Painters Supply & Equipment Co., a Taylor, Michigan-based PPG Platinum Distributor, has been named the winner of the Auto Care Association’s (ACA) Auto Care Career and Education (ACE) Award for 2016-2017 in the Mid-Size Company category. The award recognizes a company’s dedication to training and the career development of its employees.

According to ACA, winning companies exhibit a dedicated and continuing investment in enhancing their employees’ level of knowledge and skill development. Award recipients were recognized Sept. 8 during ACA Fall Leadership Days in Washington, D.C.

Patrick Mayette, president of Painters Supply & Equipment, said, “We are honored by the Auto Care Association’s recognition of Painters Supply’s training initiatives. More important, we are proud of the manner in which Painters Supply associates have embraced the programs and used the knowledge and information to bring insight and value to their customers and stakeholders.”

Painters Supply provides numerous education initiatives to its more than 200 staff members. To encourage employee participation, the company has opened a dedicated state-of-the-art learning center at its corporate headquarters and offers a variety of training opportunities at its many store locations.

John Outcalt, PPG vice president, global automotive refinish, extended his congratulations. “It makes us very proud to see one of our top Platinum Distributors honored with this prestigious award,” he said. “This demonstrates the commitment that Painters Supply has made to ensure that their associates have what they need to be successful and responsive to their customers.”

Painters Supply & Equipment was established in 1952 and was immediately a single-line PPG distributor. It was also one of the charter members when the PPG Platinum Distributor program began in 1995. The company now has 21 retail stores throughout Michigan, Ohio and Indiana.

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 automotive refinish customers. The program delivers competitive advantages to 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.