PALM BEACH GARDENS, Fla. (April 29, 2026) – Big O Tires, an industry-leading tire and automotive service franchise brand and subsidiary of TBC Corporation, recently hosted its annual convention in Louisville, Ky., for hundreds of its franchisees and corporate team members. Guided by the convention’s “In It to Win It” theme, attendees came together to recognize shared wins, forge stronger connections, network with more than 50 vendors, and explore best‑in‑class strategies to drive continued success during a series of breakout sessions.
With systemwide sales up in 2025 and 14 new franchise shops opened during the company’s last fiscal year, TBC and Big O Tires leaders recognized the franchise brand’s achievements along with updates on new technologies, merchandising and marketing support for franchisees.
“Our annual convention is a powerful reminder of what we can achieve together — when we put in the work, provide the right resources, and support one another,” said Gary Skidmore, chief operating officer, Big O Tires. “At Big O Tires, every individual contributes to our shared success, and we’re excited for the road ahead.
The event was rich in Big O Tires history as well, featuring an all-star Hall of Fame panel with individuals who have dedicated their time, effort and ideas to the Big O Tires organization for the past several decades, and as early as the late 1960’s.
Shaun Peet, NASCAR pit crew coach and co-author of 12 Second Culture, delivered the convention’s keynote speech. Through engaging stories from lessons learned on the track, Shaun shared the im-portance of alignment, preparation, clarity and trust for cultivating a high-performance culture and provid-ed actionable tips for franchisees to inspire their own teams to execute faster, communicate more clearly and perform more consistently, to help elevate their businesses.
Attendees also took part in a hands-on volunteer activity in collaboration with Metro United Way, under-scoring the brand’s commitment to supporting local communities. Franchise owners packed 1,200 back-packs with supplies and hygiene kits to benefit the Salvation Army Louisville, Lighthouse Academy at Newburg, and the YMCA of Greater Louisville. More than $125,000 was also raised for the Big O Tires Scholarship Fund during the game-show style Buyer’s Fair event.
Recognition also played a large part during the convention with top franchisees with exceptional perfor-mance celebrated for achieving over $2M in sales. Others were honored throughout the three-day con-vention, including the following awards:
- Hall of Fame: Joe Happel was inducted into Big O Tires’ prestigious Hall of Fame. Joe owns four Big O Tires franchise locations in Indiana and Kentucky and serves as president of the Big O Tires Dealers Association and Chairman of the Franchise Advisory Council.
- Franchisees of the Year: This award is based on growth in total sales, tire units, and volume, plus community involvement and feedback from fellow franchisees across single-store and multi-store owner categories. Matt Dunbar was honored in the single-store owner category for his shop in New Albany, Ind. MFA Oil Company was recognized in the multi-store owner category for its more than 30 shops in Arkansas, Missouri, and Kansas.
- Standing “O” Award: This award recognizes individuals who go above and beyond to support Big O Tires, including serving on committees, helping fellow franchisees and team members, and providing outstanding customer service. Six individuals received this award, including Arizona multi-unit franchise owner Desiree Elliot; BJ Eickhoff, Director of Finance, Denver Ad Group for Big O Tires Colorado; Bill Mitchell, District Manager at Western Slope Tire Centers with 10 franchise shops across Colorado; Miriam Cordova, Chief Operating Officer at Big O Tires-Coleman Group with 15 franchise shops across Utah; Sarah Ovathanasin, Senior Marketing Manager, and Tom Lemke, Franchise Business Consultant.
- Point of Light Award: This award recognizes a member of the Big O Tires franchise system who demonstrates the transformative power of service to customers and franchisees, and who positively impacts the organization through their knowledge, expertise, and dedication. This year’s award recipient was Sharon Lane, Marketing Director for Big O Tires Dealers of Northern California and Northern Nevada.
To learn more about Big O Tires, visit www.bigotires.com.
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About Big O Tires
Big O Tires, LLC, a subsidiary of TBC Corporation, has 470 franchise stores in the United States. Franchise locations offer a wide range of diagnostic, repair and routine maintenance services, backed by one of the most comprehensive service warranties available. Qualified associates and certified technicians combine hands-on experience with state-of-the-art technology to address automotive needs and safely get customers back on the road. For more information, visit www.bigotires.com and follow Big O Tires on LinkedIn.
