AR Franchising, Inc. recently hosted its inaugural Building Success: Awards & Strategy Conference, marking a significant milestone for the company and its associates. During this event, our executive leadership team reflected on the accomplishments of 2023 and discussed our objectives for 2024, demonstrating our commitment to excellence and growth. Additionally, associates gathered both in-person and virtually to engage in discussions.
This gathering offered a unique opportunity for interaction, laughter, and celebration as we recognized the numerous successes of 2023. Don Whetro, Interim CEO at AR Franchising, Inc., kicked off the event with insightful remarks, stating “he wants us to shape our outlook for 2023 and 2024 like this: we will succeed or learn, the true failure would be if we don’t gather data, turn it into actionable insights, and apply it to our business.”
AR Franchising, Inc. also recognized the contributions and hard work of associates by presenting various awards and accolades, and we invite you to celebrate each of our associates for their accomplishments below.
Interiors of the Year: Colleen Roach, Associate Director of Interiors at AR Franchising, Inc.
The Interiors of the Year award is determined by the alignment of designs with the AR Homes® brand. Colleen Roach’s exceptional work seamlessly integrates architectural features, innovative color palettes, and meticulous material selections. Her collaboration with the residential design team has resulted in an award-winning model home that exceeds AR Homes® builders expectations.
Sunshine Award: Tricia Prosch, Sales Training Manager at AR Franchising, Inc.
The Sunshine Award was determined by nominations from peers. Here is what some of Tricia’s coworkers had to say about her positivity, passion, and teamwork in the workplace: “Tricia possesses a unique ability to brighten the atmosphere in any setting. Her positivity is contagious and has a profound impact on the people around her.”
Rookie of the Year: Michael Castillo, Senior Project Manager at AR Franchising, Inc.
The Rookie of the Year Award, determined through ARF Leadership nominations and executive leadership team decisions, was awarded to Michael Castillo. Michael’s peers have spoken highly of him, with one colleague stating, “Michael has been such a positive addition to the AR Homes® family! Always constructive and cheerful in the office and really cares to get to know his colleagues! He would be so deserving of this award!”
Service Award: Jonathan Alosi, Estimator at AR Franchising, Inc.
The Service Award, determined by franchise nominations, was presented to Jonathan Alosi for consistently giving exceptional customer service to our franchises. AR Homes® franchises shared that Jonathan is “always incredibly responsive, always meets or exceeds his projected timelines, is always happy to answer questions or talk through issues, and always does his job in a professional, competent manner and has a great attitude while doing it.”
Leadership Award: Cathi Lane, Director of Interior Design at AR Franchising, Inc.
The Leadership Award, determined through associate nomination and executive leadership team decision, was awarded to Cathi Lane. Cathi’s peers expressed that she, “exemplifies leadership, cares deeply about each employee and she leads with direction and purpose. When things get rough, Cathi does what she can to lift people’s spirits. She is always kind and compassionate, plus has a boatload of knowledge! She is a terrific, supportive peer, as well. She deserves this award!”
Founder’s Award: Mark Cubero, Purchasing Manager at AR Franchising, Inc.
The Founders Award, chosen by the CEO, is a special award that our founder, Arthur Rutenberg reserved for individuals that he felt went beyond expectations, achieving extraordinary results. The CEO shared a statement, expressing that “selecting Mark for this award was not difficult, in fact, he embodies everything that Arthur Rutenberg would endorse and seek in an individual. He is incredibly hard-working, adaptable, positive, finds a way to get it done, tough when he needs to be, and caring.”
The Building Success: Awards & Strategy Conference concluded as a resounding success. As AR Franchising, Inc. embarks on the journey ahead, associates are infused with a renewed sense of purpose and determination, confident in their ability to overcome challenges and achieve even greater heights of success together.
