Bart Rinkenberger is general manager of Lighthouse Automotive, a Morton car dealership where he is responsible for all operations and supervises a team of 50. His outside-the-box thinking and willingness to implement creative strategies has enabled Lighthouse to become one of the region’s premier dealerships. In Rinkenberger’s 15-year tenure as manager, monthly sales have increased by 230 percent, and for each of the last seven years, General Motors has presented him the Mark of Excellence Award.
Rinkenberger’s strong commitment to his community is reflected in his service to a variety of organizations. He is president of We Care, which provides social services, transportation, food goods and meals on wheels to the elderly and disabled in Morton and the surrounding area. He is a Paul Harris Fellow and president of the Morton Rotary Club, working to bring in guest speakers that address issues of concern to its members.
In addition, Rinkenberger serves as director of the Illinois packaging and logistics facility for the Midwest Food Bank. By the end of 2012, the organization is expected to close on an 18,000-square-foot facility that will provide packaging and distribution of dried meals to feed millions of people on multiple continents — an accomplishment that would not be possible without his leadership. He is also a Sunday school teacher, greeter at Harvest Bible Chapel, consumer education sponsor at Morton High School, and mentor to numerous young men.
An avid runner, Rinkenberger has competed in many races and marathons, including the Boston Marathon in 2009 and New York City Marathon in 2011. As co-chairman of the Pumpkin Classic 10K, he has helped raise the number of participants from 700 to 1,700, and transformed it into part of the Illinois Valley Striders race series.
Placing family at the forefront of his life, Rinkenberger strives to maintain a balance between his volunteerism and business obligations, making sure to be home by 6pm each night to spend time with his wife and their five — soon to be six — children. iBi
