Our Story

OUR

"STS has grown beyond all expectations, With the support of the community, what started as a business philosophy or "mission statement", has grown into it's own brand" ~ Denise Petko

2018 Serve Nebraska Step Forward Award Finalist

2019 Ford Motor Company Salute to Dealers Award Nominee

2019 Serve Nebraska Step Forward Award Finalist

Pictured from left to right: Nebraska Secretary of State Robert Enven, Nebraska State Senator Steve Erdman, Lorena Beckius, Suzi Vap, Assistant Secretary of State Cindi Allen and Wolf Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram and Wolf Chevrolet Buick GMC of Ogallala owner, Mike Petko. Missing: Wolf Ford Ogallala owner Dave Wolf.

Wolf Auto / STS was the proud recipient of the “2019 Serve Nebraska Step Forward Award” for Corporate Community Volunteerism in the Small Business Category. Wolf Auto was recognized for its dedication to Western Nebraska communities in which they serve through volunteer and fundraising efforts.

A fter spending 25 years in the corporate world Mike Petko decided it was time to "slow-down" and enjoy the "good Life" that Nebraska offered. He purchased property as an investment on the North Platte River where he found the quiet serenity of the land and wildlife prompted his desire to make a major change. So, in 2015, he along with his wife, Denise, left the corporate world and the big city and planted roots in Scottsbluff, NE.

Nebraska wasn't new to Mike, as a former Nebraska Cornhusker Football Alum, Mike knew in his heart that he would someday return to the state that gave him so much - his wife and three children (Michael age 29, and twin daughters, Kassie & Allie age 26).

Leaving the corporate world and becoming an entrepreneur has been been rewarding in a number of ways. Owning businesses in Western Nebraska, Mike is able to give back to the community, both personally and through his businesses. It also allows Mike to be able to spend more time with his family, especially his grand-daughter, Olivia.

Mike has collaborated with other businesses and local organizations to share ideas in an effort to help the sustainability of "small town Nebraska" for future generations to come. During his time as a corporate officer, Mike served on many boards. Today, Mike continues to serve on local boards and is one of the founders and members of the Small Town Strong Charitable Fund. Mike owns and operates businesses in Ogallala and Scottsbluff.

Denise Petko decided to join her the family business, "Wolf Auto" in 2014 after her youngest daughters, twin girls, Allie and Kassie left the nest to attend the University of Alabama. "I was fortunate to be able to stay home and raise 3 awesome kids (now adults) while Mike traveled for his job in the corporate finance world". Before deciding to join her families business, Denise focused her time on her kids and philanthropic work. Denise served on various Boards for Regis Jesuit High School Boys and Girls Divisions, The SaddleUp Foundation and The Huddle Foundation – a non-profit she and her husband Mike established for tuition assistance.

Denise is the Chief Operating Officer for Wolf Auto Center's, overseeing Wolf’s Business Operations, Development and Dealership Compliance.

"My parents taught me at a young age the importance of giving back," Denise said. "After I started working with my dad at the Kimball Chevrolet Buick location, I noticed a certain "genuiness" to the people I met in town - it really was small town America." The idea of small.town.strong. came to her as she was driving from her (then) home in Parker, CO to work in Kimball. "When you spend the amount of time driving as I do, there's a lot of alone-time to think. I look out at the countryside and think about all God's blessings and how fortunate I am. At Wolf Auto, small town strong Is who we are and what we do. With that, I incorporated those 3 words into the Wolf brand. "With my background in scholarship/tuition assistance, I wanted to find a way for Wolf to invest in the kids who live in the communities we serve. The Scholarship fund allowed us to help provide for the future and it's something I'm very proud of."

Pictured from left to right: Nebraska State Senator Steve Erdman, Ogallala

It was during high school at Regis Jesuit High School in Aurora, Colorado where Mike's philanthropic efforts began. It was during those years where Mike discovered the importance of giving back. That passion carried over into college where as a member of the Pi Kappa Phi Fraternity, Mike became involved with their National philanthropy called, Push America. As a sophomore, Mike spent his summer with other members of the Pi Kapp fraternity riding a road bike from Long Beach, CA to Washington DC to raise awareness for people with disabilities. The grueling route took 40 days and was 4,000 miles long. and the memories and lessons learned would last a lifetime. The following year, Mike was selected to "lead" the route for the South team. After the journey concluded, Mike gave a speech on the lawn of the United States Capital Building to talk about what the philanthropy meant to him.

Mike worked in the family business for 7 years before joining his wife as a Financial Advisor at Edward Jones in Scottsbluff, Nebraska. In July of 2020, Mike and his wife JaCee welcomed their daughter, Olivia Parker Petko. Being a parent has changed Mike's life and his furthered his desire to give back to the community where he met his wife and where his daughter would grow up. Currently Mike is a Financial Advisor for Edward Jones in Gering, NE., and a board member of the STS Charitable Fund.

Dave Wolf has a heart of gold and believes he can help anyone in trouble with a little "mentoring". Originally from Denver, Colorado, Dave's humble beginnings and tremendous work ethic has driven him throughout his life. After selling a successful transportation business, Dave retired to the "Good Life" in Western Nebraska. His work ethic didn't allow him to enjoy retirement and he purchased a Chevrolet franchise in Kimball, Nebraska, followed by a Ford franchise, another Chevrolet franchise, and so on...

Dave has been in business in Nebraska for over 26 years. Since then, Wolf has given hundreds of thousands of dollars to various schools, community outreach programs, and national organizations.

Dave and his wife, Billie have a ranch in Harrisburg, Nebraska where Dave can often be found tending to his cattle. Dave remains active in the community and his auto dealerships in Kimball, Scottsbluff and Ogallala.