Cory Willis is the new Les Schwab manager, taking over his duties at the tire and service store Aug. 1. He replaces Terry Strawn, who took a position as manager of a Les Schwab store in Snohomish.

Willis comes from Reno, Nevada, where he was assistant manager in one of the four stores in that city.

The new manager and wife, Shannon, along with Sam, 16, and Shalayne, 13, are looking for a place to live here.

Willis said Sam, a baseball pitcher is involved in a program to develop his skills there in Reno, and he doesn’t know just when the family will move here.

The manager comes from a long line of Les Schwab employees, his father a manager at an Oregon store, and his mother and brother are also Les Schwab employees.

The area is not altogether new for Willis. He worked some time ago in the Republic store and also in Spokane.

He likes to hunt, and looks forward to meeting people here. Willis has been with Les Schwab as he says, “off and on for 19 years.”