Power

Up Relief Program
Business Proposal
Together, We Can Jumpstart Relief

Proudly Partnered with:

Presented by Team Ate:

John Carnes | Joel Gonzalez | Sam Kettavong | Andrew Lam | James Netherland

Table of Contents

Introduction.pg 3
Background.pg 3
Proposal...pg 5
Plan...pg 6
Staffing.pg 9
Budget..pg 9
Authorization..pg 11
Interstate Batteries Program Locations...pg 12
Citations...pg 13

Together, we can jumpstart relief

Introduction
North Texas is vulnerable to frequent tornadoes, hail, gusty winds, flood, grass fires and even
hurricane remnants. An analysis by Sperlings Best Places, published by the New York Times,
ranks the Dallas area as having the highest risk of disasters in the country (www.cbs19.tv).
We have also experienced other tragic events, like the West fertilizer plant explosion, where
immediate relief and support to our fellow Texans has been crucial.This means that many of our
neighbors, families and friends could become victims of one of many possible disasters in the
Dallas-Fort Worth area. The question is: who comes to their rescue? How do they get the help
and relief to jumpstart their life?
The Dallas-based company, Interstate Batteries, may have a solution to help victims with one
less worry when going through a difficult time. Part of what makes Interstate Batteries a unique
company is its unabashed mission to conduct business in a way that honors God. Henry Rogers,
Interstate Corporate Chaplain, often says: If we can help just one life, its worth it
(http://corporate.interstatebatteries.com).Interstate Batteries is the number one replacement brand
battery in North America.We thrive on innovation and our good old-fashioned business
principles founded on treating others the way we would like to be treated.
(http://corporate.interstatebatteries.com). In fact, Interstate Batteries philosophy is: To treat
others as we want to be treated: treating all our business associates with respect, fairness, and
integrity; caring for and listening to them; professionally serving them; always being a model of
working hard and striving toward excellence. (http://corporate.interstatebatteries.com). Based
on this philosophy, it is a privilege to partner with the American Red Cross to begin theJumpstart
Relief Program. The program is designed to provide replacement batteries at no costto those
affected by natural disasters in our area through the American Red Cross and our area Interstate
All-Battery Center stores.
Natural disasters happen when we least expect themso we want to be ready to help when it is
needed. The Director of Disaster Relief, a new role to be created, will oversee that the batteries at
the All-Battery Centerstores that are part of the Jumpstart Relief Program are ready to go when
disaster strikes. This role will also be chargedwith coordinating relief efforts and resources
between the American Red Cross and the area All-Battery Center stores.
By helping others, treating them like we want to be treated, and being good stewards of our
resources, we stay faithful to our company philosophy.Helping the community during times
when help is most needed makes this program a no-brainer.

Background
So far in 2013, 237 tornadoes have been recorded in the U.S., according to the Storm Prediction
Center. On average, Texas has the highest number of confirmed tornadoes annually, but that's
influenced by the state being the largest geographically in the contiguous U.S. Kansas and
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Together, we can jumpstart relief

Florida follow, as seen here in the table below showing population data from U.S. Census
Bureau and tornado data from the National Climatic Data Center (http://finance.yahoo.com).

We are not usually aware of the extensive damage caused by these natural disasters and
everything that victims go through to get back on their feet. On May 15, 2013 Granbury, Texas
experienced severe thunderstorms that spawned tornadoes across North Texas, dropping large
hail stones in some areas. The National Weather Service estimates that 10 tornadoes may have
touched down (www.dfw.cbslocal.com).

This devastating storm and its tornadoes also did extensive damage in Cleburne and Ennis,
officials in both cities said. The Cleburne Independent School District canceled classes on
Thursday because of widespread damage and power outages. Two school buildings were also
damaged. Steve Howerton, the city manager in Ennis, said that roughly 25 homes and 40 other
buildings were damaged, including some in the citys historic downtown area. In Granbury,
Mayor Pro-Tem Nin Hullet said that most of the damage was confined to a concentrated area
with probably over 50 homes that have been damaged severely, some of them even flattened
(www.dfw.cbslocal.com).
It was determined that 18 twisters hit the area and the cleanup continuesmore than two weeks
after the deadly and destructive tornadoes ripped through Granbury. Despite the massive damage
toll to the area, it did not rise to $34 million, which is the level required to trigger federal
assistance.Homeowners will not have the benefit of low-interest home repair loans from the
Federal Emergency Management Agency. Finding themselves without electricity, running water
and all the cleanup efforts weeks after the tornadoes, residents say they are exhausted
(www.nbcdfw.com).
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Together, we can jumpstart relief

That is why Interstate Batteries, through the Jumpstart Relief Program, will help victims of
natural disasters in DFW with a free replacement battery for their vehicle. The last thing for them
to do should be to worry about their cars battery not working.

