The Automotive Service Association (ASA) announced a strategic partnership with the Automotive Aftermarket Products Expo (AAPEX), which is co-owned by the Auto Care Association and Automotive Aftermarket Suppliers Association (AASA), a division of the Motor & Equipment Manufacturers Association (MEMA), to promote and support ASA’s 2016 regional management and technical training initiative for automotive service facility owners and repair professionals.
The regional training program will address increasing demand for management and technical training. Shop owners and managers attending the two-day training sessions will receive credit from the Automotive Management Institute (AMI) toward earning their Automotive Accredited Manager (AAM) designation.
Planned training events will be held in Orlando, Fla., Feb. 26-27 and Philadelphia April 8-9. Other events will be held in 2016 in Southern California, Chicago, Illinois and Las Vegas, in conjunction with AAPEX.
A select number of attendees will receive scholarships to attend AAPEX. Additional training and professional development opportunities are provided during AAPEX, which will be held Nov. 1-3 and will showcase more than 2,300 of the world’s leading suppliers.
“The partnership and ongoing collaboration among the associations is a defining moment for the industry,” said Dan Risley, ASA president and executive director. “Working together and leveraging each other’s strengths will benefit service repairers, suppliers and consumers. We are committed to continue exploring ways to deliver value to our members and helping the industry.”
Bill Hanvey, Auto Care Association president and CEO, added, “Delivering quality education and training at convenient times and locations for repair shop owners and managers is more important than ever. Faced with rapidly developing vehicle technology, advanced management systems and higher customer expectations, these professionals must possess the knowledge and skills necessary to run efficient and profitable businesses. We look forward to collaborating with ASA on this and other initiatives to further enhance educational opportunities for the auto care industry.”
Bill Long, president & COO of AASA, said, “The service environment is the aftermarket’s focal point where emerging consumer technologies, complex vehicles and new diagnostic/repair processes are converging. Maintaining the nation’s 260 million passenger vehicles and connecting with changing consumer habits requires professional training, and our new partnership will deliver it. We’re excited to combine the AAPEX brand with ASA’s training initiatives.”
Jeff Peevy, AMI president, added, “AMI is the only nationally recognized degree for automotive managers for the collision and service repair industries. This is an ideal opportunity for shop owners and managers to earn credits toward their AAM while taking advantage of the latest information on products and equipment at AAPEX.”
For more information about ASA regional events, or to register for the Orlando program, visit www.regonline.com/asaregionaltraining.
