Staff

Tom Hunter graduated from Davidson College in 1993 with a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics. He then worked for a startup joint-venture between MidSouth Financial and Centura Bank. After several promotions culminating in Vice President, Mr. Hunter was selected to attend UNC's Kenan-Flager Business School and graduated with honors in 1999. Upon graduation, Mr. Hunter worked as a mergers and acquisitions associate for Brookwood Associates, LLC, an investment bank in Charlotte, NC. In 2002, he joined his family's company, Hunter Corporation, Inc. While attending NADA's Dealer Academy, Mr. Hunter worked at all positions within the dealership, from parts counter, sales to sales manager. He is currently the President and Chief Executive Officer of Hunter Corporation.

Randy Hunter graduated from East Carolina University in 1984 with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration. In September of 1984 he began his career with Hunter Corporation, Inc. Randy has worked in all departments and has held practically every position at both dealerships, including sales representative, service writer, finance manager, new and used car manager and general sales manager. He has garnered many sales awards from Chevrolet's Legion of Sales leaders and the Truck Honor Club. In 1998 he was promoted to General Manager of Hunter Nissan Lincoln Mercury. The dealership has earned several awards, including Nissan's prestigious Award of Merit. He is currently serving as the Chairman and Visionary of Hunter Corporation.

Tim graduated from Indiana University in 1987 with a Bachelor of Science in Accounting. He then began a career as CFO at LCD, Inc., where he oversaw substantial growth. He went on to become Controller and COO at Penske Automotive Group, where he proactively participated in returning the dealership to profitability by the end of the year. Following this success, Tim moved to Bill Heard Enterprises as Controller & Platform Controller, where he was able to achieve the highest net profits the platform had ever experienced. Similarly, at Prebul Enterprises, Tim was directly responsible for returning the organization to profitability within 8 months. Tim is a Certified Public Accountant and a member of Georgia Society of CPA's. He is currently Chief Operating Officer at Hunter Corporation.

"AJ" (Aaron) Jones is from Indianapolis, IN and has been in the automotive industry for ten years progressing from Sales, Finance Manager, Finance Director, New Car Sales Manager and now is Hunter's General Manager.  He joined Hunter in January 2016.  He enjoys working out and watching sports.

Leah Evans is an Asheville native and has worked at Hunter in collections and as an Account Manager since spring 2015 - but worked before that in the automobile industry.  Leah is also a Notary Public.  She is a Gardner-Webb University grad, has two children and a dog to keep her busy and entertained at the lake and other adventures.

Kevin Brazanskas is from Vernon, New Jersey but now lives in West Ashville where he, his wife, two kids and two dogs enjoy time together outdoors and the mountain lifestyle of WNC.  He received his BA from Long Island University - Southampton in Environmental Studies and has worked as an Environmental Compliance Specialist and youth mentor.  At Hunter since 2008, Kevin is a member of American Financial and Automotive Services' F&I (Finance and Insurance) and is a NC Notary Public.

Originally from Honolulu HI;Enjoy hiking, the great outdoors and big fan of fast cars particularly the Audi R8 and Nissan GTR. 4 plus years of automotive experience. 

Laura Lewis sold insurance 12 years before coming to Hunter in sales in December 2015.  She was a BCBS Manager for Medicare and Medicaid.  Born and raised in Camden, SC, WNC is now her home with her wonderful husband of ten years and two OUTSTANDING boys aged 12 and 15 … along with two dogs and cats, 30 fish and all the outdoor creatures who come around to be fed.  She enjoys football, swimming and hike our beautiful mountains.  "Nothing brings me more joy than helping others, customers and co-workers."  She enjoys her chosen career because of the customers and the Hunter family. 

Gala Rice has been in sales at Hunter since 2000 and says "I LOVE SELLING CARS!!"  Born in Brevard, she is very involved at Next Church, leads a Healthy Living Exercise and Bible study class.  She and her high school sweetheart, Jeff, have been married 27 years and have three wonderful children (Christina, Caleb and Joshua) and two wonderful grandchildren (Sophia and Collin).  Gala is an avid runner and has her BA from UNC-Charlotte.  Her son and son-in-law are in the US Air Force and her son Joshua is a college student and baseball player.

Pam Justice has been in the automotive industry 12 years -- since 2004 with Hunter and before was with Sunshine Chevrolet in Arden.  She has also been a sales consultant and Internet Sales Manager.  She is native to NC, has one daughter and son-in-law along with two granddaughters and one on the way!  Her hobbies include teaching Sunday School for 2-5 years, hiking, reading and watching the sunset from her front porch.

Chris Payne is from Brevard and served in the US Army Infantry, 1st Armored Division - and in Baumholder, Germany from 2000-2003.  He is in the Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity and has been married to his lovely wife Natalia 13 years.  They have a daughter, Alisha, and two sons - John and Dangelo.  His marketing degree from Western Carolina University has served him well.  He has managed Jet's Pizza and was a head washer at Miller's Linen Service.  At Hunter in sales since January 2015, he has advanced to be Subaru and Hyundai Certified.

