Wheat Ridge, CO -The Automotive Service Association of Colorado (ASA-CO) appointed Sarah Anderson as its new executive director on Oct. 31. Anderson replaces Linda Crist, who served ASA-CO for more than 18 years.
Anderson brings to the job a working knowledge of mechanical repair shops, with recent public relations experience at the Regional Air Quality Council (RAQC).
"I really want to connect with existing members and remind them of what ASA-CO has to offer," she said. "One of the best ways to serve our members is to serve their interests.
"I will spend a lot of time in the shops," Anderson said. Since the ASA-CO Westminster office is scheduled to close, she said she will set up to work remotely.
A short-term goal of ASA-CO is to "really help existing members get some value out of what we do for them," said Donny Seyfer, chairman of ASA-CO. Eventually, he said, ASA-CO would like to be in the position where there are regional chapters throughout the state. "We want to make sure Colorado shops remain cutting edge and keep getting information out there."
"Training and education are going to be key," Anderson said, adding that she's planning a spring trade show.
Initially, Anderson said she spent three weeks with Seyfer at Seyfer Automotive in Wheat Ridge for training and guidance in her new role, helping her take an "inside-out" approach to the position.
ASA-CO elects new officers
"We changed our structure to mirror national, so one person is not in charge of everything," Seyfer said of ASA-CO's election of new officers. Chris Lechman of Tapp's Garage in Denver is the new mechanical division president; Dan Stander of Jerry Stander's Collision Works in Littleton is collision division president; and Jim Gregory of Station Automotive, with five locations throughout metro Denver has been elected training director.
"Because mechanical and collision shops operate so differently, it's better that both report to an executive branch," Seyfer said. "We can support them instead of making decisions for them. Each division can have more authority."
Seyfer said that to give ASA-CO executive members a broader sense of ASA, he took them to ASA national in Bedford, Texas, this November to meet the staff and gain a greater understanding of ASA's initiatives.
"An affiliate needs to take advantage of all ASA national has to offer," Seyfer said. "It doesn't do any good to go out and push different agendas."