- Words by Lauren Kramer Photography by Lia Crowe
From the sidelines, it香蕉视频直播檚 easy to look at a successful business and assume success came easily. But the truth is isn香蕉视频直播檛 always so.
Take Motor Werke, a Kelowna-based, locally owned company that specializes in mechanical services to European vehicles such as Audi, BMW, Jaguar, Land Rover, Mercedes, Mini, Volvo and Porsche. Today it香蕉视频直播檚 humming: the 13-year-old business has nine service bays and 20 staff and tends to some 200 vehicles each month. Its focus is inspections, diagnostics, repairs, upgrades and maintenance, and it also offers a wax shop to get customers香蕉视频直播� cars gleaming.
Owner Chris Germana, 44, has his eyes set firmly on the future. He香蕉视频直播檚 bringing young partners into the fold, expanding the physical footprint of the garage and welcoming apprentice mechanics to learn the trade.
香蕉视频直播淎s a business owner I香蕉视频直播檝e learned the most important thing you can do is take what you香蕉视频直播檝e learned and share it by investing in other people,香蕉视频直播� Chris reflects. 香蕉视频直播淲e香蕉视频直播檝e doubled our staff numbers in the last few years, we have four new apprentices and we are actively developing young people. It香蕉视频直播檚 so gratifying watching others grow around us and being a part of the mentorship process.香蕉视频直播�
But the road to this success wasn香蕉视频直播檛 without its bumps and curves.
When he graduated high school in Stoney Creek, Ontario, Chris had no idea what career path he香蕉视频直播檇 follow. After a brief stint at an arts school, he job-shadowed a mechanic and quickly realized his love of European vehicles exceeded his love of art and design.
香蕉视频直播淚 always wanted to own a Porsche 911 and a BMW E30, so I decided to get into an industry where I香蕉视频直播檓 around cars all day,香蕉视频直播� he says.
He found the educational program that would teach him the skills he needed at Arizona香蕉视频直播檚 Universal Technical Institute, but the $35,000 tuition was the first hurdle he needed to overcome.
Determined to enrol, he spent 18 months working full time for the Ontario school board and stocking shelves at a local grocery store on weekends, saving every penny of his wages. A loan from a family member sealed the deal and in 2000, Chris headed to Phoenix.
For the next four years he studied for his mechanic certification and worked at a BMW dealership in Scottsdale. Serendipitously, he met folks along the way who mentored and helped him.
香蕉视频直播淎s an international student I had to work harder than domestic students to get into the program and to find a sponsor,香蕉视频直播� he recalls.
At the condominium complex where he lived, his study overlooked the swimming pool and another resident香蕉视频直播攚ho happened to supply automotive equipment香蕉视频直播攏oticed the young Chris was always at his desk studying. The two struck up a conversation in the shared laundry room and Chris香蕉视频直播檚 new friend helped him connect with the right folks in the industry, who in turn sponsored a work permit that allowed him to stay on and work after he graduated.
By 2004, Chris was missing Canada and ready to return home. He found work as a mechanic in dealerships in Southern Ontario, met his wife and started a family. But living an hour from Toronto, his daily commute was a killer.
When the family vacationed in the Okanagan in 2006, Chris fell in love with the region. Ready for a lifestyle change, he relocated the family to British Columbia just months after that first visit, settling in Kelowna. Determined to open his own automotive business, he enrolled in some business courses and, in March 2009, opened the doors of Motor Werke in central Kelowna.
The first few years presented a steep learning curve as the business endured its share of growing pains, Chris recalls, adding, 香蕉视频直播淏ut I was lucky to meet great people who became my mentors, equipping me with the tools, tips and knowledge I needed to get through that period.香蕉视频直播�
Motor Werke specializes in European brands but also services Japanese vehicles.
香蕉视频直播淲e香蕉视频直播檙e really in business to take care of people and serve them well, so while we specialize in certain brands, we don香蕉视频直播檛 turn anyone away,香蕉视频直播� he says.
Part of that care package includes a fleet of 15 courtesy cars. If one is unavailable, customers are shuttled back home while their cars are in the shop.
香蕉视频直播淧eople don香蕉视频直播檛 expect to get treated and respected the way they are treated at Motor Werke,香蕉视频直播� Chris says. 香蕉视频直播淲omen in particular香蕉视频直播攚e want women to feel confident and independent when they walk through our doors. We treat everyone respectfully and never talk down to our customers. Instead, we try to alleviate their anxiety by equipping them with relevant information so that they can make informed decisions.香蕉视频直播�
In the past five years, he香蕉视频直播檚 watched his company come into its own. He香蕉视频直播檚 proud to have recruited and retained talented young staff, including recruits who hail from all corners of the world, including the UK, Ireland, Scotland, South Africa and eastern Canada.
Recently Chris added three partners to the business, an integral part of his long-term succession plan.
香蕉视频直播淚 don香蕉视频直播檛 want to be the kind of business owner that builds a great business and one day walks away to retire with a big cheque in his pocket,香蕉视频直播� he says. 香蕉视频直播淚 want the people who helped me get where I needed to be get rewarded by becoming owners and taking over the business. This way, I can share the success we香蕉视频直播檝e had.香蕉视频直播�
In describing how important the Werke team is to him, Chris speaks about Sir Lewis Hamilton, a British Formula One racing driver. In a recent race, Chris says, Lewis took second spot, losing to his rival Max Verstappen.
香蕉视频直播淚n the post-race interview, Lewis was quick to thank his team for the success they had in the race, and the fans for the great support they provided throughout the race. This is something that Lewis does in almost every interview,香蕉视频直播� Chris says. 香蕉视频直播淭his is an attitude that is common among true champions香蕉视频直播攁cknowledging the people around them that rally together through good times and challenging times to repeat the highest level of performance year after year.香蕉视频直播�
Chris says that these type of champions walk through Werke every day.
香蕉视频直播淥ur shop is full of great people香蕉视频直播攂oth our team and the customers who act as ambassadors for our business. I want to say a big thank you to all of them. I would not be where I am today without them.香蕉视频直播�
Story courtesy of , a Black Press Media publication
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