McKenzie Wainwright is the General Manager of Boyd Autobody, one of Manitoba's largest collision shops, where she achieved her sales budget in less than a year while maintaining zero technician turnover through positive leadership and a learning-focused culture.
McKenzie Wainwright serves as General Manager at Boyd Autobody, one of Manitoba's largest collision repair shops, nominated for the 30 Under 40 award
She achieved her full sales budget in less than a year of operations after the shop opened in Q2 2024, with zero technician turnover since opening
McKenzie addresses the industry's critical skilled technician shortage by fostering a positive workplace culture and implementing a learning-focused environment
She prioritizes staying current with emerging technologies including ADAS systems and electric vehicle (EV) collision repair, viewing them as significant growth opportunities
Her leadership philosophy centers on team development and professional growth, believing that continuous evolution is essential to avoid falling behind in the collision repair industry
McKenzie Wainwright knows how to succeed in a short time. As the General Manager for Boyd Autobody, McKenzie oversees one of the largest collision shops in Manitoba. McKenzie was left with less than a full year of operations when the shop opened in the second quarter of 2024, but she adapted to achieve her sales budget successfully.
McKenzie was nominated for 30 Under 40 by her manager, Rob Burns, the market manager at Boyd Autobody & Glass. “Her leadership is evident, as the technicians at the shop have consistently praised her management style, with zero technician turnover since the location’s opening,” said Rob. “McKenzie’s ability to drive performance while maintaining a positive work environment has been key to the shop’s early success.”
As a child, McKenzie spent a lot of time around cars and learned about the mechanical side of vehicles. Collision repair was a new chapter, and the opportunity to learn about another side of vehicle repair sparked her interest. “With new technologies, materials and safety systems constantly being introduced, there’s always something new to learn,” said McKenzie. “Every day brings a new challenge, and that’s what keeps me motivated to learn and grow.”
Her promotion to general manager was a proud moment in her career, making her reflect on her journey in the industry. “I didn’t realize how much I had learned to get to that point and how much I had grown professionally and personally,” McKenzie said. “I feel a responsibility to support the people around me in their own growth, and I’ve found a passion in building up my team and seeing them succeed.”
The shortage of skilled technicians in the industry is the biggest challenge McKenzie is passionate about solving. “The complexity of vehicles and their repairs has grown a lot, which results in the need for more trained technicians to be able to perform repairs correctly,” she elaborated. “We’re also seeing people retiring out of the trade, but we aren’t seeing an influx of new techs to match the amount of people who are leaving.”
Nevertheless, this isn’t something that daunts McKenzie. “As someone at the shop level who sees repairs being performed day to day, I can contribute by sharing my experiences and how much I enjoy what I do with others,” said McKenzie. “I also commit myself to fostering a positive culture within my shop so that the techs who join our team end up staying because they enjoy the environment they work in every day.”
Implementing a learning culture within her team is one way McKenzie stays ahead of the curve, and she sees ADAS and EVs as a substantial opportunity for growth in collision repair. “We’ve already seen advancements in ADAS technology since it was first introduced, and these systems are becoming more complex every day,” she said. Above all, as a leader, learner and professional, McKenzie understands that when it comes to the collision repair industry, “if you’re not evolving, you’re falling behind.”
“Her leadership is evident, as the technicians at the shop have consistently praised her management style, with zero technician turnover since the location’s opening. McKenzie’s ability to drive performance while maintaining a positive work environment has been key to the shop’s early success.” - NOMINATED BY ROB BURNS, MANAGER
