The Auto Care Association has announced the recipients of its 2014 Head of the Class Award, honoring eight auto care industry companies that continually invest in employee education and training. The award is administered by the Auto Care Association Education Committee on behalf of the association, and was created to highlight and recognize companies that continually invest in employee education and training. The award promotes the value and benefit that this investment provides to employees and their companies, as well as the entire auto care industry.
The 2014 winners, designated by auto care category, are:
• Manufacturer: Gates Corporation, Denver, Colo.
• Warehouse Distributor (Large): The Auto-Wares Group of Companies, Grand Rapids, Mich.
• Warehouse Distributor (Small): Olympus Imported Auto Parts, Alexandria, Va.
• Jobber: Eau Claire Auto Parts, Eau Claire, Wis.
• National Service Chain: Sears Automotive, Hoffman Estates, Ill.
• Retail: Advance Auto Parts, Roanoke, Va.
• Repair Shop: Don McNeill Enterprises, Ltd., Elmsdale, Nova Scotia, Canada
• Manufacturers’ Representative: N. A. Williams Company, Atlanta, Ga.
Winners were selected based on the education and training practices of the company, including what prompted the company to invest in training, the types of training accomplished, the initial goals, their experiences, results of the training and any future plans. Each of the winning companies exhibited a dedicated and continuing investment in enhancing the quality and level of learning and skill development for employees in their companies.
“This year’s winners represent a wide range of company categories and sizes, which demonstrates that businesses of all types can introduce and implement education and training programs to meet the professional and personal needs of our auto care industry family,” said Kathleen Schmatz, president and CEO, Auto Care Association. “In each case, the companies have noted improvements in teamwork, morale, sales and customer satisfaction while at the same time reducing turnover.”
The recipients will be recognized at Auto Care Association’s Fall Leadership Days in Boston, Mass., Sept. 4, 2014. They will also receive an award to display at their place of business and information on their winning programs will be posted on the Auto Care Association website at http://www.autocare.org/What-We-Do/Professional-Development/Education/head-of-the-class-award/. More information about these companies and their education initiatives will be featured in upcoming issues of Auto Care Insider.
For more information, contact the Auto Care Association education department at 301-654-6664.