Meineke Car Care Centers, Inc. franchisees Joseph Saelens and Carl Kampmeier of Madison, Wis., were recognized as the Franchisee of the Year, by the International Franchise Association (IFA), during the 11th Annual Public Affairs Conference, for their outstanding performance and the contributions they have made to enhance the growth and development of franchising.
"The IFA is proud to recognize the outstanding efforts of Joseph and Carl with the Franchisee of the Year Award," says IFA Chairman Ken Walker, also the chairman & CEO of Driven Brands. "The franchising community is an important component of the U.S. economy due to the hard work of these exemplary individuals who have helped bolster the growth of the industry."
"This prestigious award motivates us even more to continue to provide the highest quality service and most competitive prices," Saelens says. "Our new fourth store in Appleton will be just as customer friendly as our three in Madison."
Founded in Houston in 1972 with a single muffler shop, Meineke Car Care Centers has expanded product and service offerings while demonstrating steady growth both domestically and internationally. Headquartered in Charlotte, N.C., since 1986, Meineke is today the second largest specialist automotive service franchise in the Americas with approximately 900 locations worldwide.
The Franchisee of the Year Award is a major component of the IFA's Public Affairs Conference. During the two-day event, conducted Sept. 13-14, over 500 franchise industry leaders met with over 200 congressional offices about issues important to the future of franchising such as healthcare reform and access to credit.
