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Greg, Bob and Phil Vitali (left to
right) enjoy working together in the family group of companies which includes
Highbury Ford.
Consistently Satisfying the
Customer’s Needs is Key to Sons’ Success
After
graduating from Durham College with a business degree, Bob
started with Highbury Ford as warranty administrator.
Since then, Bob has worked in almost every position of the dealership
giving him excellent experience for his current position of
President.
Once he graduated from Western with a BA in
Commercial and Administrative Studies, Phil joined
Highbury Ford in 1984. Phil has also worked in most
departments and currently manages one of the families’
associated businesses.
Greg
decided to join the family business in 1988 after practicing law in Toronto and
completing an MBA at Western. Greg works with Bob in managing Highbury Ford as
well as overseeing a related family business.
One of the special benefits of working in a
family business is the time spent working together. Family
and business time blends into one another. With respect to
business, Bob, Greg and Phil learned the business first
hand from their father, including the understanding that satisfying
the customer is the first priority for a successful business.
They also learned that recruiting good people
and treating them well is the only way to achieve customer satisfaction.
Continuing with this approach has led to an excellent
staff some of whom are still with Highbury Ford. Family time was
also important and probably best demonstrated by the
father and sons having lunch together virtually with-out fail
each Wednesday.
Building on the
solid foundation provided by their father, the sons are
putting their own touch of professionalism into Highbury Ford including
an internet site, extended hours until 10:00PM and Saturday
opening in the service and parts department and no hassle
competitive pricing on vehicles and enhanced technology throughout
the dealership.
Bob, Greg and Phil would like to express
their thanks to all of their customers and employees that have
made it possible for Highbury Ford to continue to thrive into this
millennium.
Bob, Greg
and Phil all reside in London. Bob is married to Wilma and
has 4 children, Duane, Jason, Stephanie and Sean. Greg is married to
Heather and has twin daughters, Sarah and Ashley.
Phil has two children, Phil Jr. and daughter Samantha. |
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For Jack Vitali
the game's name
is professionalism
A sensitivity to customers needs is the hallmark of John J. (Jack) Vitali's
approach to the Western Ontario car buy-ing market. Owner-President and Gener-al
Manager of Highbury Ford since February 1, 1975, Jack Vitali is an impeccably
dressed, soft-spoken man with an underlying "no nonsense" approach
which gives you the distinct impression that his way is the professional way.
Born 46 years ago in Copper Cliff, Ont., Mr. Vitali attended the
University of Toronto, gra-duated in 1952 with a degree in Electrical
Engineering, and became a registered member of The Association of Profes-sional
Engineers.
Immediately following gra-duation, he joined Westing-house Canada
Ltd. in Hamil-ton, working in quality control, manufacturing engineering. He
ultimately held the position of Contracts Administration Manager for the
Military Elec-tronics Division
A desire to forge his way into his own business led to his
resignation in 1967. He subse-quently joined his late father--in-law's
automobile business, Stonehouse Ford in Brampton, Ont., as general parts and
service manager.
In 1972, unable to resist a challenge, he became general manager and partner of
MacDonald Ford Sales in Oshawa in the home town backyard of Ford's biggest
competitors.
Recognizing the need to mer-chandise automobiles at attractive
prices which would recognize the buyers' varying budgets, plus an acute
awareness of the importance of meeting after service needs, Mr. Vitali increased
Ford sales in that town by about 40 per cent in the short space of 2 years.
As a result of this outstand-ing performance Ford offered Jack
Vitali the opportunity to secure the most coveted Ford franchise in Ontario and
in February of 1975, he pur-chased the former Rankin Ford agency outright.
This was only the beginning of what may be Mr. Vitali's greatest undertaking to
date-- that is to put his own unique stamp of professionalism on an existing and
already su-ccessful enterprise.
Residents of London, Mr. Vitali and his wife Frances have six
children. The eldest son Robert, a graduate of Durham College in Business
Adminis-tration, is with his father in the business; daughter Susan is
completing pharmacy studies at the University of Toronto; daughter Sharon is in
her first year of social work at the Uni-versity of Toronto. The three youngest,
Gregory, Mary and Philip attend high school in London.
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