Contact:	Angie Wilson (800) 272-7467, ext. 216 angie@asashop.org
For Release:	Immediate News Bulletin ASA-68 November 10, 2008

ASA Collision Division Names
ASA/ASE Collision Technician of the Year

BEDFORD, TEXAS, November 10, 2008 - Michael "Mike" Loy, owner of Mike Loy's Collision Inc. in Lewisburg, Ohio, has been named the Automotive Service Association (ASA)/National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) Collision Technician of the Year. He will receive his award during the 2008 International Autobody Congress and Exposition (NACE) in Las Vegas. The award recognizes the ASA Collision Division member who received the highest score on the 2008 ASE master collision repair/refinish certification test.

The award was presented Nov. 7 during the Automotive Service and Repair Week (ASRW) Awards Breakfast. ASRW is the umbrella under which CARS and NACE are being co-located at the Mandalay Bay and Convention Center.

ASRW is an industrywide event, which includes both the collision and mechanical segments of automotive service and repair. It allows both collision and mechanical service professionals to benefit from NACE and CARS.

When Loy was informed of the award, he said: "I feel honored to receive this award from ASA. It was a real surprise to receive the phone call from Bill Haas [of ASA] to find out this award came with an all-expense-paid trip to NACE. Ten days later I received another surprise. ASE called to congratulate me on winning the Snap-On/ASE Master Collision Repair and Refinish Technician of the Year Award for the United States and Canada. Wow, what an honor. These awards can be received by anyone taking ASE testing. ASE testing can make a real difference in a person's life."

Loy, 56, has been an ASA member 15 years and has been active in the collision repair industry since 1972. He represents the third generation that has owned and operated a collision shop in Lewisburg. Mike Loy's Collision is celebrating its 91st year.

Loy has been an I-CAR instructor 19 years and is the lead I-CAR instructor for Ohio. He is an I-CAR Platinum Individual. Loy has been an I-CAR instructor qualification trainer and won the Instructor of the Year award in 1996 for the South Central Region.

He is a past president of the Dayton (Ohio) Auto Body Association, which is now called the Ohio Collision Repair Association (OCRA).

Loy and his wife of 34 years have five married daughters and four grandchildren (with the fifth grandchild expected in December). They live in Eaton, Ohio, which is about 10 miles away from the shop in Lewisburg.

NACE is being held Nov. 5-8 as part of Automotive Service and Repair Week at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center in Las Vegas. To learn more about the event, visit www.NACEexpo.com. To sign up for the official ASRW online daily highlighting the events of NACE, visit www.ASRWnow.com.

The Automotive Service Association is the largest not-for-profit trade association of its kind dedicated to and governed by independent automotive service and repair professionals. ASA serves an international membership base that includes numerous affiliate, state and chapter groups from both the mechanical and collision repair segments of the automotive service industry. ASA's headquarters is in Bedford, Texas.

ASA advances professionalism and excellence in the automotive repair industry through education, representation and member services. For additional information about ASA, including past news releases, go to www.asashop.org, or visit ASA's legislative Web site at www.TakingTheHill.com.

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