With the 2011 Annual Meeting and Convention just around the corner, the Alliance of Automotive Service Providers of Minnesota (AASP-MN) is reminding industry members to register before it’s too late. The event will take place next Thursday, March 31, and Friday, April 1, at the Holiday Inn St. Paul East, and several programs are approaching maximum capacity. The 1-½ day line-up includes 17 different programs for mechanical and collision repair shop owners, managers and technicians, as well as industry suppliers.
A highlight of the event is the luncheon keynote address by Steven Schussler. Perhaps best-known as the founder of Rainforest Café, Schussler is most recently the national best-selling author of "It’s A Jungle in There: Inspiring lessons, hard-won insights, and other acts of entrepreneurial daring." A bigger-than-life character, he will share personal stories and business lessons that illustrate how anyone can become successful by applying creativity and persistence. Schussler is a highly sought-after consultant and speaker that will entertain and inspire AASP-MN attendees.
The full convention schedule follows:
Thursday, March 31
1:00 p.m. 3:00 p.m. Peer-to-Peer Roundtable Extravaganza, facilitated by AASP-MN member experts
1:00 p.m. 4:30 p.m. Diagnostic Best Practices, Chris Chesney, CARQUEST
1:00 p.m. 5:00 p.m. I-CAR: Vehicle Technology & Trends 2011, Mitch Becker, I-CAR
3:15 p.m. 4:30 p.m. Adding Social Media to Your Marketing Toolbox, Tyler Olson, SMCpros
3:15 p.m. 4:30 p.m. How to Save Money on Your Insurance, Jeff Maas, Associated Insurance Agents
3:15 p.m. 4:30 p.m. Selling Service, Elliot Silk, Factory Motor Parts
3:15 p.m. 4:30 p.m. Standard Operating Procedures for Quality Control, Shawn Collins, Wreck Tech Training
4:30 p.m. 6:00 p.m. Happy Hour/Vendor Showcase
6:30 p.m. 9:00 p.m. Industry Dinner at Lake Elmo Inn
Friday, April 1
7:30 a.m. 11:30 a.m. I-CAR: Electronically-Controlled Steering & Suspension Systems, Shawn Collins, I-CAR
8:00 a.m. 10:00 a.m. Take Charge of Your Shop’s Performance, Ed Welter, 3M
8:00 a.m. 11:30 a.m. Selling Across Generations, Norm Angrove, PPG
8:00 a.m. 11:30 a.m. Budgeting for Profit, Gary Gunn, Automotive Service Leaders
8:00 a.m. 11:30 a.m. Modern Engine Lubrication, Kevin McCartney
10:15 a.m. 11:30 a.m. Body Shop Success in the 21st Century, Frank Terlep, Summit Software & Mobile Solutions
11:30 a.m. 1:30 p.m. Lunch/Keynote Address: “It’s A Jungle In There,” Steve Schussler, Schussler Creative, Inc.
1:30 p.m. 3:30 p.m. Improving Efficiency in the Body Shop, Jim Lovejoy, AKZO Nobel
1:30 p.m. 3:30 p.m. Diagnostic Scan Tool Comparisons, Peter Reese, Diagnostic Hotline
1:30 p.m. 3:30 p.m. Mysteries, Misassumptions, and Myths All Those OSHA/EPA/DOT/PCA Regulations, Janet L. Keyes, CIH & Carol A. Keyes, CHESS, Inc.
1:30 p.m. 4:30 p.m. Gasoline Direct Injection, Kevin McCartney
In addition to the seminars, AASP-MN will provide several opportunities for attendees to network and socialize with their peers. Thursday evening will feature industry vendors displaying their new products and services and a dinner at Lake Elmo Inn.
Alliance of Automotive Service Providers of Minnesota (AASP-MN) is an association of independently owned automotive service businesses and industry suppliers dedicated to improving the state’s automotive service industry and the success of its members.
Annual Meeting & Convention registration information is available online at www.aaspmn.org or by calling the AASP-MN office at 612-623-1110.