AUTOINC. ONLINE - Around ASA

The ASA-Nebraska affiliate has named Jennah Haase as its new executive director. Accepting challenges is the foundation of Haase's life experiences. She is a committed individual with vast knowledge of the auto industry as a whole. Haase has acquired a solid reputation for reliability, effective networking and strategic alliance building among crucial industry resources and members of Nebraska's auto repair sector. She is a valued addition to the ASA-Nebraska team.

Haase's responsibilities include administrative support to the ASA-Nebraska board and members. In addition, she schedules and plans the affiliate's annual convention and trade show, which will be held Oct. 6-8 at the Ramada Inn in Kearney, Neb.

ASA members can now pay their membership dues using an automatic credit card deduction. It's not only convenient, it gives you payment options! Benefits include no more paper statements, no checks to write and no more postage to pay. Payment selections may include quarterly, semiannually or annually. To take advantage of the ASA Continuous Membership payment plan - and reduce the paperwork on your desk - simply call (800) 272-7467, ext. 220. An easy-to-complete form is all you need to get started! There is no fee for this service.

Reminder of the Month

Any regular member who is interested in being considered for the Automotive Service Association (ASA) national board of directors should contact the national office and request a consideration form. Contact Jo Ann Abramuk at (800) 272-7467, ext. 211. Consideration forms must be completed and received no later than July 14, 2006.

National News

Margie Seyfer, AMI instructor, teaches "First Class Telephone Skills" to ASA staff members in Bedford, Texas.

The staff of the Automotive Service Association honed their customer service telephone skills during a class taught June 7 by Margie Seyfer, AAM, an Automotive Management Institute (AMI) instructor with Impact Presentations.

"First-Class Telephone Skills" is an AMI-approved course that teaches individuals to be more effective in their telephone communication skills as well as serving customers in a more professional and successful manner.

"On average, a person will spend 12 months of their life on the telephone. That's 8,760 hours," said Seyfer.

During the interactive and engaging session, Seyfer paired staff members and had them role play different customer service scenarios. Seyfer's class also covered other tips and how-tos such as answering calls, taking messages, voice mail basics and greetings and calming angry members on the phone.

Seyfer is the wife of Don Seyfer, AAM, former chairman of ASA and owner of Seyfer's Automotive in Wheat Ridge, Colo. For more information on the seminar, please visit www.margieseyfer.com or www.amionline.org.

A new directors' orientation meeting was held at ASA headquarters June 15-16. In attendance were two members of ASA's board of directors and three affiliate leaders. ASA staff members met with the group to discuss a variety of ASA's policies and procedures. From left to right are Dan Guido, AAM, Tony's Service Center; Kim Nowell, administrative assistant, ASA-Ohio; Lisa Clark, ASA-Ohio executive director, Jennah Haase, ASA-Nebraska executive director; and Jerry Burns, AAM, Automotive Impressions. Guido and Burns serve as general directors on the board.

An ASA regional education event - Keep Educating Yourself and Staff (KEYS) - was recently held in Gainesville, Fla. The three-day event was a success, offering three technical sessions and four management seminars. KEYS is ASA's newest education and training initiative. Members and nonmembers of ASA are eligible to register for KEYS. For more information about the upcoming KEYS program including course descriptions, fees and instructor bios, visit www.asashop.org/keys or call (800) 272-7467, ext. 246.