Our Team
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Louis Hardin, Founder and Service Director
Louis grew up on a farm outside Brooklyn, Wisconsin, where repairing things was just part of everyday life. After graduating from Ohio Technical College’s Classic Car Restoration program, he set out to turn that early hands-on experience into a career—and nearly twenty years later, he’s worked in almost every part of the car business.
Along the way, Louis has wrenched on stock cars as a pit crew member, built experience inside dealership service departments, and even worked directly for a major automotive manufacturer. Most recently, he managed EuroTech, a high-volume European repair shop in the Twin Cities, and later led the Kellymoss Street Shop before its closure.
Edelweiss Autowerks was born from everything Louis learned during those years—bringing together the technical precision you'd expect from a dealership with the personal service you'd hope for from a small, trusted shop.
When he’s not at the shop, you’ll probably find Louis at a local car show or PCA event, reading nonfiction, or bringing some old jalopy back to life in his home garage.
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Anna Brukner, Founder and Operations Director
Anna grew up in Oregon, Wisconsin. She is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point, where she majored in Healthcare Administration. She brings almost a decade of experience in strategic portfolio and project management, in addition to business growth and development best practices, to Edelweiss Autowerks. Anna holds a Certified Associate in Project Management certification from the Project Management Institute. At Edelweiss, Anna helps streamline day-to-day operations, ensures that large repair and restoration projects are managed effectively, and acts as a liaison between Edelweiss and the local automotive community.
Off the clock, Anna can often be found behind the wheel of her 1988 Porsche 944, hosting dinner parties, planning fun road trips on Wisconsin’s back roads, or enjoying Minnesota’s North Shore. -
Dylan Downing, Technician
Dylan grew up in Edgerton, Wisconsin, and has been turning wrenches professionally for over a decade. After earning his degree in Auto Service Technology from MATC, he spent time at a high-volume national chain before joining the motorsports world at Kellymoss. He brings a wide-ranging skill set to Edelweiss Autowerks, with experience that spans everything from vintage American vehicles to modern Porsches.
When he’s not turning wrenches at the shop, Dylan can usually be found chasing after his kids, catching live music, or exploring new countries with his family. He has a soft spot for old Ford trucks and classic farm equipment—but don't let that fool you. He knows his way around a flat-six, too.
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Antonio Sanchez, Technician
Antonio comes to Edelweiss by way of the local Mazda dealership, where his time spent under Miatas has earned him the unofficial (but well-deserved) title of Edelweiss Miata Specialist. Antonio’s background in network engineering means he's just as comfortable tracing voltage as he is torque specs—he brings a systems-level mindset to every car he works on. He holds a degree in Auto Service Technology from Madison Area Technical College.
He also spent time at Zimbrick Mercedes, adding European luxury cars to his growing list of mechanical fluencies. When he's off the clock, you’ll likely find him bringing vintage computers back to life—because whether it’s a car or a Commodore, he’s never met a machine he can’t fix.
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Silas Beranek, Technician
Raised in Marathon, Wisconsin, Silas got his start in the transportation world the hard way - scrubbing down milk trucks for the local cheese plant. That early experience instilled a deep appreciation for vehicles of every kind, and it wasn’t long before he pursued a degree in Automotive Service Technology from Madison College. He later spent five years with Kellymoss, working in both their race and street divisions and gaining a rare blend of high-performance and daily-driver experience.
Silas specializes in European and Japanese vehicles, with a particular knack for performance work. His enthusiasm in the shop is hard to miss, and while he refers to himself as a “reformed WRX owner,” it’s clear his love of spirited driving hasn’t gone anywhere. Off the clock, Silas can usually be found road tripping, shooting pool, or diving headfirst into the next adventure.
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Cole Schalk, Content Creator
Cole helps us tell the stories behind the cars, the people, and the chaos at Edelweiss. A graduate of UW Oshkosh with a degree in music, he now channels his creative eye into documenting life around the shop—swinging by a few times a week to capture the rare, the rusty, and the just-reassembled.
He’s often along for the ride as we chase down barn finds, rescue long-forgotten classics, or prep for track days. Cole’s automotive loyalties lie firmly with Japanese machines, whether it’s his faithful winter beater Honda Accord or his tastefully preserved Mazda B-series pickup. If there’s an engine and a story, odds are he’s already behind the lens.