Alberta shop wins award for commitment to training

Doug Callaghan, owner of Vic’s Service in Wainwright, Alta.

A shop in rural Alberta, about two hours southwest of Edmonton, has won the U.S.-based Auto Care Association’s annual Autocare Career and Education (ACE) award.

Vic’s Service Ltd. in Wainwright, Alberta, owned and operated by Doug Callaghan, took top prize in the small business category, competing against automotive shops across the United States and Canada.

“It’s a fantastic honor,” said Callaghan. “I am absolutely thrilled and shocked. It’s really quite a thing!”

The recipients of the ACE Award were recognized at the Auto Care Association’s Fall Leadership Days in Washington D.C., Sept. 8.

Vic’s Service in Wainwright, Alta.

Vic’s Service Centre is a client shop of the Automotive Aftermarket E-Learning Centre (AAEC).

“The award Doug has won recognizes how he has trained his staff, invested in training, and moved the shop forward. And he has definitely invested. He’s done an excellent job of that,” said AAEC president and CEO Bob Greenwood. “His business is strong. He has great client relationships. He gets referral business coming in. And he has a great team. They really have each other’s back. It’s a fantastic culture.”

Winners were selected based on the education and training practices of their companies, including what prompted them to invest in training, the types of training offered, their initial goals, the results of the training, and any future plans.

Each of the winning companies exhibited a dedicated and continuing investment in enhancing the quality and level of learning and skill development for employees in their companies. In each case, the companies have noted improvements in teamwork, morale, sales and client satisfaction while at the same time reducing turnover.

Callaghan recently expanded the business, leasing a shop nearby to operate as a satellite location. The long-term plan is to build a new eight- to 10-bay shop so everyone can work under one roof.