Automotive News Canada - October 2024 - 19

* OCTOBER 2024
19
Best Dealerships To Work For
Birchwood Volkswagen
on Regent
Winnipeg
lDealership group: Birchwood Automotive Group
lGeneral manager: Ross Roteliuk
lNumber of employees: 32
HGregoire Candiac Toyota holds events and social activities to
recognize and reward employees. PHOTO: HGREGOIRE CANDIAC TOYOTA
HGregoire Candiac Toyota
Candiac, Que.
lDealership group: HGregoire
lGeneral manager: Sebastien Boisvert
lNumber of employees: 50
General Manager Sebastien Boisvert on best practices for improving
hiring and retention: Our group always tries to make sure the employees
feel like they are a part of the team from the start. That's why we
have an employee recognition club that rewards employees for their
hard work. We also hold events and social activities where they can
meet and interact with their colleagues from other departments and
sometimes other dealerships.
Boisvert on unique benefits and/or perks offered to employees: We
offer group health insurance, continuous training, access to a gym,
social activities and events.
General Manager Ross Roteliuk on offering
new hires and/or existing employees a longterm
career path: We continually refine the
onboarding experience to make new team
members feel not only welcomed but empowered
to contribute from day one. Additionally,
we have implemented a structured follow-up
plan that spans several months, giving new
team members regular opportunities to provide
feedback on their role, the processes and
the workplace culture. This ongoing dialogue
ensures continuous improvement, strengthens
team cohesion and helps us maintain a
positive work environment that supports
long-term growth. We prioritize the development
of skills that empower team members to
lead themselves and others throughout their
careers at Birchwood. Our group offers tailored
courses for team members at all levels,
providing each group the opportunity
to sharpen their skills and advance in their
career journey. Our succession planning program,
designed specifically for senior management
roles, is a key part of this development
strategy. Our group takes pride in our goal to
Riverside Dodge-Chrysler-Jeep
Prince Albert, Sask.
lDealer principal: Joe Weinrich
lNumber of employees: 35
Chief Financial Officer Cameron Bates on unique
perks and/or benefits offered to employees: We
offer unlimited paid sick days to all employees.
We offer comprehensive group benefits to all
full-time staff. We offer a pension plan to all fulltime
staff. We also host several employee events
per year, including an amazing year-end party,
bull-riding events, awards suppers, paintball and
staff lunches.
Employees at Bruce Chevrolet-Buick-GMC receive competitive pay
plans that allow them to have guaranteed income and then switch
to commission-based compensation.
PHOTO: BRUCE CHEVROLET-BUICK-GMC
Bruce Chevrolet-Buick-GMC
Middleton, N.S.
lDealership group: Bruce Automotive Group
lGeneral manager: Dave Deveau
lNumber of employees: 23
General Manager Dave Deveau on some unique benefits and/or perks
for employees: Our auto group sets itself apart from others with many
unique benefits, such as paid personal days to encourage a better
work-life balance, and keeping the workplace morale high by celebrating
all of the major milestones in our employees' lives.
Deveau on offering new hires and/or existing employees a long-term
career path: We offer competitive pay plans. For example, new hires
in the sales department are able to go on a guaranteed plan, even in a
commission-based role. If it works out, then they can switch to a commission
pay plan that will take them to the next level and put them in
control of their income.
Deveau on creating an inclusive workplace culture: With one of our
core values being synergy, inclusivity and equality is in our DNA. It
is a top priority that everyone in our dealership works together for
the greater good, and by recruiting staff who are a great representation
of our core values we've created a team where inclusivity and
equality just come naturally.
Bates on management training to ensure leaders
and prospective leaders are steering successful
teams: Our dealership invests heavily in training.
Our entire management team, as well as several
nonmanagement staff, have completed training
externally offered by performance group
institutes.
Bates on volunteer/charitable work performed
by the dealership team: We support several local
Staff at Birchwood Volkswagen on Regent
walk for United Way Winnipeg. Management
says employees are ensured a long-term
career path that starts with an onboarding
experience designed to empower them and
make them feel welcome from their first day
on the job.
PHOTO: BIRCHWOOD VOLKSWAGEN ON REGENT
promote from within, striving to fill at least 90
per cent of leadership positions internally.
Roteliuk on departments/positions facing the
biggest hiring/retention challenges: Our service
department continues to face challenges in
recruiting qualified Red Seal technicians. The
shortage of skilled tradespeople in this field,
combined with high demand across the industry,
has made it increasingly competitive to
attract and keep top talent.
Riverside Dodge-Chrysler-Jeep offers
unlimited paid sick days to all employees and
comprehensive group benefits to all full-timers.
PHOTO: RIVERSIDE DODGE-CHRYSLER-JEEP
charities and nonprofit groups, including, but
not limited to: Rotary Club of Prince Albert,
Mont St Joseph Foundation, YWCA, Federation
of Sovereign Indigenous Nations, Camp Easter
Seals, Clunie Cooper Memorial PBR, Prince
Albert Winter Festival, S.H.A.R.E., Canwood
4 H Beef Club, Prince Albert Raiders, WBSC
Softball Worlds, North of 16 High School Rodeo
and the Make A Wish Foundation. Several of
our staff members volunteer their time with
these organizations as well as with local sports
organizations.
Erin Mills Acura
Mississauga, Ont.
lDealership group: Zanchin Auto Group
lGeneral manager: Jagdeep Bhalla
lNumber of employees: 40
General Manager Jagdeep Bhalla on
departments/positions facing the biggest hiring/
retention challenges: Sales.
Bhalla on best practices for improving hiring and
retention in these areas: Strong incentives and
clear expectations and sharing future business
models.
Bhalla on training for management and management
prospects: We invest in our management
team to develop approachable skills so that all
the team members can feel comfortable reaching
out to them.
At Erin Mills Acura, strong incentives and
setting clear expectations help retain and
attract sales staff. PHOTO: ERIN MILLS ACURA
Automotive News Canada - October 2024

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