Local Business Owner Lou Altobelli, Rio Auto Body Serves as Keynote Speaker for Career Day

By Gia Gallone
On Feb. 16, nearly 800 students sat inside the Middle Township Performing Arts Center (PAC) for Middle Township High School Career Day, eager to learn about the working world beyond high school. Students heard from over 40 presenters plus two keynote speakers, one being Lou Altobelli, owner of Rio Auto Body in Rio Grande.
When speaking to the students, Lou focused heavily on success. “It’s not always about money and cars and houses,” he said. “It’s about being able to support your family and having what you need to live a comfortable life. It’s about happiness.” He explained that hard work is the true key to success, no matter where you came from or where you want to go.
Lou himself is a true example of creating his own success through hard work. Since he was a little kid, he always had a large interest in the automotive industry. He started working on cars at age 13, and developed a passion to own his own body shop one day. He worked hard and saved his money, and by the time he was 21, opened Rio Auto Body in 1994. “I invested every dollar I had into it, and eventually spun that off into multiple businesses between three counties,” Lou shared.
Today, Lou is the proud owner of Rio Auto Body, Hi-Tech Auto & Truck Service Center, Court House Towing, Marmora Auto Body, Marmora Auto & Truck Center, Black Horse Pike Auto Body and Vineland Auto Body, all extremely successful businesses. Additionally, he sits on the board for Atlantic Cape Community College, Cape Regional Medical Center, Cape Assist, the Middle Township Chamber of Commerce, Volunteers in Medicine and the Middle Township Economic Development Council. Lou came from humble means and was able to achieve everything he wanted to achieve and more.
Additionally, Lou gave advice and strategies on how to reach that desired success, such as set goals, use good common sense and learn from your mistakes.
Students and other audience members really seemed to absorb everything from the first speaker to the last. Students were truly interested in finding out what’s outside of high school and what possibilities exist within the job market.