Amy Giang Honored With Immigrants of Distinction Award
Amy Giang, owner of Lube Town with three locations in Alberta, Canada, was recently honored with the Immigrants of Distinction for Entrepreneurship and Innovation Award.
“I am overwhelmed with gratitude, and my heart is full,” Giang said. “My family and I immigrated to Canada in the late ‘80s with less than $1, and none of us spoke a word of English. We commit ourselves to never take a penny from the system and never did. My parents worked hard and sacrificed everything so my brothers and I could have an education. We've been offered nothing but kindness by all those we met. The few who were not nice to us offered us the most kindness. For because of them, we learned what it meant to be disappointed, how to persevere, how to figure out what we still needed to learn and how to patiently wait for the next opportunity.”
Giang said she can only express her gratitude toward family, friends, vendors and supporters for their unwavering support!
Valvoline Expands in Las Vegas
In March, Valvoline signed a definitive agreement with Terrible Herbst to purchase 12 existing quick lube centers in the Las Vegas area, which will be rebranded as Valvoline Instant Oil Change (VIOC). In addition, the company recently acquired three existing VIOC service centers from a franchisee.
“A core element of Valvoline’s business strategy is to grow and strengthen our industry-leading quick lube network through organic store expansion and high-quality acquisitions in both core and new markets,” said Tony Puckett, senior vice president and president, Valvoline Quick Lubes. “These two acquisitions will further expand our reach into markets where we previously had little presence. Our acquisition of the three VIOC franchised stores will enable our franchisee to focus on expanding its operations in the Albuquerque and Denver markets.
Overall, this base of 15 company-owned locations will give us a great foundation to build on within the growing Las Vegas market.”
New York Jiffy Lube Issued Tickets For Dumping Oil
A Jiffy Lube in Baldwin, New York, and its store manager were issued eight tickets for dumping oil that seeped into lakes connected to the Great South Bay, NewsDay.com reported.The New York state Department of Environmental Conservation said it found three storm drains near the store “filled with oil” after investigating an oil spill at Caroline Lake in March, officials told NewsDay.com.
Within two days of finding the spill, a contractor hired by the DEC had removed 3,350 gallons of oil and water from the drains, recovered 10-15 gallons of oil from Silver Lake and three cubic yards of contaminated soil and debris, as well as a 55-gallon drum of spent oil-absorbent pads, officials told NewsDay.com.
The state spill response team was “overseeing containment and cleanup of the spill to protect public health and the environment,” DEC spokeswoman Erica Ringewald said in a statement to NewsDay.com.
A Jiffy Lube made a statement to NewsDay.com.
“Snow melt and rain caused water buildup in our service center bay,” Rob Calderin, chief marketing officer for Team Car Care LLC, which does business as Jiffy Lube, said in a statement. “While the cause of the sheen on Silver Pond Lake is under evaluation, we will cooperate fully with the DEC and its contractor.”
DEC officials told NewsDay.com that the investigation is continuing. Four tickets each were issued to Jiffy Lube and the store’s manager for: polluting the waters of the marine district; polluting waters in contravention of standards; depositing a noxious or unwholesome substance on a highway; and depositing a noxious, offensive or toxic substance into a stream, sewer or public waterway.
API Posts Oils Online Displaying API Engine Oil Certification Marks Without Authorization
API is now posting oils displaying the API engine oil certification marks without authorization on its website.The marketer and oil brand name, viscosities and sales region for each unauthorized oil are posted along with a photo of each product label. These oils have not been approved by API as meeting any API engine oil standard. As such, these oils are not eligible to display the API engine oil certification marks.
API encourages consumers to remember that these oils are not authorized by API to display the API certification marks. Most engine manufacturers recommend oils that display one or both API engine oil marks. The API page will be updated as additional oils are identified through API’s Aftermarket Audit Program (AMAP), a program that annually tests packaged and bulk engine oils purchased by API in the marketplace.
