The newest members of the elite group of auto dealers deemed the best in the business were unveiled this week when the Canadian Automobile Dealers Association named the three new CADA Laureates for 2013.
This year’s 2013 CADA Laureates are:
In the category of business innovation: Sean O’Regan, from O’Regan’s Automotive Group, Halifax, N.S.
In the category of ambassadorship: Al MacPhee, MacPhee Ford, Dartmouth, N.S.
In the category of retail operations: Joe Medina, Crosstown Auto Centre, Edmonton, Alta.
The CADA Laureate candidates are dealers throughout Canada who were nominated by third parties. Those nominees are narrowed down to 15 finalists in three categories. Then judges from the prestigious Richard Ivey School of Business select the three winners.
In their comments the judges had high praise for this year’s winners:
Sean O’Regan
Sean O’Regan: “There are several innovations in Sean O’Regan’s business and operations that are exceptional, and worthy of award and praise. In addition to the typical excellent standards and operations of all dealers at this level, O’Regan goes beyond to offer unique value,” wrote the judges.
Al MacPhee: “Amongst a stellar group of community-minded automobile dealers, Al MacPhee manages to shine as an example for all responsible and socially aware business owners. His dealership takes a very active role in the community, not only donating personal time, money and vehicles to worthy causes, but in one case even bringing the charity event right into the showroom itself,” wrote the judges.
Joe Medina: “Joe Medina and Crosstown Auto Centre show outstanding results, based on superior processes, people and systems… While all the nominees have outstanding operations, Joe Medina’s initiatives and hard work have paid off in recognizable success,” wrote the judges.
EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEWS
Canadian auto dealer conducted exclusive interviews with each of this year’s winners to get their impressions right after they received word they were now CADA Laureates.
Al MacPhee
“It was a combination of shock and great happiness,” says Sean O’Regan, describing how he felt when he received the call that he was selected as a 2013 CADA Laurate. “I felt very, very honoured and humbled.”
Sean O’Regan joins his father Paul O’Regan as the first family with multiple Laureate winners. “My father would be really elated,” says O’Regan. “I’m sure he’s feeling that way wherever he is, and is very proud.”
O’Regan says he remembers how proud he felt when his father was selected as one of the inaugural Laureates, and that his father was always proud of that honour.
“I felt kind of emotional,” says O’Regan. “To be judged on a similar level to somebody that I loved and respected as much as my father, is just really, hard to describe,” says O’Regan.
“It’s very significant to me. The only thing that could be better is that if he could have joined me when the Laureates get together. That would have been fantastic, but it wasn’t meant to be.”
When he received the call that he was selected as a 2013 CADA Laureate, Al MacPhee says he was thrilled to join the ranks of Canada’s elite dealers.
“I was very happy to get the call. It’s a great program and I’m happy to be a part of it. The Canadian dealer body is the best in the world, and the CADA Laureates are the best of the bunch,” says MacPhee.
Joe Medina
“I am representing fabulous dealers who are the greatest people in Canada. I feel a responsibility now. It’s not just putting the jacket on and saying, ‘Look, I am a Laureate now.’”
MacPhee has been very active in his community, has served in leadership positions with provincial and national dealer associations, and has received lots of awards and accolades from OEMs and from a host of business associations and other organizations.
“I am just lucky to have had such great people around me,” adds MacPhee.
When he received the call that he had been selected as a 2013 CADA Laureate, Joe Medina says he was caught off guard. “I have been humbled by this whole thing,” says Medina, who says he started in the business as a lot person.
“Being a lot person wasn’t just a job for me. It was doing my best in every position I did,” says Medina. “I think it’s important in this business to stay humble. The egos can take you off your game. I’m no different than anybody else on the floor. I treat everybody like family and we work together as a team. I think that’s always been the key to the success of the dealership.”
Medina says that when he was nominated he shared the news with his team and told them their efforts were key. “How did we get there? At the end of the day, it’s all about the people. I have a lot of long-term employees in key management roles.”
So what does Medina attribute to his success? “Technology. I think it’s a matter of being able to use all the tools that are available in the marketplace,” says Medina, who sends several members of his team to events such as digital marketing conferences in the U.S. and the NADA Convention and Expo to scout for new ideas.
“To be recognized as doing a great job is such an honour to me,” says Medina. “I know we have good numbers and great results, but to me that’s just what you are supposed to do.”
