Around ASA
NAPA names technician of the year
Phil Fournier, owner of Phil's Auto Clinic, in Hemet, Calif., has been named the NAPA/ASE Technician of the Year. Fournier has been an ASA member since 1989 and currently serves on the ASA Mechanical Division Operations Committee.
"I've been working toward this goal for a long time," said Fournier, who was chosen for this award from a field of nearly 500,000 qualified technicians throughout the United States. As a certified Master Technician in both automotive and heavy duty, Fournier is in an elite class that numbers only one-tenth of one percent of the total number of technicians in the United States. He has maintained his Master Automotive Technician certification since 1982.
As the NAPA/ASE Technician of the Year, Fournier will receive nearly $30,000 in awards and prizes. These include tools and equipment; a state-of-the-art business management computer; special travel; and training opportunities. He will also serve as a member of the NAPA AutoCare Advisory Council.
ASA-Minnesota starts mentor program
ASA-Minnesota has started a pilot mentorship program in partnership with Dunwoody Institute in Minneapolis, Minn. The program is designed to support students enrolled in the collision technician program at Dunwoody Institute by providing them the opportunity to meet and work with successful automotive service professionals. The affiliate seeks to encourage and assist students in meeting and completing school requirements during the two-year course and increase students' understanding of and access to career opportunities in the automotive service industry.
The pilot program will focus on first-year collision students and will pair interested students with a mentor from a participating ASA member-business. The mentor and student will receive training and support throughout the program. Similar programs may be started at other area technical colleges in the future.
Reminder of the Month
ASA Annual Convention draws near
The 1998 ASA Annual Convention will be held March 11-15, at the Marriott Sawgrass Resort, in Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla. ASA members can save $75 by registering for the convention by Jan. 16. This year's convention will offer two Automotive Management Institute (AMI) seminars on electronic marketing and dealing with the IRS. The association business meetings, welcome party, chairman's banquet and annual golf tournament will complete the program.
ASA-Washington program reaches 25th year
ASA-Washington has conducted an annual "Lights On" program for the past 25 years. The program is part of the national October Car Care Month awareness campaign.
The 1997 program inspected 1,330 vehicles for faulty exterior lights, as well as replacement of these bulbs free of charge. Affiliate members performed the inspections at 15 locations throughout the state on Oct. 4, 1997.
ASA-Colorado sets dates for annual expo
The 11th Annual Mountain States Tradeshow will be held March 14-15 (New Date), at the Denver Merchandise Mart in Denver. The show will feature a complete exhibition of automotive supplies and services, as well as a full schedule of informative seminars. The event is designed to offer education and information on the latest technologies to mechanical and collision technicians, management personnel and jobbers.
The popular president's reception and casino night will round out this annual event. Attendees will have the opportunity to test their luck at Roulette, Craps and Blackjack (with play money). They will also enjoy lively entertainment with true New Orleans flair.
Akzo Nobel honors industry members
Akzo Nobel honored four members of the Automotive Service Association (ASA) during a special awards banquet held in La Jolla, Calif.
Ken and Kim Hefner, owners of Charlotte Paint & Body in Charlotte, N.C., were the recipients of the Acoat Entrepreneur Award for their ability to take risks, be creative, increase sales and overcome adversity. The Hefners have been ASA members since 1987. The Acoat Pride Awards were given to Shon Kim of Obrist & Cunningham in Portland, Ore., and Ed Papazian of West Star Auto Body in Westlake, Calif., for the personal initiative they demonstrated in their efforts to further enhance the image of the Acoat selected program. Obrist & Cunningham has been an ASA member since 1991 and West Star Auto Body joined ASA in 1996. Jim Remlinger and Jim Remlinger, Jr. of Auto Collision Specialists, Winona, Minn., were presented with the Acoat Growth Award in the less than $2 million sales category. Auto Collision Specialists has been an ASA member since 1989.
ASA, ASE present annual awards
In conjunction with ASE, ASA recognized Franklin Ward, Farmington Hills, Mich., as ASA/ASE Master Automobile Technician of the Year, and Ron Lichty, New Holland, Pa., as ASA/ASE Master Collision Repair/Refinish Technician of the Year. The two were honored in late November 1997 at the ASE board of directors meeting.
ASA/ASE Master Automobile Technician of the Year
Left to right, Al Duebber, immediate past ASE chairman; Don Seyfer, immediate past ASA chairman; Lynne and Franklin Ward (award recipient); and Ron Weiner, ASE president.
ASA/ASE Master Collision Repair/Refinish Technician of the Year
Left to right, Al Duebber, immediate past ASE chairman; Ron Lichty (award recipient) and his wife Janet; Bob Anderson, ASA chairman of the board; and Ron Weiner, ASE president.
National News
ASA Chairman Bob Anderson and ASA were cited in November 1997 editions of The Wall Street Journal and the Los Angeles Times regarding ASA's position on the on/off switches for air bags. ASA will not encourage its members to install on/off switches at the customer's request.
Several ASA employees recently attended a host of industry events including an Alternative Fuels Symposium in Dallas; the International Mobile Air Conditioning Association (IMACA) Annual Convention in Fort Worth, Texas; the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) board of directors meeting in Redondo Beach, Calif.; and the Automotive Aftermarket Industry Week (AAIW), the Collision Industry Conference (CIC), the International Autobody Congress and Exposition (NACE) and the Industry Planning Council events, all held in Las Vegas.
ASA met with Dr. Gene Brown in Bedford, Texas, on Nov. 17, 1997, to learn more about Brown's National Collision Marketing Institute. Brown is head and professor of marketing, Department of Management and Marketing, Louisiana Tech University, Ruston, La.
ASA donated the space needed for the Team USA Trials held during NACE in December 1997. The trials are part of the Inter-Industry Conference on Auto Collision Repair (I-CAR) Education Foundation Team USA campaign to highlight careers in collision repair.
To help gain acceptance of I-CAR's Uniform Procedures for Collision Repair (UPCR), ASA funded the costs of putting a CD-ROM demo of the product in attendees' packets at NACE 1997.
ASA held a press conference Dec. 6, 1997, during NACE, to highlight the 1998 legislative strategy for replacement crash parts.
Voting for the ASA national board of directors opened Jan. 5 and closes Feb. 22. To vote, call (800) 868-3272.
The Texas Automotive Industry and Education Coalition, also known as the Texas Blitz, met with leaders of the state's secondary and post-secondary education program Dec. 17, 1997. The goal: to improve the quality of mechanical and collision repair education in Texas and to increase the number of students pursuing automotive service careers.
Walter Trapp, ASA executive vice president, was the keynote speaker at the Nov. 11, 1997, ASA-Fort Worth chapter meeting.
AutoInc., the official publication of the Automotive Service Association (ASA), is looking for classic cars to use on the covers of the 1998 issues. If you have a 1960s or 1970s car that you would like to see on the cover, please contact Angie Wilson, managing editor, at (800) 272-7467, ext. 219, or send an e-mail message to: angie@asashop.org.
Halftime for the 105th Congress || Top 10 Automotive Repair Web Sites || Assessing the Quality of Aftermarket Collision Repair Parts || Proper Timing Tips to Get Under Your Belt || Women Want Positive, Receptive Customer Service || Review of NACE-97 || Guest Editorial: Aftermarket parts: Here to stay || Tech to Tech || Tech Tips || News Briefs || Taking the Hill || Around ASA || Shop Profile || Net Worth || Stat Corner || Chairman's Message
AutoInc. Magazine ®, Vol. XLVI, January 1998