Prominent ASA Leader Passes Away
Allen Richey, former CEO of the Automotive Service Association (ASA), passed away early Wednesday morning, April 21. He began his association career as editor of the 11-member Independent Garagemen’s Association (IGA) of Texas’ monthly magazine. As his responsibilities with IGA grew, he worked to provide training and education to association members. His vision for offering training and education to the automotive repair and service industry was realized in the formation of the Automotive Management Institute (AMI). As a result of his lifelong devotion and commitment to the industry, Richey was instrumental in the successful merger of two renowned automotive associations, the Automotive Service Council and the Independent Automotive Service Association, to form what is now ASA.
Vince Daviero Named Director of Northwood’s University of the Aftermarket
Vincent Daviero has been named director of Northwood’s University of the Aftermarket, effective June 1. Daviero’s most recent position was director of training and education at Tires Plus franchise division of Bridgestone/Firestone-Morgan Tire & Auto Inc., where he produced materials for instructor-led sales training programs. His accomplishments include the conceptualization and development of instructional curricula and on-site instructor-led training programs.
Auto-Wares Tech Expo Grows Customers & Skills
Every spring, Auto-Wares grows customer skills through a full weekend of technician training. Inside the Lansing Convention Center in Michigan, a line snaked out of the door that lead to a room where scores of automotive technicians were preparing to take the State of Michigan Mechanic Certification test, the state’s mandatory version of the ASE exam. Inside the Lansing Convention Center in Michigan, a line snaked out of the door that lead to a room where scores of automotive technicians were preparing to take the State of Michigan Mechanic Certification test, the state’s mandatory version of the ASE exam.
TIA Hires New Marketing Director
The Tire Industry Association (TIA) announced that its staff is now complete, with the hiring of a new marketing director, Colleen Wood. Wood comes to TIA with 14 years of marketing and association experience. With the closing of TIA’s Louisville office in January, many staff changes have occurred.
iATN Heads to Southern Cal for 2004 Convention
The International Automotive Technicians’ Network (iATN) will hold its 2004 convention Sept. 24-26, at the Coast Anaheim Hotel, in Anaheim, Calif. Traditionally a casual event, the convention will offer several technical and business management sessions, in addition to networking opportunities. The convention will also feature “TechNight Live: iATN West Coast Diagnostic Challenge.” There will also be a special luncheon address, as well as a dinner and reception for attendees.
Technology Outpaces Would-be Technicians
Help Wanted: Automotive technician. Starting salary: $30,000. Benefits include medical insurance, plus two weeks paid vacation and two long weekends off — that’s Thursday through Sunday — a year. How difficult is it to fill a job like that in Michigan’s lackluster economy? Plenty, according to Stan Shephard, owner of Shephard’s Hi Tech Automotive in Detroit. Shephard posted his help-wanted sign 18 months ago, and today the position remains unfilled. He’s had only 15 applicants for the job.
BWD Automotive Announces Vehicle Service Professional Rewards Program
BWD Automotive has launched a new Vehicle Service Professional (VSP) Rewards program, designed to foster, preserve and enhance the relationship among automotive repair technicians, distribution customers and BWD Automotive. The goal of VSP Rewards is to provide today’s professional automotive technician with up-to-date educational and reference tools required by an increasingly complex automotive repair industry.
School Auto Center Revs Up Students
Alex Kosterman, Kevin Bendorf and Matt Beier hunched over the shiny red Pontiac Sunfire, carefully inspecting the car’s leaky battery before cleaning it up and replacing it. The hands-on lesson on starting systems and batteries took place Tuesday in Racine, Wis.-based Park High School’s new automotive technology center, a 5,000-square-foot dream for the school’s automotive students. The investment bucks a national trend, as more and more high school auto shops are stalling despite a huge demand for skilled auto technicians. The most common roadblocks: the hefty cost of running automotive programs and a more intense focus on college preparatory classes.
Herman Trend Alert: Competition for Recent Graduates
Employers are showing renewed interest in fresh college graduates. For years, these young people have experienced frustrating difficulty finding stimulating and rewarding jobs after graduation. Many companies that had traditionally conducted on-campus interviews have been missing; the interest in graduates has been unusually low. Things are changing. Employers are showing renewed interest in college seniors, increasing their recruiting efforts and demonstrating stronger response to inquiries from students taking the initiative to find their preferred career-starting job.
High Schoolers Earn Certifications from Industry
A diploma isn’t the only important document that some students have in hand when they graduate from high school these days. A growing number of students, educators say, are graduating with specific, industry-defined skills certifications that can have immediate value in the job market. Industries in which such certification is available include computer maintenance, automotive repair, nursing, graphic arts and food service.