Martin Schwartz, the President and CEO of Vehicles for Change, drew inspiration from the “Field of Dreams” model when building his company. In the famous 1989 movie starring Kevin Costner, the protagonist builds a baseball field on his Iowa farm based on an inner conviction, even when others doubted its success. In the end, his belief is rewarded as the field becomes a success.
Below are highlights of the interview:
Can you please provide a brief overview of your professional background and experience in the industry?
I started my first business as a 10-year-old. In 1965, I was a paperboy. Back then, you not only delivered the papers but also invoiced your customers, collected the payments, and paid the invoice from the newspaper, basically running a business from start to finish. I learned the value of hard work, customer service (tips were always good), and accounting. It was a great opportunity to launch my business education.
I obtained my college degree in accounting and a master’s in business and information systems. I then spent three very unfulfilled years as an auditor. During that time, I coached travel baseball and basketball. I knew that my passion was working with kids (helping people) and set the goal of becoming a major college baseball coach. The next 10 years I spent coaching high school and college baseball and, as the Development Director at the college, launched several camp programs, which today we call social enterprises.
Life has a way of throwing you curve balls and babies. My coaching career ended, and I became the Associate Athletic Director for Development and Marketing at UMBC. There, I honed my business, marketing, and fundraising skills. In 1996, I launched the Student-Athlete Information Link, an internet-based recruiting service for high school athletes. Unfortunately, no one knew what the internet was in 1996—just a tad before its time.
In 1999, my ultimate destination came to be… vehicles for change. Sometimes, we need to let life take us where we can best serve. My entire life prepared me for this calling. At VFC, we address two main factors impacting generational poverty: transportation and incarceration. We provide cars to low-income families so they may gain and maintain employment and provide for their children. In the process, we train individuals with multiple barriers to employment, most with a criminal background, to be auto mechanics. VFC has become the largest and premier low-income car ownership program in the country and is recognized as one of the top reentry training programs in the region.
Along the way, I had two amazing children who grew into amazing adults, both serving their country in the Marine Corps and the Navy. One of my absolute favorite jobs in the world was being a father, and I was blessed with two wonderful children.
Tell us about Vehicles for Change and its mission. What inspired you to start this company?
Vehicles for Change addresses the two main factors that impact generational poverty: transportation and incarceration. The program itself is outlined in the above answer.
Our Vision:
To create a just world where everyone has equitable access to life’s opportunities
The initial car ownership idea was not mine. A for-profit company in the auto industry had the idea they wanted to give back to the community and incorporate their business and connections in doing so. A chance interaction between myself and their general manager led them to invite me to develop and implement the idea. The training program, launched in 2016, was my idea and was the result of feedback from our partner garages about their need for trained technicians.
Our most recent development and social enterprise is our virtual reality training, VFC-VR. This was the result of looking for a means to reduce our overall cost of training and develop a new revenue source by using this amazing technology.
What strategies do you employ to ensure that Vehicles for Change remains competitive in the market?
VFC is the only program like this in the US. Other car ownership programs and training program exist but no organization has combined the two like VFC. One of our core values is “Innovation”. The development of our training program and then our virtual reality training, opened a new world of funding. Our 3 social enterprises also provide revenue streams most organizations aren’t willing to risk. Finally, we hire the best team members and assure they hold true to our core values.
How do you foster a culture of innovation and adaptability within your organization, considering the rapidly changing landscape of the business industry?
“Innovation” is at our core. The willingness to change and grow the organization is a key focus for all staff. All team members are encouraged to innovate in their specific functions and are recognized for doing so. A prime example: the change in the car market drastically reduced our car donations. By building a partnership with NAPA Auto Parts, we will begin promoting car donations nationally through their vast network.
What steps do you take to attract and retain top talent in the industry, and how do you encourage professional growth and development within your organization?
We have a great reputation in the region, and that is growing nationally. That allows us to attract some very high-level individuals. We then hire for our core values and pay an industry-competitive wage. Staff are encouraged to constantly grow and are given one hour each week to pursue their personal development, whether that be organization-related or personal.
How do you address the increasing importance of digitalization and technology in the sector, and how does it influence the company’s operations and customer experience?
We are one of the first training programs in the US to develop and incorporate virtual reality training into our program and to build it as a social enterprise. Our social enterprises, mainly our retail repair shops, use the latest technology in our processes.
As President of Vehicles for Change, what is your overall vision for the company’s future and how do you plan to achieve it?
We intend to launch 20 new locations in the next 5 years. The issues we address are common to all parts of the country. Our social enterprises, mainly VR-VFC, will generate the funding necessary for the expansion. We built partnerships with national organizations like the National Auto Dealers Association, NAPA Auto Parts, and the American Corrections Association that are committed to our growth and addressing the needs of the formerly incarcerated and the shortage of auto technicians nationally.
What advice would you give to aspiring leaders or individuals looking to join the industry?
- Be a great listener.
- Lead by example.
- You are there to serve your team.
- Be willing to do whatever it takes to be successful.
- There are plenty of accolades to go around; make sure everyone shares in them. You’re the last in line.
- Surround yourself with people smarter than you and let them do their thing.
- Never think you know it all, and strive to get better every day.
- This is not for the weak of heart.
Please visit: https://www.vehiclesforchange.org/
