We just wrapped up another AAPEX show. If you attended, you know the feeling: you can’t believe it’s over but you have the scars to prove it, so you know it happened. You’ve probably got a blister here and there. Multiple naps to deal with the jet lag if you live on the east coast. And a billion or so
business cards you picked up along the way.

For me, the end of AAPEX means all that and another thing: yet another Counter Professional of the Year award program in the record books. This year, instead of choosing a single CPOTY, Babcox Media, along with our sponsor, WIX Filters, chose two Counter Professionals of the Year. We’ve been awarding a CPOTY with this honor for more than 30 years. We take nominations throughout the year and you can begin nominating someone or yourself for the 2018 installment now. Just go to Counterman.com/cpoty.

But back to this year. We selected Advance Auto Parts’ Kristine “Kris” Hankey as the 2017 Retail Counter Professional of the Year, a first, as we’ve not brought out a retail professional to honor before. NAPA’s Thomas Brissett was named 2017 Counter Professional Of The Year.

After spending several days with both Brissett and Hankey, I had the same feeling I always do: I wish we could spend more time together. There is nothing better than seeing people who are clearly at the top of their game getting the recognition they deserve, for a job they love doing. What could be better than that?

You’ll get to know more about both Brissett and Hankey in our December issue, when we feature them as our cover story. Until then, keep doing what you do best and think of someone or yourself, that you’d like to nominate for this truly great honor.