Maaco Auto Painting and Collision Repair recognizes franchise owners who exemplify operational excellence each year with the award of the Maaco Cup at its national convention. This past year, two outstanding franchisees received this prestigious award.

From Banking to Maaco Owner, Roy Seay Recognized as a 2019 Maaco Cup winner

Roy Seay was always a car enthusiast, but it wasn’t until after 30 plus years in the banking business that he decided to become an independent business owner and Maaco franchise owner.

“I always loved cars, I worked on my Dad’s car with him and on my own show cars,” said Seay. “When I was ready to leave banking for a new career, I did my research around the opportunities in the automotive industry. Maaco had a great success record and the best return for the dollar.”

In 2005, Seay and his wife Shelia (Shown L-R Russ Slocum, SVP North American Operations for Maaco, Roy and Shelia Seay, Bob Benjamin, president, Maaco) opened the first Maaco in Lubbock, Texas, and with the help of the Maaco team’s coaching and support, along with their national advertising program, the business began to grow.

Seay’s shop is now a multi-million-dollar producer, and he has won several regional awards along the way. His accomplishments were recognized by being named one of the two Maaco Cup winners for 2019. 

“Maaco has a great team helping you build a successful business — if you follow the playbook and use the resources available to you. A franchise arrangement is a financial commitment — you pay for experience that you don’t have yourself and that experience is worth every penny. When you open your doors, you aren’t a rookie. You have 47 years of experience behind you. I’ve owned the business for 14 years and I always felt that I have 47 years of experience.”

Father-Son Team of Jim and Jamie Powell Recognized as Maaco Cup Award Winners with Eight Consecutive Years of Growth

Jim Powell (Pictured L-R Slocum, Jamie Powell, Jim Powell, Benjamin) was involved in the direct mail business early in his career. When a friend who had left the direct mail business to become a Maaco franchisee was looking for partners to expand to multiple locations, Powell joined him and became his first partner. In 1990, he bought out his partner and became an independent owner.

Not being from an automotive background, the training and support that the Maaco team provided was invaluable throughout the years of ownership for Powell.

“The training they provided on general repair guidelines, business training, cost control, and the painting and prep procedures helped add to our successful operation,” said Powell.

Powell’s son Jamie became a partner 10 years ago and the father-and-son team has delivered year-over-year sales increases the last eight years, while achieving Maaco Diamond Certification status.

Diamond certification is the premier level within the Maaco system, meaning that the center has all the equipment and training necessary to repair the complex vehicles that are on the road today. Diamond certification also means the center and its technicians are I-CAR Gold Certified and are qualified to participate in an insurance company DRP (Direct Repair Program) as well as Maaco’s national fleet program.

The Powell’s commitment to excellence and continuous improvement, as demonstrated by their Diamond certification, is one of the reasons that they were selected as a Maaco Cup Winner.

“Becoming Diamond Certified was very important to us and our objectives for continued growth,” said Jim and Jamie Powell. “The automotive repair environment is changing rapidly, and you have to keep up if you want to continue to be successful and grow. The training, coaching and support that Maaco University provides to help us achieve certification keeps us learning and growing.”