Calgary’s Fountain Tire has been named to the prestigious list of The 50 Best Managed Private Companies, compiled by Motortruck’s sister publication, The National Post, as well as CIBC and Arthur Andersen.

The company is Canada’s second-largest independent tire dealer and one of the 15 largest in North America. Two years ago, the company sold 49 percent of its business to another very well known name in the industry, Goodyear Canada Inc.

“The main reason we decided to partner with one supplier is that it leads to a very focused strategy; you know who your supplier will be for the long term,” says Brian Hesje, chief executive of Fountain Tire. “When we first got involved with Goodyear, it was unheard of to rely on one supplier. My experience showed me that the simpler you can make your business, the more effective it will be. For example, working with Goodyear simplifies our marketing and training. It also gives us credibility with our customers.

Picking the elite companies that make the Top 50 Best Managed Private Companies list is as meticulous as it is meritorious. First, company executives are interviewed about their way of doing business. They must provide an executive summary, answer a detailed questionnaire and take a delegation of accounting consultants on a facility tour. When the delegation finishes with the executives, it investigates the employees. Next, Arthur Andersen, the Toronto-based accounting firm, sifts through the entries looking at the nature of the business, signs of growth and best practices in place. The results are then further narrowed and reviewed by a panel of business experts to come up with the final list of the 50 best-managed companies.