AAA has announced its Drivers of the Year, also known as the Marty Taylor Recognition Award, in honor of a AAA tow technician who was killed on the roadside when a driver failed to Slow Down, Move Over.

Every year, AAA Western and Central New York recognizes Drivers of the Year based on accomplishments from the previous calendar year. The award is presented to two AAA technicians in each of two fleet operations – Western New York and Central New York. The honorees must exhibit outstanding customer service skills, an impeccable safety record, and a commitment to teamwork.

“This award is named after one of our own, Marty Taylor, whose life ended much too soon in a tragic incident while servicing a member,” explained Marke Dickinson, President and CEO at AAA Western and Central New York who called for a moment of silence at the award ceremonies. “The drivers we are recognizing today are the Best of the Best among AAA Roadside Service Technicians.”

This year, the four recipients of the Marty Taylor Recognition Award are Kevin Wheeler (two-time award winner) and Chris Bortz (first time winner) in Western New York, and James Malelis (six-time award winner) and Jetin Huang (first time winner) in Central New York. Debbie Taylor, widow of the award’s namesake who works for AAA as a dispatcher in Syracuse, attended the award ceremony expressing appreciation for this year’s winners while her son Chris Taylor shared remarks. “The award is more than a recognition,” he said. “This is a reminder that every mile driven, every delivery made, and every decision behind the wheel carries weight. Our drivers are the final link in the chain, and their safety and the safety of the public is paramount.”

In presenting the Marty Taylor Recognition Award, AAA Western and Central New York spotlighted four technicians for their 2024 safety accomplishments.

Western New York:

Kevin Wheeler, Senior Roadside Technician of the Year, began his career with AAA Western New York Fleet Operations in 2011. He continues to set the bar high, bringing deep technical expertise, an unwavering focus on safety, and a consistently positive attitude to every interaction. Kevin's impact goes far beyond roadside service. He plays a vital role in testing and refining new tools, products, and procedures, helping to drive innovation and continuous improvement. In 2024, Kevin, who lives in Lockport, completed 1,452 road service requests with zero safety violations or complaints.

Chris Bortz has served as a Senior Light Service Roadside Technician at AAA since November 2023 and quickly made a strong impression. He approaches every task with enthusiasm and a positive mindset, always eager to share tips that promote success and efficiency. In 2024, Chris, who lives in the City of Tonawanda, was named Technician of the Month six times. He completed 1,995 road service requests with zero safety violations or complaints.

Central New York:

AAA Roadside Technician James Malelis began his career with AAA Central New York Fleet Operations in March 2010. This is the sixth time he has earned the Marty Taylor Recognition Award thanks to his exceptional knowledge and technical skills. His positive attitude is infectious, continually receiving accolades from AAA members and teammates, and his commitment to safety is without compromise. James, who lives in Clay, was named Technician of the Month five times in 2024 and completed 1,818 road service requests with zero safety violations or complaints.

Jetin Huang, Senior Roadside Technician with AAA, began his career with AAA Central New York Fleet Operations in August 2023 as an ERS technician, and quickly learned the skills needed to move to an ERS Sr. Technician. A true team player, he can always be counted on to help a fellow teammate in need and he represents AAA as the undisputed leader in roadside assistance. In 2024, Jetin, who lives in DeWitt, completed 1,760 road service requests with zero safety violations or complaints.

About Marty Taylor

Marty Taylor was a AAA tow technician who was killed on the roadside on Route 690 in Syracuse while performing a vehicle recovery 20 years ago. Marty’s legacy lives on in AAA Western and Central New York’s commitment to operational excellence and raising awareness of the “Slow Down, Move Over” law, which was expanded last year to include all disabled vehicles on the roadside, requiring drivers to slow down and, if safe to do so, move over when approaching them to help protect motorists.

20 years after Marty Taylor’s death, research from the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety finds that 42 percent of drivers who admit to breaking the Move Over law say they didn’t realize the behavior was dangerous to roadside workers. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety estimates that 566 people are killed and more than 14,000 injured annually when dealing with a disabled vehicle at the roadside.