres and over 4,000 cars and trucks. And that's just the beginning! A new 75' x 50' steel building to house motors and transmissions is due for completion at the end of 2008. Tom and Carol have turned Pic-N-Save into a turn-key operation so when Tom decides to retire again, the new owners can step in without missing a beat.

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