Darrin Zubiak accepts the Fountain Tire MVP award at the company’s 2024 Owners’ Convention.

Fountain Tire honoured Canada’s tire industry leaders this March at the company’s annual Owners’ Convention in Lake Louise. The top accolade, Most Valuable Player, was awarded to Darrin Zubiak, local owner of the Fountain Tire Vermilion, Alberta store.

Zubiak was recognized for steadily growing his business over the past thirteen years. He is a multi-year Benchmark Award winner, surpassing financial targets each year while maintaining high safety and customer feedback ratings. Among the Fountain Tire network, Zubiak is known for his entrepreneurial spirit, dedication to customer service and mentorship.

“Darrin is an industry leader through-and-through,” says Fountain Tire CEO Jason Herle. “He has embodied our company’s partnership philosophy every step of his career. From day one, he’s pitched in to ensure the success of those around him – whether that’s going the extra mile for a customer, working on the tools alongside his associates or supporting the local community.”

“My colleagues have set a high bar,” says Zubiak. “While I’m honoured and humbled to be recognized among them, the success of our store also comes down to our staff. We’re problem solvers. We all help each other out. We’re a team.”

Championing local charitable initiatives, youth sports and trades training programs have also been a contributor to the store’s success, according to Zubiak. “If you support the community, the community will support you,” he says. 

Zubiak began his career at Fountain Tire in 1999. He worked his way up the ranks from service truck driver to shop foreman, inside sales then assistant manager, gaining a broad range of experience in farm service, roadside assistance, oilfield service and retail. He joined the Vermilion location as manager in 2008 and purchased a 50 per cent ownership stake in the store two years later.

Awarded annually since 2004, the Most Valuable Player is selected from owners across Fountain Tire’s network of 167 locations. Nominees are graded on several business success markers, including leadership, community involvement, customer relationships and safety.

Also recognized at the Owners’ Convention were: Robert Johnson of London (Stoneybrook), Rookie of the Year; Jordan Fraser of Calgary (Crowfoot), Most Improved Retail; and Matthew Fedechko of Cold Lake, Alberta, as Most Improved Mixed. 

For more information on Fountain Tire, visit fountaintire.com.    

About Fountain Tire

Established in 1956, Fountain Tire is one of Canada’s premier tire and automotive service networks with 167 locations spanning Central and Western Canada from Vaughan, north of Toronto, to Victoria, British Columbia.

The company is also a leading provider of tires and tire-related services to commercial truck fleets and off-road vehicles used in the agriculture, oil and gas, mining, and construction sectors.

The majority of Fountain Tire managers own equity in their stores. This partnership-based business model combines community-invested store management with corporate intelligence to provide service that truly puts the customer first. The company’s shared ownership business model has enabled it to be named among Canada’s “Best Managed Companies” every year since 1994.