ASA-Ohio Welcomes New Staffers

Adam Lemke

The Automotive Service Association of Ohio (ASA-Ohio), one of 16 regional groups of the national association, has announced the hiring of two new employees at the affiliate.

Adam Lemke is ASA-Ohio's new membership director. As such, he will oversee ASA-Ohio's membership retention and recruitment strategies. Lemke is based in Columbus and looks forward to strengthening the affiliate's base and heightening awareness of the association.

Also joining the ASA-Ohio staff is Jill Wilson, administrative assistant. Wilson will work closely with Lemke and the ASA-Ohio board of directors, assist members and provide ongoing communication between ASA and the Ohio affiliate. She will also work closely with the affiliate's associate members to ensure the development and delivery of various member benefits.

B.J. Johnson, left, vice president of membership services, meets with Jill Wilson of ASA-Ohio, during Wilson’s recent visit to ASA’s national headquarters in Bedford, Texas.

Wilson is a graduate of the University of Cincinnati with a concentration in human resources. Prior to joining ASA-Ohio, Wilson was an administrative assistant at The BMW Store where she worked closely with the sales staff.

"Today begins an exciting new chapter in ASA-Ohio. With the addition of Adam and Jill we look to not only grow the association but become the main resource of information and guidance for our members," said Joe Sanfillipo III, ASA-Ohio president and owner of USA Collision Centers in Cincinnati.

Lemke can be reached at alemke@asaohio.org or (513) 659-5324; Wilson can be reached at jwilson@asaohio.org or (513) 263-2886.

Five New Associate Members Join ASA

The Automotive Service Association (ASA) is pleased to announce five new associate members have recently joined the association. The decision to become an associate member displays a strong commitment to ASA and its efforts to serve the automotive service and repair industry - including its many dedicated independent repair professionals.

New associate members joining ASA during the second quarter of 2009 include Automofo.com, BG Products Inc., Challenger Lifts, Diamond Standard Parts LLC and Global Connect.

The associate category of ASA membership is designed for companies or groups that supply goods, services or equipment to the industry, especially to ASA's regular category of membership - businesses that perform automotive repair services. ASA's full list of associate members - including those that renewed during the second quarter - can be found on the ASA Web site, www.ASAshop.org. The associate member list is categorized according to the products or services the member provides to the industry. From air systems and tools to wheel alignment systems, associate member categories run the gamut in the automotive service and collision repair industries.

"It's a pleasure to welcome ASA's newest associate members, and we appreciate the opportunity to work more closely with these companies as a result of their decision to join the association," said B.J. Johnson, ASA's vice president of membership services.

Auto Mission Sponsors Youth Activities at Drag-n-Brag Event

Auto Mission took six young men from McFadden Ranch to the Scion Drag-n-Brag event at Texas Motor Speedway last month. Participating youth performed community service activities by assisting Texas Raceway Ministries chaplains. McFadden Ranch is a Texas Youth Commission (TYC) facility.

Serving as sponsors for Auto Mission during these activities was the Automotive Management Institute (AMI), the Automotive Service Association (ASA), Texas Motor Speedway, Texas Raceway Ministries and Scion-Toyota.

The Scion Drag-n-Brag program is an initiative to help curtail illegal street racing in the Dallas/Fort Worth metroplex and also provides a safer environment for racing enthusiasts.

Texas Motor Speedway converted its pit lane on the 1.5-mile, high-banked oval into a 1/8-mile drag strip to accommodate the racing that has been occurring each Friday evening for a six-week period scheduled for July 3-Aug. 7.

According to various statistics, 49 out of every 1,000 illegal street racers are injured on a national level and the highest fatality rate (58 percent) of that group is between the ages of 15 and 29.

Ron Pyle, ASA president and chief staff executive, said: "The Automotive Service Association has 'adopted' Auto Mission and we believe wholeheartedly that turning lives around is a truly worthy purpose. With continued support from our many partners such as AutoZone and Toyota, we multiply our efforts; and we are thankful because there are many young men and women today who need to know someone cares."

The racing was complemented by the "Show & Shine" program, in which car enthusiasts showed off their prized vehicles in the NASCAR Sprint Cup garage, took them for a parade lap on the oval track and competed for top honors each week.

ASA Revises 'Open Platform' Position Statement
USAA requirement limiting for members

The Automotive Service Association (ASA) board of directors has approved a newly revised position statement proposed by the volunteer leadership of its Collision Division.

The position statement reads: "ASA supports an individual collision business owner's selection of an estimating system that meets the individual's business needs and commends those insurers that allow for the use of an 'open platform.'

"ASA believes the same logic should apply - but is not limited - to management systems, paint systems, parts suppliers (OE, aftermarket and recycled), equipment and customer satisfaction indexing/customer service information programs.

"In situations where collision repair estimates are transposed by insurers, all efforts should be made by the insurer to duplicate the collision repair facility's original document."

The updated position statement emphasizes the business owners' inherent right to select their individual vendors, suppliers, systems and services; and conveys ASA's support for its members in making individual business decisions.

Revision of the position statement was prompted by a USAA requirement for participants in its STARS direct repair program to enroll in a specific customer service information program, at the shop's expense.

ASA Announces Presence on Facebook, Twitter
Electronic sources serve members, consumers and industry colleagues

You may now follow the ASA on Facebook and Twitter. ASA's presence on these social networking sites will allow you to keep up with all that ASA is doing on behalf of its members, business partners and the industry as a whole. To date, ASA has more than 400 followers on Facebook and Twitter combined, and that number is quickly growing.

To access ASA's Facebook and Twitter pages, search "Automotive Service Association" on the following Web sites: www.facebook.com and www.twitter.com. Or use the links located on ASA's home page at www.ASAshop.org.

Connecting on these sites is just one more way ASA is creating an online community of its members and consumers to build awareness for the ASA brand and to drive more motorists to ASA shops. "We believe our current and future members expect us to be electronically fluent and competent in using the numerous emerging social networking technologies. ASA is learning how best to leverage every relevant method of electronic communication to deliver real value to each member," said Ron Pyle, ASA president and chief staff executive.

ASA Web site traffic statistics also indicated 2.6 million unique visitors to the site in 2008 with an average of 7,500 daily visitors and total page views of more than 6.2 million.

ASA's presence on various social networking sites also provides members with another avenue for networking with peers who understand the day-to-day operations of an independent automotive service and repair business.

"We have worked hard to not only maintain the association's standing as the information source for the automotive service and repair industry, but also to enhance it as needed," said Angie Wilson, ASA's vice president of marketing and communications. "From association news that helps our members on a daily basis, to statistics and nationwide reports, ASA continues to expand its reach to the industry, our members and the consumers they serve."

Join the Discussion: ASA President's Blog ASA's President's Blog provides commentary about the automotive repair industry from the perspective of Ron Pyle, ASA's president and chief staff executive. To read the blog, go to http://blog.asashop.org/.