By Jennifer Karpus, Tire Business staff
NASHVILLE (Jan. 31, 2014) — Goodyear kicked off its annual dealer meeting in Nashville on Jan. 29 by awarding Queensbury, N.Y.-based Warren Tire Service Center with its "Put More Good on the Road" award.
"This local outlet tire dealership works closely with an organization that provides support to troubled and homeless youth," said Todd Pickens, Goodyear's senior director, channel sales, while presenting the award.
Warren Tire, which celebrated its 30th anniversary last year, was given a crystal plaque and a $10,000 check for its chosen charity. The dealership selected Glens Falls, N.Y.-based WAIT (Welcoming Adolescents in Transition) House as the recipient.
The outreach of the dealership does not end there, Mr. Pickens added. The team at Warren Tire helped fix up athletic fields that have been vandalized, organized and sponsored a five-mile race — which drew more than 600 participants — for the Special Olympics, and collected more than 800 gifts for children in the area through Project Santa Claus.
Bob Kellogg, president of Warren Tire, said team members go on local radio stations to help promote WAIT House, and he is currently serving as a member of the organization's board of directors. He said his father Wayne Kellogg, CEO and founder of Warren Tire, has been with WAIT since its inception and is currently a director emeritus.
Besides serving on the WAIT board, dealership officials provide tire repairs for emergency shelter transportation vans and offer the non-profit program free office space.
"So many of you are involved in meaningful efforts in your communities, and we wanted to thank you and acknowledge that dedication and hard work," Mr. Pickens told Goodyear dealers.
That, he added, is the reason the tire maker established the "Put More Good on the Road" award three years ago.
Success in business is not just "how many tires you sell," Mr. Pickens said. "It also involved your presence within the community."
Mr. Kellogg said Warren Tire gained another significant milestone in 2013 when it was awarded the Adirondack Regional Chamber of Commerce Special Distinguished Business Award, which the chamber has only awarded four times in its history—"and it's because of our very active involvement in the community."
"It's not just about writing a check; it's about volunteering your time," Bob Kellogg said.
"We like to promote awareness in the community."
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To reach this reporter: [email protected]; 330-865-6143.