Keeping up with the Joneses
July 19, 2013
Keeping up with the Joneses
By Corrie Miller (Columnist For Today'S Drive)
Third generation automotive family makes a difference in their community
The Jones family of Maple Ridge has been doing business in the community in which they live in for three generations.
For brother and sister team of Scott Jones and Michelle Jones-Ruppell of the West Coast Auto Group, it's almost as though the car business is in their bones. Back in 1963 their grandfather Ted Jones purchased West Coast Ford Lincoln in Maple Ridge, then a small dealership employing 12 people; father Ron joined the family business in 1968.
Fast forward 45 years to 2013, and the West Coast Auto Group - which has remained in the Pitt Meadows/ Maple Ridge community all these years - is now co-owned and operated by a third generation of Joneses.
The group now has five dealerships under their umbrella (West Coast Ford Lincoln, Mazda, Nissan, Toyota, and Kia) and strives to give back to the community that supports their business. Scott and Michelle kindly offered their thoughts on their business and community.
CM: Did you always know you'd follow in your father and grandfather's footsteps?
Scott: I used to cut the grass at the dealership when I was younger and later was a parts driver in the summer time. I became a service advisor at the Ford Dealership when I was 19. That was 1987, and I worked my way up from there, graduating from the National Automobile Dealers Association (N.A.D.A.) training in 1991. I always had a keen interest.
Michelle: I was very sports minded growing up and was taking courses in Kinesiology at SFU. Then I thought, "I need to take a
business course just to see what that's like." I took my first business course and never looked back. After graduating the N.A.D.A. course in 1993 I was fully entrenched in the automotive field. I would never change my career; every day is an interesting, rewarding day.
CM: What has the industry enabled your business to accomplish in the community?
Scott: We're very involved with all kinds of local initiatives. We have a Founders Cup golf tournament, which has allowed us to
support upwards of 20-25 charities. We're also the naming sponsor of the West Coast Auto Group Football Club that has over 4000 youth players. I've also coached my kids' in
soccer and baseball.
Michelle: We're also very active with the Maple Ridge Hospital Foundation, the Chamber of Commerce, and Kids Sport. We
feel it's very important to give back.
CM: What is your approach to business?
Michelle: Bringing stability and loyalty to our customers; but not only to our customers, to our employees. The customer xperience is so important. If we can't meet our customers' standards, then we're not going to see the repeat business.
Scott: It's a give and "give" relationship.We support our community and we really appreciate the support the community gives us in return. We go above and beyond to make sure our customers enjoy doing business with us.
Scott and Michelle are both parents so you never know - perhaps one day a fourth generation of Joneses will be at the helm of the West Coast Auto Group.
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