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Our Story

Giving our customers a quality experience

A young Australian vacationing in BC in the 1970s liked it so much that he decided to stay. And in 1977 that young Australian, Bill Hatswell, started Craftsman Collision.  Less to Bill’s liking was the state of BC’s collision repair industry. So he did things better, starting with crisp, clean staff uniforms, friendly receptionists, clean replacement vehicles, and new standards of quality and accountability. Today, Bill is still involved on a daily basis, and we’ve grown to become the largest family-owned body shop chain in Canada by far, with over 40 locations. As long as more drivers turn into happy Craftsman customers, we’ll keep growing to meet the demand.

The next generation

After over 40 dedicated years at Craftsman’s helm, Bill Hatswell decided to take a step back as President to focus on his role as CEO. Making room for a new leader at the top of the company: his son Rick.

“I grew up in the business and started working on cars at the age of 8 with my first rusty car, a 1972 MGB.  The passion continued as I completed my Red Seal Collision Repair Technician, managed 2 of our Vancouver locations, and completed a dual MBA to give me the tools to lead the business as President.   Today I’m more proud than ever to be part of Craftsman Collision. We’re ready for the technological changes happening right now on all vehicles, and are looking forward to helping you whenever your next bump in the road occurs.”

Rick Hatswell, President

Our Mission

Being the difference we know you want

Our mission statement was written over 3 decades ago and is as relevant today as it was in 1977.

“At Craftsman Collision, our mission as industry leader is to endeavour to find new ways to raise the standards of quality and service in the autobody repair business.

We will strive to create outstanding customer satisfaction in everything we do, from our initial warm welcome to the tidiness of our workshop and reception areas.

We will continually upgrade the education of our staff in the most current management and technical skills available, and augment this learning with the best available technology to ensure that our quality of repair is unsurpassed in the industry.

We will back our repairs with a lifetime guarantee equal to or better than the best available, including complying with all applicable accreditation requirements.

Finally, because leadership entails good corporate citizenship, we will uphold a commitment to the highest standards of environmental safety and responsibility in all our operations, and when the opportunity provides, share our good fortune with deserving charitable causes.”

Being the difference we know you want

Leading by example

All
All
Executive Team
Management Team

Since he founded Craftsman Collision in 1977, Bill Hatswell has been a man on a mission.

First, it was to modernize and clean up the autobody repair industry, bringing in professional standards and innovative practices to the company that now boasts more than 40 locations across North America, making it the largest independently owned collision repair organization in Canada.

Bill Hatswell
Bill Hatswell
Owner and CEO

The CEO’s son, Rick, progressed from detailer to auto body technician, shop manager then to the Craftsman Groups head office as general manager while completing his MBA. As President, he is responsible for overall operations and sales development. He also chairs the collision repair division of the Automotive Retailers Association.  In his spare time Rick can be found mountain biking with his wife and two kids preparing for the Ironman Triathlon or his next international motorcycle rally.

Rick Hatswell, MBA
Rick Hatswell, MBA
President

After graduating from Sauder, he chose to learn the development business from the ground up, taking time to learn real estate and land development, while taking the time to learn his craft as a general contractor and managing a number of projects. He leads with a personal, people-focused approach to business.

Greg’s love of the outdoors started at an early age and when he’s not working you will find him in the mountains backcountry skiing, camping, hiking or rock climbing. The wilderness is where he goes to find inspiration.

Greg Hatswell, Bcom
Greg Hatswell, Bcom
President, Real Estate

Having gained marketing experience in firms including 1-800-GOT-Junk, the QVC Shopping Channel (England) and MoneyGram International (Australia), former Craftsman Collision Marketing Manager Melanie rejoined the family business to oversee U.S. operations from her base in Long Beach, CA. In her off hours you can find Mel on a paddleboard or cheering on the Angels.

Melanie Allan, BA
Melanie Allan, BA
Vice President USA

A graduate in hotel management, David studied accounting and finance before working at senior corporate positions with Hyatt International Hotels and Gulf & Western. He has been on the Craftsman executive team since 1988, and also a former Treasurer of the Automotive Retailers Association. David is enjoying being semi-retired and loves spending his time between his homes on the Sechelt and Mexico.

David Cant
David Cant
Vice President Canada

Mike’s skills on the  technical and people side have not gone unnoticed. Starting as a body technician in 1987, he was promoted to Estimator, Production Coordinator and then Manager in 1988. In 2011, he joined head office as Operations Manager, was promoted to GM of Operations and is now COO. When not in the office building a successful team, you’ll find Mike pursuing his love of sports supporting youth and his sons as a coach for both hockey and box lacrosse.

Mike O’Callaghan
Mike O’Callaghan
COO

Holger has worked in the automotive industry most of his life and has been with The Craftsman Group since 2001. He’s responsible for the planning, implementation and managing of all the financial activities of the company, including business planning, budgeting, forecasting and administrative functions. When not crunching numbers you will find him ripping up the slopes in search of fresh powder.

Holger Laakmann, BSc, CPA/CGA
Holger Laakmann, BSc, CPA/CGA
CFO
Mark Greenberg, MBA
Mark Greenberg, MBA
Vice President of Business Development

Armed with an education from BCIT, several Microsoft certifications and more than 25 years of experience, our IT Director helps us maintain our legendary customer service by making sure all our shops and systems are tightly connected and running smoothly. Away from Craftsman HQ he’s still got cars on his mind, evidenced by a Ferrari replica he built out of Lego with his son. Other family activities he enjoys include board games, cards, travel (especially to Hawaii’s Big Island), and older (pre-2010) movies.

Harinder Sindhar, B. Tech, MCP, MCSE, MCDBA
Harinder Sindhar, B. Tech, MCP, MCSE, MCDBA
Director of IT

Stacey embodies the company’s relentless pursuit of being a household name by delivering experiences that leave customers with memorable impressions and a wide smile on their face. When she’s outside of the office, you’ll find her globetrotting around the world with her family (she’s always looking to tick off another box from her Bucket List), hitting the slopes in search of fresh powder, or savouring delicious food and wine at local eateries with friends. Her favourite life motto is, “Jobs fill your pocket, adventures fill your soul.

Stacey Cook, Bcom
Stacey Cook, Bcom
Marketing Manager

Over 20 years of health and safety experience in Oil & Gas, Mining & Exploration and now craftsman Collision. She oversees workplace HSE strategies, training, program development and policy compliance. Cheryl loves spending quality time with family and friends. and has an insatiable need for speed; especially when it comes to chuckwagon racing. Loves travel, quality time with family and friends.

Cheryl Feddema, CHSC
Cheryl Feddema, CHSC
Health and Safety Manager