The Motor Dealers’ Association of Alberta (MDA) presents the Alberta Dealer of Excellence Awards annually to one metro dealer from the Calgary or Edmonton areas, and one non-metro winner from the rest of the province, a reflection of the unique challenges and accomplishments of dealers in different marketplaces. The award criteria are:

4    Business Acumen

4    Community Involvement

4    Association/Industry Involvement

The award candidates are nominated by their peers and the applications are examined by a panel of past award recipients. Factors such as customer satisfaction; ethics; the attitude and competence of the dealership’s staff; the dealer’s leadership in association and industry issues and service to civic, community and educational activities are all carefully considered before making the final selection.

On November 2 at the MDA’s Annual Convention in Las Vegas, Al Petersen, Petersen Pontiac Buick GMC (Sherwood Park) and Gordon Scott, Scottsville Group (Red Deer) were announced as the 2008 winners! 

These two individuals with their years of experience have earned this distinction from their colleagues.  It turns out that these two dealers have more in common than good business acumen. The crowd in attendance at the Award Dinner was surprised to hear Al Petersen reveal that he and Gordon are in fact cousins who had worked together at Kipp Scott Pontiac Buick Ltd. during their formative youth years.

Both Petersen and Scott operate thriving dealerships and have served on many community and industry organizations. “Al and Gordon have demonstrated exceptional commitment to their customers, staff, association and community. They are fine examples of the many excellent auto dealers we are fortunate to have as members.” says Denis Ducharme, MDA president.

2008 Alberta Dealer of Excellence (Metro):

Al Petersen, Petersen Pontiac Buick GMC (Alberta) Inc.

Born and raised in Calgary, Al Petersen ventured east with his family and in 1976 partnered with his father to purchase a dealership in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia. In 1983, they sold it and came back west to Alberta. That September, Al and his father purchased an existing Pontiac dealership and named it Petersen Pontiac Buick GMC. In 2003, the dealership relocated to its current location on Automall Road in Sherwood Park. This year is the dealership’s 25^th Anniversary in Sherwood Park. Petersen also owns Beaverhill GMC in Tofield.

Petersen Pontiac Buick GMC employs almost 100 employees, over half whose tenure is more than decade and 25% of the staff have been with the dealership for more than 20 years! Petersen describes his business philosophy as “empowering people and letting them do their job.” This might very well be the key to his impressive employee retention and staff loyalty in one of North America’s most challenging labour markets. “This is a real honour!” exclaimed Petersen while accepting his award. “It’s really because of the long term employees at the store that I’m able to do all these other things!”

It’s not just his staff who respect him – Petersen Pontiac has won the coveted “consumer choice award” for six consecutive years. Personally, Petersen has won numerous awards including the prestigious Queen’s Golden Jubilee Medal.

A MDA member for over 25 years, Petersen has a long tradition of active involvement in the MDA as well as the Edmonton Motor Dealers’ Association, Alberta Motor Vehicle Industry Council and many manufacturer advisory boards.

To some who only know him from his advertising campaigns, he’s the guy cutting the mustard, but to those who know him he’s the man committed to his community. His current involvement includes organizations such as the Salvation Army, Board of Information and Volunteer Centre for Strathcona County and the Strathcona Hospital Foundation. His past community involvement is too lengthy to list. To highlight a few: Sherwood Park and District Chamber of Commerce, Spirit of Strathcona Society, Strathcona Health Care Foundation, Alberta 2000 Winter Games, the Alberta Chamber of Commerce and the Rotary Club. He also went into disaster zones to volunteer after Hurricane Katrina and Hurricane Ike.

2008 Alberta Dealer of Excellence (Non-Metro):

Gordon Scott, Scottsville Group, Red Deer

Gordon Scott was literally born into the auto business. The original Kipp Scott Pontiac dealership started as a family business in Three Hills back in 1965. Three years later, the store re-located to Red Deer and has been in the same location ever since.  Immediately after graduating from high school in 1974, Scott went to work full-time at the dealership.

Cars are in Scott’s blood and he has taken the idea of a corporate “empire” very literally, complementing the original Kipp Scott Pontiac store with franchises from Nissan, Kia and Subaru collectively operating under the banner of the Scottsville Group. The group employs over 120 staff in the various stores and their buildings alone occupy over 74,000 square feet in Red Deer.  He has passed his passion for the industry onto his two children who are both managers in his dealerships.

Scott earned a certificate in Dealership Management from the General Motors Institute in Michigan and is involved with the Nissan National Advisory Board, Cadillac Marketing Board, and is a past member of the Pontiac Buick National Marketing Board. Scott operates exceptional dealerships, as recognized by the manufacturers as a GM Triple Crown dealer and winner of the Nissan Award of Merit.

Actively involved with the auto industry provincially, Scott served as president of MDA Services Ltd. (a credit life & disability insurance provider owned by auto dealers), director for the MDA and a tireless worker for the MDA Charity Classic, an annual golf tournament raising funds for Special Olympics Alberta.

“I’m totally blown away!” stated Scott while receiving the award in Las Vegas. “There are so many people who have done so many things, and I don’t think I’ve done enough yet. Thank you so very much for this honour.”

Scott’s humility does not reflect his accomplishments. He somehow finds time to volunteer even while expanding his numerous dealerships. He was a director for STARS Air Ambulance and assisted in their campaign for new helicopters and the Red Deer Hospice Society’s capital campaign for a new building. He served as both a director and president of the Red Deer chapter of Special Olympics and fulfilled the same roles for SOA at the provincial level.

The MDA represents 344 franchised new vehicle dealerships across Alberta. Their members work together to improve their communities and businesses, and present a unified voice to the government, their industry partners and the media.

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For more information, contact:

Al Petersen, Petersen Pontiac Buick GMC (Alberta) Inc.: (780) 464-5123

Gordon Scott, Scottsville Group: (403) 343-6633

Denis Ducharme, MDA President: 780-468-9552

Michele Schuldhaus, Link PR Inc.: 780-448-2890/ michele@linkpr.ca for photos, etc.

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