INSTRUCTORS
INDUSTRY EXPERTS
ABOUT
instructors
The Dealer Institute is committed to recruiting top-notch instructors with deep expertise in the equipment dealership business or specific field of expertise. Our instructors often have hands-on experience as owner-operators or specialize in specific departments within the industry. Their extensive tenure and knowledge in the equipment industry are testament to their dedication. They continually contribute by sharing their expertise with others.
ARTHUR WARD
DEALER INSTITUTE INSTRUCTOR
From the sales floor to the president’s office, Arthur “Art” Ward knows what it takes to build a successful equipment dealership. With more than 30 years of experience in agriculture, sales, and executive leadership, Art brings a powerful combination of industry knowledge, business strategy, and real-world experience to Dealer Institute.
Raised on a ranch in southern Saskatchewan, Art’s connection to agriculture runs deep. He launched his career in 1994 as a sales representative and quickly discovered a passion for the equipment business. Over the years, he advanced through key leadership positions, including Branch Manager and General Sales Manager, before joining JayDee Equipment in 2006.
As the organization evolved through mergers and acquisitions, so did Art’s leadership responsibilities. In 2017, he became President of Pattison Agriculture, where he helped guide the business through the challenges and opportunities of a changing agricultural equipment industry. His leadership journey continued in 2020 when he became Vice President with The Jim Pattison Group.
But Art’s experience doesn’t end in the executive office. In 2024, he partnered with a longtime friend in an agricultural business venture that includes a 20,000-acre grain farm, seed potato production, farm supply distribution, and marketing services. This continued involvement keeps him connected to the agricultural industry from both the business and producer perspectives.
What makes Art such a valuable instructor? He’s lived the business at every level. He understands the pressures of making a sale, the challenges of managing a team, and the responsibility of leading an entire dealership organization. Few perspectives are more valuable than someone who has worked his way through the industry and understands how decisions made at every level impact the success of the business.
As a Dealer Institute instructor, Art brings that depth of experience into the classroom, connecting proven business principles with the realities dealers face every day. His background provides valuable insight into developing strong sales teams, improving dealership performance, navigating industry challenges, and building businesses positioned for long-term success.
Art and his wife, Kim, live in Swift Current, Saskatchewan, where they enjoy spending time with their two adult sons, daughter-in-law, and grandson.
SPECIALTIES: WHOLEGOODS | SALES | PARTS | SERVICE | FINANCIALS | DEALERSHIP LEADERSHIP | OPERATIONS
STEVE VARIYAN
DEALER INSTITUTE INSTRUCTOR
Great dealerships are built by great people, and Steve Variyan knows that investing in people is one of the most powerful ways to strengthen an organization.
With more than 20 years of experience in leadership development, human resources, and business training, Steve brings a wealth of real-world knowledge and a passion for helping individuals and teams reach their full potential. Holding a Master’s degree in Administration, he has served in senior leadership roles across both the public and private sectors, including Vice President of Human Capital at Pattison Agriculture in Saskatchewan, Canada.
Throughout his career, Steve has gained valuable insight into the challenges of leading people, developing talent, and building successful organizations. His executive-level experience gives him a unique understanding of how strong leadership, effective communication, and employee development contribute to workplace culture, organizational performance, and long-term business success.
Steve understands that successful leadership goes beyond managing people. It’s about building strong teams, creating a positive workplace culture, and giving employees the tools and confidence to succeed. He believes that when organizations invest in their people, they create opportunities for growth at every level.
As a Dealer Institute instructor, Steve brings energy, practical insight, and an engaging approach to every training session. He believes training should be more than just sitting in a classroom. It should spark meaningful conversations, challenge perspectives, and provide real solutions participants can put to work immediately.
His goal is simple: Every participant should walk away with something valuable they can use to make a difference in their dealership.
Steve and his wife live in Ottawa, Ontario, and have two adult daughters.
SPECIALTIES: LEADERSHIP | HUMAN RESOURCES | PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT | CUSTOMER SERVICE
COLIN HLAVINKA
DEALER INSTITUTE INSTRUCTOR
From behind the wheel of a tractor to leading dealership sales operations, Colin Hlavinka has spent his life doing what he knows best — agriculture.
Raised on his family’s rice farm along the Texas Gulf Coast, Colin developed a passion for farming at an early age. Whether working the fields or helping with the family operation, he gained a firsthand understanding of the hard work, challenges, and opportunities that come with making a living in agriculture.
After graduating from Texas A&M University, Colin spent several years farming before transitioning into agricultural business management and equipment sales. His career has taken him from managing multiple retail cooperative locations to building and leading the precision agriculture department at Hlavinka Equipment Company. Today, he serves as the company’s Vice President and Director of Sales, bringing decades of hands-on agricultural and dealership experience to the role.
What makes Colin’s perspective especially valuable? He’s been the farmer, the salesperson, and the dealership leader. He understands what customers need, what sales teams face, and what it takes to build relationships that drive long-term success.
As a Dealer Institute instructor, Colin brings that unique combination of practical farming knowledge, sales experience, and leadership insight into the classroom. His real-world perspective helps connect dealership strategies to the everyday challenges of serving customers, developing teams, and growing a successful equipment business.
Colin and his wife, Brooke, live in Texas and are proud parents of a Texas A&M graduate. When he’s not working, Colin enjoys hunting, fishing, and spending time outdoors — although, as he jokingly admits, the “Hlavinka workaholic gene” tends to keep him busy!
SPECIALTIES: WHOLEGOODS | SALES | PARTS | SERVICE | DEALERSHIP LEADERSHIP
JAMES MANGAS
DEALER INSTITUTE INSTRUCTOR
Safety isn’t just about rules and regulations. It’s about protecting people, building strong teams, and creating a workplace where everyone takes responsibility for looking out for one another. Jim Mangas has spent nearly 30 years helping organizations do exactly that.
From front-line firefighting to global corporate leadership, Jim has experienced workplace safety from nearly every angle. His career has taken him across 14 countries and a wide range of industries, including manufacturing, oil and gas, specialty chemicals, and industrial operations. Along the way, he’s developed a firsthand understanding of how effective safety practices impact employees, leadership, and overall business performance.
Today, Jim is the Founder and CEO of Revolutionary Safety Services LLC, where he helps businesses turn safety from a checklist into a meaningful part of their workplace culture. His approach combines practical risk management, employee engagement, and leadership accountability to help organizations create safer, stronger, and more productive workplaces.
What sets Jim apart is his ability to connect safety to the real world. He understands that policies alone don’t prevent accidents — people do. As a Dealer Institute instructor, Jim challenges participants to think differently about safety, recognize everyday risks, and take practical steps that protect their coworkers, customers, and businesses.
Jim is a Certified Safety Professional (CSP) and holds both bachelor’s and master’s degrees in occupational safety and health from Columbia Southern University. His extensive experience and education bring valuable insight to every training session.
Jim and his wife, Jill, live in West Central Ohio. They’re proud parents of four adult children and grandparents to a grandson.
SPECIALTIES: WORKPLACE SAFETY | RISK MANAGEMENT | SAFETY LEADERSHIP