Ehrlichs, Sears, Warde, Bensler star in Greeley

Finalists for this year’s Bravo! Entrepreneur Award for Greeley include Ruben and Scott Ehrlich, owners of Ehrlich Motors Inc.; Curtis Sears, president of Sears Real Estate; Tim Warde, owner and president of Northern Colorado Paper Inc.; and William Bensler, president of Flood and Peterson Insurance Co.

Ruben “Swede” Ehrlich opened a specialty auto-repair shop in Greeley in 1946. Nine years later, he established Ehrlich Motors, selling American cars of all brands. In 1963, he opened the first Datsun dealership in the area, recognizing a just-beginning desire by buyers for smaller, more-fuel-efficient vehicles.

Scott Ehrlich got an early start in his…