Celebrating dealer excellence in three categories: Ambassadorship, Business Innovation and Retail Operations.
Each year since 2006, three car dealers are named CADA Laureates. It’s an exclusive group, and recognizes outstanding career success and achievement.
From among the 3,200 car dealers across Canada, these CADA Laureate winners were first nominated by their peers, then made it through extensive vetting to be named finalists. The last step is their selection by independent judges from the Ivey Business School at Western University.
The awards are bestowed in three categories: Ambassadorship, Business Innovation and Retail Operations.
In this feature story, you will hear directly from the winning CADA Laureates, read comments from the judges about why they won, and read comments from the CADA Laureate program’s exclusive sponsor — iA Dealer Services.
Congratulations to this year’s winners!
AMBASSADORSHIP
For extraordinary service to the community and industry
Brent Ravelle
Brent Ravelle
Ravelle Auto Group, Listowel, ON
Brands represented: Ford, Honda, Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, and Ram
Years in business: 21
Number of employees: 85
In their own words: I was at a loss for words when I received the call that I was the Ambassador Laureate — and I’m never speechless. I look at the previous winners in this category, and when I realize that I’m being honoured in the same way that they were, that’s pretty special, it’s humbling. My wife was with me when we got the call; it was emotional for me to see how excited she got, and how proud she was. I’m a guy that didn’t come from the industry, my Dad’s a technician, and I had to figure this out along the way. I had a dream when I was in high school that this is what I wanted to do. Winning this award made me realize that I’ve achieved that dream. Now the number one thing I want to do is continue to give back, to the students at Georgian College, who I spend a lot of time with, and to the people within my store to help mentor them. I’m reflecting on what it means to be a CADA Laureate for life. There’s some added weight on your shoulders to make sure you live up to it, and now you have to work harder to represent it. Now I have even more drive to help people out. None of us do all of this by ourselves. We might have a vision and we might have a plan and we might help carve the path forward, but it’s everybody that’s around us that makes it happen.
Judge’s comments: Brent’s long-standing support of this community has been exceptional, and his actions have impacted the lives of so many. In the words of the Chair of the Listowel Memorial Hospital Foundation, “Our hometown and surrounding community would not be able to receive the kind of services both recreationally and from a health care side without the support Brent Ravelle has provided for many years.” This is but one of many testimonials to the work that Brent has done and the impact he has made. In addition to his community service and support, Brent also holds prominent leadership roles in the automotive community, such as MVRO, CADA, and the Canadian International AutoShow, among others, and has liaised with high-level government officials regarding current threats to the auto industry. Brent Ravelle is an exceptional ambassador to the local and automotive communities and is a very deserving recipient of the Ambassador Laureate honour.
Sponsor’s comments: As a business owner in Listowel and North Perth, Brent gives back with his time, expertise, leadership and financial resources. The list of Brent’s service and contributions is extremely impressive. He also instills a culture within his dealerships in which giving back to the community is second nature. Brent has served his industry in every capacity, through his work with local business groups and manufacturer committees, plus local, provincial and national dealer associations. As a graduate of the Automotive Business School of Canada, Brent’s commitment to the school is reflected in his role as a board member and Chair of the Curriculum Committee. He also won the 2025 Alumni of the Year Award. Brent exemplifies the important role that car dealers can play as business leaders and ambassadors in their communities and industry.
— Gwen Gareau, Senior Vice-President, iA Dealer Services & iA Auto Finance
BUSINESS INNOVATION
For initiatives that significantly enhance performance and broaden the business scope for dealers
Michael Wyant
Michael Wyant
Wyant Auto Group, Saskatoon, SK
Brands represented: Ford, Porsche, Audi, Mercedes-Benz, JLR, Volvo, Hyundai, Mitsubishi, Stellantis, Harley Davidson
Years in business: 18
Number of employees: 650
In their own words: This is super exciting, and the recognition is great. When you win an award like this, it belongs to your team. It really means something when a group of people at the Ivey Business School, that aren’t in our industry, have a look at what we are doing, and say: ‘Yeah, these guys are doing something special.’ The effort’s been constant, but we’ve really upped the ante on investing in our people since the pandemic. We’ve worked to try to bring the level up to help our team deal with challenging situations, external pressures and all the things we’ve been facing. You look at innovative ways to manage your business and support your people. When I was a kid, I sat in my dad’s office and I watched him work, and all I ever wanted was to do exactly what he did. My father won the Laureate award in 2008, and we celebrated with him when he won. It’s special for our family to be able to celebrate this again. Throughout my career, I am well aware I had opportunities because of the business my dad built. You have to take advantage of that, not take it for granted. But this award, in its own right, had nothing to do with that. So this award was a validation, not that we lack confidence, because as a second generation we run the business on our own, but it’s great to be recognized for the innovative things we are doing with the business.
