Entrepreneurial Vision
Go back 20 years and … there were no collision repair facilities signed up, no insurance partners and no deals with suppliers. Fast forward two decades and things have changed considerably. Gilles Derico manages business relation-
of our industry,” says Vincent.
Fix Auto celebrates 20 years at national convention
jectives. Our motivation and drive is now to
ships for Desjardins General Insurance, one
Those are very good reasons to sign up, but
stay focused on our objectives. If this formula
of the very first insurance companies to
why has Rene Vincent resolutely remained a
worked for the last 20 years, Fix Auto and
partner with Fix Auto. Derico was working as
member of Fix Auto all this time?
its strategic partners will succeed in the next
an adjuster at the time, but he remembers
“We chose to remain with the Fix Auto
what it was about the Fix Auto concept that
network because head office knew how to
It was a very powerful message then, and it
Desjardins found attractive.
innovate, helping us and our business be
still is today. As long as the organization holds
The 2012 Fix Auto Convention drew hundreds of attendees from all over the country.
20 years.”
“What they proposed when management
more efficient and productive,” says Vincent.
true to the values and vision of its founding,
met with them was brand new at the time,”
“Their hard work and interpersonal skills
we have no doubt that Fix Auto will keep
says Derico. “They focused on franchisees of-
have helped them achieve their initial set ob-
growing for the next 20 years.
Jean Lapointe of Fix Auto Blainville and Patrick Quinn of the David Suzuki Foundation.
A few members of the Fix Auto team with keynote speaker Mark Thompson (centre).
Chris Tuma of Economical leaves his mark.
Manon Duplantie, President of Fix Auto Canada. Fix Auto Canada invited partners and members to personalize three canvases to showcase the theme of the conference, “To Each His Own Art.”
fering a measured and structured approach. Desjardins was starting to grow at the time, Manon Duplantie and Steve Leal, President and COO of Fix Auto Canada.
and in some ways the two companies have followed the same path of growth.” There are certainly advantages to getting in
Scott Noseworthy and Aaron Brown of Fix Auto Ottawa Innes.
Cheryl and Gus Stavropoulos of Fix Auto Yorkdale.
Team members and franchisees of Fix Auto Ontario.
on the ground floor when it comes to insurer and supplier partners. But what about repair
Entrepreneurs need vision, but that isn’t enough.
and the courage to see it through demon-
facilities? For those early shops, there must
They need the courage to follow that vision.
have been something that convinced them to
Courage, vision and leadership were all on display
take the gamble.
align closely with my own,” says Stavropoulos.
rience has shown him what the industry is like
ance spoke on Net Promoter Score (NPS),
tional Circus School. In addition to great
strate leadership and make their own future.
The convention kicked off Wednesday af-
in Ottawa, but the Fix Auto Convention gave
a method of measuring levels of customer
food, those in attendance were treated to
This was a theme repeated frequently at the
ternoon with opening remarks by Manon
him the opportunity to expand his horizons.
service. After the break, Patrick Quinn of the
a number of different live entertainers, including musicians, singers and acrobats.
at the 2012 Fix Auto Convention. The convention
2012 Fix Auto Convention. It was referred to
Duplantie, President of Fix Auto Canada, fol-
“I have more understanding now of how
David Suzuki Foundation spoke on the topic
Rene Vincent is the owner/operator of Fix
took place in Montreal, Quebec from May 9 to 11.
throughout the presentations and panel discus-
lowed by Robert Gappa who spoke on the
things work across Canada,” says Nose-
of sustainability in the collision repair industry,
The awards portion of the evening fo-
Auto Varennes in Varennes, Quebec. Vincent
This was a landmark conference for the network
sions, as well as during numerous conversations
franchise model and what it can accomplish.
worthy. His facility joined the Fix Auto network
and Gabriel Gelinas spoke on the future of the
cused on the contributions of partners over
was one of the very first to sign up with Fix
as they celebrate 20 years in business.
during coffee breaks and social events.
The first day ended with a horse drawn car-
about eight months ago. “It’s incredible to
automobile. Gelinas noted that increasingly
the last 20 years. It’s impossible to over-
Auto, and it’s a relationship that has carried
As Steve Leal, COO Fix Auto Canada, said
Gus Stavropoulos is the owner/operator
riage ride that took attendees on a scenic ride
see the progress we’ve made in the last eight
rigorous emissions standards will continue
state the importance of these partners. It’s
during his remarks at the gala dinner event
of Fix Auto Yorkdale in Toronto. It was his
through old Montreal to the welcome recep-
months. They give us the tools we need to
to drive innovation in automotive design, in-
not surprising that an insurer would feel
“We chose Fix Auto because we wanted to
during the convention, a true vision is more
first time attending a Fix Auto Convention.
tion at Scena, located on the waterfront.
meet high goals and even do better.”
cluding the use of “exotic” materials on more
confident dealing with Fix Auto today. With
help change the body shop world and increase
than having goals. “It’s the difference be-
“It was amazing. I really got a sense of being
Scott Noseworthy is the Business Develop-
Day two began with an official welcome
and more mass-market vehicles.
shops right across the country, not to men-
tween saying what the future may be and
part of something much bigger than myself. I’m
ment Manager for Fix Auto Ottawa Innes, and
from Manon Duplantie and Steve Leal. Up
The day ended with the official gala
tion locations in the U.S. and overseas, Fix
what the future will be.” Those with vision
part of an organization whose goals and vision
he’s also an I-CAR instructor. He says his expe-
next, Suzanne Michaud of Industrielle Alli-
dinner event, held at TOHU Montreal’s Na-
Auto brings some obvious advantages to
Streamline Collision Centres of B.C. joined the Fix Auto organization. Martin Von Holst was named as General Manager of Fix Auto British Columbia.
Fix Auto Ontario acquires the franchise rights to Atlantic Canada. Paul, Mark and Martin Weeks rebrand their PEI collision facility as Fix Auto Central PEI, becoming the first Fix Auto franchisees in the region.
on to this day.
the cooperation and relations with insurance companies while projecting a positive image
Fix Auto USA was founded by Erick and Shelly Bickett.
1997
Fix Auto took the time to acknowledge the contributions of many people who believed in the network in its early years. From left: Guy Bessette, Willem Groen in’t Woud, Jean Delisle, Sophie Bourdon, Jocelyn Daniel, Josée Denoncourt, Germain Laframboise, George Salsa, Mario Paquin, Carlos Salsa, Luc Filion, Sylvie Paquin, René Vincent, Manon Duplantie and Gabriel Gélinas.
Fix Auto Ontario founded.
2002
Fix Auto Ontario is purchased by Steve Leal, owner of a Fix Auto franchise in Cambridge, Ontario.
Fix Auto UK founded.
2005
Fix Auto UK has grown to the point where it is the third largest network in the United Kingdom, just two years after being founded.
2007
2008
The entire Fix Auto network moved to one technology platform, Mitchell RepairCenter, to help streamline operations.
Manon Duplantie becomes President of Fix Auto Canada.
2010