Attendees Give High Marks to ASA for Successful Annual Convention in California

The Automotive Service Association (ASA) held its annual convention May 1-3 in Santa Clara, Calif. The activity-packed event included several association governance and leadership programs including open meetings of the ASA board of directors and affiliate assembly; a State of the Association address by Ron Pyle, ASA’s president and chief staff executive; and the installation of the new board. The installation of the board took place during ASA’s Celebration of Excellence, a dinner and awards show that opened with the Automotive Management Institute (AMI) graduation ceremony.

Representatives from both the mechanical and collision divisions of ASA participated in the Parts Quality Forum, and two AMI classes were also presented during the convention. During the Friday luncheon, ASA showed support for both the National Automotive Technicians Education Foundation (NATEF) and the Inter-Industry Conference on Auto Collision Repair (I-CAR) by way of financial contributions, and Charlie Fewell delivered a keynote presentation.

Ron Pyle, president and chief staff executive of ASA, gave an overview of association initiatives during the State of the Association address.

Pyle’s annual State of the Association address was presented during the Saturday luncheon when he provided an overview of the association’s focus and strategic initiatives during the past year. Pyle also outlined some of the ways ASA is giving back, including its support of Auto Mission, a nonprofit volunteer organization dedicated to changing the lives of teens through an auto repair and guidance program.

“ASA is the largest dues-paying association of its type,” said Pyle during his State of the Association address. “The value of this association has always been – and always will be – about independent repairers.” He added that ASA continues to seek ways to take the value of membership to new heights, and wholeheartedly welcomes input from its constituents. “We want to hear more directly from you,” he said, and added that each member has a stake in the association and ASA’s task is to deliver the value members want. “You are the assets of this association,” he told attendees.

Reggie Denney, AAM, left, ASA’s incoming chairman, accepts the chairman’s gavel from Aaron Clements, AAM, outgoing chairman. Denney is owner of Reggie Denney Auto Repair in Eden, N.C.

Event sponsors played a key role in the success of this year’s event as well. ASAextends its appreciation for the support and participation of the following sponsoring companies: Audatex, Auto Shop LifeLine, AutoZone, CustomerLink, Meadowbrook Insurance Group, Mitchell 1, Toyota and Zurich. ASA also wishes to thank the companies that participated in the Benefit Provider Networking Reception: Alldata, AutoNetTV, Auto Shop LifeLine, AutoZone, Cintas, Delphi, GM Powertrain, Meadowbrook Insurance Group, Mitchell 1, Sunergeo, Unifirst and Zurich. For additional information on this year's convention, see the convention website. Additional images can be seen in the 2008 convention gallery.

ASA’s 2009 convention will be held next spring in Florida; specific dates and location have not been determined. The association’s annual trade shows – the International Autobody Congress and Exposition (NACE) and the Congress of Automotive Repair and Service (CARS) – will be held during the inaugural Automotive Service and Repair Week (ASRW), Nov. 5-8, 2008. ASRW events will be co-located at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center in Las Vegas.