On March 16, NORTHEAST 2018 kicked off with BASF’s special “Industry Innovators” Luncheon, which gave top collision repair and automotive service students from Rockland BOCES (Board of Cooperative Educational Services) the opportunity to discuss the industry with special guests KC Mathieu (KC’s Paint Shop), Jonathan Goolsby (Goolsby Customs) and Troy Spackman (Legacy Innovations).
One of the major takeaways from the afternoon discussion was that success in the automotive field is possible for anyone who is truly committed to putting in the time and effort to achieve it, says BASF.
“You don’t have to go to a four-year [school]; you don’t have to get a degree,” said Spackman. “You have to bust your butt, you’ve got to want it and you’ve got to be good at it… The hardest thing is finding people who want it and people willing to do the work and show up.”
Rockland BOCES Automotive and Collision Repair Instructor Sal Cappiello praised BASF for providing his students an opportunity to gain insight from industry professionals.
“My students received firsthand, real-life perspectives on how to run a business, and the skills, work ethic and values needed to succeed. They hear it from me in the classroom, but being able to go to this event and hear real stories from the field rings a bell within them. They get it, they understand it and they’re motivated.”
The NORTHEAST Automotive Services Show is presented annually by the Alliance of Automotive Service Providers of New Jersey (AASP/NJ), and was held this year from March 16-18 at the Meadowlands Exposition Center in Secaucus, New Jersey.
For more information on NORTHEAST, visit aaspnjnortheat.com.
For more information on AASP/NJ, visit aaspnj.org.
