One Million Training Tests Taken Through Stihl iCademy

A registered iCademy user was awarded two complimentary round trip airline tickets to anywhere in the continental U.S. for successfully completing the one millionth test.

Marty Catron (right) accepts his plane tickets from Stihl Inc. president Fred Whyte (left).
Marty Catron (right) accepts his plane tickets from Stihl Inc. president Fred Whyte (left).

More than one million training tests have been taken through Stihl’s award-winning Stihl iCademy personal development program, a free distance-based resource which offers interactive training modules and videos for all registered Stihl dealership owners and their employees. As part of the “Train2Gain” Stihl iCademy Challenge, Stihl awarded Marty Catron, corporate parts manager at Tri Green Tractor LLC in Flora, IN, and registered iCademy user, with two complimentary round trip airline tickets to anywhere in the continental U.S. for successfully completing the one millionth test.

Catron, who has worked with the owners of Tri Green Tractor since the 1980’s, was excited when he got the news. “I never expected to be recognized in this way,” said Catron, whose successful completion of the Pruning 101 module led to his one millionth test recognition. “I use the program at work all the time. Even folks who think they know everything about the business can learn from Stihl iCademy and grow their careers.”

As part of the prize package, Catron and Jason Pearson, one of the principal owners of Tri Green Tractor, were flown to Stihl Inc. headquarters in Virginia Beach, VA, where they toured the U.S. manufacturing plant, met with Stihl representatives and executives, and received recognition for their achievement as the iCademy Challenge winners. Pearson was also presented with the keys to a new 2013 Ram 1500 Big Horn Quad Cab 4X4, Motor Trend’s Truck of the Year, on behalf of his dealership.

“I already had a real respect for Stihl. Their choice to work with nothing but servicing dealers shows integrity and principle,” said Pearson, who plans to use his new truck as a dealership fleet vehicle. “After seeing how every piece of equipment is tested, started and run before leaving the plant, I have an even bigger respect for their dedication to quality, too. It’s a heck of a commitment.”

Stihl developed the iCademy program to assist dealers in delivering the outstanding service that differentiates them from their competitors and is a vital part of the Stihl brand. “The quality of the customer experience at their Stihl dealer is every bit as important as the quality of our products,” said Dr. Nikolas Stihl, chairman of the Advisory Board of Stihl Holding AG & Co. KG and grandson of the company’s founder.

John Keeler, national training manager at Stihl Inc., said, “Stihl’s success is dependent on our servicing dealers. Product training and business knowledge plays an integral role in the success of a dealership. Stihl views iCademy as an effective and efficient way to support our dealers’ businesses and their training needs. It enables Stihl to reach out to the extensive network of independently owned dealerships,” said Keeler.

 

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