Coatses and Big O Tires Recognized for Supporting Communities
April 24, 2016
Written By Adam Buckallew
The generosity and community involvement of the Missouri and Arkansas Big O Tires stores have caught the attention of Big O Tires corporate headquarters in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla. The national tire retailer recently recognized Rusty and Melanie Coats with a “Living Our Core Values” award to salute the duo’s outstanding charitable efforts at MFA Oil’s 15 Big O Tires franchise stores.
“There are more than 480 Big O Tires stores across the country, so we feel honored to be selected to receive this award,” says Melanie, who manages marketing and advertising for the Missouri and Arkansas Big O Tires. “We see it as a great compliment to the commitment we’ve made to give back to our communities.”
The Coatses are well known for their philanthropic activities. Their efforts span both local and national initiatives, and they make giving a point of emphasis with the stores they manage.
“We really preach the importance of community involvement,” explains Rusty, MFA Oil’s director of retail tire services. “We’ve observed a direct correlation between the levels of local support our stores provide and their sales and success. Getting out and helping the surrounding community helps to build valuable relationships and goodwill for our business.”
Schools, veteran support groups and shelters for abused women are among the organizations the Coatses and their team of Big O Tires associates have helped in recent years.
“We like to start with support for the school districts where our tire centers are located, and then we work with our store managers to identify additional charitable endeavors that are important to them and their employees,” Melanie adds. “Several, like our Camdenton (Mo.) store, elect to give to charities that support military veterans. For the most part, our employees are very patriotic and that is usually a cause they can all get behind.”
Beyond corporate giving, the Coatses believe charity begins at home and are intentional about giving back to their employees. In the past they have provided stocked backpacks for all their associates’ children as they return to school in August. They have also found ways to help when the holidays roll around each year.
“Our employees really bust their rear ends for us, and we like to find ways to show them how much we appreciate their hard work,” Rusty says. “Not only is it the right thing to do, but it creates tighter bonds among our team members and provides extra motivation for them to keep up the good work.”
Good corporate citizenship is one of MFA Oil’s guiding principles, and the company is proud to congratulate Rusty and Melanie Coats on their well-deserved honor.