The company’s annual convention had to be virtual this year to accommodate safety precautions amid the COVID-19 pandemic, but Byrider still honored 15 different franchise store operators.

The chain of buy-here, pay-here stores handed out Franchises of the Year Awards in three separate categories and also gave the Founders Award for operators celebrating a 10- or 20-year anniversary. 

The Franchise of the Year award recognizes best overall performance based on internal store rankings and a measure of how the business has contributed to the Byrider franchise community. The recipients included:

— Single point: Keith Kocourek and Jennifer Freiboth in Wausau, Wisc.

— 2-3 stores: Mark Bedgood, Bill Evans and Dale Boone in Longview, Tyler, Waco and Killeen, Texas

— 4 or more stores: Russ Larson and Jeff Lee in Davenport, Iowa as well as Joplin, Springfield and Columbia, Mo.

Recipients of the Founders Award included:

— Jim Kagiliery and Jim Thompson (20th anniversary) with locations in Jacksonville, Port Richey and Pinellas Park, Fla.

— Ward Griffith and Brad Helms (20th anniversary) with locations in Glen Burnie and Randallstown, Md.

— Aaron Zeigler and Todd Simerman (20th anniversary) with locations in Kalamazoo and Lansing, Mich.

— Jim Park and Mark Morris (20th anniversary) who are based in Marietta, Ohio with stores in Parkersburg, South Charleston, Clarksburg, Morgantown and Barboursville, W.Va.

For the past 30 years, the Byrider convention has provided an opportunity for franchisees, suppliers and corporate leaders to join together from across the country for comradery and to acknowledge the significant achievements of individuals who have contributed to the company’s success and celebrate historic milestones.

Although this year’s convention looked a little different, Byrider said it aimed to achieve the same goals.

“We all wish that we could be together this year, but I am so proud of each of the award recipients we were able to acknowledge during our virtual company convention,” Byrider chief executive officer Craig Peters said in a news release

“This has been such a hard year for everyone, and each award recognition is well deserved. Our franchisees faced unprecedented challenges in 2020 and proved they could succeed even in the most extreme of circumstances,” Peters continued.

Byrider vice president of franchising Chris Hadley added, “Congratulations to all of our award recipients! The franchisees are key drivers of our company’s goals.

“It is an understatement to say that 2020 was a curveball, but our franchisees rose to the challenge and delivered the customer service that our customers have come to expect from the Byrider brand,” Hadley went on to say. “I am so encouraged by the perseverance displayed across our company this year and look forward to when we can celebrate in-person again.”