BEDFORD, Texas — The
Automotive Service Association (ASA) Mechanical Division Operations
Committee recently met in Kansas City, Mo., for its annual meeting to
discuss several topics affecting the mechanical repair industry. The
meeting was held in conjunction with the SkillsUSA 46th Annual National
Leadership and Skills Conference, where ASA members had an opportunity
to serve as judges in several categories.
Eleven committee members
divided judging duties among the Automotive Service Technology
Competition and the Customer Service Competition. In addition, Jerry
Burns, AAM, ASA chairman, served as a judge for the Automotive
Refinishing Technology Competition. Judging took place June 24,
followed by a two-day operations committee
meeting.
“Working
with the SkillsUSA staff and student competitors was an incredibly
rewarding and enlightening experience. The students were terrific, and
the volunteer staff and advisers show a real dedication to our youth,”
said Bill Moss, AAM, ASA Mechanical Division director and owner of
Ferris Automotive Inc., Warrenton, Va.
Throughout the meeting, the
ASA volunteer leadership focused their discussions on a variety of
topics, ranging from legislative activities to subcommittee tasks
(current and future) to cooperative efforts with other groups and the
Automotive Service and Repair Week (ASRW) event coming up Oct. 10-13 in
Las Vegas.
In addition to Moss, the following operations committee
members were present: Howard Pitkow, AAM, assistant division director,
Wagenwerx Inc., Wyndmoor, Pa.; Mike Brewster, AAM, Gil’s Garage Inc.,
Burnt Hills, N.Y; Douglass Kirchdorfer, AAM, Downing Street Garage,
Denver, Colo.; Dave Kusa, Autotrend Diagnostics, Campbell, Calif.;
Diane Larson, AAM, Larson’s Service Inc., Peabody, Mass.; Vernie Menke,
Menke’s Automotive Repair, Newburgh, Ind.; Merle Pfeifer, AAM, Sparks
Car Care Inc., Federal Way, Wash.; Tom Piippo, Tri-County Motors,
Rudyard, Mich.; Terry Wynter, AAM, Terry Wynter Auto Service Center,
Fort Myers, Fla.; and Betty Jo Young, AAM, Young’s Automotive Center,
Houston, Texas.