Bill Ziegler, president of Massillon, Ohio-based Ziegler Tire & Supply Co., is Modern Tire Dealer magazine's 2009 Tire Dealer of the Year. Ziegler was chosen to receive the industry's most prestigious award from nearly 30,000 eligible independent tire dealers throughout North America.
Ziegler, MTD's 17th Tire Dealer of the Year, was selected by a panel of independent judges, who based their decision on his business success, marketing skills, management skills, industry knowledge and community involvement.
"We are thrilled to have Mr. Ziegler as our Tire Dealer of the Year," says MTD Publisher Greg Smith.
As part of the award, MTD -- in conjunction with Ziegler Tire's suppliers -- will donate $1,000, plus a percentage of congratulatory ad revenue, in Ziegler's name to the charity of his choice, Pathway Caring for Children, a Canton, Ohio-area non-profit that places troubled children in foster homes.
Ziegler Tire is celebrating its 90th anniversary. Under Bill Ziegler's leadership, it has grown into one of the country's largest independent tire store chains with 24 locations in four states and nearly $95 million in annual sales.
For the full story, see the September 2009 issue of Modern Tire Dealer magazine. (An online version can be found at "Eyes on the Future," www.moderntiredealer.com.)
Past Tire Dealer of the Year award winners include industry giants like the late Les Schwab of Bend, Ore.-based Les Schwab Tire Centers; Paul Zurcher of Monroe, Ind.-based Zurcher Tire Inc./Best-One Tire & Service; and others. To see the complete list of past winners, see "In Good Company.")
