5 minute read
LOCAL NEWS
AASP-MN Announces 20th Annual
Race for Automotive Education
The 20th Annual Race for Automotive Education is planned for February 22, 23 and 24, 2022 at ProKart Indoor Racing, Burnsville, MN. The event serves as the Alliance’s primary fundraiser for its Automotive Education Fund, which provides financial resources to support automotive students, enhance automotive programs and raise awareness of career opportunities in the automotive service industry. Since its inception, the fund has disbursed nearly $280,000 directly to students enrolled in automotive programs through the association’s scholarship program and SkillsUSA competition. See page 8 for more details or contact the AASP-MN office at (612) 623-1110 or aasp@aaspmn.org.
Member Recruiter of the Year Award
The Alliance is pleased to announce the 2021 Member Recruiter of the Year contest ended in a four-way tie. The award honors members who recruit or provide leads for prospective members to the Alliance. Tom Archambault (BLVD Autoworks; St. Anthony), Jesse Jacobson (Heppner’s Auto Body; Woodbury), Tony Newman, (Dale Feste Automotive; Hopkins) and Dan Sjolseth (Superior Service Center; Eagan) will all be recognized as 2021’s Member Recruiters of the Year for their efforts. Each recruited a new member and provided an additional lead to AASP-MN. “Members are the best advocates the Alliance has. Their stories of success based on what they get out of membership is the most genuine sales pitch there is,” said AASP-MN Executive Director Linden Wicklund.
The Member Recruiter of the Year award is based on a point system: five points are earned for new member recruits and two points are earned for referrals. The member who accumulates the most points throughout the year receives the award.
Thank you to the following members who also earned points in the 2021 Member Recruiter of the Year contest:
• Darrell Amberson, LaMettry’s Collision • Shawn Collins, 3M • Matt Feehan, Fix Auto of Brooklyn Park • Troy Sellner, Axalta Coating Systems
To learn more about the Member Recruiter of the Year program, contact the AASP-MN office at (612) 623-1110 or aasp@aaspmn.org.
AASP-MN’s Automotive
Scholarships Up for Grabs
The Alliance will be awarding scholarships to select students enrolled in post-secondary automotive (auto service or collision repair) programs. Scholarship awards will be $1,500 per student and can be applied towards tuition or tool purchases.
Applicants must be enrolled in a Minnesota-based ASE-accredited automotive program in the fall of 2022. Applications will be reviewed by a committee of industry representatives, with consideration given to scholastic achievement, education and career goals, financial need and written recommendations. Applications must be submitted electronically or postmarked no later than March 31, 2022.
Applications can be downloaded from the Alliance’s website, aaspmn. org/scholarships/ or submitted online at automotivescholarships. com/scholarships/alliance. Online submissions give students the opportunity to compete for several different awards, including those offered by the University of the Aftermarket Foundation Scholarship Committee and over 40 other automotive aftermarket organizations and companies. Specific requirements for each organization’s awards can be found at automotivescholarships.com.
The Automotive Education Fund was established in 2002 to provide financial resources to support automotive students, enhance automotive programs and raise awareness of career opportunities in the independent automotive service industry. Since that time, nearly $290,000 has been invested in student scholarships, SkillsUSA and automotive education programs throughout the state. In 2016, AASPMN’s efforts to attract a future workforce expanded significantly with the creation of Minnesota Careers in Automotive Repair and Service (MNCARS), a statewide marketing and outreach initiative to encourage high school students to pursue an education and career in the automotive service and collision repair industry. Visit carcareers.org to learn more.
Sponsorships Available for
AASP-MN Annual Meeting & Leadership Conference
Vendor sponsorships are now available for the AASP-MN Annual Meeting & Leadership Conference, April 7, 2022 at Crowne Plaza Minneapolis West, Plymouth. The event will feature management education and social activities that provide opportunities to learn, meet and get to know AASP-MN members and other industry professionals.
Vendor sponsors are rewarded by increased visibility and recognition within the AASP-MN membership and industry at-large. It's a great way to stand out, expand marketing dollars and connect with the best shops in the industry.
MNCARS is a nonprofit organization established in 2016 by AASP-MN. Its sole purpose is to promote careers in the automotive industry, recruit young people into the state’s college-level automotive service and collision repair programs, and, ultimately, into industry workplaces.
MNCARS met with the Rosemount and Mankato high schools on January 12. Mankato High School has been adopted by MNCARS for 2022. The networking and knowledge sharing during this meeting was just the start of the benefits the school with receive through MNCARS this year. If you are interested in supporting program improvements at Mankato High School or a school near you, please reach out to Linden Wicklund at linden@aaspmn.org or (612) 623-1110. Take advantage of the resources in the MotorMouth toolbox at https://carcareers.org/motor-mouth/. Get out and get active in your local community promoting industry careers!
If you are interested in becoming a vendor sponsor at this year’s event, please contact the AASP-MN office at (612) 623-1110 or visit the AASP-MN’s website, aaspmn. org for more information on sponsorship opportunities.
Year-Long Sponsorships Support AASP-MN’s
Educational Programs & Other Activities in 2022
Recently, AASP-MN asked for year-long program sponsorships from its Associate members and other industry vendors to help support educational programs and other activities in 2022. Sponsorships help AASP-MN deliver the quality programs members expect and keep registration fees affordable.
To date, the following companies have made sponsorship commitments:
2022 Membership Dues Are Due!
If you have not paid your 2022 membership dues, PLEASE do so today. Your timely payment will save AASP-MN the additional cost and time incurred with re-billing and other collection efforts. We’d much rather be working on programs and initiatives to improve the automotive service industry – and your business. Thank you!
Platinum Sponsors LKQ Minnesota Lube-Tech
Gold Sponsors AASP National Auto Value /APH CBIZ Elite Worldwide FinishMaster United Fire Group
Silver Sponsors aaa Auto Parts Axalta Coating Systems Colonial Life Dentsmart PDR Enterprise Rent-a-Car Shop Monkey Suburban Chevrolet
Bronze Sponsors C.H.E.S.S.
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