J.B. "Jerry" Smith (center), auto industry leader in the Pacific Northwest for more than 30 years, receives the "ASA-Washington 2004 Outstanding Member of the Year" trophy during the affiliate's annual winter retreat. With Smith are Pete Hunt (left) former ASA-Washington executive director; and Chip Keen, chairman of ASA-Washington.

J.B. "Jerry" Smith, associate publisher of Parts & People newspapers, was presented with ASA-Washington's highest honor, the "Outstanding Member of the Year" award, during the association's semiannual retreat and management conference Feb. 4-6.

Smith is a 32-year veteran of the automotive industry, starting in the automotive parts wholesale industry in Seattle. Smith purchased Northwest Motor, an automotive trade publication covering the Pacific Northwest, in 1981 and operated the publication until 2001, when it merged with Parts & People. He is now associate publisher of Parts & People, which supports the automotive parts and service industry in the western United States with five regional editions.

Throughout his years in the auto industry, Smith has been an industry promoter, serving on several school and college automotive advisory committees and acting as a leader in area auto service associations. He was a leader in the creation of the Industry Technical Education Coalition (ITEC) program and continues to serve on its executive committee. He is also on the board of trustees of the University of Washington Vehicle Maintenance Management Conference and has performed many other volunteer services in the industry.

ASA Offers Updated Labor Law Posters, Supplements

Effective March 10, 2005, all employers were required to post new federal labor posters and supplements under the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA) notice. The governing agency, the Department of Labor, normally allows employers a 60-day grace period prior to enforcement citations being issued.

ASA offers these required posters and supplements to members for $3 per laminated supplement or $37.90 for the all-inclusive laminated poster - specific to each state.

For more information, or to order the required posters or supplements, contact the ASA membership services department, at (800) 272-7467, ext. 246.

ASA-Rhode Island Announces Management Training

The ASA-Rhode Island affiliate will hold a two-day management education event June 25-26 at the Radisson Airport Hotel Providence in Warwick, R.I. George Witt, AAM, will instruct two Automotive Management Institute (AMI) seminars: "Become the Manager Everyone Wants to Work For" and "Service Marketing for the Independent Service Facility." Attendees will earn credits toward AMI's Accredited Automotive Manager (AAM) designation.

For more information, contact ASA-Rhode Island board member Omar Martin at (401) 789-5840 or by e-mail at omar@omarsautomotive.com.

NATIONAL NEWS

ASA Members: You have the opportunity to win a free trip to CARS or NACE by participating in ASA's Chairman's Club. Visit the Members Only area of ASA's Web site, www.asashop.org, to see how you can win!