Wisconsin Dealer Does 'More Good', Gets 'More Good' Honor

a new award to annually honor one of its dealers for outstanding service to their community.

The first-ever winner of the Put More Good On The Road Award was Olson Tire & Auto Service of Wausau, Wisc.. Announced earlier this week at the Goodyear Dealer Conference in Orlando, Fla., the honor included a crystal plaque and a $10,000 donation on behalf of the dealership to the Wisconsin Automotive & Truck Education Association (WATEA) and its Wheels to Work program.

“Goodyear is respected for its giving spirit, evidenced by numerous support programs that include literacy, environmental, safety, youth and overall social awareness activities. We also know that many of our Goodyear retailers do the same in their local communities,” said Todd Pickens, Goodyear’s senior director of consumer sales.

“In this spirit, we created the Put More Good On The Road program, and we are thrilled to provide this award to a deserving tire dealership that works so hard to give back to the community where it does business.”

Olson Tire & Auto Service is active in the community where the single-outlet business operates. This includes support of groups such as Elks Charities and Drug Awareness, schools programs, the local performing arts foundation, the Optimists Club, Chamber of Commerce and more. Owner Kent Olson co-founded and still co-chairs WATEA, an organization designed to raise awareness of, and promote careers in the automotive industry.

An independent judging group reviewed the nominations for the Put More Good On The Road award, and especially liked Olson Tire & Auto Service’s connection to the Wheels to Work program. Under this program, those in need can obtain vehicles that have been acquired and repaired with discounted parts and labor. They may be given no-interest loans to help get them on their feet, using the vehicle to get to the jobs, educational classes, or to care for loved ones.

The Goodyear Put More Good On The Road project includes a contest for Goodyear’s North American tire dealers of all sizes and types, seeking to spotlight those who best represent their profession through strong examples of giving back to their communities and, effectively, by “putting more good on the road.”

Ascot Supply Corporation, based in Newnan, Georgia, has selected Mark Paquette for the newly created position of vice president. In this position, Ascot Supply said Paquette will oversee the growth of the company's products, corporate profitability, manage marketing and advertising and assume many other responsibilities.

He will work under the direction of current President David Kessler and officially begin his new role on June 3. Paquette joined the tire and automotive industry in the early 1980s at his father's tire shop, and his contributions to Mohawk Rubber Sales were instrumental in the company's growth and eventual sale to Myers Tire Supply in 2021, according to Ascot Supply. Paquette eventually was given a promotion to the role of director of operations at Myers Tire Supply.