Click on one of the people below to find out more information.

  • Brady Sladek
    Group Dealerships General Manager

    Brady joined the Mills Ford Sales team in September 2003. He was previously with the Mills GM Detail Department since September 1999. Brady grew up in the Brainerd Lakes Area, and he is a graduate of the College of St. Scholastica. When he's not working Brady enjoys biking and spending time with his friends.

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  • Brian Smith
    New Vehicle Sales Manager

    Originally from Fairbanks, Alaska, Brian joined Mills in 2014. He previously worked in automotive sales and retail sportswear management. He is a graduate of Brainerd High School and attended Central Lakes College. Outside of work, Brian enjoys golf, fishing and time with family and friends.

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  • Sean Vagts
    Used Vehicle Sales Manager

    Previously a loan officer and personal banker for seven years at US Bank, Sean joined Mills in October 2014. He also worked 15 years in automotive sales and sales management, and served three years in the U.S. Army. Originally from Iowa, Sean and his wife, DeeDee, moved to Brainerd in 2000, and they have three children, Seth, Gavin and Avery. The family enjoys camping, fishing, snowmobiling, lake outings, baseball and soccer, with Sean also coaching youth hockey and baseball games.

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  • Chad Ohman
    Sales Desking Manager

    Previously a sales manager for TradeHome working in Minnesota, Wisconsin, Missouri and North Dakota, Chad joined Mills in 2015.  Chad is a graduate of Brainerd High School. He enjoys fishing, hunting, camping and travel.

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  • Joshua Sand
    Finance Manager

    Joshua joined Mills in 2016. He is originally from Pine River, a graduate of Pine River-Backus High School, Central Lakes Collage, Brainerd, and the University of Phoenix with a degree in management. Joshua previously worked at Harrah's in South Lake Tahoe.  He and his wife, Briana, have a daughter, and the family lives in Brainerd.  Joshua enjoys hunting, fishing and family time.

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  • Airen Brinley
    Finance Manager

    Airen joined the Mills team in 2022, returning to a familiar automotive focus after serving for some time as Store Manager for BeMobile Verizon in Brainerd.  "I've worked anywhere from fast food, grocery stores, automotive and sales," Airen said, describing his interesting career path.  Growing up in Columbia, MO, Airen attended and graduated from Hallsville High School before eventually finding his way to Minnesota and his current home in Brainerd. Airen and his fiancé Emily became parents and welcomed their son Leo to the world in December 2021.  When he's not working, Airen says he enjoys "going on hikes, working on cars, playing video games, fishing, boating and spending time with my family".

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  • Sid Osterman
    Service Manager

    Sid painted his first car, a 1963 Impala he called "The Streak", in his dad's dirt floor shop near Frazee.  He was born and raised on the family's dairy farm. Sid is a graduate of Perham High School. He joined Mills in February of 1998. A resident of Pequot Lakes, Sid enjoys summer drag racing, hunting and spearing. He has three children and enjoys time with his grandchildren.

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  • Don Griggs
    Sales and Leasing Consultant

    Don has been with Mills Motor Inc. since 1998. He is a native of Washington, Iowa. Don met his wife, Melody, while they were both attending Iowa State University in Ames, and have been married since 1986. Don and Melody have five children, Samantha, Ashley, Megan, Dayton and Haley. Don has been in retail sales since 1983 and in automotive sales since 1993. Don and his family enjoy actively serving in various ministries in their church and community.

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  • Joe Miller
    Sales and Leasing Consultant

    Joe joined Mills in 2014 after working as a manufacturers' sales representative, and for Grand View Lodge as the east side property manager and then event services manager. He is originally from Hopkins, graduated from Hopkins High School, and attended St. Olaf College. Joe lives in Nisswa and enjoys playing golf, billiards, and fishing, as well as watching soccer and hockey. His favorite team is Arsenal FC, an English football club.

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  • Reece Thompson
    Sales and Leasing Consultant

    Reece joined Mills in September 2017. He is originally from Aitkin, a 2008 graduate of Aitkin High School, and a 2012 graduate of the University of North Dakota with a degree psychology and an emphasis in neurological/physiological psychology. He also worked five years in sales and finance at a dealership in North Dakota. Reece is an avid outdoorsman, which includes fishing and golf.

