Ducharme, who’s been in Westlock due to the fact 1996 and obtained his start out in the marketplace in 1984, a person of two sellers lauded by provincial association
WESTLOCK – Todd Ducharme, a Westlock community winner for a lot more than a quarter century and dealer principal of Westlock Motors and Grizzly Trail Motors in Barrhead, has been lauded with a 2022 Motor Dealers’ Affiliation of Alberta (MDA) non-metro Car Supplier of Excellence Award.
Ducharme, 58, was surrounded by staff, mates and relatives — numerous of who could be characterised as all a few — during a distinctive ceremony held in the showroom of Westlock Motors Nov. 25 wherever he officially obtained the plaque.
The MDA hands out supplier of excellence awards every year to a single metro supplier from Calgary or Edmonton and a person non-metro supplier from the relaxation of the province — Paul Valentine, from the Valentine Automobile Group in Calgary, was the metro winner. Award standards incorporate enterprise acumen, neighborhood involvement and association/business involvement, while candidates are nominated by association associates and the winners are picked by a panel of past award recipients which MDA president Gerald Wooden states, “makes this award so significant.”
“Paul and Todd have obtained success by demonstrating exceptional motivation to their shoppers, workers, field and communities in which they do small business,” explained Wood. “They are fine examples of the a lot of outstanding car dealers we are fortunate to have as members.”
Ducharme, who served as MDA chair from 2019-2020, was all smiles at the ceremony stating he was “surprised and humbled for currently being chosen” and referred to as it “an honour for me and our workforce.” He credits his accomplishment to a positive frame of mind, a great operate-household everyday living stability and following the words and phrases of his mentor John Davis who sagely encouraged: “Surround your self with very good individuals.”
He also said it was specially gratifying to sign up for Davis, who received the award in 2010, and all three of his sons, Mike, Luke and Tim, who ended up lauded in 2016, plus past Westlock-spot auto dealers Dwight Brown, Chrysler and Rex Dawson, Ford — both equally he labored alongside and understood personally who have due to the fact handed away — who also gained the same honour in 2013 and 1987, respectively.
“It’s a wonderful honour, primarily considering that it will come from your friends. To be considered of in the exact same mild as fellas like John and Rex and Dwight, is really humbling,” he mentioned, while also thanking his spouse Deneen. “But you can’t get awards like this without the need of excellent staff members and with out the aid at home. We’ve been so lucky listed here in that we’ve had a lot of extensive-expression staff members and pretty dedicated workers.”
In the past handful of yrs Ducharme, who still holds the title of general supervisor, has stepped back again from considerably of the day-to-working day operations and turned the keys about to his sons Colby, who’s the Westlock Motor gross sales manager, and Brady, who’s the fastened operations manager, when Tate McNelly is the common manager of Grizzly Path Motors — each dealerships are underneath the Davis Automobile Team umbrella. He said it is specifically fulfilling to see his sons consider the mantle though that was by no means the system and he would have been content with whatsoever job they pick.
“I have a great deal much more flexibility right now for the reason that they are here and they are my business companions. They’ve bought in, are earning it and functioning their dad out of job,” he claimed with a chuckle. “That’s what they needed to do and it’s terrific.”
From Fort Macleod to Westlock
Ducharme, who begun his job doing work at Scougall Motors in Fort Macleod again in 1984 when he 20 a long time previous, explained it was “ … a good position to discover the automobile business from two of the most effective: John Davis and Hank Arnoldussen.”
“There have been no positions again the early 80s and I even experimented with to get work opportunities at the financial institutions and (defunct vendors) Woodward’s and Woolco,” he stated with a chuckle.
Starting as a revenue advisor, he was promoted to profits supervisor and five a long time later he moved to Lethbridge to become the pre-owned manager at Davis GMC Buick. Within a 12 months, his purpose of becoming a basic manager and supplier principal of his possess store grew to become a truth when Davis presented him the prospect to take in excess of Westlock Motors in 1996. At the time of the transfer to Westlock, Colby was eight, Brady was five and Hannah was two.
“And it’s turn into our property. Westlock has been so very good to all of us,” said Ducharme.
Over the decades, Ducharme has immersed himself in the local community and performed every little thing from organizing a shinny hockey league to coaching slight athletics. He’s also a earlier member of the Westlock Economic Advancement Committee, was a vital determine in the group fundraising for the Rotary Spirit Centre and is the current co-president of the Westlock Rotary Club. Looking at shoppers as “community colleagues” Westlock Motors with Ducharme at the helm has always been an avid supporter of a myriad of neighborhood charities and community businesses.
Ultimately, when requested what the finest point is about having realized accomplishment, Ducharme replied: “Success is a going focus on. Constantly striving for far more of the excellent points in existence: consolation, loved ones, good friends and adventures.”
George Blais, TownandCountryToday.com