Proposal
We propose a program be created that will provide recharged batteries as a power source in the
relief efforts after the occurrence of a natural disaster; we will call this the Power Up Relief
Program. Interstate All Battery Centers will collect batteries that customers return and either
recycles the bad batteries or restore and repurpose the batteries that will still hold a charge. When
natural disasters strike, we will deliver these Econo-batteries to the site of the relief effort.
To encourage customers to bring in their old battery, our plan is to give customers cash back
incentive for doing so; they will be given $20 off of their new battery purchase or a $10 store gift
card to use at any Interstate All Battery Center location. There will also be an online raffle that
customers who bring in batteries can enter in. Our employees will also be eligible to participate
in the raffle. All Interstate Battery employees will be instructed to create customer awareness by
informing customers at checkout of our additional purpose for recycling used batteries. The idea
is that, as human beings, we are born with the inherent desire to help other human beings;
therefore, knowledge of the utilization of the Econo-batteries as a power source during times of
disaster should galvanize the return of used batteries to our stores. Once we receive the used
batteries, we will determine whether or not the battery can be recharged. We will then store the
recharged batteries at each store until the need arises.
We will be adding a few new positions to accommodate increased work load and additional tasks
needed to have a successful program. We will also be partnering with the American Red Cross, a
501(c) (3) nonprofit organization that provides humanitarian efforts in a very wide range of
situations, one of which is disaster relief. The American Red Cross is an ideal organization to
partner with in order to ensure that we will not miss any opportunities to be of help. According to
the American Red Cross website, they respond to approximately 70,000 disasters in the United
States annually. Their efforts consist of helping any number of people, ranging from single
families to whole cities and states. Disasters range from house fires to tsunamis and everything
imaginable; their goal is to help people in their time of need. (www.redcross.org)
We will keep in constant contact with our liaison at the American Red Cross, perhaps meeting
with them briefly every month or every other month via conference call or in person. Monitoring
the weather will be one of our main objectives and a point of discussion at each meeting. Once
an incidence of natural disaster has occurred, we will coordinate with our Red Cross liaison(s) to
have batteries on location as soon as possible. Our battery contribution will be at zero cost to the
American Red Cross. It is our way of supporting the American Red Cross in their humanitarian
outreach and promoting human compassion and teamwork.
We believe addressing this need is very important. In 2012, there were a total of 905 natural
disasters, with the United States accounting for 69% of them; disaster related losses totaled
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Together, we can jumpstart relief

approximately $170 billion (accuweather.com). In addition to creating awareness of how

batteries can be used as an alternative or additional power source, people will be further
encouraged to come up with creative ways to help their fellow homo sapiens. Not only will we
all be working towards the greater good of humanity, we will be working for the greater good of
our planet. Recycling and recharging the batteries reduces the amount of batteries that find their
way into landfills, hence reducing the amount of toxic trash that could possibly find its way back
into our lives harmfully. Overall, its a beneficial situation for everyone involved.

Plan
Program Overview
Our program is designed to help our local communities while also helping our nation
simultaneously. We at Interstate Batteries make this possible by accepting local customers used
automotive batteries to restore them and then donating those batteries to the American Red Cross
to be used nationwide in any disaster situation. Customers will benefit by receiving discounts on
new batteries or issued store credit to be used in our 12 selected Interstate Batteries locations
(found on page 12). Our environment will also benefit from our program by keeping used
automotive batteries from rotting in landfills and hurting our ecosystem. Not only will our
participating customers be awarded discounts or store credit, but their names will also be entered
into an online raffle, run by our marketing agency, for a chance to win free tickets to the 2014
NRA 500 Sprint Cup at Texas Motor Speedway. Our regional supervisor and secretary will
manage all aspects of our Power Up Relief Program to make sure the goals and time
requirements are met in a prompt and punctual manner. We will pull current Interstate Batteries
employees and drivers to assist with our program. In addition to being compensated for their
work with their normal hourly pay, they will also be entered into the raffle for a chance to win
tickets to the 2014 NRA 500 Sprint Cup at Texas Motor Speedway. Our marketing agency will
promote the Power Up Relief Program and get the word out to the public.
Online Raffle
Our programs event is an online raffle for the chance to win tickets to the 2014 NRA 500 Sprint
Cup at Texas Motor Speedway. On the day our program launches we will begin accepting names
and emails from customers that bring in the used automotive batteries. These names will then be
entered electronically into our online raffle. On the designated day of the raffle, our marketing
agency will randomly select 15 names from the database and emails will be generated and sent to
the winners.
Employee Compensation
All employees of the Interstate Batteries location with the most batteries accepted will win
tickets to the 2014 NRA 500 Sprint Cup at Texas Motor Speedway. The remaining 11 locations
will be eligible to enter into an employee raffle for a chance at the free tickets (the winning
location is not eligible). All managers of the 12 Interstate Batteries locations will be awarded free
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Together, we can jumpstart relief

tickets (managers are not eligible for raffle).

