CINCINNATI – Cintas & Carhartt are pleased to announce the first four finalists in the Tough Crew Contest. These individual’s crews will be eligible to win $2,500 in free Carhartt merchandise.*

Tina DeSandre – owner of a commercial HVAC company in Fraser, Michigan

Ric Hawkins – a certified electric foreman from Orosi, California

David King – a welding engineer from Houston, Texas

Charles Miles – a carpenter from Bardstown, Kentucky

These hard-working individuals submitted entries and photos illustrating how their teams “Outwork Them All®” and why they rely on Carhartt to get the job done. Entries are still being accepted at the contest website, and eight additional finalists will be announced in March and May. All twelve finalists will be eligible to receive free Carhartt workwear, and in June, they will compete through online votes for the grand prize of $2,500 in free merchandise to outfit their teams.*

For the past three years, Cintas & Carhartt have recognized cold-weather workers through the Cold Crew contest. This year, the new Tough Crew contests honors crews of people who work together in all types of climates.

“We’re excited to be doing something different this year,” says John Rudy, senior marketing and strategy manager for Cintas Corporation, North America’s largest uniform supplier. “We’ve heard great stories about North America’s workforce through our previous contests with Carhartt, and we look forward to opening it up to groups that work in tough conditions year round and in all types of climates.”

Last year’s Cintas & Carhartt Cold Crew Contest, which focused on winter workers, spurred more than 15,000 entries from throughout the U.S. and Canada. Property maintenance employee Conner Schmidt from Rocky River, Ohio was voted the winner, and he enjoyed a free trip for two to the CMA Music Festival in Nashville in June.

“Congratulations to the hardworking finalists of the Cintas & Carhartt Tough Crew Contest,” said Tony Ambroza, senior vice president of marketing at Carhartt. “We know that the competition for this contest is steep and we want to recognize all the individuals who signed up to compete. We look forward to revealing the winning crew in the weeks to come, until then, continue to Outwork Them All®.”

Cintas & Carhartt formed a partnership in 2011 making Cintas the exclusive provider of Carhartt Rental Workwear and Flame Resistant Workwear. Now, businesses can take advantage of the styling and durability of Carhartt apparel with the added benefits of laundering, repair and replacement that accompany a Cintas uniform rental program. Click here for more information about Carhartt Rental Workwear exclusively from Cintas.

*Please refer to the Cintas & Carhartt Tough Crew Rules & Regulations at http://www.cintas.com/toughcrew.

About Cintas Corporation

Headquartered in Cincinnati, Cintas Corporation provides highly specialized services to businesses of all types primarily throughout North America. Cintas designs, manufactures and implements corporate identity uniform programs, and provides entrance mats, restroom supplies, first aid, safety and fire protection products and services. Cintas is a publicly held company traded over the Nasdaq Global Select Market under the symbol CTAS and is a component of the Standard & Poor’s 500 Index.

About Carhartt, Inc.

Established in 1889, Carhartt is a global premium work wear brand with a rich heritage of developing rugged apparel for workers on and off the job. Headquartered in Dearborn, Mich., with more than 4,900 employees worldwide, Carhartt is family-owned and managed by the descendants of the company’s founder, Hamilton Carhartt. For more information, visit www.carhartt.com.

Source: Carhartt