“I would retire from hockey if we won the Stanley Cup. That decision, leading up to the spring of 1989, came as I began to consider what my next career would look like. After we won, I was happy to follow through on that promise to myself. I began to develop all sorts of ideas for a business that would be fulfilling. In the fall after the Cup, my father-in-law Stew Esplen called to suggest I look at an ad he saw in the Globe and Mail. Peters and Co., an Alberta-based company was selling “non-core assets” that turned out to be a small leasing company called Hartfield Chieftain Leasing. I had no experience leading a business but was convinced it was an opportunity to test the lessons I had learned in professional sport.”
Jim Peplinski, Founder.
Many of the executives, making today’s vehicle leasing and fleet decisions, prayed every night they would grow up to become hockey players. They longed for winter to return so the outdoor rinks could be frozen. And they loved cheering for “their” team and its stars. Many idolized the 1989 Calgary Flames team – Lanny McDonald, Doug Gilmore, Mike Vernon, Al McGinnis, and Jim Peplinski, among others — that won this city’s only Stanley Cup.
“One goal, one thousand assists,” is the motto Jim Peplinski Leasing aspires to. For the past 26 years this maxim has resonated with the decision-makers within hundreds of energy producers and service and supply companies. They like to do business with winners and the winner, in this case, likes to do business with them.
According to Roddie Davidson, Jim Peplinski Leasing’s vice president sales & western region, about 70 per cent of its business comes from the oilpatch. “Just as any successful hockey team genuinely cares for each other, watches out for each other’s backs, and is disciplined in how it plays the game, our leasing squad brings a common-sense approach to our energy clients — respect, caring, and taking responsibility. If the client needs a truck, outfitted with certain pieces of equipment, in Stettler tomorrow, we get that person exactly the truck and equipment he or she requested. We deliver it to Stettler on-time.”
Davidson grew up around Okotoks, graduated from the University of Calgary with a Bachelor of Commerce, Finance (1987), and has been around the oilpatch forever. “We support small and medium-sized companies and help them start from scratch. We laugh and call it ‘recycling customers’ as they keep returning, often with a new title and company name.” Davidson adds.
Focus is Customer Care
As the trust bond grew between Jim Peplinski Leasing and its customers, the company added equipment leasing and fixed asset financing to its offerings. It makes good and economic sense to finance the equipment, Davidson reports, because it can be put to work immediately and the client earns revenue from it.
“We’ve helped clients make tough decisions as they down-sized assets and found innovative leasing solutions to enable them to get a modest ROI (return on investment), and reduce expenses, despite the brutal oil price crash,” states Davidson. “We’re gratified they think of us first when they’re able to add another truck or vehicle to their fleet.”
Leasing a vehicle or piece of equipment is a process that depends on building good, long-term relationships. Once clients have decided what their company’s needs are, then Davidson’s group works to design the terms of the lease including for how long, if mileage is involved, and what upfitting and equipment is needed. Then they estimate the financial terms and get the vehicle to the client. “We review the fine print and get them to sign the paperwork so there are no surprises later,” he adds.
“The oilpatch loves its white trucks and that’s most of our business with them,” Davidson says. “Some are dedicated to a brand, others want extra safety features, while others are focused on acquistion costs or durability. We’re experts at getting them what they want.”
Just as Canadian want their Saturday-night hockey played at the highest level, the Jim Peplinski leasing team also wants their professionalism and customer-care attitude for leasing regarded as the best in the energy industry.
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