July 17, 2019

CARSTAR Names Top Performers at Annual Conference in Chicago

Franchise Partners from Canada and the U.S. Recognized for Excellent Operations, Marketing, Support for Technical Education and Years of Service in the CARSTAR Network

At its annual conference, CARSTAR recognized the Canadian and U.S. top performing CARSTAR franchise partners of the year for their leadership and success throughout the network.

On Thursday, Jeff Labanovich, Canada general manager, and Arlo Johnson, U.S. general manager,  presented the awards for Customer Experience and Top Cycle Time. The winners were on stage as part of a franchise partner panel to discuss strategies for success in these key areas and then were surprised with their awards. Panel participants/winners included:

Top Cycle Time

  • Canada – Darryl Hemstreet, CARSTAR Red Deer and CARSTAR Red Deer South in Alberta
  • U.S. – Tom Martin, CARSTAR Sydney, CARSTAR Troy and CARSTAR Piqua in Ohio

Customer Experience

  • Canada — Frank Abate, CARSTAR Toronto St. Clair
  • U.S. — Lisa Siembab, CARSTAR Berlin in Connecticut

On Friday, the CARSTAR team recognized franchise partners with additional awards for top performance during the day’s presentations and the closing gala on Friday night.

CARSTAR Rookie of the Year

The Canadian Rookie of the Year winner is Patrice Magnan of CARSTAR Group Magnan in Quebec. Magnan has embraced the CARSTAR values from the moment he joined the network. His focus on his KPIs aligns with the CARSTAR EDGE Performance Platform goals, not only contributing to his massive success but also making him and his five locations a tremendous fit with CARSTAR.

In the U.S., Jason Wong, owner of CARSTAR Auto World, just had his most successful month ever, which is a testament to the leadership at this store. He and his team are engaged in the CARSTAR EDGE Performance Group and he is also a champion for teamwork as he is always working to elevate the collective CARSTAR brand in Northern California.

CARSTAR Next Generation Award

In Canada, the winner of the Next Generation award is Sebastien Torres from the Torcam Group, who helped his family achieve a lifelong goal to own their own locations at the start of this year. He plays a significant role in the success of the overall operations as he has championed the idea of performance accelerating growth.

The U.S. recipient of the Next Generation award is Nathan Muller, owner of CARSTAR Maryville, who is following in the footsteps of his father Kurt, a long-time franchise partner, starting with CARSTAR back in 1993. This second-generation owner consistently ranks the highest for the most important KPIs, his store has achieved EDGE Elite status and is active in EPGs best practice sharing, advising and learning alongside his colleagues.

Ironman Award

In Canada, Mark Kharfan, owner of the Kharfan Group, oversees nine CARSTAR locations and more than 100 employees.  He was one of the first to integrate a 45,000 square-foot production facility into his operations and was able to master the concept of load-levelling early on. He also has been able to replicate operational excellence at each store, which is a direct reflection on how wonderfully he treats his team.

For the U.S., Lou Scola, owner of CARSTAR Scola in Chicago, was honoured with the Ironman Award for his 15 years with CARSTAR. He is a former Franchisee of the Year award winner, he continuously champions CARSTAR and is always open to honest conversations to improve the business. Dedicated to performance and providing repairs backed by integrity, Scola is truly best in class.

President’s Awards

The President’s Awards are given to the top Canadian and U.S. franchise partners who demonstrated distinguished service and outstanding leadership within the CARSTAR family this year. Additionally, these owners also have the highest metrics in CARSTAR’s most important key performance indicators.

Canada

  • Highest performing large-scale MSO – Mark Kharfan
  • Highest performing small-scale MSO – Lorenzo Pellicciotta
  • Ontario Zone – Pino Gagliardi, CARSTAR Downsview
  • West Zone – Mark Descoteau, CARSTAR Parksville (Terminal)
  • Quebec Zone – Sergio Panfili, CARSTAR St-Leonard
  • East Zone – Bruce Brinton, CARSTAR Digby

U.S.

  • Highest performing large-scale MSO – Fred Beans, Fred Beans Group
  • Highest performing small-scale MSO – Theresa & Jeremy Orsky, Orsky Group
  • Central Zone – Sheila Samuel-Lefor and Jeff Samuel, CARSTAR Ideal Auto Body
  • East Zone – Kelli Back, CARSTAR of Amelia
  • West Zone – Marcine Sanders, CARSTAR ABC Body & Frame

Genesis Award

In the U.S., the special 30th anniversary Genesis Award went to Gerald Wicklund, owner of CARSTAR Wicklund in Liberty, MO.  The first CARSTAR franchise partner joined the network in October of 1989. Bill Wicklund, owner of this Kansas City area shop, passed on the business to his son Gerald in 2000. Since then, Gerald has been running the day-to-day operations, ensuring they uphold the premier standard or repairs which got them to this point today. With Gerald’s children now employed at the business, this facility is now a three-generation business, with no plans to slow down. Earning several OEM and industry certifications, the Wicklunds and their team keep up with industry advancements through the years, ensuring their customers have premier experiences and safe repairs – the same values the business was founded on.

Marketer of the Year Award

The Marketer of the Year in Canada was Johnny Kloeches, owner of CARSTAR Edmonton SE, CARSTAR Ellerslie, CARSTAR Express Edmonton South, CARSTAR Edmonton Gateway, CARSTAR Leduc North, and CARSTAR Edmonton Mayfield.  He has spent the past year investing in his digital presence through an additional paid search program as the first franchise partner in Canada to engage in enhancing this corporate-led initiative.  He is active in fundraising for cystic fibrosis through car washes, ball hockey tournaments and last year, even joined together with other CARSTAR franchise partners in the area to host a charity golf tournament.

