1any In September 2020, André Morneau, Isabelle Morneau's father, bought Pneus & Mécanique in Baie-Comeau. Today, his daughter is poised to carry the torch in a fine example of family succession.
“I have always worked with my father a lot,” explains Isabelle Morneau. Before fully investing in the family business, she worked in the transportation sector, particularly as a taxi driver, a sector in which her father also worked.
But when the epidemic arrived, the situation changed. The company's owners, based in Jonquière, found themselves unable to continue running the business remotely.
“It complicated things. My father was a tire fitter here, and when he saw the owners wanted to sell, he decided to invest.
Then, when the director decided to leave, Isabelle Morneau began to envision her future at the helm of the company.
“I took charge. I didn't know much at first, but I learned everything on the job. Customer service, I've always loved that, I've always been interested in that. It allowed me to develop the way I deal with customers and be confident in myself,” says the manager.
Taking over the family business
The decision to take over his father's business came naturally. “We talked about it for three years. My father asked me what would be interesting to do or sell. We decided to keep the business,” she says.
For Isabelle Morneau, family continuity was essential. She decided to help her father build this business, so she chose to be part of the next generation.
She also emphasizes a crucial point for her, which is the importance of women's place in the traditionally male sector. “When customers arrive, the problems with the mechanisms are explained, they know that I am able to calm them down, able to explain to them so they can understand, able to put myself in their position,” she explains proudly.
A vision focused on the future
Although the day-to-day management of the company is already well established, the new manager has no shortage of future projects.
“Right now, I'm trying to organize everything right. My long-term vision is to make all aspects of the business really profitable, from the rental side to the mechanical side and the tire side.
With her dedication to customer service and her desire to improve every aspect of the business, Isabelle Morneau perfectly embodies the new generation of businesswomen, ready to take on challenges in sectors where their presence is still rare.
