TAMPA, Fla. - Carrier Corp., a part of United Technologies Corp., recently presented its Dealer Hall of Fame Award to three recipients during the 2010 Carrier Factory Authorized Dealer (FAD) conference in Tampa, Fla. Edward “Eddie” Goodwin, G. Benjamin Laury, and Michael Purl were each recognized with the coveted Lifetime Achievement Award.

The award is given each year to only a select few chosen by a Carrier management committee from among those nominated by their distributors.

“The Carrier Dealer Hall of Fame was created to recognize and honor dealers who exhibit enthusiasm, loyalty, and courage in their work and who embody the same leadership traits as Willis Carrier, the founder of our company and the inventor of modern air conditioning,” said Michelle Caldwell, Carrier brand manager. “Each of these men exemplifies compassion and commitment to their employees, community, and customers and has long, outstanding histories with Carrier. It is an honor to recognize them with this award.”

Eddie Goodwin became a Carrier dealer in 1971, the year he returned to his hometown of Mountain Home, Ark., to purchase Central Heating and Cooling. Under his leadership, Central grew into a top-performing Carrier FAD company consistently recognized for its many sales achievements. Goodwin also founded and led the Arkansas HVACR Association.

As owner of Laury Heating in southern New Jersey, Ben Laury personally trained and mentored more than 1,000 employees on the benefits and strengths of the Carrier brand, as well as on the importance of technical knowledge. He was inducted into the Comfort Maker Hall of Fame in 1956 and consistently won awards throughout the years for top dealer performance. Laury, who passed away in 2009, was honored posthumously.

Michael Purl joined his family’s business in 1977, and 10 years later, he became a second-generation owner of Purl’s Sheet Metal and Air Conditioning. The company has been associated with Carrier for 37 years and has been FAD-qualified since the program’s inception. Among its accolades, Purl’s company achieved the highest customer service survey score within the Northern California group of Carrier dealers in 2008.

Publication date: 04/26/2010