ASA ParticipatesIn Parts Campaign

ASA members in Los Angeles, Chicago and Raleigh, N.C., participated in focus group meetings for the "Know Your Parts" campaign launched this past November by the Automotive Aftermarket Suppliers Association (AASA).

An article in the March issue of ASA's Mechanical Division Dispatch, a monthly newsletter that goes to members of that division, relates the full story of the campaign. The driving force behind the campaign was aftermarket suppliers' concerns about the growing proliferation of low-quality, low-cost aftermarket parts and components flooding the marketplace. These parts may not meet original manufacturer specifications - and their failure can pose a serious threat to public safety.

AASA encourages ASA members to visit its "Know Your Parts" Web site at kyp.aftermarketsuppliers.org and review the materials it currently offers - free of charge. Repair professionals are also urged to contact campaign leaders with their comments and suggestions at media@mema.org.

Chamber Cites Car Concepts

Car Concepts Inc. has been selected by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce as one of 75 companies in the nation to receive its prestigious Blue Ribbon Award for 2010.

The Chamber's president said in announcing the award, "The Blue Ribbon Small Business Award is about more than recognizing financially successful businesses. It's about honoring those that show a commitment to their employees, sound business practices, and bettering their communities."

Car Concepts Inc., which is headquartered in Hurst, Texas, is an employee-owned company. It has six companies in the Dallas-Fort Worth metro area: Kinney's Automotive Service and Corvette Service of North Texas in Hurst, Downtown Garage in Fort Worth, Rick's Independent CarKare in Irving, and Blagg Tire/Auto Tech and Blagg Tire & Service in Grapevine.

I-CAR Names Schoonover

I-CAR has announced its 2010 international board of directors.

Among the directors is Mike Schoonover, who represents the Automotive Service Association on the board. Schoonover owns Schoonover Bodyworks Inc. in Shoreview and Stillwater, Minn.

5 Among ABRN's Top Shops

Five of the 10 top shops named by ABRN magazine in its Decem_ber 2009 issue are members of the Automotive Service Association.

ASA shops among the top 10 are Auto Body World in Tolleson, Ariz. (which ABRN rated No. 1); Bonfe's Auto Service and Body Repair in St. Paul, Minn.; Old Dominion Collision Repair Centers in Eugene, Ore.; Park Place BodyWerks in Dallas; and Faith Quality Auto Body in Murieta, Calif. Congratulations to the ASA members!

Shop Party Benefits Haiti Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn, third from left, poses with the owners of Erie-LaSalle, from left: Jim, Bob and Jay Gottfred. Bob is holding the governor’s proclamation of the evening. – photo courtesy Kurman Communications Inc., Chicago. As part of its 75th anniversary celebration, Erie-LaSalle Body Shop in Chicago recently hosted "A Night in Support of Haiti." All of the proceeds from the event - more than $16,000 - went to Partners in Health, a charity in Haiti. More than 400 people, including the governor of Illinois, attended the party. After reading aloud his official proclamation of the event, the governor mingled with guests and posed for photos. Erie-LaSalle was featured in the February 2010 issue of AutoInc. in a shop profile.