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GeorgianView-Spring-2021-DIGITAL

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7 GEORGIANVIEW 2021 SPRING AUTOMOTIVE BUSINESS SCHOOL OF CANADA Andrew Ojamae knows the value of networking and going after his goals. His ambition is one of the many traits that have served him well in his career and led him to be the recipient of the Automotive Business School of Canada Alumni Recognition Award in March 2021. After watching his father, Kal, run a successful Ford dealership in Campbellford, Ontario, Andrew knew he wanted to follow in his footsteps. He enrolled at the Canadian Automotive Institute at Georgian College (since renamed the Automotive Business School of Canada (ABSC), where he made a name for himself before graduating in 2001. Not only was he a remarkable student, Andrew participated in almost every event organized by the school. It was at one of these events, that he briefly met another idol and future mentor. Mike Stollery, past Chair of the ABSC Board of Directors, and Founder and Chairman, AutoIQ Dealership Network, was the keynote speaker and impressed Andrew. It took him 10 years, but he was finally able to sit down with Mike at the ABSC's 25th anniversary celebration. It was the beginning of a very successful partnership between Mike and Andrew at the AutoIQ Dealership Network. Throughout his career, Andrew's progressive approach when tackling challenges allowed him to achieve many accomplishments, including: National Director of Sales and Marketing for VFC Inc. (2006), National Director of Sales for TD Auto Finance (2012), Partner, Kitchener Ford, and Platform Manager AutoIQ (2013). His current position as President and CEO of AutoIQ, includes 15 dealerships and two associate dealerships with annual sales approaching 20,000 vehicles. Andrew has become a great mentor, himself, who offers leadership and guidance to many ABSC alumni. Andrew remains committed to his alma mater by attending networking and career-building events for students and participating in guest speaking opportunities. He also guides students in industry-related projects. During the pandemic, Andrew has supported Georgian students by offering co-op placements through the AutoIQ Leadership Academy. Under Andrew's leadership, AutoIQ is a supporter of Georgian's annual Auto Show, and proud donor to the Power of Education Campaign, which was honoured with the naming of the AutoIQ Corporate Lounge in the Peter B. Moore Advanced Technology Centre in 2018. NETWORKING KEY TO HIS SUCCESS Andrew Ojamae, class of 2001 Alumnus Andrew Ojamae, President and CEO of AutoIQ (right), joins Aidan Allard (then a student, who has since graduated from Georgian's Honours Bachelor of Business Administration (Automotive Management) (Co-op) program in 2019, and now Marketing Project Manager at AutoIQ), with a Ford Raptor at the June 2018 Georgian Auto Show.

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