Around ASA
Interested in becoming a national board member?
Any national regular member interested in being considered for the ASA national board of directors should contact the national office and request a Consideration Form. Contact Jo Ann Abramuk toll-free at (800) 272-7467, ext. 211. Consideration Forms must be completed and returned by July 31, 1999.
Members of the 2000 Nominating Committee are Chairperson Carl D. Miller, AAM, Japanese Connection, Inc., Salem, Ore.; Richard Bigham, AAM, Bigham Automotive & Electric Co., Lubbock, Texas; Roger Bonfe, AAM, Bonfe's Auto Service & Body Repair, St. Paul, Minn.; Earl Dohner, AAM, E&E's Garage, Brookville, Ohio; and Rick Reiss, Auto Body Unlimited, Mission Viejo, Calif.
Cars dates announced
The Automotive Service Association (ASA) Mechanical Division's annual Congress of Automotive Repair and Service (CARS) will be held Nov. 4-7, in Las Vegas.
The program will include business management seminars offered by the Automotive Management Institute (AMI), which will earn attendees credit toward the institute's Accredited Automotive Manager (AAM) designation. In addition to management education, CARS will offer several technical courses.
CARS will follow the Automotive Aftermarket Industry Week (AAIW) trade show, which will be held Nov. 2-5 at the Sands and Las Vegas Convention Centers in Las Vegas.
A CARS information packet will be mailed in early summer.
AMI honors AAM graduates
The Automotive Management Institute (AMI) honored its seventh class of Accredited Automotive Managers (AAMs) on March 18, during a cap and gown ceremony held at the ASA Annual Convention in Bermuda.
The graduating class of 1999 had 106 automotive service professionals who earned the prestigious AAM designation by successfully completing AMI courses and accumulating a minimum of 120 credits. Of the 106 graduates, 34 participated in the graduation ceremony.
The AAM designation is the first specific accreditation for business managers in the automotive service industry. AMI courses concentrate on five core areas of business management education: financial management, marketing and sales, operations and service, management and administration, and personnel and human resource development.
Ascettes honor members
The ASA Ascettes held its annual meeting during the ASA Annual Convention, March 16-21, in Bermuda. Each year the group presents three awards during the convention. The first award honored the largest affiliate delegation attending the convention, which went to ASA-Washington with 29 members. The second award was given to the member(s) who traveled the farthest distance to attend the convention. This award was given to Bill and Lori Filley of Eugene, Ore.
The Ascettes also presented Jan Anderson, Anderson's Automotive Service in Sheffield Village, Ohio, with the "Lady of the Year" award. Anderson was selected for this award for her continued commitment to ASA and the automotive service industry.
New California delegate appointed to ASA Affiliate Assembly
Denny Kahler, AAM, of Kahler's Werkstatt in Dublin, Calif., is the new California delegate to the Automotive Service Association Affiliate Assembly.
ASA Chairman Johnny Mock appointed Kahler following Dale Bright's election to ASA Affiliate Director of the ASA board. Kahler, who has been an ASA member since 1993, will serve as the delegate for the 2000 meeting.
The Affiliate Assembly meeting is the process used by the association to present issues of national importance for consideration by the board of directors. The Affiliate Assembly meeting is held during the ASA Annual Convention.
ASA members recognized by I-CAR
The Inter-Industry Conference on Auto Collision Repair (I-CAR) presented the Collision Business of the Year award to ASA member David Fait, owner of Auto Body World in Phoenix, Ariz. Auto Body World is an I-CAR Gold Class shop and has been an ASA member since 1981. This award is a peer acknowledgment of the "best of the best" in the industry.
In addition, I-CAR awarded Mike West, owner of Southtowne Auto Rebuild in Seattle, Wash., the Innovator of the Year award. Southtowne Auto Rebuild is also an I-CAR Gold Class facility and has been an ASA member since 1995. West currently serves on the ASA Collision Division Operations Committee.
Mock begins term as ASA chairman
John R. Mock, AAM, owner of Johnny Mock's Auto Body Shop, Inc. in Turtle Creek, Pa., will serve as chairman of the 1999 Automotive Service Association (ASA) board of directors. His term began at the conclusion of the 1999 ASA Annual Convention held March 16-21 in Bermuda. He succeeds Carl Miller in this position.
"I recognize the responsibilities and challenges that come with the chairman's position," Mock said at the convention when accepting the chairman's gavel from Miller. "I accept these responsibilities and look forward to working with my fellow board members and tackling the challenges on behalf of all our members."
Steinman receives Phoenix Award
Ben Steinman, AAM, of Ben's Auto Body CARSTAR in Mexico, Mo., received the Automotive Service Association (ASA) Collision Division Phoenix Award. The award was presented during the ASA Annual Convention held March 16-21 in Bermuda.
The annual award recognizes an industry professional whose unselfish commitment of time, energy and resources serves to improve the collision repair industry. Steinman currently serves on the ASA Collision Division Operations Committee, serving as chairman of the Salvage Subcommittee and co-chair of the industry salvage air bag study.
Cushman receives Alpha Award
Ed Cushman, AAM, of C&H Foreign Auto Repair in Spokane, Wash., was awarded the ASA Mechanical Division Alpha Award at the Annual Convention held March 16-21 in Bermuda.
The mechanical division presents this award to an individual who has made significant contributions to the automotive repair industry. Cushman currently serves as the treasurer of the Automotive Management Institute (AMI) and on the ASA Mechanical Division Operations Committee. He has also held numerous positions at the local and affiliate levels including ASA-Washington president.
ASA presents Humanitarian Award
Pete Hunt, AAM, ASA-Washington executive director, received the second annual ASA Humanitarian Award at the Annual Convention held March 16-21 in Bermuda.
In presenting the award, ASA's 1998 chairman, Carl Miller, said, "Here is an individual who leads by example, never asking anyone to do something he is not willing to do for himself. He is probably one of the most humble people you will ever meet."
The Humanitarian Award is the highest honor given by ASA.
Reminder of the month
The Automotive Service Association (ASA) updates several areas of the Web site regularly to keep the membership informed of current activities. To take advantage of this time-sensitive information, visit the ASA Web site.
National news
Concerned with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA's) lack of commitment to emission inspection and maintenance (I&M) programs, the Automotive Service Association (ASA) recently called on Vice President Al Gore to encourage the EPA to support and encourage vehicle emission I&M programs in the states. ASA is concerned that the EPA is working to eliminate I&M programs and replace them solely with on-board diagnostic (OBD) checks. Currently, the EPA is testing the accuracy of OBD checks and traditional I&M programs.
Legislation to ensure that independent repairers have the information from OBD systems that they need to repair vehicles passed the Arizona House of Representatives. It now moves to the Senate for consideration. ASA and other members of the automotive aftermarket have been working to ensure that technicians have access to information in the OBD computer that is necessary to repair vehicles.
ASA met with top analysts from the Independent Regulatory Review Commission to discuss a proposed regulation by the Pennsylvania Insurance Department. The proposed regulation makes significant changes to the current regulations governing the Motor Vehicle Physical Damage Appraisers Act. ASA filed formal comments with the Pennsylvania Insurance Department and began a grassroots campaign to encourage regulators and policymakers to make specific changes to the proposed rule.
Titling Debate Heightens in Congress || Tools of Success || For Your Information || Guest Editorial || Tech to Tech || Tech Tips || News Briefs || Taking the Hill || Around ASA || Net Worth || Stat Corner || Shop Profile || Chairman's Message
AutoInc. Magazine ® Vol.XIVII, May 1999
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