A native of Orchard Park, Scott Bieler began his career with the West Herr Automotive Group in 1975 as a salesman, was promoted to Sales management in 1980, General Manager in 1981, and became President in 1997, and has been principal majority owner since 2000, along with his partners; Brad Hafner, John Wabick and Bill Loecher. Employing over 2,800 people, he has helped grow the company to become the largest automotive group in New York State and the 17th largest auto group in the country.
Scott’s community involvement has been extensive through the years.
Current Board Positions:
- Vice Chair of the Roswell Park Alliance Foundation Board, and co-chaired their capital campaign to build the new Bieler Clinical Sciences Center
- Board of Director-Visit Buffalo Niagara
- Board of Director-Invest Buffalo Niagara
- Member of the Greater Buffalo Racial Equity Roundtable
- Board of Director-Daemen College. Received honorary degree: Doctor of Humane Letters
Past Board Positions:
- Upstate New York Federal Reserve Regional Advisory Board for 5 years
- Buffalo Zoo
- Buffalo Niagara Partnership,
- Hilbert College, Received honorary degree: Doctor of Humane Letters
His civic efforts have been recognized numerous times
- Theodore Roosevelt Exemplary Citizenship Award
- Outstanding Citizen by The Buffalo News
- Canisius College Distinguished Citizen Award
- Roswell Park’s Katherine Anne Gioia Inspiration Award
- National Conference for Just Communities Citation Award
- Outstanding Philanthropist through the Association of Fundraising Professionals
- Hospice Buffalo-Hope, Care & Dignity Award
West Herr, which was founded in 1950, started as a single point Ford Dealership in Hamburg, New York, and is the largest automotive group in New York State. Since 1950, West Herr has sold over 1,200,000 vehicles. With 35 locations in Erie, Niagara, Monroe and Ontario counties representing 24 franchises and over 2,800 employees. In 2021, West Herr sold nearly 60,000 vehicles and serviced more than 470,000 vehicles. West Herr has received Business First of Buffalo’s “Best Places to Work in WNY” award for 18 consecutive years and the Better Business Bureau “Torch Award for Marketplace Ethics” 8 times. The West Herr Automotive Group is dedicated to absolute excellence in customer service provided by honest, responsible, and respectful people. West Herr supports individual pride, company spirit, and community involvement.