August 21, 2025
Toronto, Ontario -- CARSTAR set the tone for Rise 2025 in Toronto by celebrating two of its brightest stars.
During the course of the annual conference, Mike Cherneta and Kapi Komera of MGM Auto Group were named franchisees-of-the-year. The pair's commitment to team culture, operational discipline, and strategic growth has made MGM a standout in the collision repair industry — an achievement that reflects the spirit of the conference theme, rise.
The opening evening in Toronto brought together franchise partners, vendors, and industry leaders for three days of learning, recognition, and networking. Zone directors Collin Welsh and Andrew Northrup welcomed attendees before inviting brand president Sabrina Thring to deliver her executive update.
Thring highlighted her personal “why” and reinforced CARSTAR’s vision, mission, and values. She provided an overview of Canadian market trends and laid out projections for 2025,
The program also featured a keynote chat between NHL legend Darcy Tucker and Dave Foster, SVP of operations and development. Drawing from his time on the ice, Tucker spoke about leadership, teamwork, and resilience—lessons that resonated deeply with attendees facing their own business challenges.
The evening concluded with a celebration of hockey history. Guests connected with peers, explored exclusive memorabilia, and enjoyed appearances from NHL greats Doug Gilmour and Tucker.
With its mix of recognition, inspiration, and networking, day one of Rise 2025 set the stage for what promises to be a productive and energizing three-day conference.
