Pro Spot announced that it has hired Roger Larsen as director of training and OEM relations.
“I’m very excited to have Roger joining our company,” says Ron Olsson, president of Pro Spot International, Inc. “I have had the pleasure to have been associated with Roger for many years during his time with Toyota Motor Sales USA. Roger’s experience in the collision repair industry is tremendous, and I’m certain that the experience he brings with him will be an asset to Pro Spot as we take on the ever-growing interest of our company and products.”
Larsen has been involved in the automotive industry for more than 38 years. After graduation in 1975 from Billings Vocational Technical School in Montana, he worked for two years as a dealership technician in the field. He then purchased his own business (Roger’s Body & Alignment) and operated it for more than seven years.
Larsen returned to school in 1987 and graduated cum laude from Northern Montana College (NMC) with a bachelor of science degree in secondary education and a certification in vocational education. His education degree consisted of a major in trades and industry (automotive emphasis), with a minor in technology education. He was also hired at Northern Montana College as a part-time instructor and served as automotive mentor for the school during his final year.
Larsen joined Toyota Motor Sales USA in 1992 and was the body service supervisor in technical training for the University of Toyota. His main responsibilities were supervising the collision repair and refinish training group at Toyota. This included overseeing three training centers and five employees, as well as directing all course development and training. He also delivered many collision repair and refinish related presentations and courses for both Toyota and Lexus associates and technicians and for independent automotive organizations. Other responsibilities included the development of collision repair bulletins, managing the company paint standards library and responding to a variety of requests from the field.
Larsen obtained ASE-certified Master Collision Repair Technician, Master Refinish Technician and ASEs’ Damage Analysis & Estimating Certifications. He has also obtained numerous I-CAR certifications including I-CAR’s welding certification. He is a
former member of the American Society of Training and Development and served on many advisory boards, including I-CAR and Mitchell International Inc.
As a long-term supporter of the collision repair industry, Larsen was honored in 2009 by the Society of Collision Repair Specialists with an award for his personal dedication to the collision repair Industry.
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