PPG Names Martin Auto Color Platinum Distributor Of The Year

Date: 10 March 2007

Martin Auto Color of Van Nuys, Calif., was presented the PPG Platinum Distributor of the Year Award at a banquet held during the annual PPG Platinum Distributor Conference, Feb. 16 through 18 at the Omni Orlando Resort at ChampionsGate in Orlando, Fla.

Glenn Martin, president and CEO of Martin Auto Color, accepted the award from John Leavy, director of the Platinum Program for PPG. The award is presented annually to the Platinum Distributor who has shown consistent sales growth, maintains Platinum Plus status, and utilizes the Platinum Program offerings. The Platinum Program was developed by PPG in 1995 as a support mechanism and loyalty program for PPG single-line distributors with the ultimate goal of providing exceptional service and benefits for PPG refinish customers.

“When the PPG Platinum Program was first developed, the philosophy of the program fit right in with our ideas for growing our aftermarket business,” Martin said. “Our philosophy was to be proficient in one area, and we concentrated on being the expert for PPG products in this market. The automotive refinish business is very complex, and PPG offered us the type of service and training that allowed us to achieve the level of success that won us the Platinum Distributor of the Year Award.”

Martin began his career working at Sturtevant Auto Parts while attending San Fernando Valley State College in 1981. Soon after, at the request of a group of customers and PPG staff members, he bought the business. The core people involved were Daryl Fielder, Lisa La LaMacchia, Fred Gebert and Rick Mathiesen. Together, this group worked to build the business, and today Martin Auto Color has grown to include 11 locations reaching from Southern California to the Oregon border. The company has 59 employees, and in 2006 achieved sales of $19 million.

“Glenn Martin and his organization have more than met the goals we set to select our Platinum Distributor of the Year,” Leavy said. “With Glenn’s expertise, business acumen and knowledge of the industry, Martin Auto Color has become a shining example of the type of success we envision for all our Platinum Distributors.”

As part of this year’s PPG Platinum Distributor of the Year Award, Martin Auto Color will have the opportunity to place their company logo on a Penske Busch Series racecar and receive tickets and entertainment packages to a NASCAR Busch Series race.