For the U.S., Paul Edgecomb, owner of CARSTAR Champion in New Jersey, was named Marketer of the Year.  In 2018, he was one of the first individual stores to opt into the CARSTAR paid search program and throughout the past year, he has been a pioneer in reviews and improving his NPS score.  With 110 Google Reviews and a 4.9-star rating, this store touts one of the highest NPS scores in the system at a perfect 100.

Additional awards were presented by the Collision Repair Education Foundation for supporting technical and trade education to the CARSTAR Chicagoland Business Group, the CARSTAR Colorado Business Group and the CARSTAR Omaha-Lincoln Business Group. Also, the CARSTAR Referrer of the Year award was presented to Dino DiGiulio, owner of CARSTAR Body Best Collision of Sonoma and CARSTAR Body Best Collision of Suisun.

Years of Service Awards

Congratulations on five years at CARSTAR:

  • CARSTAR Alma
  • CARSTAR Mission (Pioneer Chrysler)
  • CARSTAR Cap-Rouge
  • CARSTAR Ottawa SE Appraisal Centre
  • CARSTAR Winnipeg Chevrier
  • CARSTAR Stonewall
  • CARSTAR Whitehorse
  • CARSTAR Express Woodbridge
  • CARSTAR Charlesbourg
  • CARSTAR Kemptville Appraisal Centre
  • CARSTAR Casselman Appraisal Centre
  • CARSTAR Calgary Meridian
  • CARSTAR Sherwood Park
  • CARSTAR Express Smiths Falls
  • CARSTAR Port Elgin Appraisal Centre
  • CARSTAR St-Philippe
  • CARSTAR Chicoutimi-Nord
  • CARSTAR Express Fort Erie
  • CARSTAR Toronto Millwick
  • CARSTAR Langley – Able in the Grove
  • CARSTAR Cowansville
  • CARSTAR Quality Assured – Signal Kimberley
  • CARSTAR Quality Assured – Ivan’s
  • CARSTAR Quality Assured – Armstrong
  • CARSTAR Quality Assured – Norgate
  • CARSTAR Quality Assured – Signal Cranbrook
  • CARSTAR Quality Assured – Raydar
  • CARSTAR Quality Assured – Rich’s
  • CARSTAR Quality Assured – Terminal
  • CARSTAR Wilson Niblett (Richmond Hill)
  • CARSTAR Precision
  • CARSTAR Tim’s Collision
  • CARSTAR Hi-Tech 6th Avenue
  • CARSTAR Hall’s Collision
  • CARSTAR Northwest Collision Center – Kirkland
  • CARSTAR North Aurora Collision Center
  • CARSTAR Wilson Green Bay West
  • CARSTAR Wilson Niagara
  • CARSTAR ARA Everett

Congratulations on 10 years at CARSTAR:

  • CARSTAR Laval Rue Lamer
  • CARSTAR Express Calgary MacLeod SW
  • CARSTAR Welland
  • CARSTAR Scarborough North East
  • CARSTAR Perth
  • CARSTAR Murray’s Collision
  • CARSTAR R & R Collision Center
  • CARSTAR San Antonio Kelly
  • CARSTAR Advanced Northglenn
  • CARSTAR Ideal Arvada Auto Body
  • CARSTAR Fred’s Autobody

Congratulations on 15 years at CARSTAR:

  • CARSTAR Windsor
  • CARSTAR Elmsdale
  • CARSTAR Strathroy
  • CARSTAR Charlottetown
  • CARSTAR Summerside
  • CARSTAR Wallaceburg
  • CARSTAR Lethbridge
  • CARSTAR St. Hubert
  • CARSTAR Brossard
  • CARSTAR at Pro Auto
  • CARSTAR of Oxford
  • CARSTAR Scuderi Auto Body
  • CARSTAR Orange Collision
  • CARSTAR Collision Clinic Bellevue
  • CARSTAR Jacobus
  • CARSTAR Direct Repair Collision Ctr
  • CARSTAR Collision Clinic Edmonds
  • CARSTAR ARA North
  • CARSTAR Liberty Goodwrench Auto Body Repair Experts

Congratulations on 20 years at CARSTAR:

  • CARSTAR Fredericton
  • CARSTAR Edmonton Gateway
  • CARSTAR Saint John
  • CARSTAR Belleville
  • CARSTAR Calgary McKnight
  • CARSTAR Okotoks
  • CARSTAR Calgary Burnsland Rd
  • CARSTAR McAbee
  • CARSTAR Action Auto Body & Frame
  • CARSTAR Dempsey-Adams

Congratulations on 25 years at CARSTAR:

  • CARSTAR Hy-Tech
  • CARSTAR Cusimano’s Collision
  • CARSTAR Collision of Amherst
  • CARSTAR Don & Ron’s Collision
  • CARSTAR East Hartford

Congratulations on 30 years at CARSTAR:

  • CARSTAR Lancaster A-1 Auto Body
  • CARSTAR of Raytown
  • CARSTAR Wicklund’s Collision Center
  • CARSTAR Ray’s Auto Body
  • CARSTAR Atlantic Collision Center
  • CARSTAR Pike’s Collision
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