ASA-Ohio

ASA-Ohio is happy to announce that two members have received scholarships to attend Automotive Service and Repair Week in Orlando, Florida, October 5-8. James Noe, manager for Nagy’s Collision Specialists, Orrville, Ohio, is the recipient of this year’s Richard Cossette/Gale Westerlund Memorial Scholarship. Donald Schnitzler, owner, Don’s Auto Repair, Inc., Cincinnati, Ohio., is the recipient of the “Tom B. Babcox Memorial Scholarship.”

James Noe

Noe has worked in the collision industry for more than 6 years and is currently working on completing the necessary requirements to earn the Institute’s Accredited Automotive Manager (AAM) designation. He is I-CAR trained and holds several ASE certifications. When not working in the shop, he contributes his time to various community and industry organizations.

“The opportunity to attend the education and network with other industry professionals enables me to become a better manager and leader,” said Noe.

Don Schnitzler

Schnitzler has worked in the automotive service industry for 13 years and a shop owner for the past year and a half. He is currently working on completing the necessary requirements to earn the Institute’s Accredited Automotive Manager (AAM) designation. When not working in the shop, he contributes his time to various community and industry organizations.

“I’m honored to be selected as the recipient of the Tom B. Babcox Scholarship and to be given this opportunity to improve my management skills,” said Schnitzler. “I wish to thank AMI and Babcox Publications for their commitment to education and training.”

Each year the Automotive Management Institute (AMI) with the help of corporate and private sponsors provide six scholarships to ASA members and their employees. The recipients receive $1,000 to be applied to the expenses of attending educational sessions and view the latest technologies and equipment at the International Autobody Congress and Exposition (NACE) and the Congress of Automotive Repair and Service (CARS).

Columbus – The Ohio Board of Motor Vehicle Collision Repair Registration, in conjunction with the Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine’s Office, the Belmont County Common Pleas Court and the Belmont County Sheriff’s Department, carried out a court order Wednesday to lock down an illegal auto repair facility.

An injunction was granted against Caz Krupinski, owner of Martin’s Auto Service in Lansing for failing to register with the Board. When the owner failed to meet the registration requirements after the injunction, the Board filed a “Contempt of Court” complaint. The Court issued a deadline for the owner to become compliant with the Board and pay back fees. When the deadline passed without compliance, the Board was granted a “Lock-down” order. The business will remain locked down until it becomes registered.

Michael Greene, Executive Director of the agency, indicated, “Enforcement efforts against illegal repair facilities have increased, and that trend will continue. It is not the Board’s intention to close down repair shops, but rather bring them into compliance with state and federal regulations.” He added, “It’s a consumer issue, and I would suggest everyone visit our website at www.collisionboard.ohio.gov prior to selecting a repair facility. Consumers can check for registered shops at our e-licensing verification link, and learn the rights of a motorist when seeking auto repairs.”

The Ohio Board of Motor Vehicle Collision Repair Registration was created in 1999 to regulate the collision repair industry and provide consumer protection. The Board is entirely funded by registration fees from collision shops, auto glass businesses, paintless dent repair companies and airbag replacement units throughout Ohio. The Board is made up of five collision repair shop owners, one mechanical repair shop owner, and one person to represent the public, who has no financial interest in the auto repair industry.

Education schedules for Automotive Service and Repair Week (ASRW) 2011 are now available. Education tracks include mechanical, collision, management, technical and women’s professional development, and many sessions within the conference program are approved for AMI credits. ASRW, which features NACE and CARS, ASA’s two trade shows, is

Click here for the CARS schedule and click here for the NACE schedule.

Online attendee registration is open for ASRW 2011. NACE and CARS will be held at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando.

Click here to register for CARS and click here to register for NACE.

The Automotive Management Institute is accepting applications for six scholarships for Automotive Service and Repair Week this coming October. ASRW which houses NACE and CARS will be held in Orlando, Florida, October 5-8th. NACE and CARS, both of which are sponsored by ASA, offer a comprehensive lineup of AMI, industry and technical seminars, a trade show and the opportunity to network with other automotive service professionals. All of the scholarships are $1000 to help pay for the expenses with NACE and CARS.

The scholarships for NACE are:

• Emil Stanley Merit Award Richard Cossette/Gale Westerlund Memorial Scholarship
• BodyShop Business Magazine Scholarship
• Richard Cossette/Gale Westerlund Memorial Scholarship

The scholarships for CARS are:

• Automotive Video Inc. (AVI) Education Scholarship
• Tom B. Babcox Memorial Scholarship
• Zurich “High Octane” Scholarship

For more information and to apply visit AMI’s scholarship page at http://tinyurl.com/6ymvr37.

