When most people think of auto recycling yards, they picture outdoor lots where parts sit exposed to weather and customers wait hours for service. Natasha Broxton, founder and CEO of Select Auto Parts & Sales, saw an opportunity to do things differently—and to build Milwaukee’s first fully indoor auto recycling operation.
As one of the only Black women leading an auto recycling company in the country, Natasha brings a community-first perspective to an industry that hasn’t historically prioritized accessibility or inclusion. Her path to entrepreneurship was built on decades of real industry experience alongside her husband Eric, who has operated a tire recycling business for more than 40 years.”I handled the business management side—bookkeeping, accounting, compliance, and human resources—so I understood the operational and financial realities of the automotive recycling industry,” Natasha explains.
The journey to Select Auto Parts began in 2012 with an unusual project. Natasha and Eric were hired to clean up an abandoned 125,000-square-foot building filled with thousands of junk tires. Their tire recycling operation processes over a million tires annually, so the cleanup wasn’t the challenge—but the building represented something bigger.
“After submitting a cleanup bid, we made an offer on the building and acquired it at a favorable price,” Natasha recalls. “Milwaukee was no longer permitting new outdoor auto recyclers, and we had firsthand experience with the problems customers faced—long wait times, weather-damaged parts, and inefficiency.”
Natasha led the licensing, compliance, hiring, and building transformation into a fully indoor operation with a clear goal: to create a better solution for repair shops, body shops, and the Milwaukee community.
Select Auto Parts reclaims, tests, and resells quality used auto parts so repair shops, body shops, and everyday drivers can access reliable parts at affordable prices. The company also responsibly recycles end-of-life vehicles to reduce waste and environmental harm.
The indoor operation solves two problems: the high cost of vehicle repair and the inefficiencies of traditional outdoor recycling. By operating indoors, they protect inventory from weather, reduce wait times, and provide faster service.
“Being fully indoor allows us to protect inventory, reduce wait times, and deliver faster, more reliable service to our primary customers—repair shops and body shops that rely on consistent, high-quality parts,” Natasha explains.
Beyond efficient operations, Select Auto Parts invests in workforce development through partnerships with the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development, Goodwill Industries, the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation, and Milwaukee Area Technical College (MATC).”We help create career pathways and hands-on opportunities for individuals and youth interested in skilled trades and logistics,” Natasha says.
As Select Auto Parts grew, Natasha knew that visibility and infrastructure investments would be key to reaching more customers. Through the State Small Business Credit Initiative (SSBCI) Technical Assistance program, she received guidance on becoming capital-ready and connecting with funding sources. SSBCI services helped Natasha strengthen her business case and clarify where capital would create the most impact with financial projections and detailed accounting support. With this support, she learned about The Confidence Project grant through Hello Alice and prepared a competitive application.
More than 200 businesses applied, 30 were selected to pitch, and only 20 received funding. “Being selected validated the work we are doing and reinforced that our business model and impact resonated beyond our local market,” Natasha reflects.
The Confidence Project was the right fit for reasons beyond money. “The program aligned with our values,” Natasha explains. “It focused on investing in women entrepreneurs not just financially, but through visibility, confidence, and validation. The program understood the barriers women face when scaling capital-intensive businesses.”
Through SSBCI’s preparation and connections, Select Auto Parts secured a $20,000 non-dilutive grant through The Confidence Project, in partnership with BOTOX® Cosmetic and Hello Alice. The $20,000 grant funded an exterior signage and visibility upgrade—a strategic investment that directly supports business growth. “Our exterior signage and visibility project improves drive-by awareness, customer confidence, and ease of access to our facility,” Natasha explains.
The results came quickly. “Increased visibility has already translated into greater awareness and engagement from both individual customers and business clients,” Natasha notes. For a business serving repair shops, body shops, and DIY customers seeking affordable parts, being easy to find matters. Select Auto Parts has become a community asset. As Milwaukee’s only fully indoor auto recycler, the company provides essential services while creating employment opportunities and reducing environmental impact.
The workforce development partnerships show how businesses can serve multiple goals at once: providing quality parts to customers, creating career pathways for workers, and operating responsibly in the community.
The visibility improvements position Select Auto Parts for continued growth. With better signage complete, the company can focus on expanding its customer base and strengthening its role as a reliable partner to Milwaukee’s automotive service industry.
Select Auto Parts shows how innovation, community investment, and strategic funding can transform a traditional industry. By challenging outdoor recycling norms and prioritizing both efficiency and inclusion, Natasha has created a model that serves customers better while opening doors for underrepresented entrepreneurs.
That recognition extends beyond Wisconsin. In 2025, Select Auto Parts was named a CO-100 Honoree by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, recognizing the company as one of the Top 100 Small Businesses in America—a testament to the impact Natasha and her team have built.
“Turning an abandoned building into Milwaukee’s first fully indoor auto recycling operation wasn’t just a business idea—it was a commitment to build something that would serve this community for the long term,” Natasha reflects. For a business built on that vision, it represents what’s possible when experience, purpose, and opportunity come together.
The State Small Business Credit Initiative Technical Assistance Center is delivered through the Universities of Wisconsin’s Office of Business & Entrepreneurship and ecosystem partners across the state. For more information, visit our website at business.wisconsin.edu/ssbci