Automotive News Canada - October 2023 - 46

46
* OCTOBER 2023
Best Dealerships To Work For
Pine View West Hyundai
Brampton, Ont.
lPresident: Frank Romeo
lDealership group: Pine View
Auto Group
lNumber of employees: 37
Romeo on departments/positions
facing the biggest hiring/retention
challenges: In the current work environment,
there are many hiring and
retention challenges. The service
department, specifically apprentice
and licensed mechanics, are where
we face the most challenges. There
are just not enough new people
entering the trade to offset those
leaving.
Romeo on offering new hires
and/or existing employees a
long-term career path: When
new employment opportunities
are available, we focus on our
current staff before looking
externally to fill the position.
Romeo on the volunteer/charitable
work performed by the
dealership team: Pine View
Hyundai is proud to sponsor
local youth sports teams, Youth
Bocce, Vitanova Foundation
and many other charitable
organizations. This year, Pine
View Auto Group participated
in a program with 360Kids, an
organization that assists at-risk
youth. Our team members
spent a night outdoors to try to
understand the root causes of
The team at Pine View West Hyundai sponsors local youth teams and supports charitable
organizations such as 360Kids, which addresses youth homelessness. SUPPLIED PHOTO
homelessness and the harsh realities homeless
kids face in order to spread awareness about
Lockwood Kia
Oakville, Ont.
lPresident: Jay Lockwood
lNumber of employees: 40
General Manager Michael
DeFreitas on the unique benefits
and/or perks offered to employees:
We offer a tool and work-boot
allowance to our technicians. We
also take each department out for
quarterly team dinners.
DeFreitas on improving employee
retention: We keep a fun work
Maple Volkswagen's annual Salvation Army Toy Mountain Drive collection and donation.
SUPPLIED PHOTO
Maple Volkswagen
Maple, Ont.
lManaging partner: Jim Garofalor
lDealership group: Zanchin Automotive Group
lNumber of employees: 45
General Manager Emil Paloma on preparing
staff for increasing adoption of electric
vehicles: Maple Volkswagen provides comprehensive
training to the staff on electric
vehicles, including product training, sales
training and service training. We also
encourage staff to stay up to date on the
latest EV developments. We are working
to create a culture of EV adoption
at Maple Volkswagen by encouraging the
team to test drive EVs and share their positive
experiences with customers. By taking
these steps, we can help to accelerate
the adoption of EVs and have a positive
impact on customers and the environment.
Paloma
on offering new hires and existing employees
a long-term career path: Maple Volkswagen
and Zanchin Auto Group have many long-term
employees. Many staff members have held different
positions since beginning their careers at the company.
We are very proud to share these stories with
new hires because they demonstrate that we are
an auto group that fosters long-term employment.
We want all applicants and new hires to know that
we want them to find their careers with us. We will
provide opportunities to those who are focused and
dedicated to their career in automotive.
Human Resources Generalist Hannah Ruso on
recruiting service technicians amid the EV transition:
With a focus on career development and
advancement in trades, we promote from within
the dealership and Zanchin Automotive Group. We
also partner with trade schools and programs to
provide opportunities to graduates and professionals
who desire a career in automotive maintenance
and repair. The evolution of the EV market and
ownership is something we have been working
towards for years, including preparing automotive
trades professionals through OEM and specialized
training and certification.
Lockwood Kia
staff enjoy a
catered lunch,
which is part
of providing
a fun work
environment.
SUPPLIED PHOTO
the issue in the York region. Our dealership
raised $10,000 for this worthy cause.
environment for all staff. Constant
training and career mentoring is
always available. All new positions
are made available internally
before hiring out.
DeFreitas on how training is used
to advance employee skills and
careers: We have constant sales/
technicial training. Managers
receive mentoring from a business
coach.
DeFreitas on incorporating diversity,
equity and inclusion in the workplace:
We've hired many multilingual
employees and encourage
them to refer friends and family to
apply for positions.
South Trail Nissan
Calgary, Alta.
lDealer principal: Jason Bender
lDealership group: McManes
Automotive Group
lNumber of employees: 39
South Trail Nissan strives to cultivate the skills and abilities of female
employees. The dealership says it's important to empower women to
make decisions and then stand by them, and for women to know that
automotive stores need female leaders. SUPPLIED PHOTO
Bender on offering new hires and
existing employees a long-term
career path: Inspiring a culture
of excellence and showing individuals
what paths exist within
the dealership for growth and
development. We also genuinely
care for our employees so they
feel valued. We showcase examples
of individuals wow have
taken a variety of different paths
to work their way through the company with promotions
and succession.
Bender on recruiting and retaining female employees:
We see talented women in our business all the time. It
is important to cultivate their skills and abilities and
for them to know they are supported. It is important to
empower them to make decisions and then stand by them.
They need to know that this business needs female leaders.
We currently have a few female leaders on our team,
and they are successful because they have been coached,
mentored and encouraged by their leaders on how to be
successful.
Bender on whether staff are still working remotely following
the COVID-19 pandemic: We are a customer-facing business
where people are required to be in the dealership. If circumstances
present themselves where it is necessary for administrative
staff or anyone not customer-facing to work from
home, we are able to accommodate them for a short time.
Managers are also able to perform some administrative
work from home if they are unable to come into the office.
Automotive News Canada - October 2023

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