Brent Hesje, CEO of Fountain Tire, is the recipient of the Northern Lights Award of Distinction.
Hesje was chosen for his excellent corporate, community and industry leadership. The award was presented by the Edmonton Chamber of Commerce in February 2019 in the hometown of Fountain Tire’s corporate office in Edmonton, Alberta.
Every year, the Northern Lights Award recognizes an individual or organization for making a positive difference in the community. Fountain Tire has received the honour this year for its commitment to the community, its unique partnership model and Hesje’s dedicated leadership.
“Connecting with the community has always been integral to my business philosophy,” says Brent Hesje, CEO of Fountain Tire. “Whether supporting local organizations or representing the aftermarket automotive industry in Ottawa, I believe relationships are the key to business success.”
Hesje has been driving the growth of the company since taking up the role of CEO in 2005. He has been instrumental in advancing and expanding Fountain Tire’s partnership model. Goodyear Canada now holds a minority ownership position in the company and most store managers have 50% ownership of their stores.
“A strong collaborative approach has been integral to the growth of our network to 160 stores,” says Hesje. “It has also allowed us to give back in meaningful ways to the communities where we live and work.”
Fountain Tire believes in giving back to the community, supporting the United Way, Junior Achievement and local development initiatives in Edmonton. Its store owners in other parts of the country support local charities of their choice.
Hesje’s, and the company’s success is due to the constant involvement in the business community and automotive industry. He was appointed chair of the Automotive Industry Association of Canada in spring 2018. Besides being a board member of Fountain Tire, Hesje is actively involved with numerous Canadian corporate brands. He has held the position of the chair of the boards of directors of the YPO Alberta Saskatchewan Chapter, the Western Canada Tire Dealers and The Support Network. He previously served three terms as chair of the Board of Governors of Northern Alberta Institute of Technology (NAIT). In this position, he led a successful fundraising campaign for the institution, raising more than $120 million to develop campus learning spaces.
