Aftermarket veteran and recently retired Uni-Select Manitoba sales executive Neil Herbert Creek passed away September 22, 2019.

Neil Herbert “Speedy” Creek began his aftermarket career not long after graduating from the University of Manitoba, in July 1979 at Gillis & Warren, part of the Booker Automotive Group in Winnipeg.

Shortly thereafter, he moved to Western Warehouse Distributors, the automotive arm of Acklands Ltd.

Throughout Neil’s career with Gilles & Warren, Acklands, and Bumper to Bumper, he was exposed to many areas of the automotive aftermarket– warehousing, purchasing, banner programs and, of course, sales—that would serve him well in his career.

It was an exciting time during the 80s and 90s with the Manitoba/Northwestern Ontario aftermarket. Acklands Ltd. was expanding its Bumper to Bumper program and Neil moved into the sales department.

When, in 2001, the Prairie automotive assets of Acklands-Grainger were purchased by Uni-Select Inc., Neil made valuable contributions to the consolidated organization. He participated in the sale of the corporate Bumper to Bumper stores to associates, and the consolidation of two automotive distribution centre inventories, all while managing the merging the Bumper to Bumper Associate program  with the Auto Parts Plus Associate program, both serviced by one DC.

He continued to be a valuable asset to the organization through to his retirement in January of 2019,  as the Uni-Select Sales & Development Manager for Manitoba & Northwestern Ontario.

More so, Neil was consistently the go-to contact in the region for Uni-Select. All vendors enjoyed calling on Neil when they visited Winnipeg. Local vendors enjoyed detailing with Neil and discussing the market.

His customers enjoyed the benefit of his knowledge and tenacity Neil’s mild manner way and his pursuit of answers and follow-up endeared him to customers.

Neil was never one to be the centre of attention. He would be more about listening than talking. “You can learn more by listening,” he would say. He was never one to take short cuts and always looked to have things done the right way.

Neil was an active volunteer with Automotive Industries Association of Canada in Manitoba for 20 years and served as chairman of the Manitoba Division for the 2017/2018 term.

AIA Manitoba shall make a donation to Cancer Manitoba in Neil’s memory.

Special thanks to Sean Corcelli, executive director, Alberta Division, Automotive Industries Association of Canada and former colleague of Neil Creek through his Acklands and Uni-Select years.