AAPEX 2022 names service, repair award winners

LAS VEGAS — AAPEX announced the winners of the third annual Service and Repair Awards, which recognize essential services provided by shop owners, service advisors and technicians to keep the motoring public on the road.

AAPEX awarded Shop Owner of the Year to Kristi Hudson, Donnie Hudson and Frank Hudson of Troy Auto Care, Troy, Mich.; Technician of the Year to Brandon Sadler, shop foreman, American Pride Automotive, Williamsburg, Va.; and Service Advisor of the Year to Ray Christensen, J&L Automotive, Alpine, Utah.

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As Shop Owner of the Year, Kristi Hudson, her husband Donnie and brother-in-law Frank run three locations. The shop is a NAPA Auto Care Center – Gold Certified, an ASE Blue Certified Shop and a AAA Approved Auto Repair business.

Kristi Hudson is active in several industry associations, including the Auto Care Association, participates in the Northern Detroit NAPA Business Development Group and is a board member at the Oakland Technical Education Campus. She is a board member for the Jenna Kast Believe In Miracles foundation, a local charity that grants wishes to children with life threatening illnesses. The Troy Auto Family also is active in the community, sponsoring teams and travel abroad programs at the local high schools.

As the AAPEX Technician of the Year, Sadler started as an apprentice and progressed to a technician within six months. From there, he became the company's top producing technician, then foreman and most recently, service director, running one of the stores as his own.

He brings strong theoretical knowledge and real-world intelligence, coupled with a positive attitude and command of all research tools, to his position.

As the AAPEX Service Advisor of the Year, Christensen has been in the industry for 30 years and in the service advisor role for 20 years.

He has a bachelor's degree from Texas A&M University and holds five ASE certifications, as well as the ASE C1 Service Consultant certification. He engages in more than 100 hours of training annually, either in person, online or self-directed.

Christensen stays on top of his game as a service writer and employee by always having a positive mindset and always going the extra mile for customers and technicians.

Nominees for the AAPEX Service and Repair Awards were judged by an independent panel of shop owners and industry leaders. Nominees were evaluated based on their commitment to training and ASE certification; local, community, charitable and industry involvement; diagnostic, teamwork and mentoring skills; and personal and professional qualities.