• Felix Canestri has joined Belle Tire as its director of procurement. He has been with Tire Discounters for the last 15 years, most recently as vice president of purchasing.
• Goodyear Auto Service and Just Tires is offering special discounts, including free car care checks, to current and past U.S. military members in observation of Memorial Day. And, for the first 2,000 free car care checks scheduled, Goodyear will make a $5 donation (up to $10,000) to Honor and Remember, a military support organization that recognizes the sacrifice of fallen military members and their families.
• NTB Tire & Service Centers and Tire Kingdom Service Centers, which are TBC Corp. companies, are offering all customers a free tire care check for National Tire Safety Week (May 20-27).
• More than 800 Big O Tires franchise owners, managers, corporate associates and suppliers attended the franchisor’s annual convention last month in New Orleans, according to Big O Tires. Participants raised $205,000 for the Big O Tires Scholarship Fund.
• The Car Care Council has released a new video that explains the Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) found on newer vehicles and why motorists should not ignore the TPMS warning light when it illuminates. The video was produced in conjunction with AutoNetTV Media.
• Carstar added 23 new shops to its network in April.
• Collision repair equipment and technology provider Spanesi has expanded its reach with the addition of Industrial Finishes & Systems Inc. (Eugene, OR) as its exclusive distributor in Idaho, Oregon, Utah and Washington.
• Spanesi has earned global certification from the Ford Motor Co. This includes collision repair benches, electronic measuring systems, welding equipment, self-piercing rivet guns and all other Spanesi body repair support products.
• The Alliance of Automotive Service Providers of Minnesota is awarding $16,000 in scholarships ($1,000 individual awards to a total of 16 people) to help automotive service and collision repair students pay for tuition or tools during the 2019-‘20 school year. The funds come from a fundraising drive within AASP-MN’s membership, as well as donations from the Minnesota State I-CAR Committee and the Bill Smith Fund.