Stuard's good luck had a lot to do with his good work
By TIM GULLA Ledger Staff Writer tim@gaffneyledger.com

Pictured from left are: Sam Burns, Diane Stuard, Ben Stuard and Billy Scales. Ben Stuard won a Jeep as part of a safety program at Carolinas Recycling Group, where he works.

Until recently, the best luck Ben Stuard had in any contest was winning a trip to Florida.

And luck might not have had too much to do with his apparent winnings, which he gave away to friends. "I think they had to sit through a three-hour presentation," he joked.

Stuard's luck changed dramatically, however, and in many ways he had himself to thank for it because his good luck had a lot to do with his good work.

On Monday, the 62-year-old Gaffney resident took delivery of a brand new Jeep Wrangler X at the Burns Chevrolet, Chrysler, Dodge and Jeep dealership on North Limestone Street. His choice of any vehicle was the top prize in a now annual safety award program run by his employer, Carolinas Recycling Group (CRG) in Spartanburg.

Started two years ago, CRG's safety award program was set up to reward employees for their on-the-job safety records. Quarterly prizes to the top performers have included $1,500 gift certificates for electronics at retailers like Best Buy. This was the first year CRG included a choice of vehicle as the top prize for the year.

"We don't look at it as an expense, but as a return," said Billy Scales, director of transportation for CRG, "because (the award program) keeps safety on peoples' minds."

Scales said the safety program already has resulted in positive impacts for the company.

"CRG offers our employees and the public a safer environment in which we work," he said. "We have seen drastic changes in the mindset of the employee base."

The award program is open to all employees within CRG. Employees are awarded points each quarter based on their safety record and the points are tallied at the end of the year to determine the grand prize winner.

Stuard was one of about 100 employees who tied for top honors within the company, and he ultimately was one of 10 finalists. Each of the 10 finalists randomly received a key to a model car, he said, which could only be opened by the winning key. Stuard had key number eight.

"The door opened and I almost had a heart attack," Stuard joked.

Stuard didn't have to think too hard about which vehicle he would choose. A black on black Jeep Wrangler X had been on his wish list.

Besides choice of vehicle, up to a certain dollar amount, CRG allowed the winner to also choose the dealership.

"It blows me away to think about how generous you all are," the Gaffney dealership's owner, Sam Burns, told Scales.

"He (Stuard) earned it more than he won it," Scales said.

A truck driver for more than 20 years, Stuard has been working for CRG for the past four years. His route includes two round trips to Asheville each day, hauling crushed cars destined for recycling.

His wife of 31 years, Diane, didn't have any objection to her husband's choice of vehicle.

"He won it," she said with a smile. "It's his."