"Max Finkelstein founded his namesake company in 1919 with a dream and a few junk tires." A century later, the tire distributor has kept its family roots and grown into 16 locations, more than 1.5 million square feet of warehouse space and 500+ employees.
Max Finkelstein Inc. celebrated its centennial with a gala June 29 in New York City, its hometown. The company welcomed family members, past and present associates, vendors and customers to the event. And it was more than just a party. The company brought its history to life, with music and dancing from the 1920s as a backdrop to the Max Finkelstein story. There were photos and videos and stories to demonstrate the company's 100 years of operations.
Ira Silver, CEO and president of the business, recognized 24 Max Finkelstein team members who have spent at least 25 years with the company. Their years of service went all the way to 64 years.
Silver, along with a quartet of Finkelsteins: Ronald, Harold, Jerry and Brian, all spoke. The keynote tribute was left to Rich Kramer, chairman, CEO and president of Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. Kramer presented Harold Finkelstein and Jerry Finkelstein with a first-of-its-kind award: a Goodyear Lifetime Achievement Award for the company's 96 years of partnership with the tire maker. Guests at the event were given a commemorative book, written by Harold Finkelstein's granddaughter, Melanie Paticoff Grossman. The book — Max Finkelstein Inc.: A Centennial Story —begins with the opening line we quoated in this article. The book details the culture, philosophy and story of the business, past through present.
