COLUMBUS, OHIO – Curtis Hooper, a Safelite AutoGlass technician from Fernandina Beach, Fla., won the national auto glass installation competition held in Columbus, Ohio, Jan. 26, while Brad Wilmoth, a Safelite AutoGlass technician from Grand Rapids, Mich., took second. Both technicians advance to the International Best of Belron competition to be held in London, England, in May.

Belron US hosted 11 regional champion automotive glass technicians from Auto Glass Specialists, Elite Auto Glass, and Safelite AutoGlass locations in Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Louisiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Pennsylvania, Texas, and Virginia at the event to determine the U.S. representatives to the world championships.

Best of Belron is an auto glass installation competition created in 2000 by Belron S.A., the parent company of Belron US, to reinforce the company’s commitment to safety, quality, and customer service, while recognizing the frontline technicians who perform the work.

In addition to winning an all-expenses-paid trip to the event in London, Hooper and Wilmoth won $5,000 and $2,000, respectively. Shawn Britt, Safelite AutoGlass technician in Williamsburg, Va., came in third and received $1,000.

The Best of Belron 2008 World Finals will be held May 14 and 15. The grand prize for the winner of the international competition is a year’s salary. Details on the 2008 Best of Belron competition in London are available at www.bestofbelron.com.