SeaTac-More than 40 management and technical training seminars will be featured at the 2008 Automotive Training Expo (ATE) at the Doubletree Hotel on March 28-30. "This is the biggest automotive training event on the West Coast," said Jeff Lovell, AAM, president of ASA-Washington and the event producer. "We've assembled the most dynamic technical and management trainers in North America to instruct at this unique event that also features a trade expo."
The training programs scheduled for ATE includes 18 management courses for collision and mechanical shop owners, managers, and service advisers, many of them AMI-approved for credit through the Automotive Management Institute.
On Friday, March 28, seven classes will be offered, including a "Service Adviser Skills" course presented by Bob O'Connor; "Marketing – It's More than Just Advertising," by Kelly Bennett, AAM; "Managing by Process-NOT by Luck," a collision management class instructed by Mike Anderson and sponsored by DuPont; "Identifying & Retaining Top Performers" by Amy Hedin; "The Competition for Customer Loyalty" by Bill Haas, AAM; and "Lip Service-First Class Telephone Skills for Automotive Repair and Collision Businesses," a popular AMI course presented by Margie Seyfer, AAM. A "QuickBooks/Accounting" course will also be offered on Friday.
Saturday's management seminars include another Bennett class titled "Effective Selling Without Sacrificing Customer Service"; "Super Service Adviser" by Randy "Mac" McCleskey; "Real World Estimating…Pros and Cons," a collision course instructed by Bruce Burrow; "The E.C.S. (X) Factor – Parts 1 & 2" (morning and afternoon sessions) by Steve Beck; and "Maximizing Your Training Investment: Making It Pay Off" presented by Gary Gunn.
Sunday continues with five management sessions that include "Successfully Negotiate Your Next Raise" by Bob Ward; "Garage Operator – Beyond the Basics" by Chip Keen; "How to Coach and Be Coachable" by Beau Hamilton; "Adviser Tools Needed for Success" by Dave Schedin; and "Complete Marketing 101-401" by Cecil Bullard.
Management classes vary from three hours in length to eight hours. Complete course details and instructor profiles can be found on the ATE Web site at www.automotivetrainingexpo.com, as well as online registration.
Technical course presentations for mechanical and collision repair shops, as well as tire stores, will be available on all three days of the expo and range from hybrid service to I-CAR-approved training courses.
Friday all-day classes include "DSL-200 GM Duramax Diagnosis" (Parts 1 & 2) by Jerry Baarson; "Hybrid Case Studies…8 Years Out," a presentation by Craig Van Batenburg; and "Diesel Maintenance & Repair Issues for Light Trucks," instructed by Howard Mackert.
On Friday afternoon, Dominic Felix will present "Servicing & Understanding European Vehicles I" (part II will be presented on Saturday); Phil Fournier will instruct "Technical Mode 6" (repeated on Saturday morning); and Richard Nordness of the Northwest Tire Dealers Association will present "Basic Automotive Tire Service." He will also offer the "Commercial Tire Service Certification" all-day course on Saturday for those who require that certification.
Saturday technical classes include a "Ford 6.0-Liter D.I.T. Diesel Powerstroke Diagnostics" class by Mike Cleary; "Understanding Digital Storage Oscilloscopes," instructed by Tom Roberts; "ABS and Traction Control" (morning) by Tom Smith, who will also present "Automatic Temperature Control" (ATC) in the afternoon; "Hybrid Components & Scan Data" by Jack Rosebro; "Current Ramping-Real World Case Studies" by Carl Grotti; and "Driveability Analysis from the Front Seat," a course instructed by Albin Moore. There will also be two I-CAR steel structure courses offered by Larry Hults (SP207 in the morning, SP 208 in the afternoon).
Sunday wraps up the technical sessions with five presentations that will all conclude by 12:30 p.m., four of them by 11:30 a.m. They include "New Diagnostic & Shop Flow" by Gregory Masters; a Phil Snow course titled "EVAP System Testing"; "OBD-205 Controller Area Network Diagnosis" by Jerry Baarson; an "Anti-Theft/Key Programming" class by NAPA; and an "Electric & Electric Hybrid Vehicles" course (I-CAR ALT01) by Larry Hults.
All technical courses are listed along with the management classes on the ATE Web site, www.automotivetrainingexpo.com, and include extensive course details, instructor profiles, and a registration form.
In addition to the training programs, ATE will feature three industry keynote speakers at the event. Master facilitator and coach Steve Beck of Beck & Associates will address attendees at a Saturday breakfast with a presentation titled How to Have a Great Day, Everyday.
Also, noted industry analyst Bill Haas, vice president of training and education for the Automotive Service Association, will address the Saturday luncheon with a "State of the Automotive Industry" presentation; and popular North American trainer Kelly Bennett of Business Training International will speak at the Sunday breakfast with a message titled "Running on Empty."
"We've put together an attractive, all-inclusive package for industry professionals to attend the Expo," Lovell said. For one fee of $395, registrants can attend any of the classes listed, will get lunch on Friday and Saturday, breakfasts on Saturday and Sunday, dinner on Saturday night, free parking at the hotel, a special hotel room rate if needed, and full access to the trade expo, he said.
Lovell said for those who want to attend just one mechanical or collision program, there is a training package price of $150 and $195 for an individual management class training package. For those who desire to attend just the trade show, there will be a $15 charge, Lovell said.
The trade show expo will feature about 90 booths with exhibitors displaying automotive parts, tools, equipment, and business and training services. The show will be open during late afternoon and evening hours on Friday and Saturday.
ATE is sponsored by the Automotive Service Association of Washington (ASA-WA), the Northwest Tire Dealers Association (NWTDA), and the Washington Automotive Wholesalers Association (WAWA). Parts & People is the official media sponsor of ATE.
"We are very excited to be part of the new Automotive Training Expo," said Dick Nordness, executive director of NWTDA. "This will allow us to provide a variety of excellent training programs for our members, as well as present the Commercial Truck Tire Certification program at the expo."
For additional information on ATE, visit the Web site (www.automotivetrainingexpo.com) or call 253-473-6970. There is a limit on the number of registrants allowed to attend training classes due to limited space, Lovell, said, so registration confirmations will be on a first-come, first-served basis.