Go Tire founders up for E&Y award

CALGARY, Alberta (July 8, 2014) — The founders of mobile tire service franchisor Go Tire Inc. are among the finalists for the 2014 Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year in the Canadian Prairies.

Craig Howes and Heather Murphy, co-founders of Red Deer, Alberta-based Go Tire Inc., are nominated in the “emerging entrepreneur” category, according to Ernst & Young Americas L.L.C., which describes the annual program as a celebration of the “contribution and spirit of entrepreneurs everywhere.”

The Canadian program is in its 21st year. Award finalists are chosen based on their vision, leadership, financial success and social responsibility, Ernst & Young said.

The Prairies winner will be announced on Oct. 16. The overall Prairies winner will represent the region at the national E&Y gala held in Toronto on Nov. 25.

Go Tire Inc. provides mobile services, including tire changeovers and maintenance, windshield repair and replacement, auto detailing and additional service lines. The company was founded in 2011 after finding start-up funding on the television show “Dragon's Den,” the Canadian version of the ABC-TV series “Shark Tank.”

Go Tire recently signed Scott Blair, owner of  WheelWorks Inc. in Mobile, Ala., to be its first U.S. distributor for the GoTire Vans concept. Mr. Blair said his work as a distributor for GoTireVans is independent of Wheel Works.

In a new survey, E&Y found that Canada's 2013 program finalists recorded average revenue growth of 37 percent year over year in 2012, a level measurably above the global average of 29 percent for developed countries.

“Revenue growth is only half the story,” said Rob Jolley, E&Y's Prairies Entrepreneur Of The Year program director. “What really sets our finalists apart is their ability to create jobs across the Prairies—and Canada. Our survey shows that last year's finalists increased employment at an average pace of 25 percent in 2012.”

This year's 2014 Entrepreneur Of The Year finalists in the Prairies represent 7,200 jobs in Canada. Together with all other finalists coast to coast, that number grows to 37,000.