Rent-to-own News - BestWay honors year's best

Virginia's BestWay Rent-To-Own recently held its annual business meeting and awards celebration honoring top performers in key categories for its year-ending March 31.

The event, which drew around 40 participants, was held at Paradock’s East Coast Grill in Chesapeake, Virginia.

BestWay RTO Manager of the Year, Curtis Clifton.

Curtis “Cliff” Clifton of North Carolina took top prize as Manager of the Year, based on 10 key performance measures that are tracked and ranked on a monthly, quarterly, and annual basis. Clifton gave much of the credit to the staff of his Elizabeth City store.

"It's great to take the time to stop and salute our top achievers who have gotten great results," said BestWay Chief Operating Officer Jonathan Rose. "'Cliff' Clifton earned this year's Manager of the Year award because he truly changed his store's fortunes with consistent results in key areas all throughout the year. It's gratifying when recognition happens for those who truly deserve it, as Cliff does. It is a very competitive and spirited contest all year."

Shannon Uzzle, of Newport News, VA, took home the company’s Employee of the Year Award. Uzzle was nominated by his Store Manager, Rodney Alexander, because of the many personal hardships Uzzle has overcome while always having a positive attitude every day and achieving outstanding results in "balance on rent" and revenue growth on his route.

Uzzle’s selection for the award was made by the company’s Employee of the Year Selection Committee, chaired by Walt Ulbricht. The company will automatically enter Uzzle for APRO’s National Employee of the Year contest.

Doug Willis, right, receives BestWay's President's Circle of Excellence Award from Richard Rose.

Doug Wills, a member of BestWay’s corporate staff who lives in North Carolina, was awarded the prestigious President’s Circle of Excellence Award, chosen and awarded by Richard Rose.

The award was created to recognize exceptional performance, leadership and contributions to the company.

Bill French, vice president of Dallas-based O’Rourke Sales Company, took home BestWay's Vendor of the Year Award.

French, who was presented the award by BestWay Vice President of Purchasing Ron Rose, graciously accepted the award, thanking the company for having confidence in him and choosing O’Rourke Sales Company, noting that he knows all of his clients have choices.

“I want to make every person I touch today and everyday have a better day because I helped them," French said during a presentation prior to receiving his award. "You have to love what you do and when your feet hit the ground every morning, you need to be excited to make great things happen. ”

Bill French, right, receives BestWay's Vendor of the Year Award from Ron Rose.

The keynote speaker for the event was Kerry Lebensburger, President of Ashley Furniture Industries, who spoke to the group about the state of affairs in the furniture world with respect to the upheaval occurring in China, and its impact on U.S. consumers and retailers.

Lebensburger offered his thoughts on what key measurements successful managers have to consider in their business and explained how Ashley Furniture has evolved into the world’s number one furniture manufacturer and retailer.

BestWay is making a contribution in honor of both French and Lebensburger to the APRO Scholarship Foundation to thank both men for their time and effort in making the event memorable.

After lunch, attendees headed to the AMF Bowling Center Western Branch for the fun and competitive part of the day. District Manager Robert Howard organized a complex tournament for all, complete with prizes and a poker game element with cards dealt upon a bowler getting a strike or spare.

Howard’s team, along with Doug Wills and Jeff Perry, took first place in the tournament.

BestWay Rent-To-Own is a 19 store chain with locations primarily in Southeastern & Central Virginia and Northeastern North Carolina.

mevans@rtohq.org