Sandberg’s Towing & Recovery
Sons pull the family line for longtime towing, auto repair service center
In 1973, Sandberg’s started as a gas station backed by Standard Oil with a couple of employees and John Sandberg at the helm. Today, Ryan and Chris Sandberg are leading the towing and auto repair service center with 10 workers and family members as key components of the company’s team.
“Sandberg’s was created by my dad, John, with humble beginnings as a gas station. I started working for my dad when I was 14 years old, and currently co-own Sandberg’s with my brother, Chris,” Ryan said.
As the business evolved over the years, the first tow truck was added in 1975, and the gas station was dropped when the business was moved to its current Lincolnway location in 1998. Ryan and Chris took the lead when they bought out their father in 2017.
“We are skilled to tow anything from motorcycles, equipment, vehicles, semi tractors, RVs, containers, and provide services such as lockouts, jumpstarts, tire repairs and more. We have a mechanical division that can perform automotive repairs at competitive prices,” Ryan said. “I hope Sandberg’s impacts our region in providing our community a friendly, efficient and professional service.”
Sandberg’s fleet includes light, medium and heavy-duty wreckers. The repair shop is ready to handle domestic vehicles, light trucks and foreign cars. Towing is available on a 24-hour emergency basis for local and long distances.
The Sandbergs stay connected to the community by volunteering to assist with the hauling of the Zamboni and skating rink in and out of Central Park and the Valparaiso city’s Christmas tree. They work with the 500 Turkeys organization to assist with distribution day to feed families Thanksgiving meals each year.
“We are active members of our community by supporting our local police and fire departments and the Valparaiso Parks Department,” Ryan said. “We participate in the Toys for Tots drive yearly, along with several other community-related events such as Touch-a-Truck and the Valpo Trick-or-Treat night.”
Ryan sees Sandberg’s success developing from the right mindset and support network.
“In my experience, it takes grit, consistent dedication, perseverance, and often sacrifices to be successful. It’s crucial to think outside the box and be able to adjust to the demand of the workload, along with flexibility and creativity to complete the job,” he said. “Networking is a key to success in order to develop and build a steady customer base, along with an awareness of the climate – socially and economically – to accommodate change.
“Lastly, creating the right team including employees, accountant, insurance, suppliers and a bank for needed financing, is necessary to build and maintain a successful business.”
Ryan said being an entrepreneur allows for variety and a sense of accomplishment.
“I enjoy my job for many reasons, the first is that no day at work is ever the same. This creates an interesting and unique work environment,” he said. “I enjoy being outdoors no matter the weather or season.
“I enjoy being an entrepreneur because it’s incredibly rewarding to see my thoughts, ideas and business decisions impact others in a positive manner.”