Warren Tire's Bob Kellogg named Tire Dealer Humanitarian of Year

QUEENSBURY, N.Y. — It is a story probably not unlike thousands of others across the family-owned business spectrum.

Dad has no formal education and meager resources, but he has the drive, intelligence, intuition and savvy to build a business from virtually nothing into a multi-million dollar entity.

Son grows up in the long shadow of his dad, and, eager to prove himself outside of the comfort of his dad's demanding environment, leaves to seek success on his own.

The prodigal son returns home, dad and son work through those familial challenges, and the business thrives and is passed on to generations.

That's the simplified narrative of the Kelloggs: Wayne, the patriarch, and Bob, the son. A happy ending, indeed.

But what sets this story apart from others is this: Bob not only has embraced his father's shadow, but today, he casts an equally long one of his own on the six-county community in upstate New York that his family's business, Warren Tire Service Center Inc., serves.

It's just not that he has helped to grow the dealership from a handful of locations to 14 — with one more in the works — with sales expected to exceed $23 million this year.

It is also because he and his daughter Megan, part of the third generation to help run the business, continue to expand and broaden the company's charitable outreach.

If there's a cause, charity or group — particularly those that serve youth or those physically impaired — seeking financial or volunteer support, Warren Tire is there.

At last count, the dealership supports close to 10 charities or causes in the community, including perhaps the city's most known, the Wait House, an emergency shelter and transitional living program for homeless youth in nearby Glens Falls, N.Y.

It is for those charitable endeavors that Bob Kellogg has been named the 2019 recipient of the Tire Business Tire Dealer Humanitarian Award.

The 26th recipient of the prestigious award, Mr. Kellogg received the Humanitarian medal, as well as a $2,500 donation from Tire Business to the charity of his choice, on Nov. 4 at the Tire Industry Association's (TIA) Honors Awards ceremony, held at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas.

"A lot of organizations talk about doing stuff — 'I'm going to go out there and do this and that' — but they don't do it unless something is in it for them, that they gain something," said Wendy Matthews, who helps to organize the community's Adopt-A-Child program, which facilitates toy donations to children in need.

"They say the word, but they don't walk the walk," she said. "Warren Tire does it and is not looking for recognition. They just do it because it's the right thing."

An independent panel selected Mr. Kellogg, the 55-year-old president of Warren Tire, from about a dozen nominees from across North America. The committee said Mr. Kellogg "does not simply write a check, but is involved in the charities he supports."

The panel also wrote: "Charity and public service are a pillar of their business as evidenced in the amount of money raised to help those in need and in the wide variety of organizations he supports."

The organizations that Mr. Kellogg and the Warren Tire family support include:

• The Wait House (Welcoming Adolescents in Transition). The shelter for homeless youth ages 16-24 includes two houses joined by a walkway: One is a transitional home for pregnant and/or parenting mothers, and the other is a co-ed emergency shelter. Both Warren and Bob Kellogg have served on the shelter's board of directors.
• Operation Santa Claus, a nonprofit whose main mission is to provide food and clothing to help more than 2,500 kids at Christmas. This also includes the Adopt-a-Child program. Eight of Mr. Kellogg's shops serve not only as drop-off points for the toys, but he and his staff deliver the toys to a warehouse, where volunteers prepare the gifts for distribution.
• The Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA). Each Tuesday, Mr. Kellogg supports a "pick-of-the-litter" radio promotion that highlights one dog or cat from the SPCA for adoption.
• The Double H Ranch, a nonprofit that occupies 320 acres in Lake Luzerne, N.Y. Co-founded by amusement park developer Charles R. Wood and the late actor Paul Newman, Double H provides free programs and year-round support for children dealing with life-threatening illnesses and their families. Warren Tire services the ranch's fleet of 14 vehicles, while Megan Kellogg is a certified volunteer ski instructor.
• The Shamrock Shuffle, a 5-mile road race that has raised close to $150,000 for the Special Olympics. In addition to making monetary donations, Mr. Kellogg serves as finish line coordinator on raceday, while Megan Kellogg volunteers as the race's marketing/public relations representative.
• The American Red Cross. Mr. Kellogg has been hosting a blood drive for more than a decade, collecting nearly 1,200 pints of blood during that span. Today, the blood drive is named in honor of the late John Payne, a former Warren Tire general manager.
• The American Cancer Society. Through Megan Kellogg's efforts, Warren Tire stores made the theme of their annual fall sale in October to coincide with Breast Cancer Awareness month. Shops accept donations — and add more of their own — and some employees dye their hair pink, wear pink clothes and decorate stores with pink streamers and balloons, to heighten awareness throughout the period.

The Kelloggs are known regionally and nationally for their humanitarian efforts.

In 2013, they received the fourth ever Adirondack Regional Chamber of Commerce Special Distinguished Business Award.

