Around the Industry

Grease Monkey Franchisee of the Year, Wayne Glasser

FullSpeed Automotive, whose portfolio of brands include Grease Monkey, SpeeDee, LubePro’s and Monkey Shine, recently announced that Grease Monkey franchisee Wayne Glasser was honored at the International Franchise Association’s Annual Franchisee of the Year award ceremony in Washington DC. The award winner represents the very best of the Grease Monkey brand and franchise system.

Glasser’s consistent high level of sales growth and multi-unit ownership are an impressive model of achievement, but he doesn’t stop there. He also goes the extra mile in supporting his fellow franchisees as a Grease Monkey brand and owner advocate.

Owner of 11 Grease Monkey centers located throughout Colorado, Glasser’s centers are always ranked among the brand’s top performers. This success was earned through hard work, commitment to the Grease Monkey system and assembling a passionate team of employees over the past 35 years.

Glasser’s goodwill efforts include serving on Grease Monkey’s International Franchise Advisory Council, as well as past Chairman of the Operations and Training committees. Always approachable and eager to share his expert advice to help others, Glasser is a valued leader to his employees, his peers and the Grease Monkey brand.

Full Speed Automotive, New Business Name for Grease Monkey International LLC

Grease Monkey International, LLC recently announced it will use a new business name, FullSpeed Automotive.

“This new name better reflects the diversity of the company’s automotive service brands and continues to inspire its terrific growth trajectory,” said John Adams, GMI LLC president and CEO.

While the company’s business name has changed, its mission remains the same: Driven to perform, so our customers and their vehicles can, too!

The brands covered by FullSpeed Automotive include Grease Monkey, SpeeDee, LubePro’s and Monkey Shine, as well as 40 Havoline xpress lube locations driven by Grease Monkey in Georgia, Illinois, Wisconsin and Florida.

To celebrate the new name, along with its recent relocation of its Franchise Support Center, FullSpeed Automotive hosted an open house on September 11, 2017.

Driven Brands Charitable Foundation Raises Money for Hurricane Relief

The Driven Brands Charitable Foundation partnered with parent company Driven Brands’ retail automotive brands to help raise funds for Hurricane Harvey and Hurricane Irma relief through the American Red Cross. Driven Brands’ participating companies include Take 5 Oil Change, Meineke Car Care Centers, CARSTAR Auto Body Repair Experts, Maaco and 1-800 Radiator & AC.

“Our thoughts are with our franchisees, their staffs and families in the storm zones and the millions of people whose lives have been disrupted by rain, wind and floods and who are now facing a lengthy clean-up and restoration,” said Noah Pollack, executive vice president and general counsel for Driven Brands.

Driven Brands has more than 50 locations in the Houston area. Fortunately, most store locations had minimal damage during Hurricane Harvey and are open for business. In Florida, Driven Brands has more than 160 locations.

The Driven Brands Charitable Foundation raised more than $650,000 in 2016, and its fundraising efforts have now surpassed more than $1.5 million since it was established in 2012. The Foundation, working in conjunction with over 2,500 Driven Brands franchisees, vendor partners, customers and employees, looks to not only change the lives of children and families in need but to support local community initiatives in the neighborhoods its businesses serve.

Lube ‘N Go Opens Twelfth El Paso Location

Lube ‘n Go, Inc. opened its twelfth location in August. The newest location will serve West El Paso at 7000 Westwind Drive. This location will be Lube ‘n Go’s third location in this region of the city.

“We are very proud to have opened our 12th location,” said Mark Bochnowski, owner. “Lube ‘n Go has been owned and operated in El Paso for over 41 years, and we are excited to be expanding our footprint to service the community’s vehicle maintenance needs with ease and convenience.”

This location will provide all services available at Lube ‘n Go locations including oil changes, Texas state inspections and all preventive vehicle maintenance.

2017 Scholarship Winners Announced

Women in Auto Care awarded $65,000 in scholarships to 22 deserving female students who are studying to enter the auto care industry in 2017. The scholarships are given to young women in high school and post-secondary schools that are focused on technical, as well as business/engineering degrees. In addition to monetary scholarships, Women in Auto Care awarded $16,000 in tools to help high school applicants acquire the required tools needed to enter a technical program.

Scholarship funds and product donations come from auto care industry companies. For example, TechForce Foundation, an organization that encourages and supports students’ technical education, donated $6,000 to give two $3,000 scholarships specifically for women studying to become technicians.

“We are incredibly grateful to play a small role in supporting the next generation of women joining the auto care industry through our scholarship program,” said Danielle Sonnefeld, education committee chair, Women in Auto Care. “Their applications are inspiring, and their goals ambitious. We look forward to continuing to encourage and cultivate their success.”

Here is the list of the 2017 winners:

Post-Secondary Students

$10,000 – Kathleen Schmatz Scholarship – Antoinette Jackson, Suffolk County Community College
$5,000 – Becky Babcox Scholarship – Jacqueline Hower, Northwood University
$5,000 – Mikayla Brakke, Lake Area Technical Institute
$5,000 – Tiffany Neil, Portland Community College
$2,500 – Linda Myers, Tennessee College of Applied Technology
$2,500 – Rebecca Whitehead, Ashtabula County Technical & Career Campus
$2,500 – Samantha Cotell, McPherson College
$2,500 – Shannon Holsten, State Technical College of Missouri
$2,500 – Brooke Peckham, Grand Rapids Community College
$1,500 – Malorie Dyda, Northwood University
$1,500 – Megan Dietrich, University of North Carolina, Charlotte
$1,500 – Ashley Braun, Red Rocks Community College
$1,500 – Katherine Dooley, Northwood University

High School Students

$5,000 – Katelyn Fair, Indiana University- Purdue University Indianapolis
$3,000 – TechForce Foundation Scholarship – Jazmyn DeHerrera, AIMS Community College
$3,000 – TechForce Foundation Scholarship – Madison Lusche, Southeast Community College
$2,500 – Kassidy Hastings, Ohio Technical College
$2,500 – Nina Trandel, Ferris State University
$1,500 – Jullian Mancuso, Rosedale Technical College
$1,500 – Natcin Gonzalez, Weber State University
$1,500 – Deborah Yussuff, Georgia Southern University
$1,500 – Nikita Simile, CCAC West Hills Center

Tool sponsors include: Power Probe, Ullman Devices, Electronic Specialties, Channellock, Gearwrench, Ingersoll Rand, Chicago Pneumatic, CPS, Sunex, Florida Pneumatic (Aircat) and Allied International.

The application for 2018 is now open, and students can apply through March 31, 2018.The application is available at: http://bit.ly/2018WiACScholarship