Robert J. Stecher, Jr. is president of Stecher’s Automotive Service, a family-owned business serving the Peoria area since 1923. A fourth-generation leader with the company, he is responsible for hiring and training personnel, providing customer estimates, overseeing billing and purchases, and utilizing the latest technology to diagnose and repair vehicles.
When his father and previous company president, Robert Stecher, Sr., passed away in 2015, he immediately stepped up to ensure operations continued to run smoothly and customer service was maintained. An ASE-certified repair technician, Stecher is a mentor to the rest of his team, always seeking new opportunities to improve customer satisfaction—from designing a new waiting area to implementing new marketing and sales strategies.
A long-time volunteer for the West Peoria Fire Department (WPFD), Stecher has served as a captain since 2004. In this role, he schedules training for department EMTs, maintains records of continuing education/relicensing qualifications and provides leadership during fireground operations. In addition, he has continued his education in EMT and fire safety, taking classes through the Office of the Illinois State Fire Marshal and earning nearly a dozen certifications in fire, rescue and incident management.
In 2014, Stecher joined the Education Commission at Saint Mark Catholic School, where he currently serves on the Facilities and Finance Committee. He is also a coach with the Peoria Youth Hockey Association, teaching kids from three to seven years old the basics of skating and rules of the game.
In addition to numerous high-level certifications from the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence, Stecher was named the WPFD Firefighter of the Year in 2000, earned the West Peoria Fire District Award of Appreciation in 2011, and was named WPFD Emergency Medical Technician of the Year the same year. Having watching his father’s example from an early age, he has been able to fulfill his childhood dream of a successful career as both a mechanic and firefighter. iBi
