The following text may have been generated by Optical Character Recognition, with varying degrees of accuracy. Reader beware!

FORD 4-The Oakville Beaver, Wednesday June 11, 2003 ( H'/e/t/Hifi/fy (/ ( H'/fff/ry <>/ <f r /c a w (r/t</ ' ('/ (* / J/etr/vt i/t ( \i/o(7 /c Local Ford dealerships enjoy family atmosphere 1 The urge to become his own boss led Len Sand to Ford's dealership development plan. Now, over 30 years later, Len says enjoyment o f the jo b is the key to Oak-Land's longevity. The Oak-Land Ford team offers its congratulations to 50 years o f Ford o f Canada in Oakville. Story by Melanie Cummings Thirty-three years ago, Len Sanci had a dream but not enough money to make it happen. He wanted a car dealership of his own. Sanci loves every aspect of the automotive business. Kennedy Ford is celebrating its 40th anniversary at the same time Ford is celebrating its 100th. The dealership's continued success has been due, in large p art to many long time employees who believe in treating the customer right Kennedy Ford would like to extend its congratulations to 50 years o f Ford success in Oakville. Scarborough Ford dealership for 10 years prior. He packed up and moved to Oakville in 1977 and hasn't looked back since. In fact it is his constant forward thinking that has earned Kennedy Ford a slate of very impressive awards. The same year abundant growth forced a move to a bigger lot at the dealership's current home on the South Service Rd., Nourse and compa ny were also the 1992 recipients of Time Magazine's Quality Dealer Award, given to new car dealers for distinguished community service, strong ethics, solid financial stature and consistent customer loyalty. Within the Ford award programs, the dealership has been honored with the 2002 President's Award, the company's most prestigious award. That is likely because Kennedy Ford is a gold level Blue Oval certified deal ership, which means every employee in every area of the company is trained according to the car maker's high standards of customer service. Kennedy Ford is also one of only 25 dealerships nationwide given the right to sell and sen/ice the elite Cobra, Lightning and Focus Special Vehicle Team products. ` It's quite an accomplishment for us," said Nourse of the SVT status, "considering there are 500 Ford dealers in Canada." Kennedy Ford is celebrating its 40th anniversary at the same time Ford is celebrating its 100th. The dealership's continued success has been due, in large part, to many long-time employees who believe in treating the customer right, said Nourse. Considering the already long-standing relationship established by Ford in Oakville, the promise of celebrating many more anniversaries is guaran teed. " It's like having seven businesses in one," said Sanci. Selling new and used cars, running a mechanical and body repair shop, as well as parts and leasing end, and then dealing with all the adminis trative aspects of each, calls on both creative and pragmatic skills. It's also surefire way to keep monotony at bay. "Ford has been very good to me and without bragging, I think I've done a good job -- it's a wonderful two-way street," added Sanci. Enjoyment of the job is the key to Oak-land's longevity. That and the phenomenal growth Sanci has witnessed in the town's growth. When he moved here 32 years ago, the population hovered at about 50,000. It's more than tripled now, which is music to an entrepre neur's ears. Owning a Ford dealership in a Ford town doesn't hurt either. This is the 50th anniversary of the plant's presence in Oakville and the car maker's 100th year in business. At Oak-land, Sand's son David is now president and his daughter Cathy is office manager. Ford is very much at home in Oakville. Perhaps this explains the family atmosphere at both dealerships in town. At Kennedy Ford the surname Nourse is ever present. Malcolm is the president, and wife Linda and sons Scott and David are integral to its smoothly run daily operations. Nourse made the leap into dealer ownership in 1977 joining the compa ny's namesake and founder James Kennedy, who started the business at the corner of Navy St. and Lakeshore Rd., (where the Granary now stands) in 1963. By 1984 Kennedy retired. A chartered accountant by profession, Nourse had worked at a " Ford has been very goo d to m e and w ith o u t b raggin g, I th in k I 've d o n e a good jo b -- it's a w o n d e r ful tw o -w a y street," added Sanci. He's immersed himself in the craft for as long as he can remember: from working at his brother's used car operation, then with General Motors and then for six years with Church Ford in Toronto's High Park. The urge to become his own boss in the business eventually led Sanci to Ford's dealership development plan. He's thankful the company had a program to help experienced business men like him find their way to dealership ownership. "It's a wonderful program that creates opportunities," said Sand. The rest is Oak-land history. It is the variety of his day-to-day work that has long held his interest and kept his enthusiasm still vibrant after all these years. 1A/LC& F O R D .( From your Friends at Each day in June you could win your vehicle purchase!!! on all new car deliveries, Test Drive a New Vehicle in June and you will be entered into a draw to Win a Broil King Barbecu c4/ S M //< //< ( o u j t n e j j n & c u e /' i l f Plus...no charge paint protection value See dealer for details C or**, m O c J t- h z r u t Tvy&hc&. BU ILT FO R LIFE IN OAKVILLE. ^AK-LAND FORD LINCOLN 5 7 0 T ra fa lg a r Rd., O a k v ille a t th e Q.E.W. Z iU SURF: W W W .K E N N E D Y F O R D .C A TURF: 280 SOUTH SERVICE RD. W. 905-844-3273 w w w .o a k la n d fo rd lin c o ln .c a 905-845-1646 SQ XI 5}