Check out the stories behind this year’s award winners.
St. Charles, Ill. – The National Auto Body Council has once again singled out those businesses, individuals and groups in the collision repair industry that have distinguished themselves and the industry by performing humanitarian and/or service deeds outside of their normal job responsibilities.
This year’s PRIDE Award winners were: Rob Quillen, ADP sales representative from Lincoln, Neb.; Dave and Alex Carney, owners of Tualatin Auto Body, Tualatin, Ore.; Salvatore Licitra, educator, Adelphia, N.J.; Jeff Hendler, president of JD Hendler Associates, Pasco, Wash.; and Mitchell International, San Diego, Calif.
1. Rob Quillen, ADP sales representative from Lincoln, Neb. – Quillen had the opportunity to meet a United pilot, Jason Dahl, while sitting together on a flight to Newark, N.J., on Sept. 10. They talked about their mutual hero, NASCAR racer Jeff Gordon. Jason Dahl spoke of his son Matt’s dream to someday actually meet Jeff Gordon. Rob invited them to attend the upcoming NASCAR race, the Protection One 400, in Kansas City. The next day, Sept. 11, Jason Dahl was the pilot of United flight 93 that crashed in Pennsylvania.
“I absolutely made it a mission to get Jason’s son to see Jeff Gordon,” says Quillen. He wrote the Dahl family, extending his invitation to them and pulled several strings to make all the arrangements. The results: Matt Dahl came to Kansas City, attended the chapel service and drivers’ meeting with Jeff Gordon, spent time on Pit Row and in the “catbird seat” to watch the race, a race that Gordon won and dedicated to Matt.
“I believe God put Jason on that flight to tell me the dream for Matt, and he put me on the flight next to Jason so I could hear the dream,” says Quillen, who received his award in the “Individual” category.
2. Dave and Alex Carney, owners of Tualatin Auto Body, Tualatin, Ore. – The Carneys are involved in many activities in their community, including participation in their local DARE program, in which they’ve painted a DARE car and purchased Halloween trick or treat bags for elementary school children. They also organize the Newman-Birden free football camp for youth through high school, including flying out NFL players, hosting exchange students and donating to community sports. Dave and Alex have also been honored as the Businesspersons of the Year by the Tualatin Chamber. The Carneys received their award in the “Shop” category.
3. Salvatore Licitra, educator, Adelphia, N.J. – Licitra has had a lifelong involvement in both the collision industry and education. He was a New York City public high school teacher, as well as a mentor for new teachers. In the ’50s, he compiled a trade analysis documenting job operations on the needed skills to repair and refinish vehicles and the materials were used for a course at the Brooklyn Automotive High School evening division. He’s also authored several books, including “They Smiled When You Arrived – Don’t Let ‘Em Cheer When You Go.” Licitra received his award in the “Individual” category.
4. Jeff Hendler, president of JD Hendler Associates, Pasco, Wash. – Hendler promoted, produced and presented a golf tournament to raise money for the Tri-City Development Center, a specialized facility to help babies through age 3 with Downs Syndrome. He has also organized a golf outing to help “The Wellness Community” in Walnut Creek and Lake Tahoe to raise money to assist people battling cancer. Hendler received his award in the “Individual” category.
5. Mitchell International, San Diego, Calif. – Mitchell has launched the Mitchell Cares Program. This program provides easy access for employees to recurring volunteer opportunities in the community in conjunction with San Diego Cares. The volunteer work includes packaging food for the needy, preparing sack lunches for delivery to AIDS patients, serving meals at a church for the homeless and assisting disabled children in therapeutic horseback riding. Mitchell received its award in the “Company” category.
The award winners were chosen by an independent panel of judges representing a cross section of the various industry segments and appointed by the NABC board of directors. The National PRIDE Award winners were presented with their awards at the Industry Night of Achievement at NACE 2001 in Las Vegas.
