Each year, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce releases CO-100, an exclusive list recognizing the 100 best and brightest small and mid-sized businesses in America. Milwaukee has long been known as a launch pad for entrepreneurial success, but nothing solidifies this reputation more than seeing the city’s very own Select Auto Parts & Sales Inc. earn a place on the 2025 CO-100 list!
Founder and CEO Natasha Broxton
Founded in 2012 by CEO Natasha Broxton, Select Auto Parts & Sales is Milwaukee’s only indoor auto parts recycling facility and one of the only female- and minority-owned auto recyclers in the nation. The company offers cash for junk cars and maintains a large inventory of auto parts sold nationwide.
“We buy cars, we take those cars apart and we sell those recycled auto parts. I partner with repair shops and body shops here locally. They love the fact that they can just come in and get their parts and go. They don’t have to wait,” said Broxton. “I call it the concierge service of auto parts.”
Broxton began her career in the corporate world, eventually leaving to assist her husband in the administrative side of his tire recycling business. When the tire business received an inquiry to clear out a 125,000-square-foot abandoned building with hundreds of thousands of dollars’ worth of junk tires, Broxton and her husband saw this as an opportunity to not only quote for the job but also make an offer on the building.
“It was actually my husband’s idea to turn it into an auto parts facility,” she said.
From that purchase, the concept of the indoor recycling facility came to life. Broxton dove headfirst into the ins and outs of the industry through research, attending conferences and forming strong partnerships.
“I think what’s really helped me is just embracing being a lifelong learner,” said Broxton.
It was this commitment to growth and professional development that led Select Auto Parts & Sales to be honored as a Champion of Adaptability on the CO-100 list. Champions of Adaptability are companies that have overcome challenges and adversity. According to Broxton, a company’s knowledge base in the recycling industry is typically built upon second- or third-generation expertise.
“Being a woman in the industry, you don’t normally see that. So just being able to make change and show something that a lot of people don’t get to see,” she said.
Broxton has not only built a successful business but is enthusiastic about supporting the community and showcasing career pathways in the auto recycling industry to younger generations. Select Auto Parts & Sales partners with organizations like Milwaukee Area Technical College and Goodwill to bring individuals into the facility and expose them to new skillsets.
When asked what tips she would give entrepreneurs looking to start their own business, Broxton reemphasized the importance of community.
“Don’t do it in silo. Do it in community… There are so many small business resources out here and educational tools,” said Broxton. “Just know that you don’t have to do it on your own. There are so many of us out here that have done it and have the expertise.”
Learn more about Select Auto Parts & Sales by visiting their website.
