Recent Awards Shine Spotlight on AAA Northeast

The AAA mission has always been to help and serve our members, our employees and our communities, especially when they need us most. And that mission is more than just a corporate culture, it’s a way of life.

Still, it’s always nice when somebody takes notice. So we’re proud to announce some of the awards and recognitions we received in 2020.

Leading by Example

John Galvin, president and CEO, was praised for his handling of the COVID-19 crisis.

The Providence Business News recognized Galvin among 25 Leaders & Achievers in Rhode Island. In introducing Galvin, publisher Roger Bergenheim said he stood apart for providing continuous service to AAA members during the pandemic while taking measures to protect them and employees.

Galvin told the audience that his actions were consistent with AAA values.

“We treat everyone with dignity and respect. That we make sure people get through this from a safety standpoint is critical but from an economic safety standpoint as well,” he said.

And he offered this advice to future business leaders: “Values are important in business. Bringing your values to work and making sure your values are consistent with the organization is very important. I think that’s never been more true than it is today.”

In addition, Steve Manty, executive vice president, earned AAA’s highest honor, the Association Champion Award.  The award is presented by the national organization annually to a thought leader, collaborator and exceptional communicator who evangelizes best practices for the organization.

Advocating for Members

AAA Northeast was recognized with the prestigious advocacy award from the national federation. Here are some of the celebrated efforts in 2020.

• The organization started offering New York Department of Motor Vehicles services  in select AAA offices, and led a successful campaign to change the state’s seat belt law to include backseat passengers.
• AAA and traffic safety partners in Massachusetts celebrated a legislative victory when a handheld cellphone ban law took effect in February.
• AAA Northeast successfully converted its traffic safety and public policy programs to the virtual landscape while expanding its offerings to members. The signature AAA Driver Improvement Program quickly transitioned to online delivery.
• The marijuana prevention program for teens created by AAA Northeast received honors for innovation from the national organization. The high school curriculum, Shifting Gears, aims to deter teens from driving under the influence of marijuana. AAA traffic safety educators deliver the lessons.

Informing and Engaging

Your AAA Network received international acclaim. The website and its daily e-newsletter each earned gold honors in the MarCom Awards, administered by the Association of Marketing and Communication Professionals. The network also won an award from the Content Marketing Institute for a native advertising/sponsored content campaign with Sprint in 2019 and was a finalist in print/digital integration.

The artistic team at AAA Northeast earned four awards from Graphic Design USA.  Its  “Thank You Health Care Workers” truck wrap was among the award winners. It also earned awards for a Game of Life Insurance infographic it created for Your AAA, a group membership brochure and a sponsorship ad for Audrain Concours.

AAA celebrated a special callout from Khoros, whose platform powers digital engagement for thousands of companies across the globe. It earned the Best in Class Marketing award for its response to the rapidly changing environment during the pandemic.

Your AAA received an honorable mention in the USPS Next Generation Campaign Awards for successfully coordinating its print edition with a digital campaign using the U.S. Postal Service’s Informed Delivery. The free service allows anyone who signs up to preview mail deliveries online before they arrive. It also allows businesses to provide digital enhancements. Your AAA offers Informed Delivery customers a digital sneak peek of the print magazine.

A Great Place to Work

Employee feedback earned the club two awards in 2020.

The Boston Globe included AAA Northeast in its 150 Top Places to Work in Massachusetts recognition program. It was 29 out of 40 in the large-employer category. The Providence Business News placed AAA in its Best Places to Work in Rhode Island rankings. It ranked second in the Enterprise-employer category. Employee responses to an anonymous survey, conducted by a third party, were the main driver of the award criteria.

AAA Northeast has been recognized as a world leader in employee learning and development for three years in a row. Training magazine ranked the club among its Top 125 in 2020 and 2019. The club earned the 29th spot in 2020, up from 68th in 2019. This year, only 100 organizations made the Training list. The magazine will reveal rankings in February.

The club earned awards in three states for its commitment to employees’ well-being. In applying for the Healthiest Employer awards in Connecticut, Massachusetts and Rhode Island, the club had to provide details about safety and wellness programs, services and benefits it provides employees. It also had to prove their effectiveness.