Auto Parts Industry Presses Senate To Pass Association Health Plan Bill
Ten trade associations representing the entire scope of the auto parts industry, from suppliers to aftermarket, challenged the United States Senate to enact the “Small Business Health Fairness Act” (S. 406). The bill would allow small businesses to purchase affordable health care coverage through a trade association. In a show of solidarity, the 10 groups submitted a joint letter to the Senate urging immediate support for the bill, commonly referred to as “Association Health Plans” (AHPs).
ASA Holds Annual Business Meeting in Texas, New Board Announced
The Automotive Service Association (ASA) held its annual business meeting April 20-23 in Fort Worth, Texas. The event serves as a forum for several association leadership activities, including open meetings of the ASA affiliate assembly and board of directors; a State of the Association address by Ron Pyle, ASA’s president and chief staff executive; and the installation of the 2005-06 board of directors.
The Year in Review – A Look at the Top 10 News Stories of 2004
Whether you believe 2004 was a good or bad year for the aftermarket, no one can argue this was a big news year for our industry. The year included noteworthy shifts in leadership, mergers, acquisitions and more, most of which will significantly impact the industry for many years to come. Here’s a month-by-month look at what aftermarketNews.com considers to be biggest news events that happened in our industry in 2004.
Celette S.A. Founder Germain Celette Dies
Celette S.A. has announced the passing of its founder Germain Celette. Celette died at his home, “le Bastion,” on Nov. 30 in Vienne, France. Well respected in the industry, Celette got his start in 1952, after responding to a friends’ need to repair a collision damaged Renault 4 CV, one of the first unibody vehicles.
Keystone Automotive Industries Reports Fiscal 2005 First Quarter Results
Keystone Automotive Industries has reported results for its fiscal 2005 first quarter, which ended on July 2 — a fourteen-week period, compared with a thirteen-week period a year earlier. The company said net sales for the first quarter increased 19.5 percent to a record $141.1 million from $118.1 million a year earlier. Net income for the quarter was $4.1 million, or 26 cents per diluted share, compared with $4.2 million, or 28 cents per diluted share, for the quarter a year ago.
ASA-Michigan Joins National Association
The Automotive Service Association (ASA) board of directors has approved ASA-Michigan as the newest affiliate in the ASA organization. ASA-Michigan becomes the 16th affiliate for the national association.
ASA Announces New Board of Directors
The Automotive Service Association (ASA) installed its new board of directors during the association’s annual business meeting held on April 16 and 17 in San Antonio. Geralynn Kottschade, AAM, of Jerry’s Body Shop Inc. in Mankato, Minn., was named chairman of ASA’s board of directors for 2004-05. Kottschade assumed the chairman’s post at the conclusion of the annual meeting.
ASA Chief Staff Executive Addresses Consumer, Insurer Issues on Two CBS Programs
The Automotive Service Association (ASA) and its Chief Staff Executive Ron Pyle played a significant role in two CBS programs that addressed the issue of insurer-owned body shops. Pyle was recently interviewed at ASA’s headquarters in Bedford, Texas, and appeared Wednesday, Feb. 11, on the “CBS Evening News” during its “Eye on America” segment. On Thursday, Feb. 12, Pyle provided follow-up coverage on this issue when he was interviewed again by CBS during an appearance on “The Early Show.”