- Story by Toby Tannas Photography by Darren Hull

What inspires an empire? The answer to that question is as varied as the entrepreneurs who build them. For Vaughn Wyant, it was a visit to a one-car showroom with a dirt floor service department in small town Alberta.

B次元官网网址淚 met a guy at a retreat,B次元官网网址� recalls Vaughn. B次元官网网址淗e owned his own car dealership and I said, B次元官网网址業B次元官网网址檓 going to do that.B次元官网网址橞次元官网网址�

Within a year of that encounter in the 1970s, Vaughn made good on the promise to himself. He bought his first dealership in Carstairs, Alberta and soon after a second, in Beiseker, a short distance away.

Today, Vaughn is president and CEO of the Wyant Group, which owns and operates close to 20 dealerships B次元官网网址� including several in Vernon and Kelowna B次元官网网址� and represents 17 vehicle brands in Saskatchewan, BC and soon Calgary, Alberta.

B次元官网网址淚 worked seven days a week, I pumped gas, I wrote repair orders, did most of the accounting and sold the cars because that was just fun,B次元官网网址� he chuckles.

Vaughn, who continues to exude a palpable energy and enthusiasm for the business more than four decades later, first stumbled into selling cars after high school, while visiting relatives in London, England.

At the time, he says, B次元官网网址淚 didnB次元官网网址檛 know what I wanted to do with my life.B次元官网网址�

VaughnB次元官网网址檚 father was a respected physician in Saskatoon, and his brothers were also academics. The self-described B次元官网网址渁verage studentB次元官网网址� didnB次元官网网址檛 find his true calling until he stepped onto a showroom floor.

B次元官网网址淪elling cars was the easiest thing in the world. Selling anything isnB次元官网网址檛 about the product itB次元官网网址檚 about the relationship and when you build that foundation youB次元官网网址檙e going to get a good result,B次元官网网址� he explains.

Vaughn brought his selling skills back to Canada and after working for dealerships in Vancouver as a salesman and eventually sales manager, he knew he was destined for more.

B次元官网网址淚 always tell people you donB次元官网网址檛 get what you want, you get what you think about. My goal was always to own my own dealership.B次元官网网址�

After three and half years of owning the two Alberta operations, opportunity knocked again. Vaughn sold his Alberta interests to his then sales manager and jumped at the offer to purchase a Ford dealership in his childhood home of Saskatoon. Jubilee Ford is where the Wyant Group was born in 1983.

B次元官网网址淲e have a business unit in the Okanagan, which includes Porsche, Jaguar, Land Rover, Volvo, Audi and Hyundai in Vernon,B次元官网网址� he says. B次元官网网址淵ou really transform when it becomes not just about you. We build these dealerships to build lives.B次元官网网址�

The Wyant GroupB次元官网网址檚 new facilities on Finns Road in Kelowna reflect the level of sophistication of the products they sell. They invoke a sense of pride in all Wyant Group employees B次元官网网址� people who Vaughn sees as an extended family.

B次元官网网址淭he reality is that the person who washes our cars is just as important as the guy that owns the business. We get paid different amounts of money, absolutely, but I will tell you that only has to do with responsibility. Take on more responsibility and you earn more money,B次元官网网址� he says.

Vaughn points to numerous examples of WG employees who have climbed the ranks from car detailers to general managers over the years. Employee retention and growth is a significant point of pride.

B次元官网网址淚f I wanted to hire a general manager for this store, I would look within my existing business and I would say that if we havenB次元官网网址檛 developed that person then shame on us.B次元官网网址�

As Vaughn walks through his bright new Kelowna showrooms chatting with employees, itB次元官网网址檚 clear the respect is mutual. Those relationships are what drive his whole business.

B次元官网网址淚 believe so strongly in the people we hire and the culture weB次元官网网址檝e created because itB次元官网网址檚 still a family business.B次元官网网址�

Vaughn enjoys the mix of family and business. His two sons are active members of WG. Phillip is CFO, Michael is COO. His partner, Lori Leac runs her own advertising firm and co-manages the Wyant Group marketing team. His daughter operates her own successful salon and spa business and lives just down the road from the family home in Saskatoon.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 not rocket science. Working in a business and running a business are the same as running a successful family. You respect each other but youB次元官网网址檙e still allowed to have disagreements.B次元官网网址�

When youB次元官网网址檙e in charge of multiple dealerships and nearly 500 employees, things donB次元官网网址檛 run smoothly every day, but itB次元官网网址檚 the challenges that keep Vaughn engaged and why he likely wonB次元官网网址檛 ever retire.

B次元官网网址淚 love working,B次元官网网址� he chuckles. B次元官网网址淧eople ask B次元官网网址榳hatB次元官网网址檚 your hobby?B次元官网网址� For me, itB次元官网网址檚 working and part of the reason is because when something goes wrong I donB次元官网网址檛 mind the challenge of fixing it. ItB次元官网网址檚 never perfect but those tests are the things that make you better.B次元官网网址�

Vaughn credits much of his success to his ability to thwart negative self talk. His mind is always striving for the positive in any situation.

B次元官网网址淚f you ask me how my day is going, I say B次元官网网址榯remendousB次元官网网址�. Is it always tremendous? Maybe not, but if I can convince myself itB次元官网网址檚 good itB次元官网网址檚 probably more likely to be good than bad,B次元官网网址� says Vaughn.

When heB次元官网网址檚 not busy with the day-to-day operations of Wyant Group, Vaughn is heavily involved in charity work. He sits on industry advisory boards, he golfs, cycles and is a major shareholder in the Saskatchewan-based Great Western Brewing Company.

Vaughn is a mentor to many in his industry, but when asked who inspires him, the answer is simple and endearing.

B次元官网网址淚 would tell you itB次元官网网址檚 my mother. My mother taught me about respect, about overstaying your welcome, always saying please and thank you. We got tired of hearing it,B次元官网网址� he says, shaking his head. B次元官网网址淏ut every single one of my brothers and I understand where the good came from.B次元官网网址�

Vaughn works to exude those childhood values every day. He prides himself on being the same guy at work as he is at home. His appreciation for what heB次元官网网址檚 built is obvious B次元官网网址� itB次元官网网址檚 a direct result of the humble beginnings that built him.

B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檒l always remember pumping gas to get my business going, would I go back and do it again if I had to? Absolutely.B次元官网网址