Students of the business

Neil and Darlene Kalawsky have grown Castlegar as a car-buying destination and have continued to learn along the way

1 of 5Darlene and Neil Kalawsky have many years experience in the automotive industry. — Photo courtesy Kalawsky Auto Group

2 of 5 — Larry Doell photo

3 of 5 — Larry Doell photo

4 of 5 — Larry Doell photo

5 of 5 — Larry Doell photo

‹ ›

…

When Neil and Darlene Kalawsky first moved to Castlegar, B.C., they brought with them years of experience in the auto industry and a sense of vision. They bought Kalawsky Chevrolet Buick GMC in 1989 and have since added three other dealerships, all in central Castlegar.

After 25 years the Kalawskys may be well on the way to realizing Neil’s vision of establishing Castlegar as the car-buying centre of the West Kootenay. However, to get there has taken business savvy, dedication and plenty of hard work. The Kalawskys have also focused on a few unexpected aspects of doing business.

Community involvement

Serving the community is just a part of what the Kalawskys do. Darlene is currently very involved with Communities in Bloom—Castlegar is competing for its second year at an international level of competition—and she is a member of the local Rotary club. The business also contributes to numerous smaller causes.

Darlene believes it’s best to put your support behind initiatives you believe in. It’s something she practises in her own community, both as a volunteer and through the business.

“We’re all part of a community and I think it’s really important to give back,” said Darlene. “It’s important to make your community a better place. I think that’s the reason why I’m so involved. (For example), education, to us, is really important—if you don’t have an education you’re not well prepared for life. For that reason, supporting Selkirk College and supporting the library are two initiatives that we feel very strongly about.”

Internally, the Kalawsky Auto Group and Kalawsky Collision Centre are focused on maintaining a strong sense of community. Darlene and Neil have two sons who own dealerships—Craig Kalawsky owns Toyota while Keith Kalwasky has Hyundai and KIA. They hold regular meetings to make sure everything is cohesive and heading in the same direction.

Continual learning

While Darlene focuses on local involvement, Neil stays abreast of the industry at the national level. After decades of accumulating automotive experience, and the success that goes with it, he’s still keen to learn and improve. For example, he's served as chairman of both the national and provincial dealer associations.

“I’m a student of the business,” he said. “I do stay involved. I know a lot of people in the business and I’ve learned a lot from my associations. There are a lot of smart people around. You can get good ideas to keep our operations current and ahead of some of the other competitors in the area.”

Continual training is important at any level and it’s something Neil believes in. To stay at the top of the game he strives to stay ahead of industry trends.

“It’s an exciting time for sure,” he said, “to see the changes that have taken place and are still taking place.”

Co-operation

While growing their company, the Kalawskys have kept a grasp on the importance of working with their community and region. Neil believes that economic benefits can be maximized if the communities in the area work together.

“I believe we should look at the whole West Kootenay area,” said Neil. “Each city can develop its own niche and they have their own strengths. I think we should promote the whole region as an economic generator. The cities and the communities in the area should all work together to drive economic development.”

The Kalawskys recognize that someone who visits Castlegar to have their vehicle serviced is also likely buying a coffee and doing some shopping. Likewise, overall economic development can benefit their business. What’s economically good for one is good for all, the Kalawskys believe.

With over $8 million invested in the area since 2008, a new Kia outlet in the autumn of 2013 and aspirations for further growth as an automotive centre, the Kalawsky Auto Group and Kalawsky Collision Centre have certainly been good for Castlegar.