For Moran Family of Brands, our convention is how we keep in touch, share what we’ve learned and celebrate system success. The 2016 Convention was no different. This has been a record-setting year, and we’re glad we had the opportunity to celebrate the hard work and accomplishments of our franchisees. Here is a recap of the 2016 Convention, our first since 2007!
The convention took place at the Marriot Riverwalk Hotel in San Antonio, Texas, from September 29 to October 1. Our executive team and franchisees from around the world gathered together for educational workshops and networking sessions, which featured distinguished speakers and Moran system leaders. Day one was an opportunity for people to get registered and begin milling about, meeting fellow Moran franchisees and executives in a casual, laidback setting before events really got rolling. A reception was held at the River Terrace and Patio to officially welcome all attendees.
Friday morning, the convention events began in earnest. Our keynote speaker was Nancy Friedman, who is also known as the Telephone Doctor due to her role in growing her business, Telephone Doctor Customer Service Training in St. Louis, Missouri. Nancy is an expert in using stellar customer service to grow your business and build your reputation, and she shared what it takes to be the very best in customer satisfaction.
Each day, after the general addresses and awards ceremonies, there were educational sessions for attendees to choose from. These included panels on customer satisfaction and lead-building, the future of the repair industry and marketing to millennials. Panelists were high-performing franchisees, Moran Family of Brands executives and other automotive industry experts. These panels were followed by continued awards and some free time to explore the lovely San Antonio surroundings.
The final day held the Awards of Excellence ceremony, the Franchisee of the Year ceremony and the Awards Gala. These were spread throughout the day, in between a general session on how to acquire and retain customers, more education sessions and roundtable discussions. There was also some time for an exhibition show, which showcased the latest products and resources for franchisees to use in their stores or add to their inventories.
The Franchisees of the Year received their awards at the very end of the last night. Lowell and Cindy Hester (Mr. Transmission), Al Martin (Milex/Multistate) and Greg and Patti Goodman (Alta Mere) were presented with their awards at the gala that Saturday evening. The Franchisee of the Year Awards went to franchisees who not only embodied the ideals of D.R.I.V.E. — Dedication, Respect, Integrity, Vision and Enthusiasm – but also builtup their fellow franchisees through mentorship, offering additional training and being available to help new franchisees build their businesses.
The 2016 Convention was an excellent opportunity for franchisees and executives of the Moran Family of Brands to come together, sharing the wisdom and successes earned over years of hard work developing the Moran franchise system into the industry leader it is today. To see pictures from the event and learn more about Moran Family of Brands, visit our website or Facebook page!