EMKAY has a long history of being first in the rental industry.
EMKAY
Michael Braude, first president of EMKAY
EMKAY
That was on March 29, 1946, EMKAY Car Leasing Co. Inc. start operating from within Midway Chevrolet. Morton Weiss and Sam Katzin, co-owners of Midway Chevrolet, have appointed Sam Katzin’s brother-in-law Michael Braude as president of the new joint venture. At that time, the rental industry was virtually non-existent, with only a few companies offering rentals or long-term rentals. However, the two innovators have conducted a series of events that will see EMKAY grow into a standout player in the soon-to-expand rental industry.
Gary Tepas joined EMKAY in 1978.
EMKAY
Under Braude’s direction, the company quickly grew from the small space allocated in the dealership. Katzin and Braude then decided to move EMKAY to their own building and change the name to EMKAY, Inc. . In 1973, Braude and Katzin sold the business to Indiana Capital Corp. led by Samuel Rea. In 1978, Gary Tepas joined EMKAY as Vice President of Sales. Growth throughout the 1980s resulted in the construction of a new headquarters in 1987, with additional additions in 1996, and the purchase of land for future growth in 2003. In 1996, Indiana Capital Corp left, and Gary Tepas were appointed president and CEO of EMKAY. Fast-forward to today, and from its humble beginnings EMKAY currently one of the top 10 fleet management companies in the US
| Five | Milestones | Five | Milestones |
|
1939 |
Midway Chevrolet was founded by Samuel Katzin and Martin Weiss in Chicago |
1995 | The “First” industry uses “Full server mirroring” and 100% backup with unlimited power |
| 1946 | EMKAY Car Leasing Co. Inc. start a business inside Midway Chevrolet; Michael Braude was named President | 1996 | EMKAY celebrates 50 years; Gary Tepas Appointed President and CEO |
| 1952 | EMKAY Car Leasing Co. Inc. moved to its own facility in Chicago and changed its name to EMKAY, Inc. | 1997 | Industry “First” Offers 100% Customizable Driver’s Manual and Policy |
| 1973 | Providing fuel credit cards to rental customers is an industry first | 2004 | EMKAY acquires AM Leasing Corp. |
| 1978 | Gary Tepas joins EMKAY as Vice President of Sales | 2006 | EMKAY acquires PHD Leasing |
| 1979 | Industry “First” to use a network-based computer system | 2007 | Gary Tepas Appointed President and COO of EMKAY |
| 1980 | Gary Tepas Appointed President of EMKAY | 2010 | Industry “First” CELSIUS desktop utility for fleet administrators; Industry “first” driver app called Driver 360 |
| 1982 | The “First” sector has a magazine-style annual guide | 2011 | Industry “First” Fleet Administrator Fleet 360 App; EMKAY buys JPL Canada |
| 1983 | The “First” industry gives all employees their own desktop | 2012 | The “EMKAY Select” Auction/Remarketing App allows buyers to review vehicle history |
| 1985 | EMKAY Motors was founded in Schaumburg | 2014 | EMKAY is the first lessor to implement Automated Integration |
| 1988 | EMKAY moves to new Headquarters in Itasca, IL. | 2015 | Greg DePace Elected President of EMKAY |
| 1989 | Industry “First” promotes lower debt-to-equity ratio | 2019 | EMKAY releases safety-compliant utility app “SafeRoads” |
| 1992 | Industry “First” and still only to have “Big Brother” Style Driver Profile System | Year 2021 | EMKAY 75th Anniversary |