For more information on ASRW visit http://www.asrwevents.com/.

The Automotive Service Association (ASA) launched its expanded benefits portfolio, the “ASA Marketplace,” one year ago and the site continues to offer members the largest benefits package in the association’s 60-year history. Housing convenient money-saving offers for automotive repair businesses, the ASA Marketplace provides one-stop shopping for the products and services repairers need to stay successful.

In addition, the site hosts many new offers previously unavailable through ASA, such as special discounts through Grainger, Sprint, Constant Contact and OfficeMax. These expanded offers allow ASA members to take advantage of pre-negotiated services with selected vendors for increased savings.

“When combined with ASA’s traditional benefit programs, the ASA Marketplace provides unmatched value to today’s repair professional,” said Ron Pyle, president and chief staff executive. “As important as the
pre-negotiated savings is the convenience of having these product and service providers in one place.”

Members have immediate access to the ASA Marketplace through the links provided on the Member Benefits pages on both the public and Members Only sections of the ASA Web site, www.ASAshop.org. Direct access is also available at ASA.bizunite.com. ASA members may access the site using their e-mail address and the password “asa.” A guest account can be accessed for prospective ASA members, allowing visitors to view the numerous discount programs available through ASA membership. Nonmembers may access the site using the username “guest” and the password “asa.”

The ASA Marketplace is continually updated and contains numerous categories for easy navigation, including insurance, wireless services, shipping, estimating and diagnostics, office supplies and finance. The site also includes access to Employee Perks, which offers discounts at more than 25,000 merchants in categories ranging from restaurants to theaters to apparel to electronics. This particular benefit can conveniently be shared with shop employees at the discretion of the shop owner or manager.

To learn more about ASA’s dedication to service and repair professionals, the benefits of ASA membership and how to join, visit www.ASAshop.org or call (800) 272-7467, ext. 295.

BEDFORD, TEXAS, May 13, 2011 – The Automotive Service Association (ASA) has announced its new board of directors, which was sworn in during the association’s annual business meeting May 9-11 in the Washington, D.C., area.

Ron Nagy, AAM, Nagy’s Collision Centers, Orville, Ohio, was named chairman of ASA’s board of directors for 2011-2012. Nagy assumed the chairman’s post at the conclusion of the annual business meeting. He succeeds Jerry Burns, AAM, Automotive Impressions Inc., Rio Rancho, N.M., who moves to the immediate past chairman’s seat on the board of directors for one year.

Additional members of the board include Darrell Amberson, AAM, chairman-elect, Lehman’s Garage, Bloomington, Minn.; and Diane Rodenhouse, AAM, secretary/treasurer, Rodenhouse Body Shop Inc., Grand Rapids, Mich.

Serving as general directors are Gary Keyes, AAM, E&M Motors Inc., Stuart, Fla.; Donny Seyfer, AAM, Seyfer
Automotive Inc., Wheat Ridge, Colo.; and Bob Wills, AAM, Wills Auto Service, Battle Creek, Mich.

Serving as affiliate directors are Joel Baxter, AAM, B&B Auto and Truck Repair, Bremerton, Wash.; Mark Gurnsey, AAM, Accountable Auto Care Inc., Broomfield, Colo.; and Roy Schnepper, AAM, Butler’s Collision Inc., Roseville, Mich.

The final two board positions are held by ASA’s Collision Division and Mechanical Division directors: Dan Stander, Jerry Stander’s Collision Works, Littleton, Colo. (Collision Division); and Bill Moss, AAM, Ferris Automotive Inc., Warrenton, Va. (Mechanical Division).

Ron Pyle, ASA president and chief staff executive, also serves on the ASA board of directors in an ex officio capacity. Members of the ASA Executive Committee are Nagy, Amberson, Rodenhouse, Burns, Wills and Pyle. Wills serves in the position of fifth seat.

The next function scheduled from the national office is Automotive Service and Repair Week (ASRW) Oct. 5-8, 2011, at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Fla. ASA is pleased to bring its annual trade shows – the International Autobody Congress and Exposition (NACE) and the Congress of Automotive Repair and Service (CARS) – to the East Coast during ASRW, and has received positive feedback from members, exhibitors and the industry at large regarding the return to a rotating schedule. For more information about ASRW, including NACE or CARS, visit www.ASRWevents.com.