Belgium Competitor Benoit Deckers Takes First Place in Best of Belron; Safelite's Mark Jackson Takes Second
June 10, 2010

Safelite's Mark Jackson took second place in the worldwide Best of Belron competition.

Benoit Deckers of Carglass Belux® in Belgium has been named the winner of the 2010 Best of Belron competition in Paris. Belron president and chief executive officer Gary Lubner presented Deckers with the award during a ceremony held there today.

Safelite's Mark Jackson took second place in the competition, and Steffen Taeterow of Carglass Germany took third. The second place winner received a prize of 5,000 euros (approximately $6,000 U.S. dollars) and third place takes home a prize of 3,000 euros (approximately $3,600 U.S. dollars).

In addition, the three runners-up in the competition, in no particular order, were Canada's Francisco Jarquin of Lebeau Vitres d'autos®; Davide Tropea of Carglass Italy; and United Kingdom-based Paul Howe of Autoglass®.

"This was a very, very, as ever, tough competition," said Lubner during the awards ceremony. "The scores were very close. There were over 1,000 points that we had to give out."

There were 27 competitors from around competing for the title of Best of Belron, and approximately 1,000 in attendance at the event.

Prior to naming the winners, Lubner applauded all the competitors for their efforts.

"You are all champions. You are all winners. You are national champions and you are among the best fitters and technicians in the world," he said. "Secondly, you represent 12,000 technicians in Belron worldwide. You're 27, but there are 12,000 people like you, and that's a big number."

The competition was based on a windshield installation, repair, sidelite replacement and communication with the customer throughout each job. In addition, each competing technician must complete a test covering various aspects of the job, including health, safety, working methods and dealing with customers, according to the company.

To qualify for the event, each finalist has had to win his own country competition. (CLICK HERE for related story about the U.S. competition, held this January in Orlando, Fla.)

The event was held at Grande Halle de la Villette.

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