The Automotive Management Institute (AMi) announced the launch of the “next generation of AMi.” This includes six new front office and management certificates and professional designations, access to more than 100 relevant online courses, career paths, a new website and an online Learning Management System. The new online course offerings include content from industry professionals such as Mike Anderson, Mark Claypool, Michael Graham, Frank LaViola, Jeremy O’Neal, Frank Terlep and others.
“The new AMi represents more than a year of soliciting, organizing and prioritizing industry feedback to ensure we offer the most relevant professional designations, career paths and overall management educational support possible,” said Jeff Peevy, AMi president. “For example, we heard clearly from business owners and managers the need to offer career paths for their front office staff.”
The industry-serving nonprofit now offers customer service certificates and professional designations for office manager, general manager and master general manager, specifically for collision repair and mechanical service repair segments of the automotive industry. Each level of recognition is a step toward the next level, building a clear professional development pathway, and will provide the necessary training to improve operational performance.
In addition, the next generation of AMi now provides a suite of learning support tools.
“Our new core belief is ‘knowledge equals competitiveness; learning then is the only source of a sustainable, competitive advantage,’” Peevy said.
Acting upon this belief, AMi will provide a free program to help identify individuals’ personal learning styles and an industry training provider directory. The directory provides a searchable database of management and technical training for both collision repair and mechanical service repair segments. It currently has 98 training providers participating, and AMi is encouraging others to join.
To help provide for this learning support, AMi has developed the AMi Learning Foundation Program to encourage tax-deductible donations from industry businesses and individuals. Through these contributions, AMi will continue to provide educational support at a minimal cost to repair professionals.
“The launch of the ‘next generation of AMi’ represents a significant milestone for our industry’s professionals,” said Sheri Hamilton, AMi board of trustee chair. “At their convenience, individuals can view suggested courses based on their career path, enroll in and complete online courses, as well as view and print their transcript. This new online learning center partners with the industry-wide training already available at events around the country for individuals to easily achieve their AMi credits.”
