Cotter Group Wins Small Business of the Year
9 June 2000
HARRISBURG, N.C. - The Cabarrus County, N.C. Chamber of Commerce
awarded its second annual Small Business of the Year Award Thursday to Cotter
Group, a motor sports marketing communications agency located outside Charlotte,
N.C.
"It is wonderful to see a business grow as Cotter Group has, and with the
level of commitment and involvement in the community," said Mark Whitley,
chairman of the Small Business Network, which supervised the competition
among members of the Cabarrus regional chamber. The regional competition
was based on a points system -- identical to that used at the state and
national levels -- which looked at company growth, profitability, job
creation and community reinvestment.
Cotter Group is a one-stop, full-service motor sports agency for local,
national and global marketers. Services include event management, public
relations, promotions, mobile marketing, licensing, automotive fleet
management and publishing. Founded in 1989 by Tom Cotter and Terry Boyce,
two entrepreneurs with a passion for motor sports, Cotter Group has grown
to more than 85 employees residing in several buildings located near Lowe's
Motor Speedway. Cotter Group services a diverse roster of clients
including DaimlerChrysler (Dodge, Mercedes-Benz USA), Motorola,
MichaelHoligan.com, Lowe's Home Improvement Warehouse, Speedvision,
McDonald's, as well as sanctioning bodies NASCAR and the World Karting
Association.
Cotter Group executives and employees actively participate in a variety of
local and national charitable causes. In 1999, the agency spearheaded a
flood-relief program, the Hayride 500 III, for eastern North Carolina
victims of Hurricane Floyd -- coordinating donations from major business
corporations in the area to provide food, water, clothing and other
necessities. More than 81 trucks delivered nearly five million pounds of
donated supplies. In addition, Cotter Group raised thousands of dollars
for Camp CARE, and adopted a portion of Speedway Boulevard for regular
cleanup.
"It was a very tough decision, because all of the finalists were best of
class," Whitley continued. "Cotter Group was very strong and balanced in
all areas. It is rare to find one that has it all, and Cotter Group
certainly does."
"This is a testament to the American dream and to getting involved in a
business you love," said Cotter, who started the business on a card table
in a small bungalow without heat or a telephone. "If, everyday, you are
doing what you really love and trying to be the best, you'll be rewarded.
To achieve this level of recognition outside our industry is extremely
gratifying. It's a dream come true for me, and I share it with all of the
people at Cotter Group. I am very lucky to be involved with such talented
people."
Cotter keeps his finger on the pulse of the auto racing industry as a
contributing editor to Road & Track magazine and as an industry consultant
to the Wall Street Journal. In addition to the community service he
supervises through the company, Cotter sits on the Pastoral Council of St.
Mark's Church in Huntersville, N.C.
Cotter Group will move on to compete in the state and national
competitions. "Nothing would make us happier than to see Cotter Group win
the national competition," said Whitley. "We believe they'll do extremely
well -- they are that exceptional."