COLORADO
Combine Locks, Wis.-based U.S. Oil, the parent company to Pam Oil, recently merged with T-K Distributors, a Motorcraft and Parts Plus distributor with warehouses in Denver and Salt Lake City. The Pam Oil warehouse in Denver, a longtime ACDelco distributor, has been closed and its inventory and employees have relocated to T-K's Denver location, said Ray Fondacaro of T-K Distributors. The former Pam Oil warehouses in Boulder and Fort Collins now serve as satellite warehouses to T-K, he said. Repair shops will benefit from greater breadth and depth of inventory and service, he said, adding that 20 delivery trucks now service shops along the Front Range, from southern Wyoming to southern Colorado.
Mancinelli's Auto Repair Center in Denver earned a spot in Auto Inc.'s Top 10 Automotive Repair Web Sites for 2008. The publication, produced by the Automotive Service Association, cited their Web site as being easy to navigate and includes information on consumer education, information on their staff and why they hire top talent, and consumer education about repair choices and their vehicle. To check out the site, visit www.mancinellis.com.
Brian Vladyka of Clayton, Colo., was one of 10 recipients of a Garmin nüvi 350 Portable GPS Navigators, part of Standard Engine Management's "Ready to Ride" sweepstakes promotion. Vladyka won the GPS device by visiting standardbrand.com and answering several questions correctly.
Twenty-two Midas stores situated along the Front Range have recently partnered with the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Colorado. The 12-month program, coinciding with Make-A-Wish Foundation of Colorado's year-long 25th anniversary celebration, is designed to rally Midas' Denver area employees and shop owners together in an effort to grant the wish of a seriously ill child in their area every month in 2008. "Make-A-Wish Foundation of Colorado was a natural partner for us," said Curtis Goodman, owner and operator of three regional Midas franchises who spearheaded the program on behalf of his group. "We're proud to donate over $78,000 to support the wishes of the children they serve and to tell their touching stories everyday in our shops."
ATS Diesel Performance, a supplier of high-performance transmissions, valve bodies, and torque converters, held its 2008 Summit on Feb. 16 at its location in Arvada. The event featured dealer clinics, showcased new products, and spotlight technical and installation information. Air flow and efficient power usage with today's high-fuel-pressure and emissions-compliant vehicles was a main topic of discussion, ATS officials said.
Go Ford West's Parts Manager Mark Manson recently hired two Warren Tech graduates, Maggie Ayala and Tim Deneau to work as parts helpers at the Lakewood dealership. Manson said he's an advocate of hiring vo-tech students. "If that's the field they choose, I want to make sure they're on the right track," he said.
AAMCO Transmissions Inc. in Greeley recently passed the company's "Eco-Green" certification process. Owner Michael Antonucci received the distinction based on his center making a positive environmental impact on the community, while giving AAMCO customers a new range of services and products that cut emissions, improve mileage, and reduce the hazardous waste associated with operating an automotive repair facility. "The country is more environmentally aware, and given the choice, motorists are more likely to choose an environmentally responsible service center," Antonucci said.
Assured Performance Cooperative, a network of independently-owned collision repair facilities, recently named their 2008 Board of Directors. Steve Zinanti, of Cherry Creek Collision in Littleton, has been appointed to represent the organization's West region.
Denver-based Tendix Development, headed by Timber Dick, recently earned NASA's first place spot for transportation design in its annual Create the Future engineering and design contest. Their engine, the Internally Radiating Impulse Structure (IRIS) beat out about 1,000 cutting-edge technologies from around the world to win the award. "The IRIS offers unprecedented improvements in fuel efficiency and does so in a package that is smaller, lighter and cheaper to manufacture than existing engines," Dick said. "It is a real-world solution to our global energy crisis that can start working today with existing infrastructure. We're extremely gratified by this powerful validation of the engine's potential."
Jennifer Marr, a back-counter parts adviser at Go Chrysler Jeep West in Golden, has set a personal record by reaching $1.4 million in Chrysler parts sales in 2007, said Parts Manager Mike Mulkins. Marr was able to increase her sales by nearly a third over last year, while providing parts for the 18-bay dealership.
Emily White-Keating has recently been named vice president of marketing for Centennial-based Big-O-Tires, who has 540 franchise stores throughout the West and Midwestern United States. White-Keating brings to the job 20 years of retail marketing experience, having recently served in the same capacity at Sports Authority. She replaces Steve Steffens.
NEW MEXICO
The International Hot Boat Association (IHBA), headquartered in Bosque Farms, has announced the appointment of longtime maunufacturer's rep Les Jackson as its marketing director for their association and their in-house newspaper the Liquid Quarter Mile (LQM). Jackson, who recently retired from Engine & Performance Warehouse Inc. (EPWI), brings 40 years of experience in the performance industry to LQM as well as having run his own nitro powered fuel altereds and funny cars for over 30 years. Les will be working from his Lakewood, Colo. office.
SOUTH DAKOTA
The South Dakota Senate Bill 103, was recently tabled during a House hearing. The bill, introduced by state Sen. Nancy Turbak on Jan. 16, is aimed at establishing certification provisions regarding the use of replacement crash parts. "ASA supports a competitive marketplace. Our members use original equipment manufacturer parts, aftermarket parts, recycled parts, etc.," said Bob Redding, ASA Washington, D.C., representative. "We believe that Senate Bill 103 opens the door for a conflict of interest for those entities that may certify what types of parts are acceptable or not acceptable."