Rent-to-own News - Bestway's District 3 is two-time "Knowledge Bowl" Champ

Two time Bestway 'Knowledge Bowl' champs: District Three. Bestway CEO David Kraemer far right. (See complete identification below.)

Bestway Rent To Own's District Three -- 'The Eight Profiteers' -- again took home the $5,000 top prize in the company's annual jeopardy-style face off Monday at the scenic Hilton Oceanfront Resort in Hilton Head Island, South Carolina.

Around 100 district and store managers from the company's 78 locations are here for Bestway's Annual Managers Meeting where they receive a dose of motivation, networking opportunities and intensive product trainings to prime them for the fourth quarter. This year's "Knowledge Bowl" -- the company's fourth district-on-district trivia game based on management and training policies -- marked the second win in a row for district three.

But that came as no surprise for a Bestway District Three Manager Chris Nicoulin.

"I have the best team in the whole company," Nicoulin said after receiving the trophy cup filled with cash from Bestway CEO David Kraemer. "They're very experienced managers who know the business and I'm lucky to work with them."

Store managers for district three include: Glinda Gomillia (store #63), C.D. Bell (store #30), Greg Green (store #35), Marion Parnell (store #27), Jackie Halbert (store #36), Jackie Crockam (store #64) and Kim Ross (store #29) and Taurus Carruth.

Earlier in the day, managers were treated to motivational talks from two of the most highly sought after speakers on the business circuit, Scott Deming and David Cottrell.

Managers tomorrow will participate in over a dozen vendors trainings offered by Whirlpool, Benefit Marketing Solutions, Ashley Furniture, Welton U.S.A., New Age, PC Agent, Archbrook Laguna, Serta and O'Rourke Sales Company.

Eddie Ford is a former Rent-A-Center Vice President who joined Bestway as district one manager around one month ago. After two years out of the industry, Ford, who also worked alongside Kraemer at Renters Choice, couldn't envision a better company with which to make his return.

"This company is old school rent-to-own," Ford said. "And by that I mean, we stick to the basics. That's what makes Bestway great."

Harold Enz, manager of Bestway Store #97 in Little Rock said Bestway culture and the spirit of the annual managers meetings help him become the best manager he can be.

"The competitive nature (of the Knowledge Bowl) helps push each store to maximize its potential," Enz said. 'It really brings us together as a company. You see that the CEO an company are investing in our growth and that's big."

LaToya Henderson manages Bestway Store #28 in Pine Bluff, Arkansas. She is a first time attendee at the Bestway Annual Managers Meeting and can already tell she has a great deal to gain from the experience.

"This meeting is really helping me realize my weaknesses and how to work on them," Henderson said. "I get to meet people and trade ideas with other districts. I see how everything here is set up to help me be a better manager.

A full awards banquet closes out the meeting Wednesday.

See Bestway 2010 Managers Meeting photo gallery.