MISSOURI
Linda Sommerhauser, Owner of Autobody Color Co., in Kansas City will be attending the 2008 Women's Industry Network (WIN) Conference for women involved in the collision repair industry. Her daughter and book keeper Marel Hardin will also be attending the conference. The event will be held in Chicago April 13-15. Sommerhauser is part of the membership committee to promote the event and said that over 120 women from across the country will attend the event. Any women interested can go to info@womensindustrynetwork.com or contact Trish Serratore at 703-669-6633.
Jim Baker of Barnes-Baker Automotive Group announced that Mike and Carrie Sampsel are now part owners of the Barnes-Baker Motors of Chillicothe. Baker also announced that Bob Winfrey has been promoted to general manager.
O'Reilly Auto Parts opened a new store in Kearney. Store Manager Ken Omland said residents from Kearney had to drive to Liberty and Excelsior Springs locations, so "due to the demand for our products, we decided to open this location," he said.
Anderson Ford Quick Lane Tire and Auto Center opened a new store in St. Joseph located at 2203 N. Belt Highway. The tire and service center will work on all makes and models.
H&S Automotive will be Savannah's newest business. Owner Erik Hoffman had previously been working at Unlimited Tire in Savannah. H&S will offer complete auto repair services and tires.
In January, Cable Dahmer Chevrolet in Independence started selling second run OEM bumper covers. Parts Manager Kevin Berry said the covers are typically in good shape and sell for half the price.
Landmark Dodge purchased its neighbor Champion Chrysler located on Noland Road in Independence. Ed Parker, owner of Champion Chrysler said that philosophy and his 
longtime friendship with Landmark Dodge Owner Steve Fletcher sealed the deal. Parker said he is retiring.
Kenny Stallman is the new parts manager at Bob Sight Kia in Independence. Stallman previously worked at Marcus Allen Ford for over 25 years.
KANSAS
After losing their dealership to a tornado last May, Dwane and Esther Shank is breaking ground on a new Shank Chevrolet dealership in Greensburg. The Shank's have operated the dealership for 34 years.
Horse Creek Tire moved into a new metal building on Highway 26 at the west edge of Morrill. Owners Dale and Karen Ott said with large pickups, and farm equipment coming in they needed more space.
Construction on the new 11,000 –square-foot pre-owned Ed Bozarth Chevrolet building in Topeka is expected to be completed in April.
Neil Wakefield who opened EN-TIRE Car Care Center in Lawrence more than eight years ago has opened a second location with partner Mike Crawford. The new store is located in Gardner at 975 E. Lincoln Lan.
Larry Dorsey is the new manager at Carter Auto Parts in Oswego. Dorsey previously worked at the Ervins Auto and Marine in Parsons for 20 years.
For 20 years, Randy Rundle, owner of Fifth Avenue Antique Parts in Clay Center has worked on classic and special interest cars to make them more reliable and fun to drive. Rundle developed a 6-volt alternator that helps kick-start old cars and has worked on cars for Hollywood movie directors and even the Queen of England.
Ed and Gertie Koehn of Wellington celebrated 60 years in business. Koehn Motors, a Ford dealership, is now a three-generation family-owned and operated business.
Oakley Motors, a dealership owned and operated by brothers Jim, SR., and Francis Robben for 50 years was recently sold to Dave and Rosie Gallagher. The Gallagher's have kept the same employees and said nothing has changed except the ownership.
Andy and Mary Biekman is the new owners of Bumper To Bumper auto parts store in St. Francis. The store was previously owned by Roger Lauer and Keith Dankenbring. Biekman is bringing in experience as an ag and semi-truck mechanic.
Dawson Grimsley, president of Davis-Moor Auto Group in Wichita said he plans to move all of the company's east-side dealership further east on Kellogg to a 27 acre lot. The new Mazda store already sits on the new land, and by 2014 Grimsley said he wants the company's other four east-side dealerships to follow suit.
In memoriam: Former Automotive Warehouse Distributors Association (AWDA) Chairman Martin Brown passed away Saturday, March 8, at his home in Leawood. He was 83. Brown was active in the AWDA throughout his business career and served as chairman in 1979.
IOWA
The Iowa Senate is reviewing legislation that would bar insurers from requiring repair businesses to purchase parts and supplies from specified sellers. If passed, insurers in violation of the bill would be subject to a fine assessed by the commissioner and possible suspension or revocation of the insurer's license.
Central Parts & Supply of Hawarden reported a dramatic cut in operational costs after enlisting the services of Autologue Computer Systems. Central Parts has been using Autologue's ePaperless Office to help increase efficiency in its operations, said Lloyd Dekkers, president of Central Parts & Supply. "We have reduced the time to run monthly statements and mailing costs by 50 percent."
NEBRASKA
Kirk Motors Service Center, a family business located at 18th and O streets since 1961 closed its doors in January. Owner Tom Kirk said the customer base was shrinking and the business climate had begun to slow.
The Legacy Group held a ribbon cutting for Al's Ag Repair. Owners Al Steinman and Butch McGinley from Byron opened the three-bay garage in Chester. The shop will service the local agricultural industry general, while building more general vehicle repair and tire services.
