MAACO Founder Anthony Martino To Be Inducted Into International Franchise Association Hall of Fame

CHARLOTTE, N.C., Feb. 20, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Anthony "Tony" Martino, founder, former chairman and CEO of MAACO® will be posthumously inducted into the International Franchise Association (IFA) Hall of Fame on Sunday, February 23 during the Opening General Session at the IFA's Annual Convention in New Orleans. The honor recognizes figures that exemplify the optimum in franchising and have contributed significantly to the advancement of franchising and the franchising community. Accepting on his behalf will be son, Mark Martino who has served the MAACO® brand in a number of capacities since the company's founding.

Martino began his remarkable career in 1959 with a simple shop specializing in automatic transmission repair. The founder of AAMCO Transmissions significantly grew the business throughout the 1960s before selling it and turning his automotive knowledge and business insights to MAACO. When he opened a pilot MAACO Auto Painting & Bodyworks center in 1972, he positioned the brand between low-cost auto painters and expensive dealership work. The company rapidly grew into the MAACO we know today – "North America's Bodyshop" – offering easy and affordable repairs for accident damage, dents and faded paint for close to 500,000 drivers annually.

"We are honored to induct these five franchise icons into the IFA Hall of Fame," said IFA Chairman Steve Romaniello, CFE, managing director of Roark Capital Group.  "Each of these leaders has made significant contributions to the growth and sustainability of franchising in the U.S. and around the world.  The elements of their success have informed franchise leaders of today and will continue to contribute to the success of franchise leaders well into the future." 

Established in 1979, the IFA Hall of Fame Award is the oldest and most prestigious award conferred by the IFA, the world's largest organization representing franchising worldwide. At this year's ceremonies, Martino was honored alongside the late Conrad Hilton, founder of Hilton Hotels, the late J. Willard Marriott, founder of Marriott International, James Maynard, founder of Golden Corral Corporation and Thomas Monaghan, founder of Dominos Pizza. Past recipients include: Robert M. Rosenberg, CEO of Dunkin' Donuts; Frederick "Fred" DeLuca, co-founder of Subway; and Kemmons Wilson, the founder of the Holiday Inn hotel chain.

"Tony Martino was honored this year for his business acumen. But his real legacy includes much more," says Jose Costa, President, MAACO.  "Tony's understanding of people and ability to listen made him the great franchise leader and customer advocate that he was. Following in the footsteps of a visionary like Tony is both humbling and challenging in the best way. While we continue to build the MAACO brand, we retain the passion for people and putting the customer first that is Tony's legacy," he added.

As North America's Bodyshop for more than four decades, the MAACO® brand is committed to leading the industry with new technology, quality products and taking the customer experience to the next level. To find a MAACO® center near you, visit http://maaco.com.

About MAACO Franchising, LLC

Founded in 1972, MAACO(R) Collision Repair & Auto Painting (www.maaco.com) repairs accident damage, dents and faded paint for close to 500,000 drivers annually. The 450 franchises have restored the safety and beauty of all types of vehicles for nearly 40 years. MAACO Franchising, LLC, headquartered in Charlotte, NC, has been cited numerous times by Entrepreneur magazine as #1 in its category in the Annual Franchise 500 survey.

Driven Brands, LLC

Driven Brands (www.drivenbrands.com), headquartered in Charlotte, NC, serves as parent company for the separate businesses: MAACO(R) (a franchise-based collision repair and auto painting retail network) Meineke Car Care Centers(R) (a franchise-based automotive service and repair retail network); Econo Lube & Tune (a franchised chain of automotive repair/quick lube services) and a franchised network of mobile services consisting of AutoQual(R), Aero-Colours(R) & Drive N Style(R) (specializing in automotive interior reconditioning and maintenance, paint refinishing and restyling services for Car Dealerships).

About the International Franchise Association

The International Franchise Association is the world's oldest and largest organization representing franchising worldwide. Celebrating over 50 years of excellence, education and advocacy, IFA works through its government relations and public policy, media relations and educational programs to protect, enhance and promote franchising. Through its media awareness campaign highlighting the theme, Franchising: Building Local Businesses, One Opportunity at a Time, IFA promotes the economic impact of the more than 825,000 franchise establishments, which support nearly 18 million jobs and $2.1 trillion of economic output for the U.S. economy. IFA members include franchise companies in over 300 different business format categories, individual franchisees and companies that support the industry in marketing, law and business development.

###

Contact:
Marilyn Luna
[email protected]
305-731-2388

SOURCE MAACO Franchising, LLC