Englewood, Colo.--Alice Corns, president of Colorado Auto & Parts Inc., has been named the regional director of the Automotive Recyclers Association’s (ARA) region eight, which includes Utah, New Mexico, Mexico, Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Wyoming, and Montana.
Corns’ automotive recycling experience, along with her leadership and legislative experience, will be an asset to the organization, ARA officials said.
Corns said her parents, Norm and Betty Sample, started the family’s automotive recycling business in 1959. She began working for her parents in 1979, she said, while still in high school, doing clerical work.
“My Dad and I made a great team until his death in 2004,” Corns said, which is when she took over the business. “I learned every aspect of the business. I value my family more than anything and have the good fortune of my husband, Gary, working with us since 1981. Our two sons, Eric, 23, and Adam, 21, and daughter in law Jandi now work with us as well.
“Our family and our employees are our success,” she said. “Being family-owned and operated keeps us a step ahead of the national corporate competition.”
Today, Colorado Auto & Parts Inc. has 25 full-time employees, Corns said.
Colorado Auto & Parts has been a member of ARA for more than 25 years, as well as a member of the Colorado Auto Recyclers, Corns said, adding that she is a former board member. Other memberships include the Better Business Bureau, South Metro Chamber of Commerce, the United States Chamber of Commerce, and affiliate membership of the Colorado Automobile Dealers Association, she said.
Colorado Auto & Parts is Colorado’s only authorized greenvehicledisposal.com facility and was named in the Locator’s Upfront publication for the 2007 Most Influential Duo, and in 2008 was named their Most Influential advertiser.
“By attending ARA conventions, reading their materials, and relying on the ARA staff’s expertise has made them one of our team,” Corns said.
Recently, ARA’s staff and legislative committee were of great assistance to Colorado Auto & Parts, she added.
The city of Sheridan, with a population of about 5,500, became the first city in the country to attempt to tax automotive recycling, Corns noted.
“ARA has worked with us, listened to us through this nightmare,” she said. “I truly value being able to pick up the phone and speak directly with ARA staff and being included in the legislative committee meeting.”
