2008 Tire Review Top Shop Awards
Entries are now being accepted for the 2008 Tire Review Top Shop Awards presented by Ammco/Coats, which seeks to honor the "best of the best" independent tire dealers in the United States and Canada.
Now in its second year, the contest is now officially open, and entries will be accepted until July 11, 2008. Entry forms and information will be available in each issue of Tire Review magazine through July, and via www.tirereview.com and www.ammcoats.com.
"Top Shop Awards is focused on spotlighting independent tire dealers—small or large—who epitomize the attributes and values we stress in every issue of Tire Review: exemplary customer service and retention, training and education, merchandising and promotion, professional standards and conduct, appearance, solid business management, community involvement, growth and achievement," said Jim Smith, editor of Tire Review.
The entry process is simple: Those making the nomination need to provide basic information about the dealership being nominated and write a short (300-word maximum) essay explaining why that dealership should be considered.
All entrants will be reviewed and a group of semifinalists selected. Those semifinalists will be asked to provide additional information for judging. A panel of judges, including industry professionals and a member of the Tire Review staff, will select the four finalists and, ultimately, the 2008 Top Shop Award winner.
The awards are as outstanding as the dealers selected: 1) The Grand Prize winner will receive a Coats APX90 tire changer, $1,500 in cash, airfare and hotel for two (2 nights/3 days) to the 2008 SEMA Show, a feature story in the October issue of Tire Review, and a Top Shop trophy to display in their dealership; 2) Three finalists will each receive a Coats 1250-3DV tire/wheel balancer (featuring on-board training), $500 in cash, a feature story in the October issue of Tire Review, and a specially designed finalist trophy.
More Movers & Shakers
- Agri-Cover Inc. (ACI) hired Gary Alfano as regional account manager. He is responsible for managing accounts on the northeast coast. Alfano brings 15 years of automotive aftermarket experience to ACI, and will be based out of Schnecksville, Pennsylvania. ACI also hired Amanda Clark as a Gold Star dealer specialist responsible for ACI’s Gold Star Program. As the main contact for the program, Clark will work closely with ACI’s dealers and distributors to develop the program further.
Gary Alfano Amanda Clark - BedRug, a division of Wise Industries Inc., promoted Harry McCandless—previously western regional sales manager since 2004—to national sales manager, O.E.M. McCandless will oversee the sales and training activities pertaining to BedRug's O.E.M. customers while exploring new opportunities with other original equipment manufacturers.
Harry McCandless - Keith Hicks was appointed president and chief operating officer of Global Accessories Inc. He will direct the company's core functions, including operations, manufacturing, customer service, R&D, finance, distribution and product quality. Prior to joining the company, Hicks served eight years as vice president of operations and technology for Omniglow Corporation, a $125 million international manufacturer and distributor of commercial and consumer products.
Keith Hicks - OnSight Solutions (OSS) announced that Lizette Pirtle, owner of Abundance Creators Training Systems, will handle the restructuring of its Franchise Operations Manual. Pirtles’ consulting company specializes in the development and implementation of training programs for franchise companies. She evaluates and develops operating procedures and training curricula for new and maturing franchisors. Pirtle expects the project to be completed by early April of 2008.
- A memorial fund has been set up for the family of industry veteran Gil Foltz, who passed away on Saturday, January 26, from complications due to a heart attack and stroke. Foltz started his industry career working for Cyclone Headers in North Hollywood, California, and moved to oversee manufacturing operations for Mr. Gasket's exhaust division when Cyclone was acquired by Mr. Gasket. He was most recently the operations manger for KW Automotive North America. The details for the memorial fund are: Family of Gilbert Foltz, Washington Mutual Bank, Sanger Financial Center 1615, 601 O St., Sanger, CA 93657 (routing # 322271627, Account # 9342391119).
- Two of drag racing’s greatest rivals, partners and friends—Don “the Snake” Prudhomme and Tom “the Mongoose” McEwen—were named Grand Marshals for the upcoming March Meet, March 7–9, at Auto Club Famoso Raceway, outside of Bakersfield, California. March Meet has been billed as the premier event for nostalgia drag and is celebrating its 50th year of racing. The March Meet is a three-day speedfest that enthusiasts call ‘the jewel of Nostalgia Racing." For more information and tickets, visit www.famosoraceway.com.
- In a transaction reportedly worth a little more than $2 million, Gear Vendors Inc. purchased all the overdrive production assets of GKN. Gear Vendors will now supply components to more than 2 million production vehicles that came with the GKN, Laycock and DeNormanville overdrives. The transaction involves thousands of parts and equipment. Shipments from GKN’s facility in the United Kingdom to Gear Vendors in California are being carried out now with expected completion date of July/August 2008.
