TBC described Mr. Medina as an “overnight success” with 20 years' experience helping manage a multi-store Midas and Speedee chain in Hawaii before striking out on his own.
“Long before I became a Midas franchisee, I was planning how I would do it,” he explained. “I learned from all the franchisees I had the privilege to work with, taking the best of their ideas and creating a plan for my business.
“I am proud to represent Midas,” he added. “I wear my Midas attire out in the community and encourage my employees to do the same. I assure them they are not just employees, but valued team associates working for a great brand.”
TBC singled out Mr. Smith for his philanthropic efforts, saying his way of doing business “proves conclusively that nice guys can — and often do — finish first.”
The owner of four stores in Virginia that lead the Midas system in sales per outlet, Mr. Smith has earned accolades and awards as a caring, sharing businessmen as committed to addressing the needs of the community as he is to fixing cars.
Every year, he gives away hundreds of oil changes as fundraisers for schools, churches and scout troops, organizes blood drives in his shop's parking lot (he's at 20,000 pints and counting), and supports local food banks.
“Because our stores are active members of our communities,” he said, “we build awareness and trust, which leads to our business becoming stronger, which in turn results in our giving even more back to the community.”
A 28-year Midas veteran, Mr. Mahrt oversees a 38-store employee-owned Midas franchise organization throughout Iowa, Illinois, Nebraska, Missouri, Kansas and Oklahoma.
TBC noted he is fully committed to the communities his shops serve along with the folks that serve them.
This past year his team committee to make “Midas Drive Out Hunger,” a franchisee-driven effort to fight food insecurity across North America, a success locally. In 2015, for instance, ASE donated over $75,000 to local food banks, which translated into 375,000-plus meals.
When Midas and its franchisees conducted a 25-stop, coast-to-coast food drive last summer, ASE collected more than four tons of food — the most at all 25 stops, TBC said.
This year, his company is increasing its footprint by building a store in Ankeny, Iowa. “We believe in Midas and feel so good about its future that we are putting our money where our mouth is and expanding with the brand,” Mr. Mahrt said.
In Midas' most recent fiscal year, franchisees opened 22 new locations, TBC said.
Earlier this year, TBC honored its Big O Tires and Speedee Oil Change franchisees of the year at separate events.