The Auto Care Association announced recently the recipients of its 2020 awards recognizing excellence in education, innovation and the next generation in the auto care industry. The awards were announced during the association’s Fall Leadership Days event and included the Mort Schwartz Excellence in Education Award, the Auto Care Career and Education (ACE) Award and the Impact Award: Four for the Future awards.
The Mort Schwartz Excellence in Education Award is annually given to an individual who demonstrates a passion for advancing the concepts and programs for education and continuing education in the North American auto care industry.
Bo Fisher, CEO of Fisher Auto Parts, was selected as this year’s Mort Schwartz Excellence in Education Award winner. He is the third-generation owner, Chairman and CEO of Fisher Auto Parts. For decades, Bo has continued and expanded his father’s focus on education. As a long-time proponent of education and training in the aftermarket, the annual Art Fisher Memorial Scholarship Award was established in memory of his late father and includes substantial scholarships in the name of the award winner to students enrolled in the automotive aftermarket management program at Northwood University. Fisher Auto Parts also offers 25 scholarships yearly to support students pursuing careers in the aftermarket and sponsors the KOI/ Fisher Training Cavalcade in Cincinnati, Ohio. In addition to his role at Fisher Auto Parts, Bo has served as chairman of the board of Federated Auto Parts since 1998. He is also co-chairman of “The Group” (Automotive Parts Services Group), who this year added streaming training including ‘START’ courses and live webinars at no charge. Fisher graduated early from James Madison University in Va., with Summa cum Laude honors.
The ACE (Auto Care Career and Education) Award recognizes auto care companies dedicated to excellence in education. In acknowledgement of our industry’s ability to adapt and innovate due to unforeseen circumstances, the ACE Award has been expanded this year to recognize industry companies dedicated to the growth and knowledge of skills within their organization and/or throughout the industry. The 2020 ACE Award winners are:
Small company: Dykstra’s Auto – Kentwood, Mich.
Dykstra’s Auto is dedicated to education and growing their team. Education is a huge priority, and the management team recognizes that the best way to keep their employees engaged is to invest in them. Employees attend yearly company-wide meetings and quarterly training sessions, utilize several online training classes, and are sent to a variety of week-long external training courses. Quarterly educational opportunities across locations include external technical trainers, based on technicians’ needs, and customer service training for service advisors. Moreover, employee educational achievements are recognized and celebrated annually. Certification and training assistance is also provided for technicians.
Mid-size company: Arnold Motor Supply – Spencer, Iowa
For more than 90 years, Arnold Motor Supply has followed closely the mantra of its founder E.P. Arnold: “You don’t build a business with buildings, brick, and stone. You build it with people.” They have a “grow your own” mentality that drives them to push the boundaries with their training and education offerings for associates and customers. The company puts its people first by investing in a variety of training and development resources, such as internal and external courses; a dedicated training budget; a training center equipped with a paint and blending room, underhood/undercar training, and refinish and industrial coatings application instructions; and much more. Additionally, Arnold Motor Supply supports and has invested in virtual options for training and meetings across their organization. This flexibility has allowed for continued support and education during the unforeseen circumstances that impacted business across the United States this year.
Large company: Auto Value Bumper to Bumper – San Antonio, Texas
Education is not just a check box at Auto Value and Bumper to Bumper. It’s a way of life. Auto Value and Bumper to Bumper adapted their education efforts during to meet the challenges of unforeseen circumstances that impacted business across the United States. Educational resources provided included a variety of resources pages, regular webinars, and other virtual training. Resources included 600+ links, files, checklists and other resources. Webinar were also added specifically for repair shops and technicians, and access to online training programs was expanded. In addition, Auto Value and Bumper to Bumper regularly offer on-demand training courses, monthly Up to Speed webinars, bi-monthly podcast webinars, scholarship opportunities for college students and rebates for passed ASE exams among other educational opportunities.
The Impact Award: Four for the Future, honors four auto care industry professionals, age 40 or younger, who have demonstrated extraordinary leadership or have made remarkable strides within the auto care industry. The 2020 winners are:
Megan Dineff, Ervine’s Auto Repair & Grand Rapids Hybrid
Megan’s dedication, loyalty and natural effervescence make her an invaluable addition not only to Ervine’s Auto Repair and Grand Rapids Hybrid but to the Automotive Service Industry as a whole. Megan’s compassion, honesty, and integrity shine through in her daily interactions with customers, technicians, vendors, tow truck drivers and pretty much everyone else she meets. Her true desire to help others extends beyond the workday at Ervine’s Auto Repair and Grand Rapids Hybrid. Megan currently sits on the Women in Auto Care Community board and the YANG Advisory Council.
Elisabeth Eisleben, Advance Auto Parts
As a female leader in a historically male-dominated industry, Elisabeth understands the importance of mentoring up-and-coming talent to increase female representation in the automotive field. She currently formally and informally mentors more than a dozen high-performing Team Members, helping them not only build important skills but confidence as well. Elisabeth also directly and indirectly supports numerous Advance Team Member Networks, including S.E.R.V.I.C.E. (Serve, Educate, Recruit, Value, Celebrate and Empower), Advance Pride and Allies, Women in Motion and A.L.I.G.N. (African Americans Leading Inclusion and Growth Network), to help build Advance’s employment brand with diverse audiences and the company’s focus on inclusion. Team Member Networks, also referred to as affinity groups or employee resource groups in other companies, were created as a way for Team Members to network with colleagues, share ideas, and increase cultural fluency across the company. Elisabeth serves as the communications lead for Advance’s partnership with the nonprofit Good360 and the Driving Hope program.
Dave Shapiro, SRS Sales and Marketing
Dave is the perfect example of a young individual making an IMPACT in the aftermarket industry. He served as a member of the YANG council, as YANG’s vice chair and as the YANG chair. During his time in these positions YANG continued to increase membership and sponsor support. They hosted successful leadership conferences, regional meet-ups and AAPEX. While Dave was chair, YANG was awarded the Pursuit of Excellence Award. Dave has supported the Next Step program as a mentor; is a supported of the ACPAC; has marched on D.C. during Legislative Summits and continues to advocate for our industry. Finally – he led YANG through the early days of COVID. He helped launch the YANG Give campaign for COVID relief and institute virtual Meet-Ups for YANG. Dave currently sits on Auto Care’s Manufacturer Representative’s Council, and is the current past-chair on the YANG Advisory Council.
Arnoldo Ventura, Frontera Radiators & Parts
Arnoldo’s Industry Involvement is quite extraordinary on its own merit mixed in with he is only thirty-three years old. Arnoldo is a member of YANG and currently sits as a Governor at Large on the Automotive Warehouse Distributors Association (AWDA) Board. Arnoldo has served on the Federated Co-Man Council providing valued feedback along with providing guidance serving on the Federated Board of Governors. In addition, Arnoldo currently serves on the International Trade Committee for the Auto Care Association in an advisory role on trade policy and program Initiatives. In addition to running two companies in two different countries, he also serves as an active member in CNT (Confederacion Nacional de Talleres) and INA (Industria de Autopartes) in Mexico.
To learn more about or apply for an upcoming award, visit autocare.org/awards. For more information about the Auto Care Association’s education and professional development initiatives, contact Amanda Bischoping, manager, education, Auto Care Association, at [email protected] or 301-654-6664.