Required Resources
Interstate Batteries currently has most of the supplies needed for the Power Up Relief
Program, with the following exceptions:

Advertising costs (including posters, websites, banners, and commercials)

NASCAR leasing costs
Interstate Batteries Employee compensation raffle tickets costs
Regional supervisor, secretary, and marketing agency costs
Promotional event cost (2014 NRA 500 Sprint Cup at Texas Motor Speedway)
Program logistics costs
Program supplies costs

Program Benefits
The main benefit of the Power Relief Program for customers returning used automotive batteries
to any of our 12 selected Interstate Batteries locations will be the 10% discount on a new
replacement battery or store credit and the chance to win free tickets to the 2014 NRA 500 Sprint
Cup at Texas Motor Speedway. These refurbished batteries will be donated to the Red Cross
foundation to be used in disaster relief situations nationwide. In addition to those benefits, there
is also a positive environmental impact benefit. Instead of these batteries ending up in landfills
and creating an environmental hazard by leaking toxic chemicals, they will be recycled.
Interstate Batteries is already very supportive of keeping our environment clean, as shown by our
leading status as the premier battery recycling company in the United States. Our program will
also be very beneficial to Interstate Batteries and all associated entities because it will generate
positive publicity and goodwill.
Publicity
o Commercial Advertisement: Our marketing team will develop a short informational ad to
broadcast on television and during local NASCAR races.
o Website: Our marketing team will create and develop a website that will allow customers to
learn about our program and communicate with our marketing team.
o Social networking: Our marketing team will create and run a Twitter and Face book page to
publicize our program and to communicate with customers and answer questions.
o Our marketing team will run a table at local NASCAR races for face-to-face interaction with
customers.
o Our marketing team will schedule an interview with the Dallas Morning News.
o Our marketing team will create banners and posters to display around popular local areas
(i.e., libraries, grocery stores, malls).

Together, we can jumpstart relief

Promotional Raffle Event for 2014 NRA 500 Sprint Cup at Texas Motor Speedway tickets
Activity
Open Raffle

Close Raffle
Randomized selection
Send awards to winners

Description
Begin taking names and emails from
customers who bring in used automotive
batteries. Begin taking names of employees
for a separate raffle.
Close the entry period for both the raffles.
Randomly select winners from the list of
names for both raffles.
Email all winners with their special code to
redeem free tickets.

Power Up Relief Event Schedule Aug 7th Dec 31st

Date

Event

Aug 7th

Begin collaboration (Interstate Batteries

and the American Red Cross) to plan event/
sign contracts. Contact Texas Motor
Speedway to reach an agreement for race
tickets.
Complete contracts and begin the hiring
process for our new positions and
marketing agency
Complete the hiring process

Aug 15th
Sept 3rd
Oct 1st

Oct 4th
Oct 31st
Nov 1st

Our marketing agency will launch the

advertising campaign and we will begin
designating recharged automotive batteries
for relief efforts at our 12 Interstate
Batteries locations. Names and emails for
raffles will start being accepted
Broadcast our interview on The Dallas
Morning News
Promote at the NASCAR Camping World
Truck Series Practice at Texas Motor
Speedway in Fort Worth, TX
Promote at the NASCAR Sprint Cup &
Camping World Truck Series: Winstar
World Casino 350 at Texas Motor
Speedway in Fort Worth, TX

Together, we can jumpstart relief

Nov 3rd

Dec 27th
Dec 31st

Promote at the NASCAR Sprint Cup

Series: AAA Texas 500 at Texas Motor
Speedway in Fort Worth, TX
Advertisement campaign ends. The entry
of both customers and employees to raffle
ends
The winners of raffle are randomly selected
and emails are sent with codes to redeem
tickets. Program ends.

