Online Applications Open For GAAS Scholarship

Applications are now being accepted online for the 2013 Global Automotive Aftermarket Symposium scholarship awards. The application process is now entirely electronic through the GAAS scholarship website, www.AutomotiveScholarships.com.

The deadline to apply is March 31, 2013.

The scholarships are available to students in two-year technical college programs and vocational schools and four-year college programs. To receive a GAAS scholarship, applicants must be enrolled full-time in a college-level program or an ASE/NATEF (National Automotive Technician Education Foundation)-certified automotive technical program. Graduate programs and part-time undergraduate programs do not qualify.

The GAAS scholarship is unique in that technician recipients can receive two financial grants: one while in school to assist with tuition and an equivalent grant awarded to scholarship recipients who graduate from their program and show proof of post-graduation employment as a technician in the automotive aftermarket for at least six months.

Craftsman Auto Body Opens its 10th Location

Craftsman Auto Body, a third generation, family-owned collision repairer with retail locations across Virginia, announced the acquisition of Bates Collision. The 31,000-foot facility – which is an ASA member-shop – is located in Culpeper, Va. The town of Culpeper enjoys proximity to Fredericksburg and Charlottesville.

“Paul Bates established an excellent reputation in Culpeper that Craftsman can build upon,” said Craftsman president Paul Krauss. “We are excited to grow in the Culpeper community. This facility is an important hub for our continued expansion south.”

17th Annual Urban Wheel Awards Honoring Women in Auto Industry

The 17th Annual Urban Wheel Awards (UWA), the official multicultural event of the North American International Auto Show (NAIAS), will host its annual awards show Jan. 13, 2013, at the Sound Board Theater, MotorCity Casino Hotel in Detroit.

The Annual Urban Wheel Awards, a world-class premier networking event and global marketing initiative, is attended by more than 2,500 guests, including media, automotive executives, businesses, politicians, celebrities, and community and trade organizations that come together to promote multicultural consumer awareness of auto manufacturers, vehicles, technology, suppliers, dealers and community service.

The 17th UWA will honor the contributions of women in the automotive industry in management, manufacturing, engineering, design, marketing, human resources and communications, as well as other segments of the industry. Companies that are dedicated to the development and advancement of women in the auto industry will also be recognized.

TopTech Finder Showcases ASA Membership

TopTech Finder, an ASA associate member, now gives repairers the ability to feature their ASA membership when posting jobs on www.toptechfinder.com. By showing the ASA logo on their job postings, repairers can more easily attract top quality PDR technicians because techs recognize ASA membership as a sign of professionalism.

“The best PDR techs want to work for the best repairers. ASA membership shows that a repairer is active in their industry, has a code of ethics, and cares about delivering high-quality repairs,” said Jeff Herman, CEO of TopTech Finder. Shops can post their jobs for free to more than 1,000 techs across the nation. Shops can also choose their facility fee, and better control a tech’s performance through a simple five-star review.

“When a hail storm hits, top PDR techs can work for lots of different repairers. But repairers with the ASA logo on their job posting will stand out and be preferred,” said Herman.

B.J. Johnson, ASA’s vice president of membership services, said, “ASA members strive for high levels of excellence and professionalism and want to work with only the best technicians. Members can more easily find these top techs by highlighting the ASA logo on TopTech Finder job postings.”

TopTech Finder is an open marketplace bringing together automotive repairers and PDR technicians while shedding light on the reputations of both. To learn more, go to www.toptechfinder.com.