This is Amanda.
She’s part automotive leader, part historian, and full-hearted Granite Stater.
As a fourth-generation steward of Grappone Automotive, Amanda isn’t just running a century-old business—she’s reimagining what it means to do it with integrity, humanity, and purpose. From ending commission-based sales to preserving family stories in a self-published book, Amanda brings care and curiosity to everything she touches.
She believes in treating customers like neighbors, boiling her own maple syrup, and owning nothing—not land, not legacy, not even a business—but stewarding it for those who come next.
Amanda Grappone Osmer is a storyteller, truth-teller, and relationship-builder whose work is all about honoring the past, shaping the present, and earning trust that lasts a lifetime.
Links & notes:
This episode was recorded in Treeline Outfitters in Portsmouth, New Hampshire
Note that from 49:48 - 51:53, the video cuts out— my camera battery died, sorry!
Music provided by Sneaky Miles
Youtube
Episode Summary
Why did you write a book about your family’s history?
I wrote it to honor 100 years of Grappone Automotive and to ensure that my children and team members understand where we came from. It started as an “enhanced pamphlet,” but when I found a handwritten memoir from my great-uncle tucked away in a drawer, I knew I had to write the full story. It covers our journey from Italy in the 1700s to opening a gas station in Concord, New Hampshire, in 1924.
What surprised you during your research?
So much. I didn’t realize the extreme hardship my ancestors faced—not just poverty and political turmoil in Southern Italy, but also discrimination and terrible conditions when they arrived in America. Italian immigrants were at the bottom of the social ladder, and their lives were literally valued less than others in mining disasters. It gave me a deeper appreciation for everything they endured to build a life here.
What was life like for them when they first arrived?
They lived in crowded tenement housing in Boston with no running water or daylight. My great-grandmother never learned English and was illiterate—she signed her name with an X on the mortgage for the gas station. That level of disempowerment, combined with the loss of connection to nature, felt like a kind of mental imprisonment to me.
How does your family history shape your perspective on the business?
It made me realize that I’m not an owner—I’m a steward. I owe everything I have to this company, from my education to my kids’ opportunities. My job is to carry the Grappone legacy forward with integrity and care, not entitlement.
What has your career path looked like?
I grew up in Concord, went to UNH, worked in outdoor education, and spent time in California after 9/11. I sold cars out there for a while, which taught me that I don’t like commission-based, fear-driven environments. That realization led me back home and helped shape the changes we made at Grappone.
What was the big shift you made in the business?
In 2012, we switched to negotiation-free car sales. No more finance managers, no hidden fees, no pressure tactics—just transparent pricing and education. It was a massive financial risk, but I couldn’t reconcile treating long-time customers worse than strangers just because of the way they shopped.
What’s your philosophy on sales and leadership?
There’s such a thing as “good profit” and “bad profit.” I believe in long-term relationships over short-term gains. You can know your numbers and run a tight business while still being human and trustworthy. Trust is the ultimate currency.
How do you define success at Grappone?
Our mission is to build lifelong relationships. It’s not about selling the most cars—it’s about making sure people feel heard, respected, and well taken care of. That’s the culture I want to pass on to the next generation if they choose to take part in the business.
How do customers respond to your approach?
Many people told me they had written us off after a bad experience years ago, but they gave us another shot because they heard me on the radio and believed I was a real, trustworthy person. That kind of feedback means everything to me.
What are your thoughts on technology and the future of your industry?
I stay aware of trends, but I’d honestly rather be tapping maple trees than watching videos about car tech from overseas. We don’t make the cars—we represent them. So our focus is on making the experience human and helpful, even as technology evolves.
What lessons have you learned from being part of a multigenerational business?
Humility. Gratitude. Stewardship. I’ve learned that just because something’s been done a certain way doesn’t mean it’s right or can’t change. I’m incredibly grateful to be part of something bigger than myself, and I want to leave it better for the next generation.
Do you still feel connected to New Hampshire?
Deeply. I’ve lived here most of my life, and I love the land, the people, and the sense of interconnectedness. Whether I’m hiking a new trail or boiling sap with my husband, New Hampshire feels like home in the truest sense.
What keeps you motivated in your work?
The people. Our customers, our team, my family—this community we’ve built over a century. Every day, we get to show up and earn trust again. That’s a privilege I don’t take lightly.
*This episode summary was generated by an AI analyzing a transcript of the interview. The questions, wording, and written meaning of particular sections may contain slight differences to the original conversation. We include these summaries to give listeners a brief, readable synopsis of the episode. The full episode transcript is available on granitegoodness.com.
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