Author: AutoInc.

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Briefs: 8 Auto Service Center scholarships awarded

Eight students from across the U.S. have been awarded Auto Service Center scholarships, the National Pronto Association recently announced. Winners included Mariana Armstrong of Gainesville, Fla.; Emily and Robert Blaettner of Boerne, Texas; Anna Christians of Sheldon, Iowa; Giovanni Colatruglio…

Record-high average age for cars in U.S.

The average age of domestic nameplate cars in the U.S. reached 14.4 years in January 2018 – the 27th straight year for an increase, according to the Lang Aftermarket iReport. That’s 2.2 years higher in average age than 10 years…

Audio Interview with Vinnie & Anthony Lucido

Brothers Vinnie and Anthony Lucido have expertly balanced overwhelming success in their Reno, Nev. shop with being heavily involved in their community. Hear the Lucido brothers talk about how their sometimes bold decisions have paved the way.

New membership services specialist named at ASA

A new membership services specialist recently joined ASA’s team. Yolanda Rivera, who took over the position on May 14, comes to ASA after spending years in banking, as an administrative assistant and as a recruiter. Rivera served as an assistant…

AMi announces new board of trustees

AMi’s 2018-2019 Board of Trustees began their terms at the close of the business meeting. Sheri Hamilton, AMAM, ASA-Midwest, Kansas City, Mo., was re-elected as chair; Darrell Amberson, AMAM, LaMettry’s Collision Inc., Minneapolis, Minn., re-elected as vice chair; Rex Dunn,…

New ‘member benefit’ from ASA

To provide better membership value, ASA is hosting a series of webinars on the third Wednesday of each month. The first ones, January-May, were jointly sponsored by Bosch. The live version of the webinar series is free, but the recorded…

New content manager named for ASA

ASA has a new content manager. Doug Myers, an experienced journalist, comes to ASA from KTXS Television in Abilene, Texas, where he served as Digital Media Manager for the past six years. He is responsible for managing content for AutoInc.…

Audio Interview with Elissa Larremore

For Elissa Larremore, her business success is summed up in one word: Persistence. Her persistence has paid off as her three shops in Shreveport and Bossier City, La. are excelling. Hear Larremore talk about what she's learned and how her hard work is paying off.

Two new members join ASA’s board

ASA welcomed two new members to its board of directors at its 2018 Annual Business Meeting & Conference, which took place May 2-4 at the Walt Disney World Swan & Dolphin Hotel and Resort. Newly elected to the ASA board…

ASE foundation & S/P2 launch mentoring program

A program designed to help businesses identify and train service people to mentor students and entry-level employees was just announced by the ASE Education Foundation. In a partnership with S/P2, the Foundation plans to develop and distribute The Workplace Mentoring…

Motor Press Guild honors Carm Capriotto

Carm Capriotto, host of AutoInc.’s popular podcast, AutoInc. Audio and owner of Remarkable Results Radio, was honored recently by the Motor Press Guild at its annual industry awards celebration. The ceremony, which took place Feb. 11 in Los Angeles, is…

CCC announces launch of new data exchange

CCC Information Services, a Chicago-based software-as-a-service provider for the automotive, insurance and collision repair industries, recently launched CCC X, a new data exchange that helps convert connected data into actionable information and makes it available for use across the CCC…

Arizona affiliate schedules training & expo event

Don’t miss ASA-Arizona’s annual Automotive Training & Expo, taking place June 22-24 at the WeKoPa Conference Center & Casino in Scottsdale, Ariz. The weekend will include top-notch training for all members of your shop on topics such as diesels, hybrids,…

ASA admin named finalist for achiever award

Congrats are in order for Brenda Rodriguez, our NASTF membership administrator at ASA. Brenda was notified this week that she is a finalist for the Achiever Award in the 2018 Fort Worth Admin Awards. Hard-working and conscientious, Brenda has worn…

Audio Interview with Jerry Vazquez

This current edition of AutoInc. Audio features a shop owner who has the answers to making a business successful: hard work, training and a passion for working on cars. As a 13-year member of ASA, Gerardo “Jerry” Vazquez, owner of B&B Auto Repair in Schaumberg, Ill., tells listeners how he learned the value of facing challenges head-on to build a business that would support his family. Jerry also talks about the challenges the industry faces and how ASA provides the problem-solving technical and peer input he needs to know how to invest efficiently in the future.

