 William James Schneider was born in Berkeley, CA. September 5th, 1930 to Rudolph and Genevieve Schneider. He lived with his family in Berkeley, California until the age of 20. He was employed by the Bank of America as a bookkeeper at the age of 18. He was drafted and deported to Korea to fight for his Country in the Korean War at the age of 21.
Upon his return from active duty in the Korean War, he returned to the Bank of America in 1955. He worked at the bank as a Personnel Officer in San Francisco and went to the University of San Francisco at night. Over the course of 15 years, he worked his way up and was transferred to the San Bruno branch as an Operations Officer. He had become the President of the Rotary Club and was known well amongst his fellow businessmen. Pat Patterson, who was a well known gentleman and owner of Fairway Chevrolet, had approached William in pursuit of recruiting him to work at his dealership. Arrangements were made and William joined Fairway Chevrolet and later started a leasing division within the dealership.
 In gaining a solid and stable understanding of the leasing, finance and automobile industry, he began to ponder the necessity of a more consumer oriented entity with expanded and more advantageous financing options. The idea was premised on William Schneider’s lifelong fundamental belief that in order to earn a customer for life, the important establishment of trust and friendship was more valuable than gold. This would entail a custom and service oriented outlook in order to deliver the specified vehicle, the properly adjusted affordable payment plan and the first of it’s kind service plan to the customer. With the central focus being the customer, the idea of a beneficial ‘in-house’ or privately funded leasing program would allow for the binding relationship between the customer and the company representative to grow over the course of the lease. Traditional financing through a bank was standard, though the focus of the individual concerns of each customer was difficult to tend to. A company representative to professionally provide the specified vehicle, an affordable leasing package and a direct follow up service program and term would only prove to be successful in time to come.
An actual car lot to house inventory was unnecessary in William’s eyes because the idea would be to simply order the vehicle to the customer’s specifications over the phone.
 Thus Leasemobile was founded in San Bruno in 1969. “Leasemobile” was the invented name for the business in order to combine the best of both worlds into one streamlined company name. Being the first automobile and equipment leasing company in the entire Bay Area brought quick notoriety to Leasemobile. Customers from a wide variety of lines of work including Doctors, Contractors, Lawyers, Teachers, Government Officials, etc., enjoyed the ease of working with Leasemobile. The ideal method of calling in and ordering a vehicle to specification with a custom lease structure and service plan altogether integrated into the payment proved to be successful. “It took innovation in order to cover an area of the business that the common dealers weren’t covering,” said Schneider. Invaluable relationships were harvested and grew strongly throughout the entire Bay Area. The demand for a more widespread operation was evident and Leasemobile expanded into five different locations from 1969 to 1981. In 1976, the National Vehicle Leasing Association was founded and William Schneider was voted to be the Association’s first President. “He was honest and fair and he knew how to handle the business. He knew how to communicate with people. A brilliant business mind,” - Floyd Foltz; best friend of William Schneider.
In 1998, William retired from Leasemobile after 29 years of successful enterprise in the Bay Area and moved to Nevada. Leasemobile to this day has continued as a prosperous business in the Bay Area using the same methods it was founded on without housing an auto inventory.
 Ridgeley “Ridge” Schneider, the firstborn of William Schneider moved to Sonora, California in 1975 with his wife Sally. His first job in Sonora was sweeping floors at the local Toyota dealership at the age of 23. In 1976, he decided to open a Sandwich shop in Downtown Sonora on Bradford Street. He named it “Mtn. Ridge Sandwich Co.” The sandwich shop was always his claim to fame. There are still those who remember the charming, yet bustling atmosphere of the sandwich shop that was famous for perfect and wildly original sandwiches. His slogan “Something Superior for your Interior” has stood through the test of time as many still ask him to make them a signature Mtn. Ridge sandwich!
He owned and operated Mtn. Ridge until he sold it in 1985. In the meantime, he had opened a restaurant in 1983 in Twain Harte called “Ridgeley’s” of which he also owned and operated until he sold it in 1985. Having had been raised in the family business, he knew the family heritage would prevail and in 1985, he opened Leasemobile in the Hillsdale Plaza. “My premise was merely the same and natural thinking of my Father’s; In serving the customer and in treating them right and with respect, they would remain loyal for a lifetime,” stated Ridgeley.
