Our Team
- All
- Leaders
- Administration
- Financing
- Sales
- Service
- Technicians
- Auto Smile
- Car Care Specialists
- Parts
I am so very proud to be part of the Best Team in Nanaimo.
Hopefully we will see you through our doors soon so that we may have opportunity to Make A Difference in all your automotive needs.
I started in the Automobile business over 20 years ago in Northern Manitoba, Moving to Winnipeg to further my career before I discovered Vancouver Island where it didn’t snow for 6 months or hover at -40. I have been on the Island for over 4 years now and with Steve Marshall Ford Lincoln for that entire time. I am passionate about the car industry, the people and creating relationships with new guests. Every day is a great day in the Car business.
Kevin started working in Ford dealerships at Steve Marshall Motors in Campbell River, over 30 years ago.
He has seen a lot of changes in automotive dealerships business in that time.
The one thing that has stayed true is that Steve Marshall Ford is continuously changing and adapting to grow with new business and economic trends to better serve our customers needs.
Contact Kevin directly at any time for all your automotive needs, especially parts and accessories.
My name is Rob Vanden Elsen and I have been a part of Steve Marshall Ford family for 22 years. I started my career in the service department cleaning cars during the day and the technicians stalls at night. After completing my automotive apprenticeship, I then specialized in Fords training program becoming a master technician in Gas and Diesel drivability/repair. In the last few years of my technician career I earned the shop foreman role and then in 2017 I was honored when I was asked to become the Service Leader.
It is both a privilege and an honor to be able to help each and every one of our guests while working alongside our amazing service team!!
Having worked at Steve Marshall Ford for over 20 years, I have seen many changes take place as our company continues to grow and build valuable relationships with the people and businesses of Nanaimo.
We look forward to seeing you soon and welcoming you to our Family.
I moved to Nanaimo in ‘94 from Vancouver and I love the island.
I’ve been in the car business for 40 years. I’ve done everything from body work to detailing, accessories and now I’m the leader at Auto Smile with the best team working with me. Together, we have built the business up to become the number one detail shop in Nanaimo.
I’m a family man who enjoys the outdoors, hunting and fishing. I have been in Nanaimo since 2009 and have owned my own business’, and worked in different sales roles for most of my career. I joined the automotive industry and the Steve Marshall Ford Family in May of 2019.
It has always been my desire and passion to serve, and fulfill the needs of my customers (guests) with honesty and integrity. No obstacle or challenge is too great to overcome. I understand business, deadlines, the value of time, and I will rise to the occasion to support you in meeting your goals. Presenting solutions, navigating the challenges, and providing service that stands out above and beyond your expectations is my goal, and that of Steve Marshall Ford.
I look forward to meeting you soon.
Sincerely
John
Steve Marshall Ford Lincoln and Ford of Canada are proud to recognize and celebrate the achievements of our 2018 Summit Achievers Troy Harder and Rob Willoughby.
These exceptional individuals truly go above and beyond each day. They are part of a distinguished group from across Canada whose knowledge, skills and dedication have earned them the honour of being a top performer for 2018.
We are proud to have these inspired leaders as part of our team at Vancouver Island’s #1 Ford Store and thank them for raising the bar and inspiring all of us to achieve more every day.
Steve Marshall Ford Lincoln and Ford of Canada are proud to recognize and celebrate the achievements of our 2018 Summit Achievers Troy Harder and Rob Willoughby.
These exceptional individuals truly go above and beyond each day. They are part of a distinguished group from across Canada whose knowledge, skills and dedication have earned them the honour of being a top performer for 2018.
We are proud to have these inspired leaders as part of our team at Vancouver Island’s #1 Ford Store and thank them for raising the bar and inspiring all of us to achieve more every day.
Meet Joël Kress.
This incredible and bubbly woman joined the Steve Marshall team June 2020. Her upbeat personality, infectious laugh, and professionalism made her perfect to be our Lincoln Service Advisor.
Something that many know about Joël, is that she has an incredible singing voice and is passionate about singing. She shared that passion by owning a karaoke business for twenty years. “I loved it because I got to share my passion and really develop my singing skill.” She developed her talent so well that for ten years she had a band, Sound Addiction, and they opened for many big acts like 54-40, Chilliwack, and Trooper.
Her tremendous heart shows in all she does. Before being in the automotive business, she worked as a youth care worker at an alternate school in Prince George. “10 years helping teens gain confidence, even teaching some to sing and get up on stage themselves. That’s my passion right there.”
That huge heart is why she fits so well with the Steve Marshall team. Her favourite thing about working here is the people, “Such great people, lots of laughter, banter and most of all support.”
When you are at the dealership make sure to say hi to Joël. She will definitely brighten your day.
Meet Kevin Hanson.
Kevin has worked with the service department at Steve Marshall Ford for four years now. He helps out in a variety of ways around the shop, and plays a huge part in taking care of the safety of our team members and guests. Several times a day, Kevin sanitizes touch points at the dealership and he makes sure that once your vehicle is done in service, it is properly sanitized before you drive away.
