PPG Automotive Refinish has named Pennsylvania-based BAPS Auto Paint & Supply the 2014 Platinum Distributor of the Year. The announcement was made by Bob Wenzinger, director of the PPG Platinum Distributor program, during the awards dinner at the annual PPG Platinum Distributor Conference held March 5–8 at the Lowes Royal Pacific Resort in Orlando, Fla. BAPS co-owner Dean Berkheimer accepted the award for the company.
“Being named PPG Platinum Distributor of the Year is a significant achievement and it’s a privilege to give the award to a deserving company,” said Wenzinger. “This year I’m proud to say BAPS Auto Paint & Supply has earned this very special honor. The company has repeatedly demonstrated its dedication to customer service as well as its exceptional support of and loyalty to PPG. The team at BAPS has done an outstanding job addressing the requirements of PPG customers throughout their region. I am happy to recognize BAPS Auto Paint & Supply as our Platinum Distributor of the Year.”
Berkheimer attended the conference with his sister and co-owner Sharon Hogue. In all, three generations of the Berkheimer family were represented including Ray and Robert Berkheimer, Sharon Hogue and Dean Berkheimer and Dean’s son, Brett. They were accompanied by key members of the BAPS management team.
Asked about his reaction to winning the award, Berkheimer said, “I was surprised and, of course, excited and grateful. We have a great team and everyone in our organization has worked very hard to reach this level. Being worthy of recognition as Platinum Distributor of the Year is a great honor and reward for our work. Thank you.”
BAPS was established in 1961 as R.F. Berkheimer & Sons, painting contractors. Raymond F. Berkheimer was the owner. His two sons, Ray W. and Robert, worked for him. In 1977, Raymond retired leaving his sons to continue the family business. Ray and Robert moved the company into the automotive paint business and in 1979 opened BAPS Auto Paint & Supply in York, Pa. A few years later, BAPS became a single-line PPG distributor and in 1995, when the PPG Platinum Distributor program was initiated, was one of the first distributors to join. Since then, the company has grown significantly and now has six stores in three states—Pennsylvania, Maryland and Massachusetts—with 106 employees serving PPG customers throughout the area. In the process, BAPS has made a substantial investment in its operations through PPG’s wide variety of Platinum Distributor Program opportunities.
“Being part of the Platinum Distributor Program has been a critical factor in the growth of our company,” added Berkheimer. “The support we receive from PPG has been outstanding; the reps are always ready to help, always available. The program provides the wide-ranging management and employee training that’s made a real difference in our success. And, of course, we have top-quality PPG products to sell. Put that all together and our customers get great products, sound advice and first-class customer service. It’s win-win all the way around.”
The PPG Platinum Distributor program began as a loyalty and support initiative for PPG single-line distributors with the ultimate goal of providing exceptional service and benefits for PPG Refinish customers. The program delivers competitive advantages to its participants by aligning the technology, training and customer support of PPG with the entrepreneurship, customer awareness, local market knowledge and service capability of the independent distributor.
