How many of us, when approached to join an organization such as the Automotive Service Association (ASA), first ask: What can it do for me? Joining an organization like ASA gives us all the opportunity and platform to do so much as individuals and as a group to give back to an industry we have chosen as a way of life.

Being a member of such a great organization allows us to join together with other industry professionals to elevate and enhance our industry.

Through training, networking and industry support, each and every one of us can contribute to the improvement of our industry by going that one extra step to improve customer perception of our great industry.

Be it through our continuing training to stay on top of ongoing changes, providing exceptional customer service, shop cleanliness, professional conduct, customer follow-up and customer education, we can all strive to raise the public perception of our industry.

None of us is holding the magic bullet to make all of this happen. Many of us have been in the industry a long time while others may be relatively new to this industry. There is a place and room for us all. None of us can fix all of the vehicles on the road, with the ever-increasing car count.

By sharing what we have learned - or what we haven't - with others in our industry, we can help each other in an industry that is tough enough; let's not make it harder.

Each and every one of us has our customer base that has either followed us or that we have acquired, either by advertising, word of mouth or a chance meeting. Our customers are ours until we choose for them not to be - either by not doing our jobs as well or making the customer feel that we don't want to take care of them or their vehicle. That is when we lose them to another, by what we have failed to do. If we are doing our absolute best in customer service, making it as convenient as possible and addressing their vehicle needs, they will remain our customer.

Let's raise the public's perception, which is the only way it can happen. Remember, there is strength in numbers. As ASA members and industry professionals, we can all contribute to the excellence of this great industry.

Let's work together to make this industry great - better than it has ever been!

Kevin S. Leiby is owner of Leiby's Automotive in Fulton, Mo. He is an ASE master technician with L1 and C1 certifications. Leiby has 31 years of experience on domestic and import vehicles. He is president of the ASA-Missouri/Kansas Central Missouri Chapter and president of the advisory board for the Automotive Technologies for the Columbia Area Career Center in Columbia, Mo. He has been a technical trainer since 1991 and is a member of the Council of Advanced Automotive Trainers. He can be reached at ksplleiby@aol.com.

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