Last month, ASA's Mechanical Division hosted its annual Congress of Automotive Repair and Service (CARS). The show was a tremendous success.

For the past three years, CARS has been held in Las Vegas. In each of those years we've experienced growing attendance. This year, there were more than 400 attendees.

One of the reasons we're experiencing this growth is that the Mechanical Division Operations Committee has worked very hard to bring top-notch technical education and Automotive Management Institute (AMI) seminars. I could fill several columns writing about the great things that took place during CARS, but the bottom line is this:

CARS is one of the best, if not the best, benefits ASA provides its mechanical members.

If you want to have a better business, both in the bays and in the office, then CARS is where you need to be. If you were not able to attend this year, make a promise to yourself to be at CARS 2001 the first weekend of November.

If you're a collision member, ASA has a convention for you as well, the International Autobody Congress and Exposition (NACE). I am writing this before NACE, but you may very well be reading it while the show is going on in Orlando, Fla., Dec. 7-10.

NACE is the world's largest collision repair event. ASA is the sole sponsor of the show. It's four days packed with seminars, product demonstrations, panel discussions and world-class entertainment.

With everything NACE offers, the thing I enjoy most is the people. I spend several hours in the ASA booth during the show simply visiting with individuals. Some are ASA members and some are not.

It's very easy for me to stay in my own shop because there's more than enough work demanding my time. I have found, however, that there is so much to gain by getting away from my corner of the world and traveling to conventions where I can meet fellow shop owners from all parts of the United States.

Recently, I had another experience that I wish each of you could have. I spent a couple of days at ASA's office in Bedford, Texas. While I was there, I spent some time with two people from our Membership Department, Todd Mehalko and Dennis Foley.

These gentlemen allowed me to go with them while calling on shops that had expressed an interest in joining ASA. Of all the great things I enjoy as chairman, nothing is better or gives me more satisfaction than being invited into people's shops and seeing firsthand the level of professionalism that's evident in countless independent shops.

Attaining true professionalism in our industry isn't easy. That's why ASA brings you conventions like CARS and NACE. As a shop owner, I know these events have given me a better business. They've allowed me to elevate personally and professionally.

If each of us has a better business, the result is, together, we elevate our entire industry.

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