Avon, MA - Rodrigo Batista, assistant crew chief of B.C. Tent & Awning Co. Inc., the region's leading provider of tents, awnings and event accessories, recently participated in the Mid Atlantic Tent Renters Association (MATRA) Conference Games, winning first place for "stake driving" in record time.

MATRA is an organization made up of tent rental companies from Maryland, Virginia and North Carolina to Maine. The conference closed with the MATRA Games, also known as the "Olympics of Tenting."

A resident of South Easton, MA, Batista won the stake driving contest by driving a 42-inch stake into the ground in 12.5 seconds. He received his prize at an awards dinner held as part of the conference. Batista joined B.C. Tent and Awning in April of 2005 as a tent installer and was promoted in 2007 to assistant crew chief.

"We are pleased to recognize Rodrigo for his excellence in the competition and for his ongoing training and education," said John Costa, president of B.C. Tent & Awning. "The MATRA conference offers important workshops, training and the opportunity to view new products. Our team members are committed to being the best in the industry."