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Toyota parts manager enjoys her work

Jay Chappell is the parts manager at Heartland Toyota. She has been dedicated to her job for more than 40 years.
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Jay Chappell started on the shop floor and worked her way up to parts manager.

Jay Chappell is the parts manager at Heartland Toyota. She has been dedicated to her job for more than 40 years.

Jay grew up in Williams Lake and began learning the automotive parts trade while working for her father.  Dick Chappell opened the original dealership that was then known as DJ Toyota.

While in high school, Jay worked part time for DJ Toyota cleaning cars, washing floors, assisted in the parts department and wherever she was needed.  After high school she worked full time in the parts department apprenticing in with parts manager, the late Dale Moon.

“Dale taught me the parts business and when he became Fire Chief of Williams Lake Fire Department, I transitioned into the parts manager position.”

Today, Jay has a share interest in Heartland Toyota which is owned by Doug Beckman and managed by Gerald Overton.

“I’m the quiet one in the back” Jay says. “We have shipped parts as far north as Whitehorse.”

Jay may be “the quite one” but she is the mainstay in delivering in a timely, efficient manner, highly technical and specialized parts to the Toyota technicians and valuable vendors in the community, Heatland Toyota’s CFO Joanna Sanders.

During Jay’s tenure with Heartland Toyota she has had to develop her knowledge base exponentially with the advancement of automotive technology such as electronics, computers, hybrids, sensors and countless many more new vehicle features.

Jay’s favourite pastime is enjoying her backyard and gardening.

She supports all of Heartland Toyota’s fundraisers and community interests.

Her recent fundraiser was for the Kidney Foundation of Canada. Jay initiated a painting party in Heartland Toyota’s showroom that was well attended and funds were raised for Team Nash.

Customers and fellow employees are the best part of her job.

“We all work as a great team, like a big family,” Jay says. “Our customers are awesome which makes it easy to come to work.”