Rick Koch recognized with honorary diploma at Automotive Business School of Canada convocation

Oct. 14, 2016

Automotive retail entrepreneur and Automotive Business School of Canada (ABSC) supporter Rick Koch has been recognized with one of Georgian College’s most prestigious honours.

Georgian College President and CEO MaryLynn West-Moynes presented Koch, Chair of the ABSC Board of Directors, with the Georgian College Board of Governors’ Honorary Diploma during ABSC convocation ceremonies at the Barrie Campus on Thursday, Oct. 13.

The Georgian College Board of Governors’ Honorary Diploma is presented to a recipient who has demonstrated excellence in their profession or industry, and who has made a major contribution to an academic program at Georgian College through a significant contribution of expertise, influence and personal time. Koch embodies all of these criteria.

Koch began working in the automotive retail business at the age of 14 and, for the most part, has worked in the industry ever since. Vice President of Alberta-based Koch Automotive Group, Koch makes customer and employee satisfaction his number one priority. As a member since 2010 – and two-term Chair – of the Automotive Business School of Canada, Koch has also made student and industry satisfaction his number one priority.

Koch joined the ABSC board with great enthusiasm and optimism about giving back to the industry in which he plays such a strong role. As a Ford dealership principal, Rick spent a five-year term on Ford’s National Roundtable. He co-chaired this industry liaison committee with David Mondragon, President of Ford Canada in 2009, during one of the most turbulent years ever for automotive manufacturers and retailers.

“As a member of the ABSC Board, Koch was instrumental in helping the school rebrand in 2012 by connecting ABSC with Young + Rubicam, Ford’s advertising agency,” said Georgian College President and CEO MaryLynn West-Moynes. “His effort and relationship-building have allowed the ABSC to benefit pro bono from expertise that otherwise would not have been available to the school. The rebranding has helped to significantly increase enrolment.”

Most recently, Koch has provided vision, leadership and support to the development of the Automotive Dealership Management graduate certificate program. The certificate is meeting with spectacular success among members of the automotive industry across Canada.