For consumers, API always recommends that they check their owner’s manual to be sure they are using the proper oil. The current standard for gasoline engine oils is API SN, and it is backward compatible for most engines; this identification can be found on the back of most labels. If the API Donut has an older designation such as SM or SL, it is designated for older engines. API recommends that the consumer verify that the oil is licensed by checking the online EOLCS Directory of Licensees.
AMRA Announces New Officers
The Automotive Maintenance and Repair Association (AMRA) is pleased to announce the election of its board officers. Jeff Campbell from Monro, Inc., board member and member of the executive committee, has been re-elected as chairman of the board. Kathy Bray from Leeds West Group, board member, has been re-elected to vice chairman. Len Vogt from Lenco will continue to serve as secretary/treasurer and Greg Dunkin from Hunter Engineering will be assistant secretary/treasurer.
In addition to the board officers, the board also recognized Paul Lacroix from Midtronics to serve with the officers as part of the executive committee. Joining Lacroix is a newly elected executive committee member Kevin Ohler from TBC Retail Group.
“We are very excited to have Kevin join the executive committee. Since joining the AMRA Board, he has been a valuable member, and with his extensive background, he will bring progressive ideas that will help AMRA achieve its strategic goals,” said Jeff Campbell, vice president, Monro Inc.
Currently, Ohler is the vice president, Customer Care and Experience for TBC Retail Group. Ohler will replace Bill Ihnken, who will continue to serve as a board member.
“I would like to thank Bill for his leadership during his time as an executive committee member. He played an instrumental role in developing our strategic roadmap and our association will benefit for many years to come as a result,” said Jeff Cox, president of AMRA.
elects their officers on an annual basis to ensure it includes the appropriate skills, experience and perspective necessary to drive growth to the association and value to its members.
Trico Acquires Fram Group
Trico Group has acquired Fram Group, which includes Fram filters and Autolite spark plugs, from Rank Group Ltd.“We are excited to enhance our product portfolio with these two leading brands,” said Jay Burkhart, president of Trico Group. “The filter category is a natural complement to our wiper products as our ‘Maintenance’ offering, while Autolite adds to our ‘Repair Parts’ product line of fuel pumps, water pumps and lift supports.”
In January, Trico Group acquired UCI International’s Performance Pumps business, comprised of ASC Industries and Airtex Products.
With these two acquisitions, Trico Group now supplies aftermarket and OE customers with a portfolio of filters and wiper products, as well as spark plugs, lift supports, fuel pumps and water pumps. Premium brands of TricoO Group now include Trico wipers, Carter fuel pumps, Anco wipers, Airtex fuel pumps, StrongArm lift supports, Autolite spark plugs and Fram filters.
ACE’s Gary Wint Awarded Manager of the Year
Atlantic Coast Enterprises (ACE), headquartered in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, is one of the largest franchisee groups in the Jiffy Lube network. They are proud to announce that Gary Wint, store manager of store No. 178 in Sunrise, Florida, is the winner of the most prestigious award in the Jiffy Lube system: The President’s Performance Excellence Award. This award recognizes the top-performing store manager among more than 2,000 Jiffy Lube locations nationwide.The award was presented during Jiffy Lube’s Annual Convention in Orlando, where more than 1,000 associates and stakeholders met to plan the future for the brand. Gary Wint, who has been with the company since 1994, was recognized for his remarkable performance on the following metrics:
- #1 in Customer Experience Tracking, with a score of 96.7 for the entire year
- Double-digit guest count increases
- The most successful Multicare launch in five years
- No. 2 in the company in total Multicare sales
- Successfully training over 140 new ACE employees for 13 different stores in the ACE system
Upon receiving the award, Wint was fast to recognize his team for their efforts and hard work, but his team quickly countered by acknowledging he is a humble man, and that a team is only as effective and successful as the person leading the team. Wint has proven he has the skillset, work ethic and positivity to lead a successful culture. He is consistently one of the best performers in the entire system.
Richard “RJ” Jennings, director of Operations for ACE Jiffy Lube said, “Thank you Gary, for being a wonderful example of leadership for others to emulate. Gary, you are THE MAN!”
