The Automotive Management Institute (AMI) has announced the recipients of five scholarships to help cover expenses related to attending Automotive Service & Repair Week (ASRW), which includes NACE and CARS, in Las Vegas, Oct. 10-13.
BodyShop Business Magazine Scholarship — Presented by AMI and Babcox Publications
Jina Berg, customer service representative, Lehman’s Garage, Inc., Minneapolis, Minn., is the recipient of this year’s BodyShop Business Magazine Scholarship.
AMI and Babcox present the scholarship annually to recognize management-oriented members of the Automotive Service Association (ASA) Collision Division. The recipient receives $1,000 to be applied toward expenses to attend educational sessions and view the latest repair technologies and equipment during the 2010 International Autobody Congress & Exposition (NACE), Oct. 10-13, in Las Vegas.
Berg has worked in the collision industry for 10 years. She is a member of the Women’s Industry Network (WIN), and is currently working on completing the necessary requirements to earn the Institute’s Accredited Automotive Manager (AAM) designation.
“I’m grateful for this opportunity and look forward to attending the educational sessions and networking events offered at NACE,” said Berg.
Tom B. Babcox Memorial Scholarship — Presented by AMI and Babcox Publications
Jeff McCloud, technician, Express Auto/RV Care Center, Yuma, Ariz., is the recipient of the Tom B. Babcox Memorial Scholarship. The scholarship recognizes a management-oriented member of the Automotive Service Association (ASA) Mechanical Division. The recipient receives $1,000 to be applied toward expenses to attend educational sessions and view the latest repair technologies and equipment during CARS.
McCloud has worked in the automotive service industry for 14 years. He is an ASE Certified and Master Technician and Advanced Engine Performance Specialist. He is currently working on completing the necessary requirements to earn the Institute’s Accredited Automotive Manager (AAM) designation. When not working in the shop, he contributes his time to various community and industry organizations.
“I’m honored to be selected as the recipient of the Tom B. Babcox Scholarship and to be given this opportunity to improve my professional and technical skills,” said McCloud. “I wish to thank ASA, AMI and Babcox Publications for their commitment to education and training.”
Richard Cossette/Gale Westerlund Memorial Scholarship — Presented by AMI and the Automotive Service Association (ASA)
Dan Rohler, manager of Nagy’s Wadsworth Collision, Wadsworth, Ohio, is the recipient of this year’s Richard Cossette/Gale Westerlund Memorial Scholarship.
Rohler has worked in the collision industry for more than 32 years and is currently working on completing the necessary requirements to earn the Institute’s Accredited Automotive Manager (AAM) designation. He is I-CAR trained and holds several ASE certifications.
Richard Cossette owned Lehman’s Garage in Minneapolis, Minn., and was a charter founder of AMI and a $50,000 Charter Counselor contributor to AMI’s resource development effort EXCEL. He was the first chairman of EXCEL and was a recipient of AMI’s Annual Recognition Award in 1994. He was awarded an honorary Accredited Automotive Manager (AAM) designation in 1997 to further recognize his commitment and dedication to AMI. He also held numerous leadership positions on the ASA board of directors and was active in several industry organizations until his death in 2002.
Westerlund owned and operated Gale’s Auto Center in Blaine Minn., and was a $25,000 Guarantor contributor to EXCEL. He earned the Institute’s AAM designation in 1993, and also served on the ASA board of directors for many years. He was an active member of ASA and other collision industry organizations until his death in 2005.
As the scholarship recipient, Rohler receives $1,000 to help cover expenses to attend NACE.
“I’m grateful for this opportunity because I feel NACE is the ultimate learning experience. I look forward to taking what I learn at the event back to the shop,” said Rohler.
Emil Stanley Merit Award — Presented by AMI and ASA
April Hernandez, manager for Hernandez Collision Center, Savannah, Ga., is the recipient of this year’s Emil Stanley Merit Award.
The award honors Emil Stanley who was publisher of Automotive Body Repair News (ABRN) until his death in 1989. Stanley was committed to strengthening the professionalism of the collision repair industry through education. He was recognized as a strong advocate of the International Autobody Congress & Exposition (NACE), the world’s largest collision repair event sponsored annually by ASA.
Hernandez has worked in the collision repair industry for more than five years. She is very active at the local, state and national level of ASA and currently serves on the ASA Crash Parts Sub-Committee, ASA Safety Parts Task Force and the ASA Government Affairs Committee. Hernandez earned the Institute’s Accredited Automotive Manager (AAM) designation in 2009. When not working in the shop, she contributes her time to various industry and community organizations.
As the scholarship recipient, Hernandez will receive $1,000 to be applied toward expenses to attend NACE.
“Through my involvement in management education, I have met many wonderful people. These instructors, colleagues and mentors have motivated me, through their passion and knowledge, to better myself and my business. I am honored to be the recipient of this award and will continue to strive toward higher education for myself, my employees and fellow industry professionals,” said Hernandez.
The Emil Stanley Award is made possible by a grant from ASA to AMI’s resource development program, EXCEL.
AVI Education Scholarship — Presented by AMI and Automotive Video, Inc. (AVI)
Dan Wozniak, owner, Dan’s Auto/Truck Repair, Arlington, Texas, is the recipient of the AVI Education Scholarship. The scholarship recognizes automotive service professionals who have a strong desire to improve their management and technical skills through education. The recipient receives $1,000 to help cover expenses to attend educational sessions and view the latest repair technologies and equipment during the Congress of Automotive Repair and Service (CARS), Oct. 10-13, in Las Vegas.
Wozniak has worked in the automotive service industry for more than 30 years and has been a shop owner for the last 20 years. He holds several ASE certifications and earned the Institute’s Accredited Automotive Manager (AAM) designation in 2005. Wozniak is a member of the Automotive Service Association (ASA). When not working in the shop, he contributes his time to various community and industry organizations.
“I’m grateful to receive this scholarship. It offers me the opportunity to meet others in the industry and further my education and knowledge,” said Wozniak.
Zurich High Octane Scholarship — Presented by AMI and Zurich
Jerry Holcom, owner, S&S Service Center, Inc., Kansas City, Mo., is the recipient of the Zurich “High Octane” Scholarship. The scholarship recognizes a management-oriented member of the Automotive Service Association (ASA) Mechanical Division. The recipient receives $1,000 to be applied toward expenses to attend educational sessions and view the latest repair technologies and equipment during the Congress of Automotive Repair and Service (CARS), Oct. 10-13, in Las Vegas.
Holcom has worked in the automotive service industry for 44 years and has been a shop owner for the last 28 years. He holds several ASE certifications and earned the Institute’s Accredited Automotive Manager (AAM) designation in 1996. Holcom is a member of ASA and currently serves as vice president for the Kansas City chapter. Holcom also serves as VISION committee chairman. When not working in the shop, he contributes his time to various community and industry organizations.
“My entire career has been one of seeking ways to improve, and to help others, both as a technician and as an owner. I am grateful to receive this award recognizing those endeavors,” said Holcom.
