ASSOCIATION NEWS
Snapshot: ASA's Ron Pyle
Takes Stock CHICAGO - The industry can look forward to both good and bad news for the upcoming year, says Automotive Service Association (ASA) President Ron Pyle. During a one-on-one interview with Motor Age, he touched on a number of subjects, including the recent federal election, Right-to-Repair (R2R), access to service information, shop licensing, vehicle inspection programs and his association's strategy for 2007 and beyond. Good and bad "The recent flip in Congress brings both opportunity and challenges for ASA and its membership," Pyle says. He adds that because of the experience of ASA Washington representative Bob Redding, his association enjoys special insight into federal legislation affecting the industry. (Editor's note: Click here for the related story on Redding's insights regarding the election.) However, Pyle cautions, the election results point to a weakened support for federal association health plan legislation. He says that ASA had anticipated this development and has been moving toward an alternate solution for the past several years. The Congressional majority change also means that R2R is in all likelihood a non-issue now at the federal level, says Pyle: "We moved beyond R2R some time ago." He notes that other organizations continued to spend funds and issue a multitude of press releases. "If those organizations continue to lobby and spend money at the federal level, they just don't get it," he adds. For instance, Pyle points out that R2R legislative efforts have shifted from the federal level to individual states, like the proposed New Jersey legislation, for example. He states that ASA will ensure its members' position against R2R is clearly conveyed to legislators. "ASA will mount a campaign in New Jersey and any other state necessary to gain traction and ensure state legislators understand this [issue]," Pyle says. With regard to access to service, tool and training information, Pyle shares that ASA is committed to the formalized National Automotive Service Task Force (NASTF) and the work it is providing the industry, especially the organization's Vehicle Security Committee (VSC). "There's no point in rushing to a solution that serves the industry, but hurts the public," Pyle cautions. The efforts of the VSC to develop a viable and secure model for legitimate service professionals to access rekeying and immobilizer information in a manner that does not compromise consumers' safety, privacy and vehicle security is important, responsible progress, he says. This model could end up serving stakeholders in other ways, Pyle adds. For instance, it could be the means to convey any service, tool or training information to bona fide, vetted and bonded service professionals. On other fronts, shop licensing and mandatory vehicle inspections collectively can impact the entire independent aftermarket service professional industry, Pyle says. Licensing can positively impact the profile of service and repair shops in the public eye, and if more states can be convinced that implementing mandatory vehicle inspections is in everyone's best interests, not only will the roads and the environment be safer for the public, but some of the billions in unperformed vehicle maintenance could be captured - another direct benefit for shops.Key initiatives for 2007 For 2007, ASA will focus on education and training, building a stronger mechanical division and rolling out a meaningful and effective healthcare benefit plan for its members nationwide. Education and training is a top priority. "Not only must we continue to improve technical and management programs," Pyle emphasizes, "[but] we must make these programs more accessible across the country." He points out that although Industry Week provides a solid opportunity for training at the national level, other events and facilities must be employed to reach more shops at the regional and local levels. "KEYS [ASA's recent addition to training offerings] is one such vehicle that will be instrumental in delivering relevant and timely education and training to smaller venues," he says. Pyle notes that while ASA has traditionally had a strong collision division, the association realizes the need to build the strength of its mechanical side. In light of this, its focus in 2007 will be on adding key associate members to the mechanical membership base and establishing strong relationships with important suppliers and organizations. "When ASA founded the Automotive Management Institute (AMI), outreach to associates was primarily on the collision side, as the board of directors was dominated by collision owners who recognized the opportunity earlier with AMI," Pyle explains. "Consequently, strong collision bonds were developed." Under the stewardship of Executive Vice President John Scully, Pyle says that ASA is reaching out to industry members who do business every day with mechanical service providers. The intent is to show them the merits of joining ASA as an associate member, both in building relationships with their customers, as well as education and insights that are mutually beneficial. In addition, the input that associate members provide at the board and committee levels benefit shops. "It's important to use the expertise of associate members to bring more training and resources to mechanical shops," Pyle says. "It's about getting the people who made the part together with the people who install the part." For example, Bosch has joined as an associate member and helped provide real-world technical training during the recent Congress of Automotive Repair and Service (CARS). He adds that negotiations and/or approaches are currently under way with Delphi Corp., Federal-Mogul Corp. and other organizations.A healthy membership Regarding healthcare, ASA surveyed its membership three years ago to determine what needs and benefits the members wanted and then did a self-assessment as to where the organization was. Once gaps were determined, ASA began working on cost-effective solutions. The collected data points to the need for a competitive, but meaningful health insurance program. In addition, the program must be flexible enough to include different scales of growing businesses and levels of participation. While proposed legislation for association healthcare plans is under consideration, there was never any guarantee it would pass, let alone actually address the needs identified by ASA members, Pyle adds. According to Pyle, ASA's Automotive Health Care Trust (A-HIT) was designed to be a solution to the membership's needs. At press time, he reports, an administrative healthcare partner has been selected, due diligence has been performed, and a phased rollout will begin in 2007 that will eventually encompass the nation. Pyle concluded by praising the ASA staff: "ASA has had a pretty successful year in 2006. What impresses me most about the staff is that they don't coast. With 2007 coming, they're already well into planning and preparing events and programs for the membership."(Source: ASA)
Snapshot: ASA's Ron Pyle
