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sponsor various Cambridge Memorial Hespeler Road to a much-needed larger
Hospital events in 2011. Kevin went ‘all space on Eagle Street North at the tail end
in’ serving as both the CMH Foundation of the pandemic.
Board Vice-Chair and as the co-chair of the “I know to a certain extent I sometimes refer
very successful $10 million #WeCareCMH to myself as a ‘half-assed’ entrepreneur in
campaign when his family relocated here the sense I did not create and construct
in 2014. these wonderful vehicles – Henry Ford did
“I thought, I can’t do this living in another – but that’s what I’m here to represent,”
area code, so we made the commitment to says Kevin. “I still face many of the risks
move here,” he says, adding his children and challenges as true entrepreneurs
were attending university in Waterloo have who created their own goods and
“I didn’t know what I wanted to do, which and Guelph at the time which made the services out of thin air. I still relate to these
is fairly irresponsible with an eight-year- transition easier and strengthened his awesome folks as a fellow SME owner, and
old and six-year-old old at home. But resolve to ensure CMH was a top-notch I’m proud of the fact that we are owner/
fulsomely in my heart I knew what I didn’t healthcare facility by becoming Chair of the operated.”
want to do.” CMH Foundation from 2019 to 2021. “Often Unlike many dealerships that are
Taking that first step, says Kevin, is the during speeches when I chaired the board corporately owned, he says being the owner
and was out asking for donations, I would
toughest part of becoming an entrepreneur often state, ‘I never hesitate to ensure my means developing a solid connection with
and his resulted in the creation of an mechanics have the right tools to get the Cambridge Ford customers and its 54
event marketing company in Toronto that job done so people can drive out of here in employees.
ran alumni fantasy hockey camps for the their cars safely. So how could we not put “I’m in here every day and I’m proud to be
Toronto Maple Leafs, Edmonton Oilers and the right tools in the hands of our world- here every day, and we’re one of the few
Montreal Canadiens. class doctors at CMH when the product is dealerships left where the owner resides

“I enjoyed event planning because I our wellbeing?’” in the community, and lives and dies by
was organized and structured enough the community,” says Kevin, describing
to do it, and it was sexy hanging around He says having the ability to give how he envisions the typical Cambridge
professional athletes and making people’s back as an entrepreneur, without Ford customer to be a busy working mom
dreams come true by getting them on the the safety net of being part of a and encourages staff as well as himself
ice with people like Wendel Clark or Yvan larger corporation, is one of the to conduct business in keeping with the
Cournoyer,” he says. “But then an NHL best things about being a small customer service principles behind the
lockout came in September 2004 and as business owner. ‘We Have Heart’ logo emblazoned on their
it lingered the next 10 months, all of my sleeves. “I actually tell my staff that when
corporate sponsors diverted their money “When I was with Ford Motor Company, I in doubt, have a look at the heart on your
away from hockey.” sat on the United Way Board representing sleeves and ask yourself what it means
Ford, knowing that we were going to raise
Kevin shifted gears by selling the rights ninety per cent of the funds they need,” to do right by (our boss) this busy, hard-
working, time-starved mom who doesn’t
back to the teams and reignited his ties to says Kevin. “But it still wasn’t my personal have the time to deal with any BS.”
the auto sector by obtaining the Canadian investment, it was somebody’s else’s
rights to sell a polyurethane lining system money you’re representing at the time.” For more on Cambridge Ford, visit
under the banner of Rhino Linings. While having independence is a positive www.cambridgeford.com or call 519-0720.

“I built the business aggressively and really aspect of being a business owner, he
thought I was going to stick there, but I is quick to point out that can only come
always stayed in close contact with the car with a great deal of hard work, joking
business and wanted to be a car dealer and memes posted on social media showing
at one point just decided that’s what I said ‘successful’ entrepreneurs embracing life
I was going to do, pursued it, and found do not always paint an accurate picture.
an opportunity,” he says, referring to his
decision to buy into the former Ridgehill “If you see the hashtag ‘#businessownerlife’
Ford in November of 2010. and see a photo of someone relaxed
and floating on an inner tube at Shade's
The dealership, located at 217 Hesepler Mills Conservation Area on a Wednesday
Rd. for approximately 60 years, was afternoon, it’s not happening for them,” he
an institution in Cambridge which was laughs. “I don’t care who you are or how
something not lost on Kevin and his well capitalized you are; you have to be
passion as a community supporter. He prepared to put the work in. Hard stop.”
served as executive member of the St. Besides hard work, creating a clear vision
Catharines General Hospital Foundation and sticking with it remains key, which
Board for several years and was a big for Kevin meant moving the dealership
proponent to see that city’s 142-year- – rebranded as Cambridge Ford – from PHOTOS BY BRIAN RODNICK
old facility updated, before he began to

www.cambridgechamber.com Fall 2024 35