Originally a Hendersonville Native, father to an amazing 7yr old son. Alex enjoys weightlifting, spending time with family & friends and the great outdoors.

DeQuavius  has been in the Automotive industry for the last 4 years; a native of Chester, South Carolina. His background is a mixture of  years in the entertainment and customer service industry. An avid basketball enthusiast; DeQuavius enjoys his down time with travel and family. A Graduate of Greenville Technical College, DeQuavius has goals to become a Sales Manager in the Automotive Industry. Come by and meet DeQuavius today.

We would like to introduce Stefan Koeckeritz, He has worked in Sales/Marketing and hospitality for the last 3 years. Born in Germany; he is fluent in German and Spanish. Graduated from Western Carolina university with B.A in History. Enjoys hiking and exploring nature

Austin Johnson's hobbies are "literally anything dealing with or about cars", which does not suit his cat, Lucas!  He joined Hunter as a service advisor in the summer of 2017 and has filled many shoes.  Austin is certified with Nissan for Electric, Express Service and Drive Components and has a degree in Automotive Technology from the Universal Technical Institute of Mooresville, NC.

Dolores Asbell is a graduate of the University of Central Florida and was born in Ocala.  She moved to Brevard in 1979 - like many, from childhood, spent summers in NC and fell in love.  Dolores was a paralegal in a law firm for six years and she has been in the automotive industry for 12 years - with Hunter since spring 2016as a Service Advisor.  Prior to Hunter she was a Service Advisor and in Accounts Receivable/Payable and a Bookkeeper.  She is married, has four children and six grandchildren.  She has worked as a volunteer with Compassion International and is a member of the Tim Tebow Foundation.  She enjoys hiking with her dogs, Roxy and Rango, swimming, painting and football.

Bonnie Warden started with Hunter in 2015 and has earned the reputation as a "killer brownie" maker!  She has her BA in Environmental Studies from State University of New York Empire State College in Saratoga Springs, NY.  She worked eight years as a Technical Assistant at the Institutional Research at Corning Community College in Corning, NY.  Bonnie is married to Mark and has a Maine Coon rescue named Sonny Longcat - for whom she admits openly that they are Sonny's humble servants.  She enjoys photography, gardening, hiking, cooking, reading, birdwatching (with Sonny) and visiting the ocean.  And by the way, she does not miss the snow!

Robert Finker is a life-long resident of Henderson County.  He has been a shuttle driver in the Parts Department with Hunter since summer 2014 - prior to which he was in manufacturing for 34 years rising to Facilities Engineer Manager and a Superintendent.  He has a BS in Industrial Engineering.  Robert is married with four children.  His hobbies include spending time with his family, grand kids, their dogs and the "honey-do" list projects around the house.  Something he really likes about his job is being amazed at how our customers find out about Western North Carolina!

Shannon Vaughn works behind the scenes in the Parts Department as the Warranty Administrator and joined Hunter in 1997 after learning of an opening from her Grandmother who worked here many years!  She has worked in various positions - in parts, as cashier and at the switchboard.  She has been married 20 years to Robert and has an 18-year old daughter.  Their dog, Riley, is nine years old and she enjoys running, hiking and going to the lake.  Raised in Colorado, she has lived in NC for 25 years.

Kirk Firmin is certified in Lexus, Toyota, Subaru, Nissan, Hyundai, Jaguar and Land Rover vehicles and has worked as an Assistant Parts Manager, Parts Manager and now is our Fixed Operations/Parts Director - all reflective of a growing career of 28 years in the automotive industry.  He grew up in the business as his Father owned a Buy-Here-Pay-Here in Tampa, FL.  Kirk is married with one child in college and the National Guard. Kirk enjoys riding his motorcycle with his wife through the mountains surrounding Asheville. He also enjoys pets, and has adopted a dog and two cats from the local spca. Kirk joined Hunter in June 2013.

Vance Garren is a southern native-born in Asheville, NC. A University of Tennessee alumni; Bachelors in Forest Resource Management. He is an avid coin collector of Lincoln Cents and a film buff. Vance is a family man at heart; come by our Parts Department and meet Vance. 

Born in Wilmington NC, raised in Winston-Salem NC. Brandon joins our company with over 15 years of automotive concepts and automotive parts management. A husband and father, who enjoys spending time with family, being outdoors, home improvement projects and helping others.

Vin Parish is Volvo Master Certified after being with Hunter just since the spring of 2016!  Prior he was in the swimming pool industry for 17 years as a Regional Sales Director, Retail Operations Manager and District Manager.  Vin has a daughter who is eleven and one Siberian Husky.  He is a member of the Rotary Club and the National Automobile Dealers Association and also involved with NASA, Pokemon League, Rebel Alliance and JLA.  Sometimes he just "enjoys doing nothing".