Chabill’s Team Celebrates a ‘Great Year’ and Barron’s Tire Dealer of the Year Award
The team at Chabill’s Tire & Auto Service combined its annual company Christmas party and employee awards night with another special ceremonial moment honoring CEO Beth Barron, who earlier this year was named MTD’s 2024 Tire Dealer of the Year.
MTD Managing Editor Joy Kopcha was on hand to officially present Barron with a plaque honoring her achievement. Kopcha told the 200 employees and guests that Barron is guided by doing whatever she thinks is best for Chabill’s customers and employees.
“She believes in each of you and entrusts you to provide world class customer service to the people of southern Louisiana. I know for you to do that, you need a world class leader.”
Barron was greeted with a rounding thunder of applause from her team. She thanked the vendors in attendance who support Chabill’s Tire & Auto Service each day, but who also supported her with congratulatory advertisements that in turn helped raise more than $12,000 for charity.
She thanked Billy Parker, who partnered with her father Charley Gowland in 1968 to create Chabill’s Tire & Auto Service. She recognized her husband Carey, her mother Peggy Gowland and her children, who all play roles in the business.
“Most importantly, I want to thank the people that are the engine that runs Chabill’s — my coworkers,” she said. “Each of you play a vital role in our success and without each of you, Chabill’s would not be what it is today.”
Barron saved the final moment of her remarks for her father, who died in 2019. Several members of the Gowland family were in attendance.
“He taught me so much personally and professionally. I wouldn’t be here without him. And although he is no longer here and we miss him daily, the TreadChecker will be around for a long time,” she said. (Her father’s likeness lives on in a logo used for Charley the TreadChecker and Charley’s Dozen, a 12-point list of customer promises that come with every tire purchase.)
Celebrating Employee Success
The traditional close to the company’s Christmas dinner is the presentation of employee awards. Chabill’s recognizes employees who celebrate significant service anniversaries, and also names top employees in a number of categories, from commercial road service to store support personnel and top technicians.
Barron said the purpose of the night is “to celebrate what a great year we had — and we did have a great year. Everyone makes a difference.”
Here’s a look at the 2024 honorees:
- Five-year service certificates: Nicholas Housden, Gwen Naquin, Melissa Goodroe, Chanz Ayo, Rickey Cheramie Jr., Tracy Kennedy, James Wright and Timothy O’Connell.
- Ten-year service plaques: Ronald August and Richard Smith.
- Fifteen-year service award: Brandon Arnold.
- Twenty-five year service plaque: Martin Michel.
- Outstanding Road Service Technician: Kelvin Matthews.
- Outstanding Store Support: Evonne Gilbert.
- Outstanding General Service Technician: Caleb Blackstock, Prairieville.
- Outstanding Technician: Nicholas Housden, Morgan City.
- Outstanding Service Advisor: Chris Fuentes, Burbank Dr. in Baton Rouge.
- Four stores were honored for being “on the rise” and making big strides in improvement during the year: Ambassador Caffery in Lafayette, Verot School Road in Lafayette, Zachary and Denham Springs.
- Outstanding Manager: Russ Disalvo, manager of Hollywood Road store in Houma.
- Employees of the Year: Nathan Nall, manager of Prairieville, and Lindsey Pederson, corporate office.
