The Automotive Service Association (ASA) honored several of its members last week during the ASRW Awards Luncheon. Held in Las Vegas during ASA’s annual trade shows – the International Autobody Congress and Exposition (NACE) and the Congress of Automotive Repair and Service (CARS) – the annual luncheon provides a platform in which the association can acknowledge the achievements of some of its outstanding members.
Ron Pyle, ASA’s president and chief staff executive, hosted the program, which opened with the Automotive Management Institute (AMI) graduation ceremony recognizing those who have earned the Accredited Automotive Manager (AAM) designation.
During the awards ceremony, Tschanen Brandyberry, Motor Age managing editor, presented ASA’s immediate-past chairman, Earl Dohner, AAM, and ASA’s current chairman, Jerry Burns, AAM, with die-cast replica cars in honor of their contributions to the industry. Honoring the ASA chairmen in this way is a longtime tradition of the publisher.
ASA awards presented during the Oct. 11 event included:
The ASA Benefit Provider of the Year is presented to a sponsored benefit provider in appreciation of its relationship with ASA, and for the value, quality and professional service it offers to ASA members. This year’s recipient was BizUnite, Manchester, N.H., which plays a key role in the ASA Marketplace housing ASA’s online benefits portfolio.
The Phoenix Award recognizes an ASA Collision Division member for his or her contribution to the automotive service industry. Darrell Amberson, AAM, president of Lehman’s Garage, Bloomington, Minn., was the recipient of this year’s award.
The Alpha Award recognizes an ASA Mechanical Division member for his or her generous and far-reaching contributions to the automotive service industry. Aaron Clements, AAM, C&C Automotive, Augusta, Ga., was the recipient of this year’s award.
The ASA Legislative Award recognizes those who have made an impact on legislative and regulatory activities. This year’s award went to Rusty Savignac, Paxton Garage Inc., Paxton, Mass., for his efforts to educate policymakers, technicians and shop owners about service information availability.
The ASA Chairman’s Club Award honors the top volunteer recruiter during a designated time span. This year’s award, which included a trip to ASRW 2010, was presented to Kevin and Patty Leiby, Leiby Automotive Service LLC, Millersburg, Mo.
The ASA Chairman’s Award of Excellence recognizes individuals for their outstanding contributions to ASA and the automotive repair industry. Two honorees were announced this year – Joe Sanfillipo III, USA Collision Centers, Cincinnati, Ohio; and Neva Hollins, AAM, ASA-Georgia executive director, Augusta, Ga.
Following the Automotive Management Institute graduation ceremony, which opened the event, AMI awarded the following scholarships:
• BodyShop Business Magazine Scholarship: Jina R. Berg, Lehman’s Garage Inc., Savage, Minn.
• Tom B. Babcox Memorial Scholarship: Jeff McCloud, Express Auto & RV Repair Care Center, Yuma, Ariz.
• Zurich “High Octane” Scholarship: Jerry Holcom, AAM, S&S Service Center Inc., Kansas City, Mo.
• Emil Stanley Merit Scholarship: April Hernandez, AAM, Hernandez Collision Center, Savannah, Ga.
• Richard Cossette/Gale Westerlund Memorial Scholarship: Dan Rohler, Nagy’s Wadsworth Collision Center, Wadsworth, Ohio
• AVI Education Scholarship: Dan Wozniak, AAM, Dan’s Auto/Truck Repair, Arlington, Texas
The following industry awards were also presented during the event:
• WIN NACE Scholarship: Soraya Gonzalez, Caldwell, Idaho
• Russ Verona Memorial/IBIS Scholarship: Ron Nagy, AAM, Nagy’s Collision Centers, Wooster, Ohio.
• Motor Age Top Shop of the Year: Matt and Judy Curry, Curry’s Automotive, Chantilly, Va.
• ABRN Top Shop of the Year: Jimmy Lefler, Lefler Collision and Glass, Evansville, Ind.
All award winners were also acknowledged as a group during the Opening General session in the Mandalay Bay Monday morning, which featured keynote speaker Kelly McDonald.
ASA’s annual trade shows – the International Autobody Congress and Exposition (NACE) and the Congress of Automotive Repair and Service (CARS) – will again be held during Automotive Service and Repair Week (ASRW) next year.
More information:
ASRW will be held at the Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas Oct. 16-19, 2011.
