Gruener’s Rise to Presidency Highlights ASA-Texas 2018 Annual Meeting

ASA-Texas’ recent day-long annual meeting was a success in terms of member attendance and participation. Owners of collision repair shops and vehicle/automobile service shops and their management/tech employees from throughout the state spent the day in professional development seminars, which were divided into two training tracks: management and new technologies. The seminars were wrapped around ASA-Texas’ annual meeting luncheon, which featured ASA-National Vice President Tony Molla as the keynote speaker.

Chris Murphy, ASA-Texas’ outgoing president, gave a state-of-the-association report and oversaw the election of new officers for 2019-2020. The newly-elected Board of Directors includes: Robert Gruener, President; Rod Burtch, AAM, President Elect; Kathryn van der Pol, Treasurer; Secretary pending; Chris Murphy, Immediate Past President; and John Firm, David Wolfe, AAM, and Glenn Young, AAM, Directors. The officers serve two-year terms on the Board of Directors.

The event featured a day-long series of seminars and a Sponsor Showcase, where attendees got a chance to visit with sponsor/suppliers and representatives of ASA-National. Sponsors included Advance Auto Parts, Auto Zone, Synchrony Financial, WORLDPAC Training Institute (WTI) and Automotive Training Institute (ATI).

It was a great start to the next phase of ASA-Texas’ growth and expanded services to our members.

Jack Hammond, ATI Instructor, addressed management issues and processes in his seminars.

Bernie Thompson, WORLDPAC Senior Instructor, led technical classes on new technologies shops will see in the next few years.

John Firm, ASA-North Texas Board member, center, welcomes the crew from Advance Auto Parts to the Sponsor showcase.

ASA-National Vice President Tony Molla provided an update on changes at ASA-National and a general outlook for the industry.

Newly-elected ASA-Texas President Robert Gruener challenges members to become more involved with the association.

Chris Murphy stopped by the Auto Zone booth to see what’s new.