Stacey & Danielle Commandeur: Trust, Mentorship & Giving Back

For Stacey and Danielle Commandeur, education, hard work, and community are inseparable. As owners of Commandeur Mechanical, they’ve built more than a successful automotive and heavy-duty repair business, they’ve created a workplace grounded in trust, mentorship, and giving back. Their shared experiences as alumni of Northwestern Polytechnic (NWP) played a significant role in shaping both their careers and their approach to business ownership.

Two Alumni Paths, One Shared Vision

Danielle Commandeur’s connection to NWP began under extraordinary circumstances. She enrolled in Business Administration after high school while eight and a half months pregnant. Just weeks into the first semester, she welcomed her son and continued her studies.

“I think where there’s a will, there’s a way,” she said. “I was determined to go to school, so we figured it out.”

After completing her certificate, Danielle entered the workforce and raised her family before later returning as a mature student. In 2009, she earned her Business Administration diploma and went on to complete a management degree through a collaborative program between NWP and Athabasca University. Experiencing post-secondary education at different stages of life gave her perspective she continues to apply today.

Stacey’s educational journey followed a more hands-on route. He first attended NWP in 1991 through high school mechanics training, then returned to complete his four-year automotive service technician apprenticeship over several years.

“The instructors were definitely really good and knowledgeable. (There was) a lot of one-on-one,” Stacey recalled.

After an injury later in his career, Stacey returned again, this time to study business. “That really opened my eyes to definitely being able to open our own (business) at some point. The knowledge I learned there and then the knowledge that Danielle has, it was definitely a great eye opener for sure,” he said. Their combined educational studies and experience became the foundation for entrepreneurship.

Now dual-ticketed in automotive and heavy-duty mechanics, Stacey remains a strong advocate for apprenticeships and formal education.

“Going to trade school is not going to make you a mechanic,” he explained. “But what it’s going to do is it’s going to hone the skills that you have… and then you’ll be able to come back to the shop more confident.”

Taking the Leap into Entrepreneurship

The idea for Commandeur Mechanical wasn’t sparked by a formal business plan, but by a realization. After years in dealerships, Stacey knew the model no longer fit how he wanted to work. He began doing repairs out of his garage in Clairmont, then out of the back of his truck.

Encouraged, and financially supported by a neighbour who believed in him, Stacey and Danielle found a shop and committed fully.

“We jumped in with both feet,” Stacey said. “I would work 12 to 14 hours a day, go coach hockey, and I’d go back to the shop. We did that for the first year and a half — and I didn’t  look back.”

Danielle worked another job during the day and spent evenings handling invoices and paperwork. Eventually, she brought those responsibilities in-house full-time. “I just said, ‘You know what, that’s it. I’m just going to come work at the shop,’ so, I just invited myself over,” she laughed.

Like many new entrepreneurs, they reinvested everything back into the business. “We literally put our heart and soul into this company,” Stacey said. “And to this day, on year 14 now, everything still goes back into this company.”

A Business Built on People

Today, Commandeur Mechanical operates from a 14,000-square-foot facility with 10 bays and a team of 12. What sets the business apart is its culture.

“I always tell my guys, don't call me boss. I'm one of you guys. I have my toolboxes. I get dirty. I'm helping out there,” Stacey said. 

Work anniversaries and birthdays are celebrated, and personal milestones are acknowledged. “Probably one of the best things is watching our young guys grow up,” Stacey shared.

Hiring is intentional, often driven by word of mouth, and many employees apply simply because of the shop’s reputation. 

Transparency, Trust, and Safety

Transparency is a cornerstone of the business. Customers are welcome in the shop and encouraged to ask questions.

“If you want to see it, let’s go for a walk in the shop,” Stacey said. “There should be no reason why you can’t take your customer into the shop and show them what you’re doing.”

This approach has been especially meaningful for female customers who feel respected and informed. Safety is equally non-negotiable.

“Every day, we have people’s lives in our hands,” Stacey said. He reinforces with his team the importance of their work in keeping everyone safe. 

That philosophy has earned long-standing relationships with customers and fleet clients, as well as recognition from the Grande Prairie and District Chamber of Commerce.

Giving Back and Looking Forward

Community involvement is a responsibility the Commandeurs take seriously. They support local sports teams and youth initiatives, believing strongly in giving back.

“Without our community, we wouldn’t have a shop,” Danielle said.

Stacey’s advice for future NWP alumni interested in entrepreneurship is: 

“You’ve just got to have confidence, and you need to surround yourself with good people. It doesn't matter where you're doing it; it's going to work.”

From a garage and a pickup truck to a thriving business, Stacey and Danielle Commandeur’s story is a testament to determination, education, and community — a true Northwestern Polytechnic alumni success story.