"Vision really helps because it allows you to get the training you need to stay updated with what is new in the industry," Cummings said.

Cummings, heavily involved with ASA as Springfield's president, ASA MO/KAN president-elect, and ASA Vision chairman, said he will be sending 14 technicians, five service advisers, and one support person to Vision. He said he and Owner Rick Hughlett will also be attending.

 "As a business grows, you must keep your people trained, and that is Rick's philosophy," Cummings said. "He provides the training for them, so he pays for all the training and he pays for their hotels."

 Since Vision has continued to get bigger and better every year, the best trainers want to be at the show to teach management and technical classes, Cummings said.

 He said he allows his technicians and service advisers to choose which classes would best gain them the knowledge they need. He then reviews their choices to make sure the classes are appropriate and not overlapping.

 Cummings said many of his technicians are looking forward to a class taught by John Thornton called "Using the IDS Ford Scan Tool" because it is an interactive class.

 
"Anything that is hands on is typically good for the technician," he said. "I am surprised at how many technicians want to attend this class, but it is because it is an integrated diagnosis system on a live car, right there. It is one thing to learn something in a classroom, but nothing is better than having your hands on it."

Rick's Automotive Technician Daniel Williams will be attending Vision for the third time. He said he is looking forward to the training courses that he enrolled in. He said he will be attending the "GM Duramax 6.6L Diesel" class, the "5 Minute No Start Diagnostics" class, and the "GM Displacement on Demand" class.

"As a young tech I have learn a lot from the training courses at Vision," Williams said. "It has been very beneficial."

From the management standpoint, Cummings said his service advisers are looking forward to "The Front End: A Critical Component for Success" taught by George Witt and "Calming and Retaining Angry Demanding Customers" by Margie Seyfer.

"George Witt always has really good classes, and he is going to teach about the front-end regarding the customer,"

Cummings said. "Margie Seyfer will be teaching the class on calming and retaining angry, demanding customers. What really sets shops apart is how they deal with an angry customer. They expect you to do things right, so how do you handle it when things go wrong? When a shop learns that, it is powerful," he said.

  
The training courses offered this year are largely geared toward diagnostics, an area technicians really need to be in-tuned with since everything is becoming more computerized, Cummings said, adding that the technical classes he picks are largely determined by talking with his technicians about what they need more training in.

The Vision technical training package costs $230 and includes a class Saturday morning, Saturday afternoon, and another on Sunday morning. Breakfast, lunch, and an awards dinner and a casino party are also included. 

 
"The knowledge that the technician will gain will be more than worth it," Cummings said. "If he learns one or two items, it will more than pay for itself."

 
He said the same goes for those enrolled in the management classes, which cost $290 and entail the same benefits as the technical package. He added that "$290 is fairly inexpensive if that person learns how to better sell a job or just communicate better with a customer. It is a minor amount of money for what you can gain and the potential that is there." 

 
For Cummings, Vision is not just about the training but also the trade show, which he said has introduced him to some top-notch equipment and an engine and transmission supplier. 

 
"When we were getting into tires about five years ago, one of the classes talked about the Road Force tire machine," he said. "There was one on the trade show floor, so we were able to see it and learn how it works. Since we were getting into the tire business, it was the way to go, and it has been terrific."

About eight years ago, Cummings said, he was introduced to Jasper Engines and Transmissions on the Expo floor and has since built a great business relationship with them.

Cummings said that comparing a doctor to an automotive tech really sums up why Vision is so important.

"A doctor has two models, a male and a female; we had 66 new models that came out last year, so we have to stay trained, and our training never ends," he said.