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  • Xavier Lopez
    Sales and Leasing Consultant

    Formerly an assistant manager for four years at a local auto parts store, Xavier joined Mills in November 2018. He is originally from Inver Grove Heights, where he graduated from Simley High School, then moved on to Bemidji State University to earn a degree in business administration / management / entrepreneurship. He lives in Brainerd. Xavier drives in drag races at Brainerd International Raceway, is busy with build/fix projects at home, and enjoys time with his girlfriend and two cats.

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  • Rick Litke
    Sales and Leasing Consultant

    Rick started with the Mills team in 2019, his first experience working in the automotive industry, but no stranger to customer service or problem solving, having recently worked at Slumberland Furniture and Verizon Wireless with Sales, Marketing and Repair Tech included in his prior work history.  He grew up in Hillman, attending Pierz and Brainerd High School and later studying at Duluth Business University. Active in the Brainerd Lakes Curling Club, Rick lives in Brainerd with wife Jena, 2 sons and a pet cat.  When asked what he likes to do when he's not working, his answer "spending time with my beautiful wife and children fishing, hunting, downhill skiing, curling, shooting and travel", adding "SKOL VIKES!".

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  • Heather Keane
    Sales and Leasing Consultant

    Originally from Boston, Massachusetts, Heather moved to the Brainerd area after becoming engaged to her fiancé.  She began working with Mills in December 2021, having nearly a year of automotive experience from her previous position at a Ford dealership in Mendon, MA.  In her past, she has been the owner of 9 successful food market locations and the associated real estate LLCs in Massachusetts, and has worked in Addiction Recovery with Homeless adults with Severe Mental Illness.  Heather attended Wachusett Regional High School in Holden, MA, and was an honor graduate from Army Advanced Training as a Combat Medic at Fort Sam Houston in San Antonio, TX.  Heather has a Bachelor's of Science in Economics and a Bachelor's of Science in Psychology from Worcester State University in Worcester, MA, a Liberal Arts Master's in extension studies in Psychology from Harvard University in Cambridge, MA and attended Northeastern Law School in Boston, MA briefly.    She has two grown daughters and a teen-aged stepson.  She is a member of the Northern Minnesota Beekeepers Association and Brainerd Lakes Chamber of Commerce.  When she's not working Heather enjoys snowshoeing, boating, organic gardening, and beekeeping. "My fiancé and I also have a hobby meadery, Thanks to Minnesota for being so welcoming and such a great place to live," she said.

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  • Zachary Hansen
    Sales and Leasing Consultant


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  • Eric Holmvig
    Service Advisor

    Eric joined Mills in December 2011 after working nine years in sales, inventory, merchandising and loss prevention at Best Buy in Willmar and Baxter. He was also an assistant manager at Best Buy for four years. Eric is 2003 graduate of Crosby-Ironton High School. A resident of Baxter, Eric enjoys hunting, fishing, softball and spending time with friends.

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  • Jason Langhoff
    Service Advisor

    A friendly face to greet you at the service drive, Jason joined the Mills team in 2022, making a return to the automotive field still familiar from his high school days working for Champion Auto.  Most recently Jason worked in retail Loss Prevention, and prior to that he worked as an HVAC Tech for 20 years.  Jason grew up in Richfield, MN graduating from the Richfield School District before going on to study at the Dunwoody College of Technology in Minneapolis and earning his HVAC Certification.  He currently lives in Brainerd with his wife, three kids and 2 dogs.  When he's not working, Jason enjoys "anything hockey-related and reading about historic events and biographies," Jason said.

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  • Bryan Vieths
    Quick Lane Service Advisor

    Bryan joined the Mills team in 2022, moving what had been a long-time automotive hobby into his primary vocation.  "I've worked on cars pretty much all of my life," he admits, noting a bit of a change from working 15 years in law enforcement, most recently working for an armored car company.  In his past Bryan has also served as a police officer, painter and he's worked in sales.  Bryan was "born and raised" in Pillager, graduating from Pillager High School before moving on to study at Bemidji State University and Central Lakes College to earn a degree in Criminal Justice.  Along with wife Canndi and twin daughters Hannah and Chelsea, Bryan currently lives in Pillager.  When he's not working, Bryan enjoys camping, hunting, fishing, driving and working on his classic 1956 Ford Customline.

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