Traction: Virginia Tire Honored by Washington Business Journal
Virginia Tire and Auto has been honored with an award from the Washington Business Journal, naming it one of the best family-owned businesses in the Washington, D.C., metropolitan area.
Fairfax-based Virginia Tire and Auto was given the inaugural award for innovation, ethics and philanthropy at a special awards ceremony recognizing family-owned businesses on March 17.
“Virginia Tire and Auto is honored to be recognized as one of the top family-owned businesses,” said Virginia Tire and Auto president Julie Holmes. “My father started Virginia Tire and Auto more than 40 years ago standing on a promise to deliver exceptional customer service and dedicated, quality care. Today we continue to honor that promise.”
Virginia Tire and Auto is a full-service provider of automotive maintenance, repair and tire services. The company was founded by Myron Boncarosky and over the past four decades has grown to a chain of more than 12 facilities across Northern Virginia. It is now run by Holmes and her husband, Mike.
Family comes first
Holmes credits the company’s multi-generational model and family-orientated ethos with its success, saying family-owned businesses offer a unique working environment, investment in people and opportunities for training, reward and advancement.
“Because our family is so committed to Virginia Tire and Auto, we have never shied away from continually reinvesting in our business and our people,” she said. “For our employees, we are constantly looking for ways to better understand the issues they are facing and how to address them.”
At Virginia Tire and Auto, it really is a family affair, with 20 family pairings, or 40 family members, currently counted among the company’s staff. While some businesses might discourage a related workforce, Holmes said Virginia Tire and Auto considers it a strength.
“I believe our ‘related’ workforce speaks directly to our family-owned ethos and care for staff. We make these situations work and encourage it. We are proud that from 2013 to 2015 (staff) turnover has decreased by four percent.”
A history of giving back
Philanthropy and community giving is also a large part of the Virginia Tire and Auto ethos; it has two main philanthropic/community efforts that it supports, as well as dozens of local organizations, sports teams and schools.
The company has a partnership with Fairfax County Public Schools that offers paid internships to young people interested in the automotive repair field. It also operates its own Wheels for Work program, providing free automotive repair services to low-income Northern Virginia families.
“Not having a dependable vehicle is a barrier some people face in finding and keeping a job,” Holmes said. “Our Wheels for Work program allows us to help working families in Northern Virginia have reliable transportation so that they can bridge the barrier between home and work.
“This program is an opportunity for us to give back to the community by providing what we do best, offering excellent car care service. We are proud to be able to help our friends and neighbors.”
To date, Virginia Tire and Auto has helped families to the tune of $21,000 of repairs and was awarded the title of Community Champion by Shelter House in 2012.
The future also looks very bright for this inspirational company; Virginia Tire and Auto will open its thirteenth location in May or June of this year, adding another state-of-the-art facility to its current suite of North Virginia locations.
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