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Carrier Presents Annual Dealer Hall of Fame Awards
Three Inductees Selected for Exemplifying Willis Carrier’s Spirit of Leadership
INDIANAPOLIS, IND., April 13, 2010 – Carrier Corp., a part of United Technologies Corp. (NYSE:UTX), recently presented its Dealer Hall of Fame Award to three recipients during the 2010 Carrier Factory Authorized Dealer (FAD) conference in Tampa, Fla. Edward "Eddie" Goodwin, G. Benjamin Laury, and Michael Purl were each recognized with the coveted lifetime achievement award. The award is given each year to only a select few chosen by a Carrier management committee from among those nominated by their distributors. Nominees must have a minimum 20 years association with Carrier as their primary brand. They must also be a Factory Authorized Dealer and be far enough along in their careers to warrant the recognition of lifetime achievement.
"The Carrier Dealer Hall of Fame was created to recognize and honor dealers who exhibit enthusiasm, loyalty and courage in their work and who embody the same leadership traits as Willis Carrier, the founder of our company and the inventor of modern air conditioning," said Michelle Caldwell, Carrier brand manager. "Each of these men exemplifies compassion and commitment to their employees, community and customers and has long, outstanding histories with Carrier. It is an honor to recognize them with this award."
Other qualities that are noted among recipients are vision to seize opportunity, a focus on continuous improvement and personal and professional integrity. Although thousands of dealers across the country represent Carrier brand products, fewer than 1200 surpass the high standards defined by the company to qualify as a Factory Authorized Dealer, and among those, only two to three are inducted into the Hall of Fame each year.
Edward "Eddie" Goodwin
Eddie Goodwin became a respected Carrier dealer in 1971, the year he returned to his hometown of Mountain Home, Ark. to purchase Central Heating and Cooling.
He carved out a successful business to pass onto his family, and his personal and professional contributions have not gone unnoticed. Under his leadership, Central grew into a top-performing Carrier FAD company consistently recognized for its many sales achievements.
Goodwin has every characteristic that the Hall of Fame award signifies, but the quality of leadership stands out the most. With his oversight and personal involvement, the Arkansas HVACR Association (founded and led by Goodwin) encouraged the state legislature to require licensing for HVAC contractors and developed a continuing education program, elevating the credibility and professionalism of the industry statewide.
Since retiring from the day-to-day operations in 1998, Eddie still takes great interest in the company success and serves as advisor to its management team, led by his son-in-law.
G. Benjamin Laury
In his career, Ben Laury personally trained and mentored more than 1,000 employees on the benefits and strengths of the Carrier brand, as well as on the importance of technical knowledge. He had an unwavering commitment to complete customer satisfaction.
As owner of Laury Heating in southern New Jersey, he was recognized early on as a model Carrier dealer when he was inducted into the Comfort Maker Hall of Fame in 1956. Throughout the years, Laury and his company have consistently won awards for top dealer performance from Carrier, as well as leadership awards for both volume and growth from his distributor, Peirce Phelps, Inc.
Laury continued working with his sons until he retired at age 89. He is being honored posthumously, having passed away in June 2009. The spirit and success he brought to Laury Heating continues today under the leadership of his sons and his son-in-law.
Michael Purl
After nearly a decade in broadcast television, Michael Purl joined the family business in 1977. Ten years later, he became a second-generation owner of Purl’s Sheet Metal and Air Conditioning, begun by his parents in 1952. The company has been associated with Carrier 37 years and FAD-qualified since the program’s inception. Among its accolades, Purl’s company achieved the highest customer service survey score within the northern California group of Carrier dealers in 2008.
Purl’s leadership includes an extensive list of board memberships and community service activities including support of youth organizations such as Boy Scouts of America, Camp Fire USA, Children’s Hospital Central California, 4-H, Future Farmers of America and both Little League and Babe Ruth ball teams. Purl has also been recognized for his business accomplishments with the 2009 Madera Chamber of Commerce Lifetime Achievement Award.
Purl’s Sheet Metal and Air Conditioning currently employs 30 people, many of whom have worked for the company more than 20 years.
About Carrier Corporation
Carrier Corp., headquartered in Farmington, Conn., is the world’s largest provider of heating, air-conditioning and refrigeration solutions, with operations in more than 170 countries. Carrier is part of United Technologies Corp., a Hartford, Connecticut-based provider of products and services to the aerospace and building systems industries worldwide. Visit www.carrier.com for more information.