Kevin lives here in Nanaimo where he has built a strong family tie with his daughter, Chelsea, her husband Kaelen, and their sons Levon and Gabriel. Kevin does not look old enough to be a Grandpa, but he is and ever so grateful that they live on the same property, where he does not have to go months without seeing them, because of Covid.
Kevin’s favourite thing about working here at Steve Marshall is the kindness he sees. It’s not just how the team treats one another, but it is also all those random acts of kindness we do for our guests that we now call Red Fish moments.
Kevin likes to spend his free time drawing, and he just invested in some art supplies and is looking forward to doing some warm weather drawing. Kevin also has music in his blood and plays guitar and keyboard. He has a Capri Jazz guitar, a Harmony guitar and a Marling guitar that was willed to him by his Uncle Don. That guitar was once owned by a local folk musician, but unfortunately the details of who it was are unclear.
Something few people know about Kevin, is why he always has a positive and fun attitude around the dealership. It is all a decision he calls being a Warrior Surfer. “Life is full of emotions and ups and downs, but like a surfer rides the waves, you ride your emotions. Sometimes you spill and get taken into the drink for a while, but you always get back up.”
If you are at the dealership, be sure to say hi to Kevin, and you will get to experience that amazing attitude yourself.
Meet Cameron Eckford our parts driver.
“Have you seen this truck!?” I said to Ryan Leverette, one of our sales leaders. We noticed this very well-equipped Ford Ranger that screams, “Lets go deep into the woods and play!” We also noticed the cameras for video and we said, “Oh man, what fun this would be!”
A short while later I see this Ranger parked out front and found out that it belonged to a new hire, Cameron Eckford, who joined our Lot Team. Cameron was getting some service work done to his Ranger and he left not only with repairs done, but a job as well.
Cam has been with us now for seven months. He started with the Lot Team, but has moved into the parts department. His favourite part of working here is the culture and the people, but he will also admit the deals on the future parts he needs for his Ranger, is definitely a perk.
Cameron is Island born and raised and was working and living in Yellowknife when he bought his Ranger. He was working at a Ford dealership, where he bought it and all the parts, which he installed himself. It’s his love of trucks, cars, parts and accessories, mixed with his great personality that got him a job offer here at Steve Marshall Ford. It’s also why he is now working with the parts department!
His truck, that he named the EcoBeast, is not a pavement-princess, but made to play in the woods. Cameron is an avid outdoors guy and has started his own Youtube channel to document his adventures on the Island. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mcOcB4rUzuc All his life he has been in love with the outdoors, being it fishing, hiking or off roading and he developed keen photo and video skills to document his adventures.
The EcoBeast, is not Cam’s first love with cars and bikes. He has had several vehicles including an 81 Camaro that he built a Stroker motor for and made into his street rod and an Enduro bike that he did many Island adventures on. On weekends he loves to get out with his friends and do some off-roading, but his favourite adventure pal is his dog Rocko.
Rocko is a 14-year-old Arctic wolf German shepherd cross with no regards for his age. He still heads out with Cam and out runs his younger doggie pals. Cam says, “He is forever my best pal and adventure buddy.” You can see by the pics that Rocko is as avid about the outdoors as Cam is.
It’s some of those very cool things we learned about one of our team members. It’s not just about work culture, but Ford and Island culture as well. We look forward to seeing more videos as he documents his Island adventures.
Say hi to Cameron when you are at the dealership.
I have been here at Steve Marshall Ford since 2005. Fresh out of high school I started in the lube bay, got my apprenticeship through the ford ASSET program, and then my Red Seal Certification. I have always had a passion for working on vehicles. About 5 years into my career I decided to take the path of electronic specialist and EEC diagnosis. I find it very satisfying diagnosing vehicles, especially when it’s a hard to diagnose issue. The people I work with make the daily commute from my home in Duncan completely worth it.
Meet Chas Tocher.
Two and a half years ago, Chas started with us as part of the Lot Team, and was recognized for whatever task was asked of him he always gave 100% attention and effort to it.
It was Chas’s desire to move into the shop, but at the time they needed someone with more tech experience. Chas proved his resourcefulness by doing repairs on his own car. This didn’t go unnoticed by the Service Leader, Rob Vanden Elsen.
Rob borrowed Chas from the Lot Team to help out in the shop, but after one month Rob said, “I am keeping him.” Chas is too modest to say anything about his abilities, but Rob and his coworkers praise his attention to detail, what a great team player he is and how that focus and attention makes him so good at what he does. Rob tells me. “He really cares about his guest’s and making sure he fixes their vehicles right.”
Ask what Chas’s favourite thing about working here and he will tell you it is the people he gets to work with. He loves being part of the Shop Team and it is a very good thing, otherwise he might take one of those numerous offers to be an international mustache model.
In his free time Chas like to get out and drive or ride. He enjoys his Honda Si and going for rides Dual Sport bike.