Judge’s comments: The Wyant Group has not only excelled at developing and implementing cutting-edge processes to create customer value, they have also set the bar for adopting and integrating the technology changes and employee development that will shape the next stage of automotive sales and communication. With the integration of AI into business and personnel processes, harnessing its advantages while concurrently developing personnel will be critical to creating long-term customer value. Michael’s focus on and investment in employee development, training, and executive leadership is second to none. The development and implementation of team health checks and performance coaching ensures employees are growing in the areas they desire, while also supporting organizational growth and succession. Equally impressive is the integration of customer data into leadership decision-making processes and customer conflict resolution. The combined focus on advancing employee and technological development make Michael Wyant a very deserving choice as the 2025 Business Innovation CADA Laureate.
Sponsor’s comments: Michael Wyant and the Wyant Group are constantly innovating in employee development and retention. The list of innovations includes executive training at post-secondary schools, team health checks with performance coaches, and an in-house gym with instructor-led yoga and fitness classes. Revenue growth over the past decade has been exceptional. As the number of rooftops increases, so too has the number of in-house services that support the dealerships and add new revenue streams, including collision centres, detailing, paint protection, credit solutions, photography, leasing, car washes, and more. They even offer a full salon for service customers. Michael is also committed to operational excellence and best practices. He personally moderates in-house performance groups that help instill the Wyant values and culture throughout their organization. After years of substantial growth, the Wyant Group is still a family owned and operated business, with a people and performance driven culture.
— Alnoor Jiwani, Senior Vice-President, iA Dealer Services
RETAIL OPERATIONS
For outstanding achievement within an individual dealership
Annie Laliberté
Annie Laliberté
Beauport Hyundai, Québec, QC
Brands represented: Hyundai
Years in business: 36
Number of employees: 60
In their own words: I’ve been following the CADA Laureate program since it began in 2006, so it was a dream come true. I was really pleased to win the Retail Operations category. I started from scratch 36 years ago, and I worked really hard to get here. I did research on many of the past CADA Laureate winners. I could actually tell you almost every winner’s name. I know many of them because I’ve been in the business so long. I was wondering if I’d ever make it here. When I started out, even though I studied mechanics, and knew a lot about cars, customers would often talk to the male service advisors instead of me. So I had to prove myself more than they did. So I worked my way up, and that’s what made me want to be stronger, more knowledgeable, and to help the women in the industry. I do a lot of mentoring because I want to help young women have it easier than I did. You never win an award like this on your own. I would like to thank every employee I have, because I don’t think we realize enough as managers and dealers that our employees become our mentors. I’d also like to thank my daughter, who always followed me and believed in me, and Paul Daigle, President of Groupe Daigle, my partner in business and in life.
Judge’s comments: One vital driver of Beauport’s success has been their strategic spending on advertising and promotion on both new and used vehicles. Their investment has balanced both traditional and digital media, and Annie has taken a hands-on approach to designing and executing her plan, and to tracking ROI. A data-driven approach has been implemented at all levels of the organization, especially in parts and service and customer service, and Beauport Hyundai has received the highest customer service recognition from the manufacturer year after year. It would be remiss to not praise the exceptional effort Annie has placed on employee satisfaction and retention, and ensuring equal opportunity at all levels of the organization. Annie Laliberté is a true exemplar in the industry and a very deserving recipient of the 2025 Retail Operations Laureate honour.
Sponsor’s comments: Annie’s career path took her through all departments, and since taking the helm at Beauport Hyundai the dealership has delivered consistently strong results in all areas. Success is reflected in Annie’s hands-on approach — developing policies and procedures, staying close to the clientele, and helping craft dealership marketing plans. Key metrics in sales, profitability, operations and customer satisfaction are factored into a remuneration plan that drives employee satisfaction and retention. One quarter of the staff are female, and Annie is helping the industry improve in this area through her involvement as a mentor in the Women in Auto Accelerator program. Annie’s efforts and achievements are reflected in Beauport Hyundai winning the global Hyundai Dealer of the Year award in 2024, which recognizes the very best among 5,500 Hyundai dealers worldwide. Annie’s track record of success epitomizes excellence in retail operations.
— Gwen Gareau, Senior Vice-President, iA Dealer Services & iA Auto Finance
