ASA Annual Meeting Gets Down
to Business

Posted 6/10/2010

ASA Annual Business Meeting Focuses on
Key Association Goals

Earl Dohner, AAM, E&E’s Garage, Brookville, Ohio, left, accepts a commemorative gavel from Ron Pyle, president and chief staff executive of ASA, for his year-long service as ASA chairman.

ASA held its annual business meeting April 21-22 at the Hyatt Regency DFW at the Dallas/ Fort Worth Airport in North Texas. The agenda included open meetings of the ASA affiliate assembly and board of directors. Ron Pyle, ASA president and chief staff executive, delivered a state-of-the-association address, and a new chairman of the ASA board of directors was sworn in at the close of the event.

In addition, there were meetings of the affiliate executive directors, executive committee and an affiliate assembly networking session to discuss various association business including membership recruitment during a challenging economic period, membership retention and launch of the ASA Marketplace (www.bizunite.com), which provides one-stop shopping for ASA's entire benefits portfolio.

Pyle presented his annual State of the Association address during the Thursday luncheon, where he provided an assessment of the association's future based on its current state. He encouraged the group of affiliate representatives, ASA leaders and staff gathered to work together to overcome the challenges of managing an association in the context of the 21st century and current economic conditions.

Dohner passes gavel on to incoming chairman Jerry Burns, AAM, Automotive Impressions Inc., Rio Rancho, N.M. Burns assumed the chairman’s post at the conclusion of the annual business meeting.

"Despite the challenges, this association continues to function at a very high level. We are delivering significant value to a large number of independent professionals," said Pyle. "We may have struggles and challenges, but we are also increasing our visibility to consumers and our influence in the industry, and we are recognized internationally."

The dates and location for the 2011 ASA annual business meeting have not yet been determined. The association's annual trade shows - the International Autobody Congress and Exposition (NACE) and the Congress of Automotive Repair and Service (CARS) - will be held during Automotive Service and Repair Week (ASRW) Oct. 10-13, 2010. The 2010 events offer a new day pattern (Sunday-Wednesday) with a three-day Expo Monday-Wednesday.

A variety of association business was discussed by affiliate leaders during the ASA Affiliate Assembly meeting. Foreground, from left to right: Steve Kirk, ASA-Michigan, Tim Cummings, AAM, ASAMissouri/Kansas and Joe Sanfillipo III, ASA-Ohio.	Diane Rodenhouse, Rodenhouse Body Shop Inc., Grand Rapids, Mich., general director, was elected to fill the fifth seat on the ASA Executive Committee.	During the Affiliate Assembly meeting, Luz Rubio, executive director of ASA-Arizona, spoke on behalf of ASA’s 16 affiliates.

New ASA Board of Directors Installed During
ASA Annual Business Meeting

Jerry Burns, AAM, Automotive Impressions Inc., Rio Rancho, N.M., was named chairman of ASA's board of directors for 2010-2011. Burns assumed the chairman's post at the conclusion of the annual business meeting. He succeeds Earl Dohner, AAM, E&E's Garage, Brookville, Ohio, who moves to the immediate past chairman's seat on the board of directors for one year.

Other members of ASA's board include Ron Nagy, AAM, chairman-elect, Nagy's Collision Center, Wooster, Ohio; and Darrell Amberson, AAM, secretary/treasurer, Lehman's Garage, Bloomington, Minn.

Serving as general directors are Diane Rodenhouse, Rodenhouse Body Shop Inc., Grand Rapids, Mich.; Donny Seyfer, AAM, Seyfer Automotive Inc., Wheat Ridge, Colo.; and Bob Wills, AAM, Wills Auto Service, Battle Creek, Mich.

Serving as affiliate directors are Russell McCloud, AAM, Accurate Automotive Attention, Yuma, Ariz.; Joel Baxter, AAM, B&B Auto and Truck Repair, Bremerton, Wash.; and Roy Schnepper, AAM, Butler's Collision Inc., Roseville, Mich.

The final two board positions are held by the Collision Division and Mechanical Division directors: Dan Stander, Jerry Stander's Collision Works, Littleton, Colo. (Collision Division); and Bill Moss, AAM, Ferris Automotive Inc., Warrenton, Va. (Mechanical Division).

Ron Pyle, ASA president and chief staff executive, also serves on the ASA board of directors in an ex officio capacity. Members of the ASA Executive Committee are Burns, Nagy, Amberson, Dohner, Rodenhouse and Pyle. Rodenhouse serves in the position of fifth seat.

During the recent ASA annual meeting, officers were installed for the 2010-2011 year. Standing from left to right: Ron Nagy, AAM, chairman-elect; Earl Dohner, AAM, immediate past chairman; Jerry Burns, AAM, chairman; Darrell Amberson, AAM, secretary/treasurer; Diane Rodenhouse, general director and fifth seat on the executive committee.