2012: Are you off to a good start?

Posted 2/13/2012
By Ron Nagy, AAM, Chairman

Congratulations, you made it! You not only made it through Christmas, but you also made it through New Year’s, New Year resolutions and the Super Bowl season (once again, my Browns did not quite make it). And now, the long stretch of work, work, work until the three-day Memorial Day weekend.

So, let’s make the best of it.

How are you doing on the goals you set for 2012? One personal goal of mine was to continue to expand our own in-house training program. With the shortage of skilled technicians, our goal was to go after the entry-level employees and train them to become high-level techs. We have been frustrated lately with the level of experienced tech applicants – and sometimes the baggage they bring.

I’m not trying to be negative, so please don’t take this the wrong way; we have some fantastic veteran techs. Several have been with our company 15, 16 and 17 years. But recently, while trying to hire additional techs, I was amazed by the insolent attitude of some of the more experienced candidates. I will, however, point out that I’m excited at the amount of applications we have received for entry-level technicians.

Of course, it seems like a day does not go by that you don’t hear about how “this young generation doesn’t know how to work.” But I must admit we have found some who do! I find it ironic when I think back at when I first started attending ASA meetings with my father … back then it was the Automotive Service Council (ASC) … and even then the talk around the table was that “this young generation doesn’t know how to work.” The old saying is so true: “The older I get, the better I was.”

Goals change, times change, cars change, styles change and even our association changes. We’ve grown from the Independent Garage Owners (IGO) of America to ASC to ASA and now we, the board of directors, are working diligently to make this association more relevant than ever.

In this issue of AutoInc., we touch on the topic of technicians beginning with our Training & Education section. There is also a great article on whether or not your techs should have tool insurance, and should you provide it? Should you cover those tools on your policy?

These are questions I have asked myself for years. Speaking of the younger generation, do not close this magazine without reading, “Capturing the Gen Y Market: Don’t Overlook GR8 Service Opportunities,” on page 32. This is your market now and in the future. And the businesses that capture them first will win!

So grab a coffee from the Keurig you received for Christmas, take a few minutes and read this issue. Then get back to all of those goals. You have a few months ’til the next day off!