John Wanninger Never Turns Down an Adventure
Story by Sara Locke // Photography by Sarah Lemke
Over the last four decades, father, friend, and founder of Venture Out Business Brokers John Wanninger has made it a habit and a passion to pursue every opportunity that speaks to his entrepreneurial spirit.
The road Wanninger built from farm-kid in Coon Rapids, Iowa, to serial entrepreneur took a centered mind and a steady hand to navigate.
“My dad was a farmer in the `70s and `80s—the hardest-working man you’ll ever meet. I had crops, hogs, and cattle, and worked my whole life right beside him. I was the last in the family who could take over the farm, so it was really a foregone conclusion that it was my next step.” Wanninger said. In 1987, he drove a friend to Northwest Missouri State University for college and stumbled upon a fraternity party. By the end of the weekend, he called his dad, decided to enroll, and signed up that Monday.
While those wild frat parties may have been what drove Wanninger to higher education, he’d committed to a sober life by age 21, and his post-college career has been a reflection not only of the education he received, but of the relationships he learned to build.
“I called my dad every day until he passed 22 years ago, because family is important to me and he was just a person you wanted to talk to every day.” Wanninger said. “He treated everyone with the same level of respect. He made things just a little bit better for everyone. That is the kind of man and boss I continue to try to be.”
Wanninger may have left the farm life, but he brings the same tireless work ethic and dedication to his acquisition of new ventures. He became an entrepreneur and a business broker, and has turned his passion for creating strong relationships into dozens of successful businesses, including Beauty First, Red Rhino Roofing, and Jay Dubya Development.
“My job is to inspire people to do great things.” Wanninger said. “It’s the biggest thing you can do. If you’re helping create better lives for those around you, you’re being successful. The money, the ventures—they’re a measuring tool. But I don’t wake up every day with a big smile on my face and filled with joy. That’s an intention I set, and I bring that to the people around me.”
He continued, “When someone who works for you is going through difficult personal matters, you can make it a little bit better by being a place where they can show up, draw from that positive energy, and feel just a little lighter. Happiness is the greatest thing you can find, and the greatest thing you can share.”
Wanninger’s attraction to that positive energy was the catalyst for his relationship with ONYX.
“I met Drew Friesen at a Mercedes dealership, and he didn’t just sell me a car. He created a really great experience for me. It was so in line with the experiences I try to create for my clients and customers, that I just felt really at home and comfortable with him,” Wanninger recalled.
When Friesen joined ONYX, he extended an invitation to his longtime acquaintance, despite Wanninger being a devoted Mercedes enthusiast. Though initially loyal to his preferred brand, the trust he had in Friesen made it easy to believe in his expertise and recommendations.
“[Friesen] got me into BMW, and there is definitely a reason they call it ‘The Ultimate Driving Machine,’” Wanninger said. “I have had, to be exact, 432 vehicles. But the power, the comfort, the tech, and everything about BMWs, especially the X6 M60i, is what I love right now.”
Wanninger is a car-guy, but these days, he considers himself an ONYX guy.
“I stop by ONYX at least once a week,” he said. “I just love being around good people, and I love the energy there.”
— JOHN WANNINGER
For more information, visit onyxautomotive.com.
