The Automotive Service Association (ASA) held its annual business meeting April 19-20 at the Hurst Convention Center in Hurst, Texas. Unity, transparency, inclusiveness and collaboration are all words that could be used to describe the tone of the open board meeting on Saturday.
"The board is committed to not only working more closely with each other, but also with our affiliated associations. In fact, we shortened the open board meeting to accommodate an interactive session with the affiliates in attendance," said Darrell Amberson, AAM, vice president of operations at LaMettry's Collision, Minneapolis, and ASA's new chairman. "We recognize the strength of a national association goes hand in hand with the strength of our affiliated associations."
"The changes that took place at the national business meeting show that ASA is a member-driven association, and the direction and excitement that came from this meeting demonstrate that ASA is headed in the right direction and the members are in good hands with the new board," said Jeff Lovell, AAM, executive director of ASA-Northwest.
"ASA-Midwest is pleased to have had the opportunity to meet with the ASA board and Dan Risley (interim executive director) during the annual business meeting. As a result of those conversations, we are excited about the direction and opportunities presented by the new leadership," said Sheri Hamilton, AAM, executive director of ASA-Midwest.
ASA's board of directors also emphasized the importance of the association's governmental affairs efforts. ASA plans to increase its visibility as the industry's leader in the development of public policy for independent automotive repairers. In addition to the existing tools in place for ASA's membership – grassroots support, the ASA PAC and the Washington, D.C., office located on Capitol Hill – the board reviewed a new design for ASA's public policy advocacy website, TakingTheHill.com, which will launch soon.
"We finished building the foundation for a new era at ASA and now we will be aggressively pursuing those who want to be part of the future of the automotive repair profession. The board is eager to collaborate with our existing industry partners, and excited about the potential to build new relationships within the industry that will benefit the members of ASA," said Ron Nagy, AAM, owner of Nagy's Collision Centers in Ohio and ASA's immediate-past chairman. "We also have laid the foundation for a radical new ASRW with positive changes in the works for both NACE and CARS."
