CARSTAR names national award winners at annual conference

CARSTAR Auto Body Repair Experts shop owners gathered in Las Vegas to celebrate the company’s 24th anniversary and honor its top performers from across the United States. In the categories for top operations, Dean Fisher, vice president of field services and operations for CARSTAR Auto Body Repair Experts, honored five CARSTAR stores for their achievements. The winners included:Franchisee of the Year Taking home the top honor as Franchisee of the Year was Ray’s CARSTAR Auto Body in Bristol, CT, owned by Dave Merchant, Sr.  Franchisee of the Year is the highest award given in the CARSTAR system, and it represents the best of the best that is CARSTAR. This year’s winner was chosen on criteria such as using all vendors possible, attending the annual conference, being image compliant, submitting reports on time online and delivering consistently high CSI in the Top Ten for the month and quarter periods.Rookie of the Year The Rookie of the Year in the CARSTAR family was Preferred Collision CARSTAR in Macon, GA, owned by Walter Lee. This award is given in recognition of the newest CARSTAR franchisee as it gets “up and running” with CARSTAR. To qualify for the award, a franchisee must have been with CARSTAR less than three years, be well underway toward achieving Tier 1 compliance and enthusiastically embrace the CARSTAR culture with active participation. This year’s winner joined CARSTAR in 2012. Business Group of the Year The award for Business Group of the Year goes to the Chicagoland Business Group, which represents 15 stores throughout the Chicago region.  CARSTAR offers business groups throughout the country to provide store owners opportunities to share best practices, address local issues and conduct market-wide advertising and branding programs.Next Generation Award The Next Generation award honors a second or third generation CARSTAR owner who is excelling at leading a family business.  The 2013 Next Generation Award goes to Kerry Woodson II and Toni Donius, second generation owners of Jungerman CARSTAR in St. Peters, MO.  The brother-and-sister team took over the store in 2012, which was founded by their father Kerry Woodson, Sr., and joined CARSTAR in 1991. "It takes a great deal of innovative thinking, strong leadership and teamwork to satisfy so many customers while meeting the challenges of today’s economy and ever-changing business environment,” said Fisher. “The national award recipients we’ve recognized during this year’s CARSTAR conference should be proud of their accomplishments. We can all learn something from their examples.”About CARSTAR CARSTAR Auto Body Repair Experts is North America’s largest Multi-Shop Operator Network of independently owned collision repair facilities with more than 430 locations in 32 states and 10 Canadian provinces. CARSTAR delivers national scale, consistently high-quality vehicle repairs, repeatable outcomes and the industry’s highest customer satisfaction ratings; all repairs are backed by a national warranty and service guarantee.  For more information, visit www.carstar.com.