All Entries in the "Success Stories" Category
Anthony’s Auto Body Earns Official Certification and Prestigious Top Automaker Recognition
JOHNSTON, RI – Anthony’s Auto Body has been officially certified by Assured Performance, a non-profit consumer advocacy organization for maintaining the right tools, equipment, training, and facility necessary to repair the participating Automaker brand vehicles according to the manufacturer’s specifications In achieving their certification, Anthony’s Auto Body is now an integral part of the most advanced repair capable and efficient auto body repair network in the world. Adding to their credentials, Anthony’s Auto Body is officially recognized by Assured Performance, FCA, GM, and Hyundai.
To become Certified and officially recognized by the various Automakers, Anthony’s Auto Body passed the rigorous certification process essential to help ensure a proper and safe repair of the new generation of advanced vehicles. Less than 5 percent of body shops across the nation are able to meet the stringent requirements to become officially certified and recognized. The certified network is made up exclusively of best-in-class collision repair businesses that have met or exceeded the stringent requirements of the Certification program.
The Certification criteria is based upon auto manufacturer requirements. These are critical to ensure the vehicle fit, finish, durability, value and safety following an accident. As new model vehicles are being introduced that use light weight high strength materials and advanced technology, a proper repair according to manufacturer specification is even more important than ever to ensure the passenger safety and proper performance of the vehicle. Auto manufacturers want to ensure that consumers have the option of Certified Collision Repair wherever they live, work, or travel.
“Consumers need the confidence and peace of mind to know their vehicle is repaired by a shop that has what it takes to ensure the vehicle safety. Anthony’s Auto Body is officially a Collision Care Provider™,” said Scott Biggs, CEO of Assured Performance Collision Care. “They represent the standard by which all other body shops are measured.”
About Assured Performance Collision Care™: Assured Performance Collision Care™ is a non-profit consumer advocacy organization specializing in the automotive collision repair market segment. Assured Performance works with the top automakers to identify, audit and promote collision repair providers that meet best-in-class business standards and the manufacturer’s requirements Consumers can go to: www.CollisionCare.org or www.autobodylocator.com to find a list of Certified Collision repair providers.
At the Car Wash…
What happens when your company grows (and grows and grows!) and you want to keep that family feel? Well, in our case we’re trying to think outside the box as much as possible and are continuing to come up with creative ways to make sure our employees know how much they mean to us at Rob Levine & Associates. We are a team – one that works really hard and that we’re trying to keep rewarded for all that hard work. We’ve had a busy Summer full of team outings like a recent BBQ at McCoy Stadium. We surprised them with pizza parties and an ice cream truck recently then this week we scheduled a company, SHINE, to come to our office and clean our employee’s cars!
At the car wash
Workin’ at the car wash, yeah
Come on and sing it with me
(Listen to this oldie but goody here Car wash)
Mill’s Tavern Earns Wine Spectator Award for Second Year in a Row
PROVIDENCE, RI – Mill’s Tavern, a fine dining destination located in the historic Pilgrim Mills building on North Main Street in Providence, has earned a 2015 Award of Excellence from Wine Spectator magazine. The award is considered a top honor among restaurateurs and guests alike.
Wine Spectator honored Mill’s Tavern for having “one of the most outstanding restaurant wine lists in the world,” recognizing the restaurant for offering interesting selections that are appropriate to their cuisine and appeal to a wide range of wine lovers. Mill’s Tavern boasts a 175-selection wine list with a strong concentration in California wines. The list has well-chosen varietals from quality producers, along with a thematic match to the menu in both price and style.
“We are honored to be recognized–for the second year in a row–for our commitment to offering our guests a diverse selection of high-quality wines,” comments Mill’s Tavern General Manager Heather Mitchell. “Two years ago, we carefully reviewed our wine list to ensure it paired perfectly with our cuisine. At that time, we decided to increase the depth and breadth of our offerings to please both the casual diner and the wine connoisseur. Receiving this award is very satisfying, but what matters most is that our guests have been able to enjoy some really great wines since we made the changes.”
“Mill’s Tavern continues to deliver the highest caliber food, service and fine wines to our guests while remaining at a price point that appeals to many people,” notes Steve Aronow, one of the principal owners of the restaurant. “This recognition acknowledges the successful concept upon which our business is built, and we commend our management and staff on their achievement.”
