Larry Norman

Larry Lucas

I started in the automobile business in 1986 and spent the next five years gaining experience and earning battle scars at a couple local dealerships. A friend I'd worked with called me one day and told me about an opening at Honda West and the streets paved with gold I'd find if I'd join their team. I agreed to make the switch and on the arranged day stood in front of my soon-to-be previous employer's used car building anxiously awaiting the gilded coach that would whisk me away to fame and fortune. Coach did not arrive; rather, an old Integra hatchback piloted by a large, surly man in coveralls sped me across town to West 38th street. I spent the day settling in to my new surroundings and at quittin' time I slid into the sleek Honda Prelude they gave me to drive and headed home. I arrived a few hours late, however, as the Prelude had a coronary on the Interstate (simple fix-it lived to a rip old age). It was a most inauspicious beginning, to be sure.

That was in 1991 and despite the rocky start it's turned out to be the best career decision I've ever made. I can think of no other place I would consider working in the car business because I know of no other dealershipo that has the character of Honda West. The owner's philosphy of caring for each employee is firmly engrained in the second generation that oversees the store on a daily basis. They have embraced me and my family and made us a feel a part of thiers. And equally important is the fact that this philosophy of caring for the individual extends to our customers, too. You'll find a genuine and heartfelt concern for your needs, whether you're getting an oil change or spending thousands of dollars on a new or used vehicle. I invite you and your family come in and experience a straightforward, caring and unique dealership. Honda West: Simply the Best!

John Weaver

Dan Risacher

I was born in Jasper Memorial Hospital in southern Indiana in August of 1957. I am the youngest of five children. My father was an entrepreneur, in business with his brother most of his life. Together they operated various businesses in Loogootee and in French Lick, Indiana.

I graduated from Loogootee High School in 1976. I attended school at Indiana State University till I joined the United States Army in 1979. I was married to my wife, Laurie, in 1983 while I was still in the army.

Our son Nathan was born in 1986 and our daughter Nicole was born in 1991. I am fortunateto have been working for Honda West since January of 1998. I currently live with my wife and two children in Speedway. In my spare time I enjoy boating on various Indian lakes. I also like to root the Indiana Pacers and Colts on! Please let me know what I can do for you, and I will do my very best to make you apart of the Honda West family! Thank you

Ira Mercurio

I was born in the lakeside town of Port Clinton, OH in 1964. I spent my childhood doing a lot of the regular "kid things", but also spent my fair share of time working in various family businesses. My father was an entrepreneur extraordinaire; he would buy truckloads of potatoes or onions for us to pack and resell, or a boxcar full of scrap metal or old timbers no one wanted and turn them into cash. He opened a marina on the edge Lake Erie and later built a restaurant/bar which became a local hotspot. I can see in retrospect that much of my father’s success came from the cheap labor at his disposal-me and my 10 brothers and sisters!

I flew the coop in 1989 with my new wife and daughter when an Indianapolis pharmaceutical company made her an offer she couldn’t refuse. As with so many young newlyweds, the marriage did not last and I found myself alone in a big, strange city. I was unwilling to leave my daughter and I made ends meet doing various odd jobs to get by. It was a stormy time in my life, but as an old saying goes “it’s after the rain that the roses bloom.”

Then I met the woman who would change my life and become the mother of my other two children. One day she was looking through the paper and saw an ad for a sales position here at Honda West. She said that she liked Honda’s and that she could see me selling them. So I went in for the interview and by the time I reached home I received a message saying that I was now apart of the Honda West family. That was in 1992, and I am happy to say that as hard as it was to leave my family in Ohio the relocation to Indiana and working at Honda West was a great turn of events. And I am looking forward to the opportunity to show you what a great place this is to buy your next new or pre-owned vehicle.

Rick Shewmake

Andy Wysong

My family has lived in Indianapolis since 1896.  My grandfather had a small grocery store that served many families at the beginning of the 20th century. His store worked on credit....another words faith in the common man to pay his bills. Later in his life he was giving one of his many grandchildren some worldly advice about how much to charge someone for cutting their grass.  I listened with wide eyes and deep faith that I would receive the best advice.... and he said "Andy I would rather make a nickel of a customer once a week as to make a dollar of him one time"....I took this wisdom and ran with it and before to long I was too busy to take any more customers.  This philosophy served my family well; it worked for my grandfather and his for his eight children and my grandmother as well. 

 I started my adult life working as a UAW worker at Ford, after being laid of 10 times in 10 years, I took a leap of faith and became a Teamsters employee as O.S.D. clerk and customer service rep. I received an offer to be the publishing rep for CBS of Indiana....this seemed like a formidable challenge and I said yes....company car, salary, travel the state and the country....sounded great and the position was not rewarding since everything I did either was what happened six months ago or what did I think was going to happen in the next six months, so I ended the venture. Can you believe this I started cutting grass for a living and before long I was busy again?                        

Well after a couple of years of cutting grass I got a call from a high school friend that just happened to own a portion of car dealership. He invited me out to take a look at this so called sales job. It was a huge job that paid a hefty check and when he handed me my check he suggested that I should sell cars ....laughing and crossing my fingers like he was Dracula I politely said no way.  Thanked him for his business and moved on.  Then about 2 weeks later I got to thinking ...you know I m almost 40 years old ...how long will I be able to take this physical work....you know I love people and I’ve always liked cars I just wonder ....well I walked in, interviewed with the dealer interviewed and a week later I was selling cars.  This was the challenge of my life ....my father was a WWII vet and could not understand why I was going to sell cars made by Japanese company(I started with Toyotas in 89), well my answer to him was that I was going to sell Honda‘s and or Toyota’s because I felt they would certainly outlast the competition...

In 1992 I started working for Honda West owned and operated by Mr. Ed Melzer and his family.  This was the best occupational move of my life.  I did not quite know it at the time but over the years this business has became my family as well.   You see they put the customer first just like my grandfather believed.  This concept is felt by all that come into this store.  We certainly are not the biggest Honda dealership in this city, but we do have the best reputation for customer service and this is the reason that I will be here until I retire. Thank you, Andy Wysong.

Jerry Grinkmeyer

I've been selling at Honda West since February of 1996. That's over ten years as of this writing so I guess I've found a home here (assuming they don't change the locks while I'm away!). I've been a member of Honda's Council of Sales Leadership since 1997, which means that according to Honda's standards I've done a fairly good job of selling cars, and more importantly, making customers happy. I never won any awards for bowling or throwing darts, so I'm pretty proud of this accomplishment. I'm also very grateful to my customers for the positive inputs they've given when contacted by the folks at Honda who monitor these things.

I've been married to Joan, my high school flame, sinec 1975. We share a house, barn and 8 acres in rural Boone County (one of "Progressive Farmer" magazine's best places to live!) with two horses, three dogs, and a slew of cats. We never got around to having kids, so needless to say these animals live a pretty good life too!

When I'm not selling cars or mucking horse stalls down on the farm I'm pursuing one of my ever-changing passions. Fishing, hunting, and backpacking have each taken their turn at trying to drain my bank account, but my current interest is music. As a kid I saw the Beatles on the Ed Sullivan show and promised myself "I'm gonna do that some day!" Well, that day finally came in October of 2004 when fellow salesmen Andy Wysong on drums, me on bass and two guitar players made our rock 'n' roll debut at a friend's barn party. As big a thrill as it was, I've decided to forgo the tattoos and piercings that would surely luanch my rock star career in favor of staying here at Honda West!