Two ASA Members to Serve as Chairmen of CARS, NACE 2010

Plan now to attend ASRW Oct. 10-13

BEDFORD, TEXAS, Jan. 28, 2010 —The Automotive Service Association (ASA) is pleased to announce that two ASA members will serve as chairmen at its international trade shows this fall - the Congress of Automotive Repair and Service (CARS) and the International Autobody Congress and Exposition (NACE). Mitch Schneider, owner and operator of Schneider's Automotive, will serve as the CARS event chairman; Jerry Burns, AAM, president and owner of Automotive Impressions Inc., will again serve as the NACE event chairman. Both events are held during Automotive Service & Repair Week (ASRW) Oct. 10-13, which also includes Auto Glass Week events dedicated to the automotive glass professional. Designed to be "the repairer's event," ASRW hosts the various meetings, shows and activities of numerous repairer-focused groups.

"We are very pleased that these two distinguished and accomplished industry leaders have accepted the assignment to chair the CARS and NACE events at ASRW. They are truly representative of the core values embraced and promoted by our organization. These gentlemen will be outstanding ambassadors for ASRW demonstrating the value of an event dedicated to the thousands of small businesses in the independent automotive service and repair industry," said Ron Pyle, ASA president and chief staff executive.

ASA member Mitch Schneider is a fourth-generation mechanic/technician recognized as a champion of service dealer and technician causes. For more than 30 years he has operated Schneider's Automotive, a successful six-bay, family-owned service facility in Simi Valley, Calif. Schneider's Automotive has won recognition throughout the area, including being twice ranked among Los Angeles magazine's annual list of 100 best repair facilities. As a frequent speaker and keynote at major conventions and meetings of automotive industry trade organizations, Schneider addresses the challenges and problems affecting the automotive service industry. He is a regular contributor and senior contributing editor for Babcox Publications and an award-winning journalist. He is also author of the eight-volume Automotive Service Management Series published by Cengage Learning. Schneider, an AMI-approved instructor, is a highly respected industry leader - one who will serve the industry well in his new role as CARS event chairman.

ASA member Jerry Burns, AAM, has been involved in the collision repair industry since 1983. He has succeeded on many fronts including earning the titles of ASE master-certified technician and Accredited Automotive Manager (AAM). Prior to his current role on ASA's national board of directors as chairman-elect, Burns served on ASA's board as a general director, as a member of ASA's Collision Division Operations Committee, as well as held a seat on the board of trustees for both the Collision Industry Electronic Commerce Association (CIECA) and the I-CAR Education Foundation. As president and owner of his family-operated business, Automotive Impressions Inc. in Rio Rancho, N.M., he and his 16-year-old facility have earned numerous awards, including the prestigious Quality New Mexico (QNM) Pinon and Roadrunner Recognitions - patterned after the coveted Malcolm Baldrige national quality awards. His commitment to customer satisfaction and service excellence won him 1998 and 1999 honors with the QNM Pinon Recognition, followed by the QNM Roadrunner Recognition in 2000 and 2004 for measurable progress in customer satisfaction and service excellence. As a 20-year veteran of the NACE events, Burns brings an abundant amount of industry knowledge, experience and enthusiasm to his role as NACE event chairman.

The ASRW 2010 events will take place at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center in Las Vegas (no longer during AAIW). ASRW was specifically created for all automotive service and repair professionals enabling even more industry segments to join under the umbrella. Its high-quality educational program is scheduled Oct. 10-13, a Sunday through Wednesday day pattern; the comprehensive exposition will be open Oct. 11-13, Monday through Wednesday.

About the ASRW Events

• NACE - the world's collision repair event - represents the only B2B event of its kind specifically designed for collision repair industry professionals from around the globe. NACE features a comprehensive educational conference and exposition with hundreds of diverse exhibiting companies displaying the latest equipment, products, services and technology available to today's collision repair industry. For more information visit www.NACEexpo.com.

• CARS - the premier event for automotive service professionals - features a high-quality education lineup presented by industry leaders, along with an exhibitor showcase of automotive service and repair-related equipment, products and services. For more information visit www.CARSevent.com.

• Auto Glass Week - an event featuring four host groups dedicated to delivering quality education and exhibits intent on advancing the growth and recognition of automotive glass service and repair professionals. For more information visit www.autoglassweek.com.
For additional information about ASRW, sponsorship opportunities or how to become an exhibitor, contact ASA's show management team at Hanley Wood Exhibitions, PO Box 612128, Dallas, Texas 75261-2128, or call (888) 529-1641 or (972) 536-6444.

The Automotive Service Association is the largest not-for-profit trade association of its kind dedicated to and governed by independent automotive service and repair professionals. ASA serves an international membership base that includes numerous affiliate, state and chapter groups from both the mechanical and collision repair segments of the automotive service industry. ASA's headquarters is in Bedford, Texas.

ASA advances professionalism and excellence in the automotive repair industry through education, representation and member services. For additional information about ASA, including past news releases, go to www.ASAshop.org, or visit ASA's legislative Web site at www.TakingTheHill.com.

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