Today we’d like to introduce you to Lena Epstein.
Lena Epstein
Hi Lena, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I was born in 1981 into a family of loving Jewish business owners, philanthropists, and entrepreneurs. Spent most of my life living in SE Michigan, with the exception of my time studying economics at Harvard University (1999-2003). I subsequently received an MBA from the University of Michigan Ross School of Business in 2008.
The family business, started by my grandfather, Eugene Epstein, has been my professional focus for over 20 years. Under my leadership, the company has doubled in size over the last 20 years. Vesco Oil Corporation is now the 7th largest woman-owned business in the state of Michigan.
I have also become a widely recognized philanthropist and serve on our family’s charitable foundation board. Other civic and charitable involvements include sitting on the Board of Directors for the Detroit Regional Chamber of Commerce Executive Committee, the Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan, and the Detroit Historical Society.
One of my greatest joys, though, is raising my 6-year-old daughter Emma Jules. She is an angel and the most important facet of my life.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back, would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Juggling business and philanthropy while raising Emma has required me to be organized, intentional and to plan ahead. I also make health and wellness a top priority and aim to live to 100!
I am a firm believer in tackling challenges head-on. When faced with adversity, I diligently forge ahead and utilize these experiences to grow as a business and philanthropic leader in the state of Michigan and nationally.
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about Vesco Oil Corporation?
I own and operate Vesco Oil Corporation, a leading distributor of automotive and industrial products across the Midwest. Under my leadership, Vesco Oil Corporation now operates in 5 states and is the largest distributor of ExxonMobil products in all of the Americas. This company was started by my grandfather over 75 years ago, and its brightest days are ahead with me at the helm.
As a forward-thinking company, Vesco fosters a culture of entrepreneurship. We most recently established an electric vehicle department intended to serve the next era of the automotive industry.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.vescooil.com
- Facebook: Lena Epstein
- Linkedin: Lena Epstein
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