‘Keeping it in the family? is a saying the LaFontaines know well.
At the age of 13, Michael LaFontaine experienced love at first sight when his eyes fell upon Maureen Blouin. Once the time was right, the two were married.
Today the couple have four children: Christia, Michael (wife Sarah), Kelley (husband Barron), and Ryan. Kelley is a Springfield Township resident, while the others live in Highland.
The four LaFontaine children attended Northwood University in Midland and majored in Automotive Marketing. The four also attended NADA, Dealer Academy to learn the ropes.
Starting out in the automotive business, Michael LaFontaine has definitely come far since starting at 19 years old at Autobahn in Bloomfield Hills in sales. He then went on to become sales manager, and then part owner.
‘I started in the business because my dad was in the used car business,? said LaFontaine.
Working hard to move up the ladder, LaFontaine reached the top ? Toyota offered him the opportunity to start his own company. In 1980, LaFontaine sold out his partnership with Autobahn and brought Toyota to Dearborn.
LaFontaine had a good feeling about the offer, so he did what he thought best. He took a mortgage on his home, and with a wife and four children, took a shot. That shot was a success, and today the LaFontaine chains include six stores throughout Oakland and Wayne county.
‘I am so proud of my father,? said Kelley. ‘He preaches hard work and it was a lot for him to take on.?
While growing up, the LaFontaine children were very active in the family business. They would ride their bikes to the Toyota store and ‘just hang out? as they say. When it became busy, the kids had their hands in almost every aspect of the business: from answering phones to customer service.
LaFontaine had a strong sense of hard work and family; he combined the two to keep his family active and close to the business. Years later and the LaFontaine children are still very active.
‘I am very excited about my kids being so involved,? said LaFontaine. ‘They are doing an excellent job and as a dad that makes me very proud.?
Not only have the dealerships grown, but so has the family. There are now seven grandchildren: Zachory, Mackenzie, Savanna, Aidan, Chet, Johnnie and Kevin. The LaFontaines hope the grandchildren will carry on with the business, and the family is already involving them by placing the kids in their commercials.
The LaFontaine Chains are literally a mom and pop shop with cousins and uncles working as well as the immediate family.
‘My mother and father constantly tell us that all the material things would be nothing if they didn’t have the family and the grandchildren,? said Kelley.
LaFontaine is a focussed businessman and a strong father and grandfather. He allows all the grandchildren to come visit his office and lets them work.He also does whatever he can to support his family. Kelley’s children attend Everest Academy and, through an auction, LaFontaine even purchased a street in his honor, LaFontaine Dr.
The LaFontaine family is adament that help can travel beyond family. Charity is a familiar word to them. Some of the important charities to the family include: churches, Toys for Tots, St. Jude and local sports teams. They also donate $100 of every sold vehicle to a church of the buyers choice.
Most recently, LaFontaine gave a big gift to a woman in need. After an unfortunate accident, a Dearborn woman’s home was destroyed after an airplane crashed into it. The woman’s car was totalled in the accident, so LaFontaine gave her a brand new van.
‘We are very family oriented and are very proud of our success,? said Kelley.