Estevan, Saskatchewan — JS Truckmart, located in Estevan, Sask., cleaned up at the Saskatchewan Chamber of Commerce’s Achievement in Business Excellence (ABEX) awards last weekend, winning the Growth and Expansion award as well as the big prize—the title of ABEX Business of the Year.
When JS Truckmart opened in late 2017, it had just three employees in a small shop with two dismantling bays, a small warehouse and offices. After a move last year, the company touts four dismantle bays, an inventory bay, two wash bays, a full shipping and receiving area as well as new office space. There are 40 full-time employees.
Christa Morhart, who co-owns JS Truckmart with her husband Bart, their friend Jeremy Swanson and silent partner Ed Turnbull, told local news outlet SaskToday.ca what the award means to her.
“When you’re in a room full of incredibly successful, like-minded individuals who have done incredible things from the ground up, businesses of all sizes with a different ownership structure, it’s pretty humbling to be up on that stage receiving an award.”
Swanson, who hails from the States, was selling automotive recycled parts when he moved to Canada. When he approached Morhart about the idea, she thought it’d take five to ten years to complete his vision.
“We just worked hard and pivoted and found ways to make it work by committing and being there every day,” she told SaskToday.ca, speaking specifically about operating as a relatively new business amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Thank you to the Saskatchewan Chamber of Commerce for organizing this event and recognizing the successes of the businesses that continue to contribute to the sustainability, economic growth and prosperity in Saskatchewan,” wrote Morhart on Facebook following the event.
JS Truckmart will host a facility tour on Oct. 5 as part of the Saskatchewan Automotive Recyclers Association (SARA) annual general meeting, where the Automotive Recyclers of Canada Board of Directors will also meet.
