Service Center Teams from Albuquerque, N.M. and Fort Wayne, Ind. to Compete for Title of J-Team All Stars Champion
HOUSTON, TX --- September 12, 2011 --- It has been a long road for the "Dukes and Duchess of Albuquerque" and the "River City Raiders," but their dedication and hard work have paid off as both teams have emerged as finalists in this year's J-Team All Stars Championship competition. Now in its third year, the J-Team All Stars Championship challenges participating franchisee employee teams, called J-Teams, to showcase their training while delivering the core Jiffy Lube service --- the Jiffy Lube Signature Service® Oil Change. Hosted by Jiffy Lube International, the competition culminates on Sept. 18 as the Eastern and Western Champs face-off in Chicago for the title of J-Team All Stars Champion and a $10,000 grand prize.
"This competition is a unique initiative for Jiffy Lube and the industry, highlighting the training of service center employees and the quality of service while driving employee engagement and excitement," said Stu Crum, president of Jiffy Lube International. "This year's finalists and all the participating teams demonstrate what the competition is all about --- empowering service center employees to showcase the knowledge and expertise that helps them deliver a top-notch customer experience every day. We take great pride in the training programs we offer to Jiffy Lube franchisees and their employees, including the nationally-recognized Jiffy Lube University, and this event is the peak of those efforts."
Taking Center Stage
The top two J-Teams, who emerged from an original pool of nearly 1,500 participating Jiffy Lube service center teams from across the United States and Canada, will be the center of attention at the Grand Finals event in Chicago -- the fifth and final round of the Championship.
The "Dukes and Duchess of Albuquerque" from service center #2951 in Albuquerque, N.M., owned by Lubricar, Inc., is this year's Western Champion. Team members include: Phillip Lopez, customer service advisor; Justine Baca, upper bay technician; Shaun Whetten, lower bay technician; Mitch Garcia, courtesy technician; and Jason Coyle, team leader. "I'm so proud of this team for making it this far in the competition. Watching them excel through the first four rounds convinces me they deserve to be participating in the finals," says Keith Mortensen of Lubricar, Inc., a Jiffy Lube franchisee. "I'm really looking forward to watching them compete in Chicago."
This year's Eastern Champion is the "River City Raiders" team from service center #285 in Fort Wayne, Ind., owned by Indiana Lubricants, Inc. Their motto? "Practice makes perfect." And with more than 11 hours of practice each day, six days a week, the team has certainly proven how badly they want to bring home the title. Team members include: James McHenry, customer service advisor; Bill Hines, upper bay technician; John Bixler, lower bay technician; Maurice Rogers, courtesy technician; and Lora Otto, team leader. "It's been great watching this J-Team work together to further hone their skills and teamwork to make it to the finals," says Steve Sanner of Indiana Lubricants, Inc., a Jiffy Lube franchisee. "They always go above and beyond for the customer, and their passion and commitment to excellence is something I hope to see rewarded."
The Grand Finale
At the Grand Finals event, the J-Teams will be judged by Jiffy Lube International District Managers on their teamwork, operational execution and customer experience skills as well as how quickly they perform a Jiffy Lube Signature Service® Oil Change, a preventive maintenance service that involves changing, inspecting, checking/filling and cleaning essential vehicle components. In addition to the $10,000 team grand prize and the title of Jiffy Lube J-Team All Stars Champion for the winner, the runner-up will receive a $5,000 team prize.
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About Jiffy Lube®
Jiffy Lube International Inc. ("Jiffy Lube"), with more than 2,000 franchised service centers in North America, serves approximately 24 million customers each year. Jiffy Lube pioneered the fast oil change industry in 1979 by establishing the first drive-through service bay, providing customers with fast, professional service for their vehicles. Headquartered in Houston, Jiffy Lube is a wholly owned, indirect subsidiary of Shell Oil Company. Visit www.JiffyLube.com to learn more about Jiffy Lube and vehicle care.
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