'CARS' event opens online registration
BEDFORD, Texas-The Congress of Automotive Repair and Service (CARS) will offer seven original equipment manufacturer new product technology sessions during Automotive Aftermarket Industry Week activities this fall in Las Vegas.
The annual CARS event, sponsored by the Automotive Service Association (ASA), will be held Nov. 4-6 at the Flamingo Hotel in Las Vegas. Sessions will be provided Thursday, Nov. 4, by DaimlerChrysler, Ford Motor Co., Honda, General Motors Corp., Isuzu, Toyota and Volkswagen. ASA said the individual sessions will allow each manufacturer to provide specific information on new systems or features being incorporated in today's automobiles.
To sign up for the sessions, visit www.carsonline.org. Following the OEM sessions, CARS 2004 will officially open that evening with the service professionals industry reception co-sponsored by ASA and the International Automotive Technicians' Network (iATN) from 6 p.m.-9:30 p.m. in the hotel's Sunset Ballroom. During the reception, more than 50 exhibitors will be on hand showcasing the newest technologies available to service professionals, ASA said.
The event also will feature seven technical courses; three management courses; a legislative update by Bob Redding, ASA's Washington, D.C., representative; and a keynote presentation by John G. Miller, author and organizational development speaker.
Registration is being handled online this year. ASA said its members can save $100 with the early-bird discount when registering by Sept. 27. More details are available on the CARS Web site or by calling Bedford-based ASA's Meetings and Travel Dept. at (800) 272-7467, ext. 235.
Registration for CARS includes credentials to the Automotive Aftermarket Products Expo (AAPEX) and the Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) shows, as well as ASA's International Autobody Congress and Exposition (NACE), all being held during Automotive Aftermarket Industry Week.
Oil change manager training offered
DALLAS-The Automotive Oil Change Association (AOCA) is offering private manager training courses covering topics to help build a profitable oil change business.
The AOCA said that with enrollments of 10 or more, professional technicians won't have to leave town to attend because the organization will bring the training materials and trainer to the facility and conduct a private course exclusively for employees.
Steve Christie, AOCA executive director, said the group's manager training programs ``are really gaining in popularity because of the quality of our instructors, the comprehensiveness of our materials and the convenience of not having to travel far from home to attend. We're thrilled that we're able to help professional lube center management personnel become even more successful in their field.''
The AOCA said its manager training courses cover a variety of topics, ``all critical to building a profitable business,'' including: advertising, marketing and merchandising; finding, hiring and keeping quality employees; leadership training and team building; and service and maintenance.
In advance of each seminar all registrants receive a notebook of materials to be used as a reference document. The material also gives each attendee the opportunity to review all major topics and prepare for the manager certification exam offered at the conclusion of the two-day seminar.
The group has already conducted manager training courses in Toronto, Tampa, Fla., San Antonio, Denver and Minneapolis. Upcoming courses will be offered Oct. 19-20 in Columbus, Ohio; and Nov. 9-10 in Santa Ana, Calif.
After months of research, AOCA also announced it has signed a contract with Toronto-based On-Line Learning Systems to develop an online training program, which is expected to be functional by April.
The project will allow AOCA to have its entire Technician Academy-which includes eight training modules, progress reporting and certification testing-accessible via the Internet. The e-learning course will include online fee payment and automatic updating of the student database.
AOCA, a non-profit trade organization representing the convenient automotive maintenance industry, said its goal is to enhance the competency of fast lube owners, educate the public about services its members offer and maintain a favorable business environment for the industry.
For more information about scheduling a private course or to register online, visit www.aoca.org or call (800) 331-0329.