A year later, the dealership received Goodyear's "Put More Good on the Road" award and significant contribution to a charity of its choice.

"(Warren Tire's) charitable involvement) has developed over a long period of time," Bob Kellogg said. "I want to emphasize that a lot of people are involved from our company, a lot of longtime employees. Certainly the direction come from (the Kelloggs), deciding what we do and take on. But we've really built on it with our employees over the years as well."

Charity always has been a New York state of mind for the Kelloggs.

The charity that perhaps resonates the most is Wait House, where the Kelloggs are treated more as rock stars than as businessmen for their 25-plus years of service and support to the organization.

"They have always been such huge, huge supporters of everything we do and everything we stand for," Margaret DeVries, executive director of the Wait House, said.

Besides their service on the board, the Kelloggs donate to the non-profit's fundraising activities, including the annual "Pizza, Wings & Basket of Things" event, now in its 18th year. Earlier this year, the event raised $30,000.

Wayne Kellogg originally got involved in the organization around 2001, after reading about a group trying to establish a shelter for homeless youth.

"I called up and talked to the person who was leading the charge at the time and said I'd be willing to donate if you keep my name out," he said. "I was busy in business, and I didn't want to have a lot of people calling me about more donations than they were already asking for."

Wayne eventually was persuaded to join the board. His personality — the same drive that made his business a success — kept the fledgling organization on track.

"At one of the first meetings, I would sit down at the end of the table, and we would talk about last month. I would sit there and say, 'What's that about? Let's move on and get something done. We're just dwelling on the same old business.'

"I was an independent business guy, and I really fired them up. I really got things going in a hurry because I was really motivated to get things done at that time."

The organization, originally called the Homeless Youth Coalition, literally began at Warren Tire. The business provided office space until the group had a physical location. Wayne served two terms on the board — today he is designated as a board member emeritus.

Bob Kellogg followed his dad's passion for the non-profit. Today, Warren Tire not only supports the Wait House financially as a donor and sponsor, but Bob also volunteers at some events.

The Kelloggs have had a 20-year relationship with Regional Radio Group L.L.C., a media group that operates one AM and two FM stations in the Glens Falls region. The radio station, with on-air personalities Dan Miner, the station manager, and Pete Cloutier — called the "Wolfman Jack" of the area — have collaborated with Bob to help support Operation Santa Claus and the SPCA.

It was just a few years ago when Operation Santa Claus was about to go the way of the Grinch. Although the community was donating toys, everything from bicycles to doll houses, the main drop-off point was the local police station, which had become overrun with toys.

Volunteers had difficulty transporting the toys from their cars to the warehouse. And some residents were uncomfortable dropping off toys at a police station.

"It was a small program that kept growing," Ms. Matthews said. "We had no other option. We were done."

Enter the radio station.

Mr. Cloutier suggested Warren Tire get involved as a sponsor.

Mr. Kellogg did more than that. He designated eight locations, where the station's signal reaches, as drop-off points for gifts.

When there's a lull at a designated shop, or when the gifts begin to pile up in the toy box, Warren Tire employees load the toys into the dealership's vehicles and transport them to a warehouse, where they later are sorted, wrapped and assigned to the child who originally requested them.

"We couldn't do it without them," Ms. Matthews said. "That's the key. You can have a good idea, you can have all these good things, and if you don't have someone to help you facilitate that. … We were close to closing. Because they stepped in, it allowed us to continue to grow and expand."

The program kicks off the first Monday of November. Messrs. Minor and Cloutier tell their listeners the age and gender of the child and what he or she is requesting. (There is a $50 limit; video games are prohibited.) Listeners call in and commit to purchasing the gift.

According to Frank Munoff, president of Operation Santa Claus, 1,300 children last year benefited from the program.

"We couldn't do it without Warren Tire," Mr. Munoff said, noting that the dealership's geographic reach and convenient hours attract a broader audience.

"If you're out shopping on a Saturday, you can stop by Warren Tire, drop off gifts and get an oil change at same time," Mr. Munoff said. "That has made a world of difference."

"It's really amazing that people are that generous," Mr. Miner said. "And it's amazing that Warren Tire can move all this stuff, too. … To move it from Clifton Park to Whitehall (65 miles one way), and every place in between, that's a lot of real estate to cover."

Megan Kellogg said customers react when they enter the shop and see the toy boxes overflowing.

"They'll say, 'We're going to be back in an hour. We'll bring some more toys in to add to the pile.' "

Bob said it's not uncommon for a customer to help a Warren Tire employee load vehicles with toys "because they're waiting anyway. 'This is a great thing,' they say, and they ask, 'How can I get involved in this?' "

The program culminates Dec. 5, when the gifts must be received in order to get them to the children in time for the holiday.

