While Alberta-based Heartland Auto Group is a family-owned and operated business that began operations 10 years ago, it also has a philosophy of partnering with employees.
Kelly O’Connell is co-owner of the business with his wife, Sue. Their son, Cole, is the President and General Manager of the family’s flagship store, Heartland Ford in Fort Saskatchewan. As part of their recent acquisition of Vegreville Ford, they gave a longstanding employee a chance to become Managing Partner. Griff Jarvis had worked for the Heartland Group as Director of Sales for Heartland Ford and a minority partner in Heartland’s two Pulse RV stores and a wholesale store.
“I want managers to be able to move on and become partners in stores, that’s what happened to Griff,” said O’Connell. “He’s been with us the longest. I’m thrilled for Griff. He deserves it. It’s a great store and he’s going to do incredible things with incredible people. The next store I buy may well be with the next General Manager that’s been with me. I really want to see them become owners. I’m a firm believer that having a partnership agreement with your management is the way to go. There’s no plan on how big we need to get. There’s no ceiling and there’s no floor.”
O’Connell started out in the automotive industry in the 1980s working in the lots, working his way up to sales and management and then working with automotive clients establishing new management and employee training programs. In 2013, he partnered with Bob Bentley in the purchase of Heartland Ford in Fort Saskatchewan. He said Bentley had the same philosophy as him, which is having a partner in the store. The business started out selling about 240 cars a year. A subsequent move to a bigger location has almost tripled sales annually.
