Tuneups March/April 2016

Book Your Hotel Now for NACE | CARS

Have you heard the expression, “Get a room!” That’s what the planners of NACE | CARS 2016 are advising you to do – the sooner the better.

This year’s edition of the Expo and Conference, which is scheduled for Aug. 9-13 at the Anaheim Convention Center in Anaheim, Calif., has announced that if you act now, you can get a great deal on your hotel for the show.

Through its official housing partner, onPeak (formerly Travel Planners), NACE | CARS is offering exclusive hotel discounts on a first-come, first-served basis. Reservations are already on the fast track, and hundreds of rooms already have been booked.

OnPeak is the only official housing company associated with NACE | CARS. Hotels affiliated with this offer include the Anaheim Marriott, Anabella Hotel, Best Western Raffles Inn & Suites, Clarion Hotel, Anaheim Resort, Desert Palms Hotel & Suites, Hilton Anaheim and Red Lion Anaheim. Don’t contact the hotels directly because they cannot take your reservation.

Quoted prices are the average lowest rate with a check-in of Aug. 8 and checkout of Aug. 13. Although other hotel resellers might contact you offering housing for your trip, they’re not endorsed by or affiliated with the show and could cost you more.

To book, simply go to compass.onpeak.com/e/71NAC16/7.

AMI Collects Training Provider Info

As part of a major enhancement project, the Automotive Management Institute (AMI) is launching an industry-wide initiative to collect training provider information. Once collected, AMI will maintain the information in a searchable database on its website: AMIonline.org.

“For many years, the industry has been discussing the need for an easily accessible and current database of all industry training information,” says Jeff Peavy, AMI president. “As a nonprofit, we believe AMI is uniquely positioned to collect, offer and maintain this free searchable database as a service to the industry.”

AMI encourages all technical and management training providers meeting the training needs of the automotive service and repair industries to participate in this initiative. The collection form is available at AMIonline.org/AMI/training provider.

“Having a central database that the entire industry can turn to when specific training needs arise can be a powerful tool,” says Sheri Hamilton, AAM, AMI chairwoman and executive director of ASA-Midwest.

Hayes Takes ASE Post

Ted Hayes has been elected treasurer of The National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE). Hayes is the owner of Hayes Automotive in Lawrenceville, Ga., a Chrysler-Jeep-Dodge dealership. His family’s membership in ASA goes back to 1988. ASE was established in 1972 as a nonprofit organization to help improve the quality of automotive service and repair through the voluntary testing and certification of automotive technicians and parts specialists. There are now more than 300,000 ASE-certified professionals at work in dealerships, independent shops, collision repair shops, auto parts stores, fleets, schools and colleges throughout the country.

A Foundation With Solid News

Busy days at the Collision Repair Education Foundation! Here’s their report on what’s been happening:

• In recognition of the Foundation’s 25th anniversary this year, the MOPAR Masters Guild group has pledged to provide $2.5 million in donated scrap parts from its dealership members to local high school and college collision school programs across the country.
At least 50 dealerships will each donate $50,000 in scrap parts such as bumper covers, fenders, doors and other items in high demand from school instructors for their students to practice on in preparation for entry-level employment.
• American Family Insurance has donated $15,000 to the Foundation. The money helped provide six collision school grants to help fulfill the schools’ wish list of needed tools, equipment and supplies.
• The Foundation’s career fair for Orlando, Fla., has been set for March 10 as the organization continues its efforts to bridge the gap between high school and college collision students and entry-level industry employment.
More than 250 collision students from seven schools have already RSVP’d for the event, which the PPG Business Development Center will host at its Center in Kissimmee, Fla.
• The Foundation’s career fair for Denver is scheduled for April 14. The event will be held at Garmat USA’s corporate office in Englewood, Colo. Companies seeking to meet Denver area collision students are invited to participate.

Get Prepared For Your ASE Tests

The National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) has launched three new practice tests designed to help test takers prepare for the official ASE certification tests. The new practice tests cover the Automobile Advanced Engine Performance Specialist (L1), Automobile Service Consultant (C1), and Auto Maintenance and Light Repair (G1) tests.

ASE Practice Tests are delivered exclusively online and are half the length of the corresponding ASE certification test. The test questions were developed using the same procedures as actual ASE test questions. Practice Test questions provide explanations about why answer options are or are not correct.

For more information on ASE Practice Tests and how to purchase them, visit ase.com/practice.

Women’s Board Takes Great Strides

The Car Care Council Women’s Board has doubled down on the amount of scholarships it will award in 2016 to female students studying to enter the auto care industry.

The amount earmarked for scholarships this year comes to $50,000. The Women’s Board’s Scholarship Strides, its first-ever 5k/Fun Run fundraiser held at the Women’s Board Winter Leadership Conference in Orlando, Fla., raised $15,000 of this total.

“Each year we strive to increase the amount of scholarships we can give, and the success of this fundraiser shows how much our membership takes that to heart,” says Vonda Lee, Women’s Board Education and Development Committee chair. “This year we managed to nearly double the $28,000 we awarded in 2015.”

The Scholarship Strides fundraiser also collected donations online from industry members, as well as friends and family of the Women’s Board membership and conference attendees. The program is also funded by additional donations, sponsorships and a grant from the University of the Aftermarket Foundation.

To apply for a scholarship online, go to automotivescholarships.com/WB/. The deadline is March 31, 2016. For more information, visit carcare.org/womens-board/scholarships/.