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 Scouts of Texas Oklahoma Plains Inc., where she supervised its Membership, Program, Volunteer Services and Outdoor Education staff. Prior to that, she worked as a campaign associate for United Way of Metropolitan Dallas, as program manager for Starlight Children’s Foundation and as youth volunteer coordinator at Women’s Haven.

Ashley Wood has been hired by the Finance Department as membership accounts receivable accountant, with professional experience in contracting, purchasing, recruiting, operations management and financial environments. She studied Business Administration at Santa Barbara City College in California and Tarrant County Junior College in Texas, and describes herself as a “Jill of All Trades,” proficient in identifying problems and implementing solutions to ensure quality, adherence to schedule and cost effectiveness.

Ben Schoberle, our new Membership administrator, comes to us straight from the University of North Texas. Ben earned a bachelor’s degree in Applied Arts and Sciences, with studies in nonprofits, marketing, management and music business, and served from June-September 2017 as a marketing intern with the Choristers Guild of Dallas. He also was president of an on-campus ministry program, played saxophone in the UNT Green Brigade marching band and earned his Eagle Scout award from the Boy Scouts of America. We’re excited to welcome Dana, Ashley and Ben to the ASA-National family.

Learn a Thing or Two from Two New Benefits

A s an auto repair pro, you now have two compelling new reasons to join ASA or renew your membership.

First, don’t miss the launch of a monthly series of events we’re calling “Webinar Wednesdays,” on the third Wednesday of each month starting this January. Each of the webinars will address the most pressing management and operations issues to help shop owners, managers, technicians and admin staff better perform their jobs.

Cosponsored by Bosch, the webinars are scheduled from noon-1 p.m. Central time on Jan. 17, Feb. 21, March 21 and April 18. To register for the Jan. 17 webinar, go to http://tinyurl.com/asawebinarjan17.

Second, check out ASA’s “ProInfo,” a new series of professional white papers designed to help members and their staffs improve their expertise in shop management, operations and customer service.

Each white paper will include a collection of professional articles and features from AutoInc. and/or our online suite of educational resources that deal with situations that shop owners face on a regular basis.

The first white paper, “Ready, Set, Service!” is a collection of shop suggestions and solutions by Chris Chesney, senior director of training for CARQUEST Technical Institute. It’s available in the Members Only section of ASAshop.org. If you have a subject or situation you’d like us to address in later months, email your suggestions to Paul Sturiale at pauls@asashop.org so we can review it for inclusion in the 2018 ProInfo series.

Sign Up Now for the Northwest Training Event

ASA Northwest has opened registration for its premier Automotive Training Expo (ATE), taking place March 16-18, 2018, at the DoubleTree Hotel in SeaTac, Wash.

Sign up by Jan. 5, and you won’t miss out on the $370 ASA-member, Early Bird pricing on the event’s All-Inclusive Package. After Jan. 5, the fee will jump to $425, while non-ASA-members pay $525.

The annual event is a great way to experience top-notch trainers, excellent exhibits and plenty of opportunities to connect with auto industry leaders and your automotive repair peers. To get more information on ASA Northwest’s ATE and register, go to atetrainingexpo.com.

Don’t Miss This Year’s VISION Hi-Tech Event

VISION Hi-Tech Training & Expo will be held March 1-4, 2018, in Overland Park, Kan. It provides you with the opportunity to learn and network with leading shop owners, managers and technicians.

In 2017, more than 3,500 automotive service professionals from 45 U.S. states, seven Canadian provinces, two Caribbean islands and Zimbabwe attended the event. Choose from cutting-edge management and technical training courses, including live-car and hands-on training. VISION also features a 60,000 square-foot exhibit hall showcasing the latest tools, equipment and technology.

The 2018 event will feature management training sessions designed to meet the needs of office personnel, service advisers, managers and owners. VISION’s unique lineup features hands-on and live-car training for technicians. Educator-specific training is conducted by leading industry experts and educators presenting today’s innovative teaching methods and cutting-edge technology.

Visit visionkc.com for more information, including registration.

Training Rules at AVI’s 2018 Winter Conference

Coming to Orlando!: AVI’s 2018 Winter Conference, featuring must-have management and technical training. Co-hosted by AVI, ASA-Florida and ASA-Michigan, in conjunction with the MACS Expo, the conference will take place Feb. 15-17 at the Caribe Royale Hotel & Resort.

Registration fee is $249 for ASA and AVI members and $299 for nonmembers. For more information and to register, go to https://tinyurl.com/asaavitraining.

Give Us Your Feedback on Ride-Sharing Services

Does your shop use a ride-sharing service such Uber or Lyft to provide your customers with transportation while their vehicles are being serviced or repaired? We’re doing an article for AutoInc. magazine on how this new customer-ride model is changing the way our shops do business. If you have used, or are using ride-sharing services such as Uber or Lyft, please contact our writer, John Clark, at johnc@ASAshop.org or (817) 514-2914 to schedule a discussion about your experiences with these services.

Donny Seyfer Takes Executive Post at NASTF

The National Automotive Service Task Force (NASTF) recently announced that Donny Seyfer, AMAM, former chairman of ASA, has replaced retiring Skip Potter as executive officer of the organization.

Seyfer, who has more than 30 years of experience in the automotive repair industry, has been associated with NASTF in several capacities, including serving as a member of the organization’s board of directors. He also brings 15 years of association and trade-show experience to his new role.

“Most important to the NASTF mission is the opportunity to continue to connect all of the different channels of our amazing industry and make the world a little smaller,” Seyfer said. “Now more than ever, success for all depends on being able to work together.”

Seyfer had been serving as interim director since Potter announced his retirement in August. After an extensive search, NASTF offered Seyfer the full-time position in October.

For more information, contact Seyfer at (855) 636-2783, ext. 3, or by email at nastf1@nastf.org.