TBC Selects Leaders for Midas Franchise Operations

Following TBC Corp.’s acquisition of Midas, Inc., the company appointed Midas veteran Mike Gould to head Midas’ North American franchise organization.

Gould, who has spent 32 years with Midas – serving most recently senior vice president of franchise operations – has joined TBC as senior vice president and chief operating officer for Midas.

Tim Garza has been named vice president of Midas franchise operations. He joined TBC in 2009 after 33 years in senior management posts at Southeast Toyota Distributors LLC. Garza most recently was division vice president for TBC’s Tire Kingdom stores in Florida and Georgia.

Phil Hultquist, formerly west region manager for Midas, was named vice president for the west division; and Gerry Schwall, formerly Midas’ northeast region manager, was made Midas east division vice president. Glenn Root continues as vice president of Midas’ Canadian operations.
Tim Garza
“TBC has great respect for the Midas legacy of more than 56 years as a premier supplier of automotive service,” said Orland Wolford, TBC vice chairman and president and CEO of the TBC Retail Group. “We are committed to supporting Mike, Tim and the entire Midas organization to take advantage of the market opportunities ahead of us.”

Wolford also praised the tenure of Alan Feldman, who had served for nine years as CEO of Midas Inc. prior to the TBC acquisition. “Feldman led Midas during a period of great transition and, along the way, he nurtured relationships with all of Midas’ constituents – franchisees, employees, vendors and the investment community – as Midas became a provider of a full range of automotive services.”

Headquartered in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla., TBC is a wholesale supplier to independent regional tire retailers and distributors throughout the U.S., Canada and Mexico. TBC’s wholesale group operates Carroll Tire, and its retail group operates more than 1,200 franchised and company-owned tire and automotive service centers under the brands Tire Kingdom, Merchant’s Tire & Auto Centers, NTB-National Tire & Battery and Big O Tires. TBC is owned by Sumitomo Corp. of America.

Midas offers brake, maintenance, tires, exhaust, steering and suspension services at nearly 2,250 franchised, licensed and company-owned shops in 13 countries, including nearly 1,500 in the U.S. and Canada. Midas also owns the SpeeDee Oil Change business, with 160 auto service centers in the U.S. and Mexico.