- Words by Lauren Kramer Photography by Lia Crowe
From the sidelines, it鈥檚 easy to look at a successful business and assume success came easily. But the truth is isn鈥檛 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鈥檚 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鈥� cars gleaming.
Owner Chris Germana, 44, has his eyes set firmly on the future. He鈥檚 bringing young partners into the fold, expanding the physical footprint of the garage and welcoming apprentice mechanics to learn the trade.
鈥淎s a business owner I鈥檝e learned the most important thing you can do is take what you鈥檝e learned and share it by investing in other people,鈥� Chris reflects. 鈥淲e鈥檝e doubled our staff numbers in the last few years, we have four new apprentices and we are actively developing young people. It鈥檚 so gratifying watching others grow around us and being a part of the mentorship process.鈥�
But the road to this success wasn鈥檛 without its bumps and curves.
When he graduated high school in Stoney Creek, Ontario, Chris had no idea what career path he鈥檇 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.
鈥淚 always wanted to own a Porsche 911 and a BMW E30, so I decided to get into an industry where I鈥檓 around cars all day,鈥� he says.
He found the educational program that would teach him the skills he needed at Arizona鈥檚 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.
鈥淎s an international student I had to work harder than domestic students to get into the program and to find a sponsor,鈥� he recalls.
At the condominium complex where he lived, his study overlooked the swimming pool and another resident鈥攚ho happened to supply automotive equipment鈥攏oticed the young Chris was always at his desk studying. The two struck up a conversation in the shared laundry room and Chris鈥檚 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, 鈥淏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.鈥�
Motor Werke specializes in European brands but also services Japanese vehicles.
鈥淲e鈥檙e really in business to take care of people and serve them well, so while we specialize in certain brands, we don鈥檛 turn anyone away,鈥� 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.
鈥淧eople don鈥檛 expect to get treated and respected the way they are treated at Motor Werke,鈥� Chris says. 鈥淲omen in particular鈥攚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.鈥�
In the past five years, he鈥檚 watched his company come into its own. He鈥檚 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.
鈥淚 don鈥檛 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,鈥� he says. 鈥淚 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鈥檝e had.鈥�
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.
鈥淚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,鈥� Chris says. 鈥淭his is an attitude that is common among true champions鈥攁cknowledging the people around them that rally together through good times and challenging times to repeat the highest level of performance year after year.鈥�
Chris says that these type of champions walk through Werke every day.
鈥淥ur shop is full of great people鈥攂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.鈥�
Story courtesy of , a Black Press Media publication
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