The United Appliance Servicers Association (UASA) proudly named Corrine Caruso, CEO and co-founder of Solar Refrigeration & Appliance Service, Inc., as the 2026 recipient of the Dean Landers Visionary Award. She was honored during the Annual Service Training Institute (ASTI) Awards Banquet on January 22, 2026, in Kansas City, Missouri.
Caruso is the first recipient of this newly established award, created to recognize leaders whose ideas, actions, and service have advanced the appliance service profession.
UASA Honors Visionary Leadership
The Dean Landers Visionary Award recognizes individuals whose leadership and innovation are shaping the future of the appliance service profession.
The award was created in honor of industry pioneer Dean Landers and reflects the forward-thinking leadership he modeled throughout his career. Landers is widely recognized for developing the GLEEPS customer service training program, which raised expectations around communication, consistency, and professionalism in service organizations.
The Dean Landers Visionary Award recognizes leaders who:
- Take measurable steps to improve how service companies operate
- Introduce ideas that strengthen long-term business sustainability
- Invest in developing the next generation of professionals
- Set direction for where the industry is headed — not just where it has been
The award was presented by Renee Galioto of Island Appliance Repair, with Dean Landers in attendance at the ceremony. The event marked his final ASTI before retirement and served as a fitting moment to recognize the next generation of leadership.
Leading Where Few Women Have Led Before
Corrine Caruso’s leadership represents a meaningful shift in an industry where executive roles have traditionally been held by men.
Over the course of her career, she became the first woman to serve as:
- UASA President (2020–2022)
- A member of the Whirlpool Service Council
- President of the New Orleans Appliance & Electronics Association
These milestones were not symbolic. In each role, Corrine helped guide policy, strengthen member collaboration, and expand women’s leadership visibility within the appliance service profession.
Beyond her historic firsts, she has been deeply engaged in advancing the association’s work. As a UASA Board Member from 2015 to 2023, Scholarship Committee Chair, and Peer Group Leader, she mentored business owners, supported technician education initiatives, and encouraged stronger peer accountability among members.
Her influence also extends to practical operational progress across the industry. Corrine played a key role in:
- Promoting the adoption of an upfront service charge model, helping companies stabilize cash flow and build more sustainable pricing structures
- Supporting the residential sector’s expansion into commercial appliance repair, opening additional revenue opportunities for independent servicers
- Introducing structured residential service standards into commercial environments to improve consistency and professionalism
- Advocating for operational systems that improve dispatch efficiency, technician productivity, and financial oversight
These contributions have shaped how independent service businesses price work, manage teams, and scale responsibly.
At the company level, Corrine has demonstrated the same disciplined leadership. As CEO of Solar Refrigeration & Appliance Service, she led the company’s growth from a small operation into the largest appliance service provider in the Gulf South. Today, Solar employs 40 team members and coordinates more than 300 service dispatches daily.
Her record of measurable impact reflects the purpose of the Dean Landers Visionary Award: recognizing leaders whose work strengthens the profession and sets a clear direction for its future.
UASA is proud to recognize Corrine Caruso as the 2026 recipient of the Dean Landers Visionary Award and thanks her for her continued dedication to advancing the appliance service industry.