NABC names new executive director

Bill Garoutte, a 30-year veteran business development, marketing and collision industry executive, has been chosen to take the helm of the National Auto Body Council (NABC), succeeding founder and former Executive Director Chuck Sulkala who retired at the end of…

CarMax teams up with RepairPal

CarMax, the nation’s largest retailer of used cars, recently announced that it is expanding its commercial relationship with RepairPal, a leading provider of auto service and repair via a network of its certified shops. Additionally, CarMax reported that it had…

Industry leaders serve aftermarket customers

Two powerhouse companies recently joined forces to serve the automotive aftermarket. Advance Auto Parts, a leading parts provider and an ASA Sponsored Benefit Provider, and Interstate Batteries, North America’s leading battery replacement brand, have announced a strategic partnership that will…

ASA-Illinois shop receives small-business award

Clark’s Car Care, an ASA member-shop in Naperville, Ill., recently received a monetary fist-bump for its community support activities. Synchrony Financial, one of ASA’s Sponsored Benefit Providers, named Clark’s to its list of 2018 “Working Forward” Small Business Award winners.…

Audio Interview with Debbie and Gerry Vicario

Debbie and Gerry Vicario know a thing or two about “turning the thing around.” The co-owners of One Stop Auto Care Inc. in Los Angeles once considered shutting down the business. Then, they started working on it instead of in it. How did they make it work? Find out in the latest edition of AutoInc. Audio, the ASA podcast that features members offering their experiences at making shops run profitably and efficiently. In their chat with Carm Capriotto of Remarkable Results Radio, Debbie and Gerry reveal how they’ve created a fun, comfortable shop culture, how they approach hiring techs that fit in, how treating others like they want to be treated helps retain customers and employees and how belonging to ASA contributes to their success. It’s another enlightening conversation from AutoInc. Audio!

Look who’s joined ASA-National!

ASA recently added new staff members to its Membership and Finance department teams. Dana Cozby joins ASA as the new director of Membership. Dana has an extensive background in nonprofits, having previously served as the area director for the Girl…

Audio Interview with Darrin Barney

Learn the value of making every customer a “good friend” in this installment of AutoInc. Audio, based on the Member Profile in the January-February issue. Darrin Barney, co-owner Barney Brothers Off Road and Repair in Grand Junction, Colo., explains how you can do it, as well as offers tips for dealing with family in a family business; what he’s learned about introducing his kids to the business (“If you don’t teach your children, the world will”); the advantages of showing, instead of telling, your customers about their vehicles; and how you can succeed in this knowledge-based world. Don’t miss it!

Kukui adds DVI to All-In-One Success Platform

Want to improve the way you communicate with your customers, during and between visits to your shop? Check out Kukui Corp.’s new addition to its All-in-One Success Platform: the Kukui DVI. Designed to offer full transparency into the repair process…

Top 10 Websites Contest: The winners are . . .

Learn the secrets for creating a winning website from these savvy shops. Having a website that sells takes planning and precise execution. And one primary piece of advice that came up often in AutoInc.’s informative 2016 tutorial on website startups…

The Surest Bet in Vegas: CARS@aAAPEX

Meet the entire auto industry, from widgets to gadgets and the people who make and repair them. Attend the premier automotive service repair event of the year, taking place Nov. 2-4 at CARS@AAPEX. Back in Las Vegas at the Sands…

Julie Massaro takes reins for ASA-Colorado

Julie Massaro has been named as the new Executive Director of ASA-Colorado. Julie is an association industry veteran with extensive experience in project management, member recruitment, meeting planning, cost containment, budget management and volunteer leadership. Julie has more than 20…