Hello, from your new chairman. I have found that to earn someone's trust, they must first get to know you. I would love to spend time with each member and get to know each one of you better. But with thousands of members spread from coast to coast, that's not possible. Instead I will share some of my background and hope to meet you at an industry event in the future.

I was reared on a farm in Tennessee and attended the University of Tennessee in Knoxville. After graduating from UT in 1972 with an agricultural engineering degree, I went in search of fame and fortune or a good job, whichever came first. Finding neither in the agriculture industry, I teamed up with my brother, Bob, and we went into the automotive service industry.

Our first venture was a franchised tuneup shop called Milex. We picked Tallahassee, Fla., to do business in because of the demographics and warmer weather. We opened in August 1972 and three months later purchased a local brake service center named Ray Gordon Brake Service. I ran the brake shop, and Bob ran the tuneup shop. As time went on, we expanded the business and added a wholesale parts division to each operation. The business continued to grow so we decided to divide the corporation in 1989. Bob took the tuneup/air conditioning division and I took the brake/under- car division.

We realized early in our career that to be successful, we needed information and training from others in the industry. In 1976 we joined the Automotive Service Councils, which later became the Automotive Service Association (ASA). Because we took advantage of the things our membership offered us, we got an immediate return on our dues. We attended both state and local meetings, met great people and received great training. Our bottom line benefited from using association benefit programs such as uniforms, insurance, training and others.

In the 1980s I started attending national ASA events and increased the value I was getting from my membership even more. It also enabled me to develop a network of other shop owners who I can call at any time to get help on everyday issues of running a modern auto service business. That alone is priceless.

Currently my wife, Joanie, and I operate two service centers, an undercar parts warehouse and expert witness consulting business. Much of our growth and direction has come as a result of involvement in ASA. I strongly encourage you to get involved in your industry through ASA. It will cause your business to grow and so will your bottom line. Don't put it off, start today. Just do it!

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