A Success Driven By Childhood Passion To Steering A Legacy-Building Dealership
From his first drive at age ten to leading record-breaking dealerships, Kjell D. Schei shares the journey and vision behind founding AGERE Automotive.
Kjell D. Schei’s path in the automotive world began long before he was running top performing dealerships or leading strategic acquisitions. At just 10 years old, he was behind the wheel under his grandfather’s watch, feeling the rumble of an engine and discovering a passion that would shape his life. Over the next three decades, he climbed from a lot attendant to one of the most respected leaders in the industry, known for turning struggling stores into record setters, building strong teams, and never losing sight of the relationships at the heart of the business.
Today, as Founder and CEO of AGERE Automotive, Kjell is focused on preserving dealer legacies, protecting the culture that owners worked decades to build, and creating new opportunities for the next generation of operators. In our conversation, he reflects on early influences, lessons learned from aviation and the sea, and the conviction that led him to start AGERE. Along the way, we get a candid look at the moments that shaped his leadership and the vision he is chasing next.
Let’s start at the beginning, with the first spark that made him fall in love with cars.
You’ve built an impressive career from the ground up, starting as a lot attendant and rising to become CEO. What’s your earliest memory of falling in love with cars?
My love affair with cars started when I was just 10 years old. My grandfather took me out and taught me how to drive, probably not something that would fly today, but back then, it felt like a rite of passage. Sitting behind the wheel, feeling that rumble of the engine, and actually moving the car forward with my own hands gave me a sense of freedom and responsibility I’ll never forget.
That feeling never left me.
Over time, I started noticing more than just the mechanics of driving, I became obsessed with how each car had its own character. The smell of the interior, the sound of the engine, the way each one handled differently. To me, cars aren’t just machines, they’re experiences. They represent freedom, personal identity, and in many ways, emotional milestones. Whether it’s your first car, the one you drove across the country, or the one you dreamed of as a kid, cars hold space in people’s lives. That’s what drew me in and what still inspires me today.
What was your first car, and is there a story behind it that still sticks with you today?
My first car was a BMW 325. I earned it through grit working summer jobs doing whatever I could to earn. That car symbolized independence. It wasn’t just about driving, it was about knowing I could earn something meaningful. But the story I tell the most is from a few years later, when I bought my first Porsche. I was in my early twenties, and it felt like a major moment, one I never thought would come so soon. I picked it up late on a rainy evening. I remember pulling it into the garage, the soft thud of the engine winding down, the water droplets streaking down the hood under the light. I grabbed a towel and dried it like it was a piece of art. Then I sat in the driver’s seat, opened a couple of Bud Lights, and read the owner’s manual front to back. That moment was quiet, but powerful. It was about pride, reflection, and connection to everything I’d worked for. It’s a memory I revisit often.
Growing up, who was a significant influence or mentor that shaped your path into the automotive world?
My dad ran a boat dealership, so I grew up around engines, deals, and customers from an early age. But it was two of his best friends, Joe Pignataro and Jimmy Barrier who really influenced my path into the automotive world. They were car dealers, successful and respected, but more than that, they had presence. When they pulled up to the boat yard in their latest cars, I didn’t just notice the vehicles, I noticed how people looked at them, how they carried themselves. I was twelve, washing yachts during summers, and I’d stop whatever I was doing when they arrived. It was electric. They represented what was possible, not just wealth, but connection, impact, community.
Then, when I was nineteen, my world changed. My parents tragically died in a plane crash. Joe and Jimmy stepped in, not out of obligation, but out of love. They became mentors, friends, and second fathers in many ways. Watching them lead their businesses with compassion and drive helped me understand that success isn’t just about results, it’s about relationships. Their guidance has stayed with me every step of my journey. I don’t just credit them for my career, I credit them for the values I built it on.
You’ve become known for your leadership style and ability to inspire teams. Can you think back to your first leadership role—how did that experience shape your approach today?
My first leadership role wasn’t glamorous, I was just a young guy trying to manage a team of people, many of whom were older and more experienced than I was. I walked in thinking I needed to prove I was the smartest in the room, that I had all the answers. But I quickly learned that approach doesn’t work. In fact, it backfires. What I found instead was that people don’t follow you because you have a title, they follow you because of how you make them feel. That realization shifted everything for me. I started asking more questions than giving answers. I focused on listening, not just hearing. I learned that if you create an environment where people feel safe, valued, and trusted, they will rise and they’ll do it with pride.
To this day, that’s the foundation of how I lead. I believe in high standards, but I also believe in humanity. I want people to feel seen, challenged, and supported. If someone fails, we talk about it, not to blame, but to grow. That early experience grounded me in the truth that great leadership isn’t about being in charge, it’s about taking care of the people in your charge.
You hold a private pilot license and a Coast Guard maritime license clearly adventure is in your DNA. How do these passions outside the dealership influence your style in business?
Flying and boating are two very different experiences, but they’ve both taught me lessons I bring into the boardroom every day.
As a pilot, you learn that preparation isn’t optional, it’s life or death. You run your checklist, you trust your instruments, and you stay calm even when conditions change. That taught me to stay cool under pressure, to rely on systems, and to never take anything for granted. Boating, on the other hand, teaches you how to read the environment, sometimes quite literally. The water can be smooth or chaotic. Weather turns quickly. But when you’re out on the ocean, you learn to work with nature, not against it. You don’t control the sea, but you can prepare your boat, train your crew, and chart a smart course. In business, it’s the same. You can’t control every market condition or economic storm, but you can lead a team that’s prepared, coordinated, and resilient. And most of all, those experiences have given me perspective. Life is short. The journey should matter as much as the destination.
