Competitors working together seems like a foreign concept, but in this case, everyone wins
On April 27, 2011, the Lethbridge and District Auto Dealers Association (LADA) unveiled a donation plan that would generate $1 million in support of the new Trades and Technology Renewal and Innovation Project, a component of Lethbridge College's campus developmental plan.
Randy Dunlop, owner of Dunlop Ford, was at the forefront of the movement, spearheading a concept with the goal of involving each of the 14 dealers in a large scale donation effort. One of his biggest challenges was devising a payment plan well-suited to each of the dealers involved in the LADA.
"If I could get all the dealers in Lethbridge to collectively set up a formula and try to get it down to a manageable number," he explains, "they could make the long-term commitment to it. We are going for a larger amount, but over a longer period of time."
While breaking up the lump sum into monthly payments over the course of a few years seems logical enough, Barry Dubnyk, president of the LADA and owner of Milestone Mazda, was one of the few who expressed enthusiasm when the idea was first laid on the table. "The biggest decision was a long-term funding commitment," he says. "Could everybody see their way to making the investment and supporting the investment? It's not something that you can write a cheque for and forget about tomorrow."
Thankfully, each of the participants involved in the donation understood the necessity of an up-to-date and working trades building and, after a bit of negotiation, settled on a plan that worked best for all parties. "The dealers appreciate the local support," says Dubnyk. "Where there is an opportunity to give back, they are positive about it."
"In the long run," Dunlop explains, "it's a plus for the city, a plus for the college and a plus for the dealers. To make a commitment for an eight-year term and get a 40-year payback on it means we will still be benefiting from the contribution 20 years from now."
Having an association that was willing to pull together, despite its competitive industry, in order to support the college played a huge role in the outcome of the planning process. According to Dubnyk, each of the dealers kept the bigger picture in mind when making the final decision.
"We all know it's important to have a very strong trades program locally," he says, "not only for the local economy, but for the overall economics of southern Alberta. We need good tradespeople. If you don't have local training, you're going to get local kids leaving and sometimes when they leave, they don't come back."
With the long-term gains of their contribution in sight, Randy Dunlop is confident about his decision; he is fully aware that without the co-operation of his fellow dealers, his goal would not have been achievable. Despite the initial struggle to sell the idea to his competition, Dunlop is proud to have gained their trust and encouragement while keeping in mind the reason behind his efforts.
"It's a long-term commitment for the dealers, but it's a long-term gain for the people of Lethbridge," he says. "We need our young people here; they are the future of our city. If we didn't have the college, we wouldn't be anywhere near as successful."