Blackstone Valley A Visitor Destination
By Blackstone Valley Tourism Council
Since its creation in 1985, the Blackstone Valley Tourism Council (BVTC) has been a leader in transforming Rhode Island’s Blackstone Valley into a visitor destination – a strong, vibrant region for visitors and residents. Working with local communities, state and federal governments, and like-minded nonprofits and businesses, the Council has not only increased the number of visitors and enhanced their visitor experience, but strengthened the region’s economy, created a stronger, cleaner environment, and improved the quality-of-life for the Blackstone Valley. Through the Council’s efforts they have been awarded several global tourism awards including the coveted Ulysses Prize from the United Nations World Tourism Organization and the Tourism for Tomorrow Award from the World Travel & Tourism Council. No other tourism organization in the United States has been awarded these recognitions.
The key to the Council’s success has been quality planning, collaboration, and the use of sustainable tourism principles that encourage historic preservation and responsible destination development aimed at enhancing the environment, culture, aesthetics, heritage, and well-being without compromising the Blackstone Valley for future generations. With no mountains or ocean beaches, the Council built on many of the assets existing in the region prior to the Council’s creation: a rich, cultural heritage and historic legacy, ethnic diversity, a robust authentic restaurant scene, the scenic Blackstone River, many parks and recreational facilities, and existing attractions.
The Council’s mission is to create positive change with regard to community values by developing and promoting coordinated, responsible and sustainable tourism in Rhode Island’s Blackstone Valley communities. Recently, the Tourism Council has had special attention on working with the City of Central Falls. The natural, cultural and historical assets of the city, which includes the site of America’s earliest chocolate mill, are deeply woven throughout the community. In reality, Central Falls is the smallest and lowest-income city in Rhode Island, often viewed with negativity and unfavorable preconceptions. Central Falls is a very densely populated and largely low-income community that has had to struggle through local government corruption, crime, and a poor education system. To assist in overcoming these, BVTC has helped uncover and highlight the numerous assets available, create resources like River Island Campground and Chocolate Mill Overlook, and work to enable the city’s residents to increase stewardship and civic pride. Over the last five years, projects such as these have changed the landscape and outlook of the Central Falls. Now you will see the opening of new and exciting restaurants, cleaner streets and parks, frequent community festivals and events, and the relighting of Cogswell Tower- symbolizing a beacon of hope for the future.
The Council’s crowning achievement, which will lead our region into the future, is the newly enacted Blackstone River Valley National Historical Park – Rhode Island’s only National Park. Through a tenacious effort with several community partners, proper planning, and attention to preserving Blackstone Valley’s historical significance, this sought-after designation – an idea that began in BVTC’s office – was attained in December, 2014. The National Park will continue to come into place over the next few years,bringing in tens-of-thousands more visitors, increased visibility of the region, and additional funding opportunities to support further preservation and community projects that will highlight the richness of the Blackstone River Valley.
An aspect that people often overlook is the variation in types of tourism management. Similar to a product life cycle, R.W. Butler created the “visitor destination lifecycle”, where a destination’s position on this curve dictates what actions are taken. Some destinations around New England are in the “mature”stage where they can focus with great attention on promoting the tourism assets in place. Blackstone Valley, on the other hand, is a post-industrial area that has had to overcome severe environmental damage and poor public perception. For reasons such as these, Blackstone Valley is more so in the “development” stage. This means that organizations like Blackstone Valley Tourism Council hasneeded to concentrate on illuminating, preserving, and creating assets; restoring the environment to become recreation-ready, and shifting residents’ and visitors’ view to one that recognizes BlackstoneValley as a richly cultured and unique destination.
We are very proud that international companies like CVS Health and Hasbro have their headquarters in Blackstone Valley, as well as Hope Global and Berroco who keep manufacturing alive in the Valley. Twin River Casino and McCoy Stadium are two of the top visitor destinations in our State, a fact that not everyone may be aware of either. With regard to food, Blackstone Valley has many great culinary treasures like chicken family-style at Wright’s Farm, the Dynamite sandwich (a Woonsocket specialty), coffee milk, maple treats from Chepachet Farms, and the abundance of delicious authentic ethnic restaurants in Central Falls that includes La Casona and Budare Grille.
