AMi Honors Class of 2018 at ASA Annual Business Meeting & Conference
ager (AAM), Accredited Master Collision-Repair Estimator (AMCE) and Accredited Master Automotive Managers (AMAM) designations during the ceremony. “It was an honor to recognize and celebrate the accomplishments of this group of industry professionals during our graduation ceremony. We are excited to see the growth of AMi reflected in the number of graduates and the diversity of certifi2018 AMi Graduation at ASA Annual Conference cates and professional May 4 at the Walt Disney World designations being awarded,” said Swan & Dolphin Hotel and Resort AMi President Jeff Peevy, AMAM. AMi role-based designations in Orlando, FL. The formal graduation cere- highlight the growing role soft skills mony was part of the Automotive and business management education Service Association’s “Celebration play in the success of today’s autoof Excellence” award ceremony, motive repair business. Students which recognized individuals and focus on multiple core categories of organizations that have made sig- training and professional developnificant contributions to AMi, ASA ment: financial management, sales & and/or the automotive repair indus- marketing, operational management, HR and personnel development, IT try. AMi recognized students earn- management, risk management and ing the Accredited Automotive Man- leadership. The Automotive Management Institute (AMi), the industry’s leading provider of management education for automotive service and collision repair professionals, held its first graduation ceremony of 2018 on
WAC Moves Forward With New Officers, Future Plans by Chasidy Rae Sisk
The members of Women in Automotive and Collision (WAC) met on May 15 at Gateway Motorsports in Madison, IL, to continue the group’s efforts to move the association forward and discuss recent successes. According to WAC President Shelly Jones, “We started the meeting by going over the mission and the introductions with each participant by saying their name, business and time in the industry. There were a lot of great stories shared of growing up in the industry and why this group is important for the industry. Several members have offered to donate dinner when we do not have a corporate dinner sponsor. Dinner for this meeting was donated by Secretary Peggy Vorwald, who shared her industry story with the group. We call this a member spotlight.” WAC discussed plans to create the group’s official website and revealed its new table cloth for industry events. They also talked about recently attended events and which events they plan to attend in the future. Recently, WAC’s Sheena Wagner and Jess Crump set up a 62
table at the Rockwood Summit High School Biodiesel Car Show, where they talked to attendees about the career opportunities available in the automotive industry. Thanks to Wagner’s efforts as sponsorship coordinator, WAC has been joined by several corporate sponsors, including Cooper Color Inc., American Family Insurance, Sikkens, LKQ Corporation and PPG. The group is grateful to these companies for supporting its mission. In addition to maintaining WAC’s Facebook page, Social Media Manager Tricia Belz is developing a LinkedIn page for the group. During the meeting, WAC also announced that Sarah Young from Original One Parts will fill the role of marketing coordinator for the association. Jones stated, “Sarah has already used her amazing graphic design talents to create forms and handouts for the group to use.” Young shared her take on the meeting as well. “It wasn’t a drag… pun intended!” she said. “As the group gathered at Gateway Motorsports Park, and after some open dialogue intro-
JULY 2018 AUTOBODY NEWS / autobodynews.com
ASA Announces New 2018 Board of Directors
The Automotive Service Association (ASA) announced changes to its Board of Directors following its Annual Business Meeting May 2– 4 at the Walt Disney World Swan & Dolphin Hotel and Resort in Orlando, FL. ASA Chairman Roy Schnepper, AAM, Butler’s Collision, Roseville, MI, who is serving the second year of his two-year term, is looking forward to working with the new leadership team. “As I look at our new leadership, I believe we have a strong team in place to help chart the association’s growth and progress on new initiatives as we move forward,” Schnepper said.
Members of the 2018 Board include: • Chairman: Roy Schnepper, AAM, Butler’s Collision, Roseville, MI • Chairman Elect: Bob Wills, AMAM, owner of Wills Auto Service in Battle Creek, MI, and the immediate past director of ASA’s Mechanical Division Operations Committee • Secretary/Treasurer: Fred Hules, AMAM, owner of Tech 1 Auto in
ductions, there would be small pauses to watch the drag cars do test runs. Everyone is excited to know that we are trying to do something, specifically something that will help drive successful women in the industry and create awareness of opportunities with careers in the industry. It’s crucial for both the sponsors and the association to stay active and aware of each other’s existence. To be able to have support from both aspects helps continue the efforts of bringing more innovation and partnerships within the industry for a better outreach.” For more information, visit WAC’s Facebook group at https://www .facebook.com/groups/wacstl/about.
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Peoria, AZ • General Director: Elissa Larremore, owner of CBS 1 Collision, based in Shreveport, LA • General Director: Todd Black, AMAM, owner of Unlimited Service, Bellingham, WA • Mechanical Division Director: Tom Piippo, AMAM, owner of Tri-County Motors, Rudyard, MI • Collision Division Director: Scott Benavidez, AAM, owner of Mr. B’s Paint & Body Shop, Albuquerque, NM • Immediate Past Chairman: Darrell Amberson, AMAM, owner of LaMettry’s Collision, Minneapolis, MN Dan Risley, ASA president/executive director, also serves on the ASA Board of Directors in an ex-officio capacity. Retiring from the ASA Board of Directors is Ed Cushman, AMAM, C&H Auto, Spokane, WA. “ASA wants to thank Ed for his great service and commitment to the Board, to the association and, most of all, to its members, whom he always puts first. We wish him all the best in his future endeavors,” said Schnepper.
How Will Autonomous Cars Impact Cities?
National League of Cities (NLC), in partnership with the Bloomberg Aspen Initiative on Autonomous Vehicles, recently released a series of interactive future scenarios for autonomous vehicles. These scenarios aim to help cities envision how autonomous technologies can improve life for residents by improving mobility, decreasing isolation and increasing the use of public space. They will also help city leaders anticipate and plan for some of the risks that could include increasing congestion, lost revenue and new safety concerns. More than 100 cities around the world have been mapped on the Global Atlas of Autonomous Vehicles (AVs) in Cities as piloting AVs, or have committed to doing so in the near future. Around 40 cities in the U.S. are on that list. The reports touch on the need for legislation to govern the rollout and operation of these new technologies, as well as further research on artificial intelligence, safety precautions and limitations.