CITY Beverage-Chicago Teams up with Bob Anastas to “Check In to a Winning Life”
Responsibility was the overriding message imparted to hundreds of area students. In a gripping program presented by CITY Beverage-Chicago (CBC), local teens heard a powerful plea to make smart choices by Bob Anastas, a former teacher and the founder of SADD (Students Against Drunk Driving).
Twin tragedies in the summer of 1981 profoundly changed the course of Anastas’ life. Within four days, two star athletes on his high school hockey team were killed in separate drunk driving crashes. Their deaths prompted Anastas to start a new health program for sophomores at the Massachusetts schools where he taught. From this concept, SADD was born.
Anastas’ current program, “Check In to a Winning Life,” seeks to educate the teens on illegal underage drinking and drunk driving. Brought to town by CBC, his message was presented to students at Gwendolyn Brooks College Preparatory, Hales Franciscan High School and Dominican University. The program strives to develop responsible attitudes in teens and help them make smart choices about the many challenges they face.
“Drinking illegally and driving drunk are just two forms of high-risk behavior students exhibit – symptoms of a deeper cause,” said Tanya Cohn, CBC’s Director of Government Affairs, Consumer Awareness and Education. “That cause is rooted in declining life skills of self-discipline, self-esteem, motivation, maturity and leadership. The ‘Check In to a Winning Life’ program covers these issues, motivating students, teachers and parents to broaden their understanding of risk-taking behavior and to forcefully address it.”
“As parents who are active in our communities, CITY Beverage-Chicago and its employees are very aware of our responsibility to educate our city’s youth about the consequences of illegal consumption of alcohol,” continued Cohn. “We are proud to do our part in keeping the children of Chicago safe.”
Progress Point Sales Consultant Gets a Star Rating and a New Mercedes-Benz
Mercedes-Benz considers Chris Strom a shining star. The certified sales and leasing consultant at Soave Enterprises’ Mercedes-Benz of Progress Point was named Grand Champion in the recent “A Star is Born” competition.
To achieve this top honor, Strom matched skills with over 1,000 sales professionals representing 109 dealerships throughout the U.S. Central Region. Consultants were vigorously judged on their product knowledge and customer service skills in presenting the all new Mercedes-Benz C Class. The competition included a role play with simulated customers when Strom was assessed on her presentation of brand heritage, style, features, safety, performance and benefits of owning a Mercedes-Benz.
Strom’s demonstrated skills won her a trip for two to Germany to the Mercedes-Benz factory, as well the lease of a new 2008 C Class. “Chris has been the dealership’s top sales consultant for both 2006 and 2007,” notes Jack Smith, Soave Automotive Group’s Strategic Operations Manager. “We are very proud of her accomplishments both here at Progress Point and at the regional competition.”
Along with strong home sales, the community’s Town Center continues to thrive. Consolidated Cinemas, which has only been open since May 2007, ranked in the top grossing theatres for the entire Washington D.C. metropolitan area. Adams notes, “Our residents select Brambleton for its active, community-focused lifestyle and conveniently located amenities.”
The Soave Enterprises Million Minute Challenge
Finding the motivation to exercise is often more difficult than the actual exercise. Understanding this very human quirk, the Soave Million Minute Challenge wants to give all Soave employees the inspiration to get started – and award prizes to those who truly embrace the challenge.
The program began on May 1 and will continue until October 15, 2008. Extended to all Soave divisions nationwide, the company goal is to log 1,000,000 minutes of exercise. Participants are invited to engage in the sport of their choice, from walking and running to cycling and weight training.
“Anything that gets you moving counts towards the overall goal,” explains Kristan Williams, the program’s coordinator. “The challenge is an expansion of the previous Soave Walking Club. Several employees indicated they would like to participate in a company wellness club, but walking wasn’t their exercise of choice.”
Prizes will be awarded to divisions who average the highest minutes exercised per employee and to individuals who log the greatest amount of time overall. Using the honor system, each site will have a log book for self-reporting. Each month, standings will be tabulated and reported to all competitors.
“With over 2,000 employees nationwide and 24 weeks of exercise time, we should be at our Million Minute mark in no time,” Williams noted, “and, importantly, on our way to healthier life styles.”
Soave Brochure Takes High Honors
With style-setting graphic design and a distinctive brushed metal look, the new Soave Enterprises corporate brochure produced by Michigan-based Brogan & Partners recently captured multiple printing industry awards. In an annual competition sponsored by the IAPHC (International Association of Printing House Craftsmen), the brochure won first place in the local contest, then received a silver award at the international level for print quality.
“Awards are judged by highly regarded printers, art directors and other print professionals,” notes Bonnie Folster, Executive Creative Director at Brogan & Partners. “They look at paper quality, special techniques like spot varnish or enamel, and extra print colors. Soave’s magenta logo color very likely was another technical challenge to hold without distorting other colors. People involved in printing see the challenges and appreciate the results.”
“The great results are appreciated by Soave team members as well,” says Kathleen McCann, Soave Senior Vice President. “We have received a great deal of positive feedback on the look and content of the brochure, most of it unsolicited. Brogan’s attention to detail throughout the project nicely mirrored the behavior we see from so many of our employees on a daily basis. Kudos to all involved.”
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