Gerd Reisenecker, a prominent member of Canada’s automotive community passed away last week after a five-year battle with cancer.
GERD REISENECKER: October 20, 1942 - September 30, 2011
Gerd was born in Munich, Germany and started his career path as an automotive technician in 1957. After emigrating to Canada in 1966, he worked in various Head Office positions with Volkswagen and Renault Canada, until 1974 when he became a Teaching Master at Centennial College. In March, 1981, Gerd acquired his own dealership, Greenbelt Volkswagen, in Unionville, Ont. building this into a successful dealership from a bankruptcy. The dealership won many awards over the years including the Wolfsburg Crest Club, 2000-2001, an elite group of only six dealers for all of Canada, recognized by Volkswagen Germany, and the Volkswagen Brand Standards Award for the years 2003-2005. These are the highest level of Customer Experience Awards.
In November 2005, Gerd received the Gold Pin Status from Volkswagen A.G., Germany for providing exemplary service to Volkswagen customers, thus achieving international recognition amongst worldwide Volkswagen Dealers – a feat accomplished by only seven other Volkswagen dealers in all of North America and only two in Canada.
Gerd was Chairman of the National Dealer Advisory Council, Volkswagen Canada, 2006-2007, a service to his fellow Dealers and Volkswagen Canada.
Gerd has been actively involved with the Board of Directors of the Toronto Automobile Dealers Association (TADA) since 1992, becoming President 1999-2000, and President, Toronto Auto Show, 2000-2001. Gerd was instrumental in having the Toronto Auto Show designated as an International Auto Show, being the only one in Canada with that designation. Gerd also served on the Board of Directors for the Ontario Motor Vehicle Industry Council (OMVIC) from 2001-2003.
He has been a member of the Board of Directors of the Canadian Automotive Institute at Georgian College since 1996. In 2005, Gerd was awarded the Board of Governor’s Award by Georgian College. He also established an endowment fund at Georgian College that provides an annual entrance scholarship for a student entering the Business Administration – Automotive Marketing Diploma programme.
TADA recently created the annual “Gerd Reisenecker Scholarship” at Centennial College in recognition of his automotive achievements. Gerd also started the annual Toronto Automotive Technology Competition during the Auto Show to promote the automotive trades as a career choice for high school students throughout the GTA. The winners of this annual competition are entered into a similar competition during the New York Auto Show and have proudly won several awards over the years.
In March 2006, Gerd was nominated for the CADA Laureate Award. This is the most prestigious and coveted award in the retail auto industry, awarded by your peers, to acknowledge top performing franchise dealers. With more than 3500 new car and truck franchise dealers, nomination is a tremendous accomplishment.
An outstanding athlete, Gerd was a boxer, an avid skier, a competitive sailor, boater, and won many championships in golf, but most of all he had a passion for planting and caring for all the many trees on their farm property in North Pickering.
The family has asked that in lieu of flowers, donations to The Canadian Cancer Society are appreciated.
