In the early days of the Angela Ward School of Motoring, Angela’s first instructor car was a Toyota, so the Kelly’s showroom was a perfect place to gather for some car talk, business talk and cake.
L-R: Evelyn Mc Glynn, Rachel Wasson, Stella McGroarty, Trish McGinley, Angela Ward, Deirdre McGlone, Brendan Kelly and Lisa Brennan at the Business Growth and Let’s Talk Cars event with Kelly’s Toyota and the Donegal Women in Business NetworkAttendees at the Business Growth and Let’s Talk Cars event with Kelly’s Toyota and the Donegal Women in Business NetworkL-R: Angela Ward, Trish McGinley, Deirdre McGlone, Lisa Brennan, Grace Ann McGarvey and Evelyn Mc Glynn at the Business Growth and Let’s Talk Cars event with Kelly’s Toyota and the Donegal Women in Business Network
Angela is a much-valued member of the Donegal Women in Business Network, who are celebrating 20 years as network, and they were eager to celebrate her business anniversary too and pick up some of her expert tips.
Like many entrepreneurs, Angela’s journey had plenty of smooth roads, new turns and unexpected detours.
Angela Ward celebrating 15 years of the Angela Ward School of Motoring at the Business Growth and Let’s Talk Cars event with Kelly’s Toyota and the Donegal Women in Business Network
Originally from Coventry, Angela moved to Donegal as a child and went to school in Donegal Town.
She studied Applied Science and her first career move was working as a Lab Tech with the Gallagher Bros in Killybegs.
Angela then worked as a Quality Controller in Neena Models before becoming a Regulatory Affairs Technician at Boston Scientific.
Things took a turn in 2003, when redundancies hit. Angela decided to go in a new direction before her 30th birthday and applied for a driving instructor course.
Her first instructor car was in fact a Toyota Yaris, bought from Kelly’s Toyota Letterkenny Manager Brendan Kelly!
Angela Ward driving and safety advice at the Business Growth and Let’s Talk Cars event with Kelly’s Toyota and the Donegal Women in Business Network
Angela had great advice to share on establishing a business. “It takes three years to set up a business,” she said, and if things don’t go to plan, there are so many roads you can take.
Angela’s journey did have some bumpy times. But she refused to put on the brakes when the recession hit. Instead, she went back to education and followed her second passion – cooking. Angela gained a degree in Culinary Arts at Killybegs Catering College, and this led to a job on campus. Angela juggled two careers for a time before deciding to steer towards driving instructing full-time again.
Now, she is predominantly based in Donegal Town and enjoying bringing learners through the milestone moment of passing their tests.
Network members and Kelly’s Toyota team L-R: Deirdre McGlone, Gary Duggan, Paul McCormack, Lisa Brennan, Brendan Kelly, Declan Faulkner, Patryk Fajkowski, Evelyn Mc Glynn and Angela Ward at the Business Growth and Let’s Talk Cars event with Kelly’s Toyota and the Donegal Women in Business Network
After 15 years instructing on all things motoring, Angela had great advice to share with new and experienced drivers alike at Kelly’s Toyota. What’s under the bonnet, what you need in your boot and snow-ice essentials were all included in the fascinating talk.
The Kelly’s team were on-hand to share their top advice on road safety too. Lisa Brennan gave a talk on Toyota’s ‘Built for a Better World’ brand promise as well as their FaceItDown App.
Paul McCormack, Service Advisor at Kelly’s Toyota, giving demonstrations at the Business Growth and Let’s Talk Cars event with Kelly’s Toyota and the Donegal Women in Business NetworkKelly’s Toyota team members L-R: Declan McEleney, Paul McCormack, Brendan Kelly, Gary Duggan, Patryk Fajkowski, Declan Faulkner and Lisa Brennan at the Business Growth and Let’s Talk Cars event with Kelly’s Toyota and the Donegal Women in Business Network
With the Hybrid Advantage event taking place at Kelly’s Toyota this weekend, it was a great time for Lisa to share an introduction to Toyota’s self-charging hybrids. With 21% lower CO2 output and with drivers using zero emissions mode more than 60% of the time on average, hybrids are the ideal next step towards electrification for environmentally and cost-conscious drivers.
Lisa explained how Hybrids were first developed by Toyota in 1997 and they continue to lead the way with customers enjoying the cost-cutting benefits each year.
Service Advisor Paul McCormack from Kelly’s Toyota gave some hands-on demonstrations on the latest hybrids in the showroom. Paul gave a guide to changing a tyre, using an air compressor and temporary repairs. The group had many questions for both Paul and Angela during the demonstrations – and lots of notes were taken during the evening!
Paul McCormack, Service Advisor at Kelly’s Toyota, giving a tyre change demonstration at the Business Growth and Let’s Talk Cars event with Kelly’s Toyota and the Donegal Women in Business Network
Angela Ward driving and safety advice at the Business Growth and Let’s Talk Cars event with Kelly’s Toyota and the Donegal Women in Business Network
See all the photos from the Let’s Talk Cars event below:
Attendees at the Business Growth and Let’s Talk Cars event with Kelly’s Toyota and the Donegal Women in Business NetworkL-R: Angela Ward, Evelyn Mc Glynn, Trish McGinley, Deirdre McGlone and Grace Ann McGarvey at the Business Growth and Let’s Talk Cars event with Kelly’s Toyota and the Donegal Women in Business NetworkMaking sure the family is up to speed on their driving! Angela Ward pictured with her sister Caroline Gillespie and John Ward at the Business Growth and Let’s Talk Cars event with Kelly’s Toyota and the Donegal Women in Business NetworkSome of the Kelly’s Toyota team: Lisa Brennan, Marie Cunningham, Paul McCormack and Marion Kelly the Business Growth and Let’s Talk Cars event with Kelly’s Toyota and the Donegal Women in Business NetworkEvelyn Mc Glynn receiving a floral gift from Angela Ward, pictured with Lisa Brennan at the Business Growth and Let’s Talk Cars event with Kelly’s Toyota and the Donegal Women in Business NetworkAngela Ward driving and safety advice at the Business Growth and Let’s Talk Cars event with Kelly’s Toyota and the Donegal Women in Business NetworkMary Mulvaney, Angela Ward and Edith Neely at the Business Growth and Let’s Talk Cars event with Kelly’s Toyota and the Donegal Women in Business NetworkAngela Ward celebrating 15 years of the Angela Ward School of Motoring with her brother John Ward at the Business Growth and Let’s Talk Cars event with Kelly’s Toyota and the Donegal Women in Business NetworkPaul McCormack, Service Advisor at Kelly’s Toyota, giving demonstrations at the Business Growth and Let’s Talk Cars event with Kelly’s Toyota and the Donegal Women in Business NetworkPaul McCormack, Service Advisor at Kelly’s Toyota, giving demonstrations at the Business Growth and Let’s Talk Cars event with Kelly’s Toyota and the Donegal Women in Business NetworkTrish McGinley and Rachel Wasson at the Business Growth and Let’s Talk Cars event with Kelly’s Toyota and the Donegal Women in Business NetworkCormac and Maria Murphy at the Business Growth and Let’s Talk Cars event with Kelly’s Toyota and the Donegal Women in Business NetworkEvelyn the racer in the driving seat of the CHR! – at the Business Growth and Let’s Talk Cars event with Kelly’s Toyota and the Donegal Women in Business Network
November 7, 2019
Angela taught me how to Drive about 15 yrs ago. A brilliant instructor, very patient. All the best for the future.