It’s always a difficult task to choose a single recipient for the Counter Professional of the Year award. The staff of Counterman magazine sifted through piles of entries and identified several people who are worthy of recognition. After narrowing all the entries down to five finalists, Thomas Dayton, of J S Auto Supply, Jamestown, N.Y., was chosen as the recipient. Here is a look at those who made it to the final round.

Brian Striffler
Uni-Select USA
Amherst, N.Y.

In his essay to the judges, Striffler said the aftermarket must get back to “the basics.”

“In an evolving industry that includes advancing technology, economic downtrends, along with competition issues, we have forgotten one vital thing — relationships,” Striffler wrote in his essay to the Counterman judges.

“These are still the building blocks of our industry and have taken a backseat to the bottom line.  Our customers are not only customers. They are our partners in progress.”

EDUCATING CUSTOMERS
Striffler believes parts professionals must train their wholesale customers in the benefits of electronic ordering. “We need to communicate and convince them how this will increase bay productivity and ultimately their own bottom line profits,” he wrote.

Ricky Trottier, divisional general manager of Uni-Select USA’s Great Lakes Division, nominated Striffler.

He wrote, “Brian utilizes all online training programs and promotes this as well as trains our people. He also uses available manufacturer Web sites as a huge resource for our company and customers. Brian’s attention to detail and our customer’s needs are always done right with respect to our company’s policies and procedures. He knows the value of relationships and does everything in his power utilizing his resources to support our mission of ‘World Class Customer Service.’”

CONTINUING HIS EDUCATION
Trottier said Striffler continues to be the first to sign up for all training and has lead his team from Elite Parts Force certification to ASE certification.

In his essay, Striffler wrote, “Service to the customer starts well before a parts call is ever placed. It begins with product research. Ensuring the right products are on our shelves at every level from the warehouse to the stores.  It’s the sales people on the road every day building relationships that foster loyalty.  By getting the programs and products to the street, we will ensure the growth of our customer’s business as well as our own.”