Your education includes certifications from prestigious schools like MIT Sloan and Cornell. What’s one unexpected lesson you’ve learned from these programs that applies to your everyday role as a founder?
One of the most unexpected lessons came not from a textbook, but from a quiet moment in a breakout session. I remember a professor saying, “Discomfort is a compass. When you feel it, lean in, that’s where the growth lives.” That really stuck with me. I used to associate fear or anxiety with warning signs. But I’ve come to see that fear usually shows up right before something important is about to happen, something that could change you. Whether I’m negotiating a deal, hiring a critical executive, or stepping onto a stage to speak publicly, I’ve learned to pause when I feel that twinge of fear and then step forward anyway. That mindset has helped me lead turnarounds, launch AGERE, and take risks that once felt too big to touch. The education itself gave me tools. But that lesson gave me courage.
After nearly three decades working with prestigious automotive dealerships, what motivated you to take the leap and found AGERE Automotive? Was there a defining moment when you realized you needed to create something of your own?
There absolutely was a defining moment. I was approaching my 50th birthday, and I remember sitting alone in my home office one night, looking back on three decades of work. I’d been incredibly fortunate working for top-tier dealerships, both private and public, across the country. I’d had a great run. But something was missing.
What I saw in the industry was a quiet but growing problem: amazing dealers who built businesses from the ground up, ready to retire, but unsure what came next. Their kids didn’t want to take over, and their trusted GMs didn’t have the capital to buy in. These dealers were family-oriented, community-minded people. The idea of selling to a public group, where their culture might be wiped out felt like a betrayal of what they’d built. That night, I realized: someone needs to build a company that honors these legacies. Not just acquire them, but protect them. Preserve the people, the relationships, the community ties. And do it in a way that creates ownership opportunities for the next generation of operators. That’s where AGERE was born. Not out of ambition, but out of conviction. I didn’t want to just keep playing the game, I wanted to change it.
You’ve assembled a specialized team for AGERE Automotive, covering legal, acquisitions, and automotive expertise. How did you approach building this team, and why were these particular skill sets so crucial for your vision?
Building the AGERE team was one of the most personal and intentional things I’ve ever done. I didn’t just look at resumes, I looked at character. Every person on this team is someone I’ve known for decades. We’ve worked together, weathered challenges, celebrated wins, and had tough conversations. That kind of trust can’t be faked and it can’t be rushed. I knew I needed people who were not only exceptional in their fields, whether that’s legal, acquisitions, or dealership operations, but who shared my values. People who understood that what we’re doing isn’t just transactional. It’s deeply relational. We’re not just buying stores, we’re inheriting legacies. That requires humility, precision, and care. It’s easy to build a team of specialists. It’s harder to build a team of believers. I’ve been lucky to do both.
Culture drives results and the scoreboard doesn’t lie. I’ve never believed in micromanaging. I believe in setting a clear vision, investing in people, and holding a high standard.– Kjell Schei, Founder and CEO of AGERE Automotive
You’ve consistently turned around or significantly boosted profitability at dealerships. If you had to summarize your approach in a single phrase or philosophy, what would it be?
My philosophy is this: Culture drives results and the scoreboard doesn’t lie. I’ve never believed in micromanaging. I believe in setting a clear vision, investing in people, and holding a high standard. When you build a culture where people feel respected, challenged, and connected to the mission, everything starts to click. But I’m also a numbers guy. Culture without accountability becomes chaos. So we track everything. We measure performance. We ask hard questions. And when we find a gap, we close it, together. That balance of heart and metrics is what’s helped me turn around stores time and time again. It’s not a formula, it’s a mindset.
Can you recall a particularly proud moment at Porsche Bellevue, perhaps one that still inspires you now as a founder and
Absolutely. When I took over Porsche Bellevue, the team was frustrated, turnover was high, and performance was underwhelming. It was a tough environment and frankly, morale was low. We didn’t fix it overnight. But day by day, conversation by conversation, we rebuilt the culture. We set new expectations. We created clarity. We invested in people, not just professionally, but personally. Slowly, trust returned. And once trust returned, performance followed.
Eventually, Porsche Bellevue was the #1 store in the Autonation portfolio. But the title wasn’t what I was most proud of. It was walking into that store every morning and seeing a team that believed in each other and in themselves. That experience taught me that culture is everything. You can have the best product in the world, but if your people aren’t bought in, it won’t matter. That belief is now baked into AGERE’s DNA.
The automotive industry can be very traditional, yet you’ve made a name by pushing boundaries. How do you balance respect for tradition with the need for innovation?
The beauty of this business is that the foundation doesn’t change: people buy from people. Relationships matter. Trust matters. That’s the tradition I deeply respect, and it’s not going anywhere. But how we serve people, that’s where innovation lives. From digital retailing to service pick-up and delivery, to giving employees better tools and more flexibility, the ways we can improve the experience are endless. I don’t believe in innovation for the sake of being flashy. I believe in innovation that adds value. If we can give people back their time, reduce friction, or create joy in the process, that’s a win. So I lead with this question: How can we make this better? For the employee, the customer, the operator. When you start there, you honor the past while building the future.
Driven Forward
Kjell’s story is one of passion, persistence, and purpose. From learning to drive before most kids his age could reach the pedals, to leading the number one Porsche store in AutoNation, to launching AGERE with a mission that goes beyond profit, his career shows what can happen when skill meets conviction.
What stands out most is how he measures success, not just in sales numbers or market share, but in the trust he builds, the teams he empowers, and the legacies he protects. The automotive industry may be built on machines, but in Kjell’s world, people will always come first. As AGERE grows, so does the impact of a leader who understands the value of honoring the past while building the future. His journey began with a ten year old behind the wheel and continues with a vision to reshape the industry for decades to come.