 The structure of Leasemobile was the same as his Father’s and he started by making a phone call from his humble office to John Barrow; the local owner of Perko’s Café. John was his first customer to order a car over the phone and the future of Leasemobile of Sonora was at hand. From 1985 to 1990, Leasemobile grew locally in stature yet was absent of an actual car lot. In 1991, the opportunity arose for Ridgeley to now have a building with frontage for automobile inventory in the Indian Rock Center. The arrangements were made and the first actual Leasemobile car lot began. An average inventory of 10-12 cars was normal. Leasemobile gradually progressed as a successful equipment and auto leasing company in Tuolumne County and was laying a promising and strong foundation through satisfying each customer one at a time. In 1999, the increase and evolution of the inventory was underway as more clients than ever had learned of the advantages of bringing their business to Leasemobile. As it was in the very beginning, each customer was specially cared for and the influx in the variety of inventory was drawing more and more attention to Leasemobile as a dealership. All makes and models of Trucks, Cars and SUV’s were available and a necessary niche for Tuolumne County had been filled.
In addition, Ridgeley was the Pastor of Mt. Zion Community Christian Church from 1999 to 2006.
In 2004, Ridgeley was fortunate to had met David Schelburg; owner of China Motors USA. China Motors is the corporation responsible for importing the up and coming Chinese automobiles to the United States. Ridgeley is quite hopeful in the emerging Chinese autos as he feels an affordable, fuel efficient and durable car, truck, or suv is what could help spur a surge in the auto industry and a more practical solution for the customer. “We have high hopes in being a multiple region owner of China Motors franchises. I would count on the unveiling of Chinese vehicles in the United States by 2010.” China Motors will encompass a number of Chinese automobile manufacturers and will offer Cars, Trucks and SUV’s.
In 2004, yet another fortuitous plan had commenced which comprised of moving Leasemobile to a nearby location where “The Old Doghouse” had at that time been recently condemned. The move would not only allow for a much more suitable building with a large showroom, but a very expansive car lot in order to carry a larger proportion of vehicles. The project was a lengthy process, yet after over two years, the move was made in September of 2006. In the meantime, Leasemobile had finally created the inevitable which was it’s own repair facility named “The Autofix” which currently resides next door to Leasemobile and behind Enterprise Rent-A-Car. The growing demand for a service and repair facility in order to keep up with the 50+ vehicles Leasemobile was stocking was a necessity. The Autofix would also grow to be a shop where Leasemobile customers could take their vehicle for service and receive the same and special treatment they were given at Leasemobile during their transaction.
In 2007, another door would open for Ridgeley as Subaru of America had begun to set their eyes on Sonora for a new Subaru franchise location. With the closing of 49er Subaru, Leasemobile was the most optimum dealership for Subaru in the area for Tuolumne County. Leasemobile was excited and expectant to be granted the franchise and in February, 2008, Subaru announced its approval. “We had numerous dealers ask about it and, of course, none had the qualifications that Ridge does. Ridge was the one with the facilities and he’s been in the area for a long time,” said Jerry Van Wechel; the North-West Subaru market development manager. Ridgeley remains a steady and constant force in Leasemobile and is dedicated in seeing its continuing prosperity. “After 23 years in business as Leasemobile, the future is even bigger and brighter than ever. With International connections on our side and a global view, I hope to see Leasemobile rise to another level this year,” said Ridgeley.
 As General Manager of Leasemobile, I have found that respect and devotion are key ingredients to success. In business, the customer that entrusts you with their needs and concerns, demands respect and outright devotion to a matter in order to find its solution. With family, the sincere and loving respect and undying devotion to another member makes for a successful household. In gratitude I thank my Grandad William and my Dad Ridge for the the foundation they whole heartedly laid over the last 39 years Leasemobile has been in business. My utmost respect belongs to them and my lifelong devotion as a Grandson and a Son.
The Leasemobile heritage of respect and devotion to our customers and the preservation of those relationships will forever remain paramount in our eyes.
Sincerely,
Jeruel ‘Jay’ William Schneider
“Moral courage is the most valuable and usually the most absent characteristic in men.”
General George S. Patton |
