TYLER, Texas - American Standard Heating & Air Conditioning has announced the winners of its 2003 "Stars and Stripes" dealer and distributor sales incentive program. The five-month incentive program generated 60,000 program entries by dealers and distributors across the country who had installed high-efficiency residential and light-commercial units.

"Stars and Stripes proves that American Standard dealers and distributors continue to raise the bar in creating strong sales momentum in our industry while ensuring that our customers receive the most efficient heating and cooling products to perfectly match their home comfort needs," said Paul Trotter, American Standard national sales manager.

The Stars and Stripes program rewarded dealer salespeople with cash awards from American Standard for each qualifying high-efficiency residential or light-commercial product sold during the program period of March 1, 2003, through August 31, 2003. Each qualifying product sale earned dealer salespeople one entry for a random grand prize drawing.

American Standard provided marketing support for the Stars and Stripes program through national and local advertising, radio and television spots, and billboards promoting a "No Payments Until 2004" offer. Any customer who purchased eligible equipment, including the Allegiance, Heritage or Freedom brands, could apply for the "No Payments Until 2004" consumer financing option.

Jim Ferrell, the owner of Ferrell Heating & Air, was recognized as the grand prize drawing winner, taking home a Ford F-150 Super Cab pickup truck. Ferrell Heating & Air, located in Tahlequah, Okla., is supported by Aces A/C Supply, an American Standard independent distributor who covers the northern part of Texas and the state of Oklahoma.

Winners of the 36-inch Sony flat screen television were Bobby Robinson, Tri-County Air System (Jasper, Ala.) and Rick Speir, Speir Heating & Air Inc. (Warner Robins, Ga.).

Nikon digital camera winners were Cindy Cofield, Cofield Comfort Systems (La Grange, Ga.), Tim Knight, Total Comfort LLC (Fredericksburg, Va.), and Dave Nickelson, Mielcasz & Associates (Sacramento, Calif.).

Winners of the Weber gas grill were Bill Busch, Busch Heating & Cooling (St. Louis), Allen Denner, Neighbors Heating, Cooling & Plumbing (Ames, Iowa), Rocky Gander, ABCO Heating & Cooling (St. Petersburg, Fla.), and Jeff Peterson, Russaw Heating & Air Inc. (Conway, Ark.).

Distributor territory managers also received points for units sold by their dealer salespeople that they could use to win toward such prizes as plasma televisions, electronics, and fishing and golf equipment. The top 20 territory managers listed according to program sales are:

1. Bob Tweet, American Refrigeration Supplies; 2. Charles Lobaugh, Northeastern Supply; 3. Keith Kramer, Munch's Supply; 4. Dick McKinley, O'Connor Company; 5. Doug Larkins, Aces A/C Supply, Inc.; 6. Ryan Crosier, Aces A/C Supply, Inc.; 7. Andy Prado, Aces A/C Supply, Inc.; 8. Sim Gordon, Air Systems; 9. Robert Bedford, Ferguson Enterprises; 10. Tim Davidson, Aces A/C Supply, Inc.; 11. John O'Conner, CFM Equipment; 12. Billy Johnson, Aces A/C Supply, Inc.; 13. Gary Ingle, ARS; 14. Bill Schlener, American Air; 15. Tim Gard, Air Systems; 16. Carl Hoffpauir, A/C Supply; 17. Phillip Rodriquez, Aces A/C Supply, Inc.; 18. Rodney Fann, Gulf Refrigeration; 19. Harold Key, Air Systems; 20. Don Pill, Dick Worthen Distributing.

Publication date: 01/19/2004