Takes Stock CHICAGO - The industry can look forward to both good and bad news for the upcoming year, says Automotive Service Association (ASA) President Ron Pyle. During a one-on-one interview with Motor Age, he touched on a number of subjects, including the recent federal election, Right-to-Repair (R2R), access to service information, shop licensing, vehicle inspection programs and his association's strategy for 2007 and beyond. Good and bad "The recent flip in Congress brings both opportunity and challenges for ASA and its membership," Pyle says. He adds that because of the experience of ASA Washington representative Bob Redding, his association enjoys special insight into federal legislation affecting the industry. (Editor's note: Click here for the related story on Redding's insights regarding the election.) However, Pyle cautions, the election results point to a weakened support for federal association health plan legislation. He says that ASA had anticipated this development and has been moving toward an alternate solution for the past several years. The Congressional majority change also means that R2R is in all likelihood a non-issue now at the federal level, says Pyle: "We moved beyond R2R some time ago." He notes that other organizations continued to spend funds and issue a multitude of press releases. "If those organizations continue to lobby and spend money at the federal level, they just don't get it," he adds. For instance, Pyle points out that R2R legislative efforts have shifted from the federal level to individual states, like the proposed New Jersey legislation, for example. He states that ASA will ensure its members' position against R2R is clearly conveyed to legislators. "ASA will mount a campaign in New Jersey and any other state necessary to gain traction and ensure state legislators understand this [issue]," Pyle says. With regard to access to service, tool and training information, Pyle shares that ASA is committed to the formalized National Automotive Service Task Force (NASTF) and the work it is providing the industry, especially the organization's Vehicle Security Committee (VSC). "There's no point in rushing to a solution that serves the industry, but hurts the public," Pyle cautions. The efforts of the VSC to develop a viable and secure model for legitimate service professionals to access rekeying and immobilizer information in a manner that does not compromise consumers' safety, privacy and vehicle security is important, responsible progress, he says. This model could end up serving stakeholders in other ways, Pyle adds. For instance, it could be the means to convey any service, tool or training information to bona fide, vetted and bonded service professionals. On other fronts, shop licensing and mandatory vehicle inspections collectively can impact the entire independent aftermarket service professional industry, Pyle says. Licensing can positively impact the profile of service and repair shops in the public eye, and if more states can be convinced that implementing mandatory vehicle inspections is in everyone's best interests, not only will the roads and the environment be safer for the public, but some of the billions in unperformed vehicle maintenance could be captured - another direct benefit for shops.Key initiatives for 2007 For 2007, ASA will focus on education and training, building a stronger mechanical division and rolling out a meaningful and effective healthcare benefit plan for its members nationwide. Education and training is a top priority. "Not only must we continue to improve technical and management programs," Pyle emphasizes, "[but] we must make these programs more accessible across the country." He points out that although Industry Week provides a solid opportunity for training at the national level, other events and facilities must be employed to reach more shops at the regional and local levels. "KEYS [ASA's recent addition to training offerings] is one such vehicle that will be instrumental in delivering relevant and timely education and training to smaller venues," he says. Pyle notes that while ASA has traditionally had a strong collision division, the association realizes the need to build the strength of its mechanical side. In light of this, its focus in 2007 will be on adding key associate members to the mechanical membership base and establishing strong relationships with important suppliers and organizations. "When ASA founded the Automotive Management Institute (AMI), outreach to associates was primarily on the collision side, as the board of directors was dominated by collision owners who recognized the opportunity earlier with AMI," Pyle explains. "Consequently, strong collision bonds were developed." Under the stewardship of Executive Vice President John Scully, Pyle says that ASA is reaching out to industry members who do business every day with mechanical service providers. The intent is to show them the merits of joining ASA as an associate member, both in building relationships with their customers, as well as education and insights that are mutually beneficial. In addition, the input that associate members provide at the board and committee levels benefit shops. "It's important to use the expertise of associate members to bring more training and resources to mechanical shops," Pyle says. "It's about getting the people who made the part together with the people who install the part." For example, Bosch has joined as an associate member and helped provide real-world technical training during the recent Congress of Automotive Repair and Service (CARS). He adds that negotiations and/or approaches are currently under way with Delphi Corp., Federal-Mogul Corp. and other organizations.A healthy membership Regarding healthcare, ASA surveyed its membership three years ago to determine what needs and benefits the members wanted and then did a self-assessment as to where the organization was. Once gaps were determined, ASA began working on cost-effective solutions. The collected data points to the need for a competitive, but meaningful health insurance program. In addition, the program must be flexible enough to include different scales of growing businesses and levels of participation. While proposed legislation for association healthcare plans is under consideration, there was never any guarantee it would pass, let alone actually address the needs identified by ASA members, Pyle adds. According to Pyle, ASA's Automotive Health Care Trust (A-HIT) was designed to be a solution to the membership's needs. At press time, he reports, an administrative healthcare partner has been selected, due diligence has been performed, and a phased rollout will begin in 2007 that will eventually encompass the nation. Pyle concluded by praising the ASA staff: "ASA has had a pretty successful year in 2006. What impresses me most about the staff is that they don't coast. With 2007 coming, they're already well into planning and preparing events and programs for the membership."(Source: ASA)
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