The CADA Laureates pose for a group shot after receiving their Laureate jackets. From left to right, Michael Norris, Bert Hickman, Jonathan Hickman, and Bob Bentley.
It’s always a special moment when the newly-crowned CADA Laureates exit their limo, walk onto the red carpet into the Canadian International AutoShow (CIAS), sip champagne and pose for photos.
It’s a signal to the auto industry that these dealers have rightfully earned a special place among the elite performers and contributors to Canada’s auto retail industry.
At this year’s event, there was an unexpected twist of fate that saw four CADA Laureates walking into the event instead of the usual three — and two of them were brothers.
2015 Retailer Laureate Bert Hickman and his brother Jonathan from Hickman Auto Group, St. John’s, Nfld. both celebrated this year, because an illness prevented Jonathan from attending
his 2014 Laureate event ceremony the previous year.
“It’s a very special group we joined, I’m quite honoured,” says Jonathan Hickman, the 2014 Innovator Laureate winner. “I was honoured to get my jacket with my brother Bert Hickman. It’s been a special night. To be honoured with the other two fine gentlemen, it’s a special day.”
Jonathan Hickman says that getting his Laureate jacket at what was Rick Gauthier’s last Laureate ceremony as President & CEO of CADA made the night even more special. Gauthier announced his plans to retire from the post in July 2016.
“It is a great honour,” says Bert Hickman. “I can’t even describe how it feels to put on the jacket this evening.”
Bert Hickman says it was great to be able to celebrate the achievement with his brother. “It was great for both of us to be able come up this evening and put our jackets on. It’s teamwork. We are business partners, and we are brothers and we are 50-50 in everything we do. It’s great to be recognized.”
Bert Hickman says his sister also deserves thanks for donating the life-saving kidney to enable Jonathan to attend. “We certainly have to thank her as well. She’s a big part of our family.”
“Jonathan and I are here tonight winning these awards. But really it doesn’t come through our hard work — it comes from our employees. We have over 450 people working with us, and we’ve had thousands that have worked in our organization over the years from our great-grandfather,” says Bert Hickman.
“The success of our business has been our people. We may be the people in the limelight, but it’s the people back in the stores and on the ground doing the hard work that have made us successful. This is really a win for them.”
After being the first CADA Chairman to bestow a Laureate jacket to another dealer 10 years ago, 2015 Ambassador Laureate Bob Bentley enjoyed getting one of his own.
“It felt very good,” says Bentley, from Heartland Ford Sales, Fort Saskatchewan, Alta. “It’s been 10 years. I happened to be the Chairman of CADA 10 years ago and I presented the inaugural awards. They set some pretty high standards. I thought it was nice to present it, but it would really be nice to receive it!”
Bentley says it was nice to be recognized from among more than 3,300 dealers in Canada. “There is only one ambassador each year. I wear it with distinction and honour. It fits well, and I will get great use out of this jacket,” says Bentley.
“It’s just a great honour,” says 2015 Innovator Laureate, Michael Norris, from Volvo of Edmonton, Edmonton, Alta. “They treat you with such respect. To be with these other gentlemen is a great, great honour,” says Norris. “It’s unbelievable. Rick Gauthier and Berni (Benoit) have been just fantastic and so respectful. You feel like a VIP.”
Before arriving at the auto show, the 2015 CADA Laureates were presented their distinctive Laureate jackets at a special celebration at the Windsor Arms Hotel, hosted by Harry Mertin, CADA Chairman, and Alnoor Jiwani, Senior Vice-President, Business Development and Finance — Dealer Services, and Luc Samson, VP Sales and Administration Dealer Services, iA-SAL, the exclusive Laureate program sponsor.
The CADA Laureate award is widely considered to be the highest honour a new car and truck dealer can receive over the course of his or her career.
This award is presented annually to three dealers out of more than 3,300 nationally in the categories of Ambassadorship, Business Innovation and Retail Operations. Industry stakeholders submit hundreds of nominations annually and nominees are subject to a rigorous evaluation process that culminates with the selection of one winning Laureate in each category by the Ivey Business School at Western University.
For more information, visit:
www.cadalaureate.ca.
