BFS Retail & Commercial Operations Named “Retailer Educator Of The Year”University of Arkansas’ Center for Retailing Excellence recognizes company’s commitment to education and scholarship

BLOOMINGDALE, Ill. (Oct. 29, 2008) — BFS Retail & Commercial Operations, LLC (BFRC) is proud to be the recipient of the “Retailer Educator of the Year” award from the Center for Retailing Excellence in the Sam M. Walton College of Business at the University of Arkansas.

The “Retailer Educator of the Year” award was established by the Center for Retailing Excellence to recognize a member organization for outstanding involvement in the development of future leaders in the retailing industry. BFRC’s involvement with the Center for Retailing Excellence includes: representation on the executive board and advisory board; chairing the scholarship committee; arranging executive speaking engagements; and employing summer interns in meaningful retail roles.

The company, which operates the largest network of company-owned automotive service providers in the world — including Firestone Complete Auto Care™ and Tires Plus™ store locations — accepted the award at the eighth annual Emerging Trends in Retailing Conference in Rogers, Ark. During this day-long event, attendees discussed today’s retail environment, the economy and sustainability with leaders from top global companies.

“For more than 80 years, the key to our success has been customer loyalty, our commitment to community and teammate pride,” said Ron Tepner, Vice President of Human Resources, BFRC. “By helping to instill these guiding beliefs in the classroom, BFRC hopes to develop the next generation of retail leaders.”

“The Center’s primary focus is to provide a bridge between academics and industry,” stated Claudia Mobley, Director of the Center for Retailing Excellence. “BFRC has been a driving force behind this initiative by providing scholarships and internship opportunities to our students.”

The Center for Retailing Excellence, through a strong partnership with retailer and supplier industries, is one of the foremost internationally acclaimed centers for retail studies focused on research and the development of students as future leaders in the retailing and related industries.