Staffing and Budget

Regional Supervisor
The regional supervisor will work 40 to 55 hours a week or more depending on project
deadlines. The primary duties of the regional supervisor will be acting as liaison between
Interstate Batteries and The American Red Cross. In times of peace and distress, the regional
supervisor will maintain close contact with The Chief Responder Officer of the Red Cross.
During a time of distress the regional supervisor will coordinate battery shipment and
distribution with The Chief Responder Officer. Given what restored batteries Interstate already
has in stock at the time of a disaster and the initial estimated needs of the Red Cross, battery
collection initiative and distribution logistics including planning, routing and calculating costs
will be handled by the regional supervisor. The minimum requirements for this position is to
have at least three years work experience in a management position as well as a Bachelors
degree, or preferably a Masters in Business Administration or other related concentration. We
will be looking for someone that displays leadership skills and hardworking qualities. A full
background check will be required for any considered applicants.
Accountant
The Accountant will be responsible for calculating and tabulating the budget for the program. He
or she will need to work closely with the regional supervisor to make sure that the disaster relief
program can operate given budget constraints and to make sure that the program never runs over
budget. He or she will need to have completed a Bachelors or Masters degree in accounting and
be a CPA (certified public accountant).
Secretary
The Secretary will need minor experience in management as well as an Associates or Bachelors
degree in business or other similar concentration. He or she will be accountable for assisting the
regional supervisor carry out the program. The two will work together on keeping an account of
used automotive battery inventories, creating and carrying out time schedules, and assuring the
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Together, we can jumpstart relief

used automotive batteries make their way to The Red Cross Foundation after being recharged
and refurbished by Interstate Batteries.
Current Employees
The current Interstate employees will be integrated into the new disaster relief program.
Currently, Interstate Batteries collects, recycles and recharges old car batteries so no further
training employee in this regard will be required. Once this program is implemented, the
employees will continue to perform these routine tasks until the regional supervisor is notified by
the Red Cross Chief Responding Officer that a disaster has occurred. The current staff will then
hold all remaining and future restored car batteries in stock and ship them via current Interstate
trucks to the location designated by the Red Cross.
Marketing Agency
We will hire a marketing agency to oversee our programs advertising needs. Jobs performed by
marketing team will be to:
o Create and run our programs website, including the online communication, the
online raffle, and the websites content.
o Create and run our programs Twitter and Facebook pages.
o Create and design our programs poster, banners and informative television
commercial.
o Prepare for and assist in our Dallas Morning News interview.
o Run a promotional table at local NASCAR events.
Budget
Workforce
Regional
Supervisor
Secretary

No. of people
1

Hours a Week
40-55

Task
Manage program

Compensation
$70,000

40-55

Assist RS

$30,0000

Marketing
Agency
Interstate
Batteries
Employees

40 each

Promote program $150,000

Current Number

Current hours

Assist customers
at our 12
locations and
accept batteries

2014 NRA Sprint

Cup Tickets
Accountant

50 tickets

10

$300,000

$1,500
40

Tabulate and
calculate costs

Together, we can jumpstart relief

$45,000

Authorization
We, hereby, request that funding for our proposed Power Up Relief Program be granted in
amounts of up to but no more than $500,000.00 annually. Any dollar amount in excess of the
total cost will be promptly returned. We request that the funds be made available immediately, to
allow a quick procurement of items necessary for the Power Up Relief Program. This funding is
needed to enable commencement of the program to designate used batteries for purposes of
providing an alternate energy source during times of disaster relief, including, but not limited to,
funding for all employees involved and materials associated with related event(s). The regional
directors signature below confirms approval of funds beginning on August 07, 2013.
Approved by:

________________________
Margaret Smallwood
Regional Director

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Date: _____/______/______

Together, we can jumpstart relief

Interstate Batteries Power UP Relief Program Locations:

1) Interstate Batteries
2995 Preston Road, Suite 1530
Frisco, TX 75034
(214) 705-0504

9) Interstate Batteries
8601 Mars Drive
Waco, TX 76712
(254) 666-1293

2) Interstate Batteries
4251 Fm 2181 Suite 230
Corinth, TX 76210
(940) 321-0765

10) Interstate Batteries

1001 Scott Ave
Wichita Falls, TX 76301
(940) 500-4323

3) Interstate Batteries
10200 Plano Rd. Suite 100
Dallas, TX 75238
(469) 221-4500

11) Interstate Batteries

109 B. West Loop 281
Longview, TX 75605
(903) 663-9644

4) Interstate Batteries
1301 West Glade #156
Euless, TX 76039
(817) 283-5778

12) Interstate Batteries

201 E Central Texas Expy, Suite 650
Harker Heights, TX 76548
(254) 680-8081

5) Interstate Batteries
210 N Custer Rd. Suite 140
McKinney, TX 75071
(972) 542-1940
6) Interstate Batteries
3400 W Fm 544 Ste 650
Wylie, TX 75098
(972) 429-7847
7) Interstate Batteries
2927 Ridge Rd, Suite 111
Rockwall, TX 75032
(214) 771-4100
8) Interstate Batteries
1847 Troup Hwy Suite 200
Tyler, TX 75701
(903) 509-3240
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Together, we can jumpstart relief