Finding Success Through the Messy Road: The Donnelly Way
- Mar 18
- 5 min read
Updated: Mar 26
The road to success is messy. It is never a straight line. Whether it’s a business, sports, relationships or even buying a car! Hard work pays off! With grit and perseverance through the “messy” success can be achieved.
The effort you put into something can have a profound impact on the results. Having a mindset of not giving up and knowing there is always a way through the “messy” is the outlook to have when the road gets bumpy.
The Donnelly Auto Group prides itself on this mindset.
Whether it’s internal successes with their team, or with the 100’s of customers that walk through the door, every day there are obstacles along the path to success, but having a great team, and an open-minded outlook, anything is achievable. The Donnelly Mitsubishi team are committed when things get messy.
Much like in hockey, each goal scored is not the result of that player who made the shot, it’s the lead-up, the passes before, the pep talk in the change room, the weekly practices, the grind, and the perseverance. Having a great team supporting you and working together to achieve success, that is the secret sauce.
Every customer who comes through the doors at Donnelly Mitsubishi and Donnelly Kia can expect that mindset and exceptional service.
David Bessuille – General Manager:
“I have been a minor hockey coach for all of my kids. What I learned about teamwork and motivation was invaluable. Here at Donnelly, we often use team sports as an analogy for how we operate together as a team. Our goals are team goals, and the result of winning is measured by guests who become our raving fans. In other words, we want them to love us”
Customer experience:
I contacted Donnelly with what I felt was an impossible situation. We were buying our daughter a car for university. But the participants in this deal were located in various cities in Ontario. My daughter was at school in Guelph, her father was financing the car, and he lived in Newmarket, and I lived in Ottawa. My daughter and her father had gone to several dealerships in southwestern Ontario and were extremely frustrated by the whole process.
Overwhelmed with the decisions, lack of customer assistance from various representatives, and roadblocks that made the whole process feel hopeless. My daughter called me very upset; she expressed how she thought the experience of buying a car would be fun. But it was causing her nothing but frustration and stress. So, I offered to help try to make this deal come together.
She knew she wanted a Kia Seltos, so I walked into Donnelly Kia and was introduced to Aidan Gerber. I explained the situation, and he made me feel at ease, explaining that anything was doable. There were some extra steps involved, and more paperwork than normal, but Aidan explained everything in a calm and understanding way throughout the whole process.
We had a lot of texts and emails, between all four of us, I was the middle person relaying everything to Aiden, and he was amazing during the whole process. He was very responsive and understanding with all the communication which I very much appreciated. The deal came together, we made it happen, and my daughter was extremely happy with her new car. Aiden arranged for a red bow on the car when we came to pick it up, and I asked Aiden if he could name the car, another surprise for her which made it all the more special. A frustrating and messy situation that Donnelly Kia turned into a success!
Success in any team is not from one person’s results. Aiden’s hard work got the deal to the finish line, but along the way, he had the support needed to make this success happen. It takes great leadership and supportive players that can work together to make great things happen; that is the culture established at Donnelly Automotive Group.
Fostering Relationships in the Community
Donnelly’s commitment to relationships extends outside the dealership, their community involvement reflects a core belief that local businesses have a role to play beyond sales, building stronger relationships within the community builds more engaged neighbourhood.
Supporting many meaningful local causes and initiatives such as Cheo, University of Ottawa Heart Institute, Toy Mountain, The Ottawa Mission, 100 meals a month club, Banff Community House, Cure Foundation, Ottawa Ride for Dad, CN Cyle for Cheo, Terry Fox Ride of Hope, Driving to End Hunger, Kanata food cupboard, but Donnelly has a special connection with hockey the community.
Examples and stories of the staff.
Chris Daniel:
“I played competitive hockey for many years growing up. This is my personal story.
When my family first moved to Canada everything felt new, the weather, the schools, even the language around me. But one thing made it easy to feel at home: hockey. The local rink quickly became my second home. The sound of skates cutting across the ice became a huge part of my childhood and helped me connect with the community around me. Those experiences shaped how I see community today. At Donnelly Mitsubishi, we believe in supporting the same local spirit that helped kids like me feel welcome. Whether it’s sponsoring local teams or supporting community events, we know how powerful sports can be in bringing people together. That love for sports didn’t stop with me. Today, I get to watch my daughter chase her own dreams in competitive soccer. Just like hockey did for me, sports are teaching her teamwork, discipline, and confidence.
For our family and for many families in our community sports are more than just games. They’re where friendships begin, lessons are learned, and communities grow stronger together.”
In communities across Canada, hockey isn’t just a sport; it’s a tradition, and a place where lifelong friendships are created. It’s with this deep connection to community and hockey that the Donnelly Automotive Group strives.
From the Road to the Ice
Donnelly Automotive Group are the proud sponsor of Kanata Minor Hockey Association (KMHA)’s U9 Division.
KMHA introduces young players to hockey and fosters their growth on and off the ice. It is an inclusive association because it doesn’t matter if your child is stepping onto the ice for their first practice or trying out for a competitive team.
Quote from KMHA:
We are grateful for Donnelly's support; sponsorships like theirs help our players.
KMHA has structured opportunities that meet families where they are. From recreational House League divisions, focused on fun and skill development, to competitive programs that challenge young athletes, every player has a spot to grow.
Donnelly Mitsubishi appreciates the hard work involved in minor hockey clubs. The volunteers, the players, the coaches, and the parents, their continual generous commitment to hockey helps the clubs’ initiatives.
Donnelly Mitsubishi and Donnelly Kia play an important role in the automotive landscape of Kanata. They’re not just another dealership; they’re a local business that cares about people and community. It has a longstanding reputation of a dealership that contributes to community causes.
Last Stop
From the showroom to the service bays, it’s where many area drivers go when they’re ready to upgrade a car or maintain a family vehicle. Donnelly Mitsubishi and Donnelly Kia continues to be a key automotive resource in the Ottawa area, a place where drivers can confidently start their journey down the road.
Both Donnelly Kia and Donnelly Mitsubishi dealerships are conveniently situated on Terry Fox Drive, this full-service Mitsubishi and Kia dealership has established a reputation for bringing great cars and strong customer support to Ottawa’s west end.
Visit them today!!