Warren Tire's support of the SPCA, meanwhile, is a year-round endeavor, sparked in part by the radio announcers as well as the love of animals by the Kellogg family, including Carolyn Kellogg, Bob's mother and Wayne's ex-wife.

Warren Tire sponsors a radio bit called "Pick of the Litter." Every Tuesday morning, the radio station highlights a dog or cat that is up for adoption. A Warren Tire label goes on the animal's cage, and listeners are invited to visit SPCA and adopt that pet, or another.

The non-profit, no-kill SPCA has been in the community for 60 years. It rescues up to 1,200 animals a year.

"Of the all the places around here, only one organization has been there to help us," said Cathy Cloutier, executive director of the SPCA and sister of Pete Cloutier, the on-air personality. "It's been at least 14, 15 years that they constantly have supported the organization.

"We couldn't do a lot of what we do without that."

The SPCA acquires many of its animals from a kill shelter in Tennessee. About twice a month, a veterinary technician and her helper head 900 miles south to bring back as many animals as possible. One recent trip netted 36 dogs and four cats. Warren Tire, by the way, services that vehicle.

The animals are fed, cleaned and individually caged. They are spayed or neutered, dewormed, then eventually put up for adoption.

Ms. Cloutier and her staff randomly select one lucky animal to be featured on Pick of the Litter. Most of those highlighted are adopted in due time. Some listeners visit from out of state — and even Canada — to find their pet.

"Kids and animals are what counts," Ms. Cloutier said. "Animals can't speak for themselves. Kids are in situations that they never asked to be in. We don't adopt to adopt. We're very thorough. … We're the advocate for the animals."

Mr. Miner said the Warren Tire sponsorship has helped the community immensely.

"If it's not brought-to-you by, it's not brought to you," he said. "The fact that Warren Tire stepped up and said, 'Let's make a focus on the SPCA in N.Y.' They get the word out for it."

While Wayne was instrumental in initiating the SPCA sponsorship, Bob and Megan Kellogg are personally and professionally involved in Double H ranch as well as the Shamrock Shuffle.

By maintaining the fleet of vehicles for Double H Ranch — which amounts to a donation of about $11,000 per month — Warren Tire helps ensure not only the longevity of the vehicles, but also the safety of the children and administrators who are being transported through all sorts of weather conditions.

Warren Tire also maintains specialty equipment at the mountainous resort. During this past off-season, Mr. Kellogg replaced eight specialty tires — he had to buy them through a dealer in Canada — for a vehicle that keeps the ski slopes groomed.

"All the vehicles are inspected to the highest standards," said Conrad Fleischmann, facilities manager at the Double H Ranch. "If it needs to be fixed, it's not a question of how much money it costs; they just fix it for us. I can't ask for a better situation."

Megan Kellogg, meanwhile, spent many of her weekends on the slopes this past winter, volunteering time as a ski instructor for children gravely ill or with special needs.

"It doesn't feel like work," Ms. Kellogg said. "It's fun."

Ms. Kellogg said she had to be certified by working along with an instructor before she was allowed to work individually with children.

"The one thing that made me nervous is I had never been around that sort of environment before," Ms. Kellogg said. "Being in charge of kids, anything can happen. … But I go in with an open mind and enjoy the moment."

The young kids, she said, enjoy spending time with younger instructors.

"I usually just sing along with the kids, or I had a stuffed animal that I would ski with in my jacket pocket, and I always show it to them to get their attention," she said. "Little tricks I've learned. I'm excited about the year coming up."

Running also excites Ms. Kellogg, who used to run alongside her dad as a child. Just as her father did, Ms. Kellogg ran cross country in high school and college, and it's because of their mutual love of running that father and daughter are heavily involved in the Shamrock Shuffle.

Kevin Sullivan, the race organizer, is a counselor at Ms. Kellogg's alma mater, Queensbury High School, as well as her former cross-country coach. He said Warren Tire's sponsorship goes far beyond donating money to the race, which attracts 400 to 600 runners annually.

"They're very passionate about it," Mr. Sullivan said. "Bob lets us use his vehicles to set up the race. He works the race at the finish line. And Megan joined us this year, getting the word out about it and helping to promote it, especially on social networks."

The best part, Mr. Sullivan said, is to be able to donate $4,000 a year to the Special Olympics.

Wayne Kellogg certainly planted the seed for the multitude of charitable endeavors Warren Tires carries out today, but his son has taken that humanitarian work to another level.

"What makes me proud is, my son picked up and carried on, and now his daughter is doing it," Wayne said. "That's three generations. It started off small, and has gotten bigger and bigger and bigger."

Ms. Matthews said she moved to Glens Falls 20 years ago.

"It's an amazing community, and it's because of people like Warren Tire," she said. "It's a community that comes together when they need to. We've seen it a lot in this community. It's special."