ILLINOIS
Corsa Performance Exhausts has been named "Supplier of the Year" by Mid America Motorworks for 2007. Corsa was one of 15 companies to receive a supplier award for providing exceptional products and service to Mid America Motorworks. The recipients were judged by an internal Mid America Motorworks team on more than 25 attributes, including order turnaround time, payment terms, shipping documentation, return policies, and ease of interaction. Mid America will donate a $4,000 scholarship to the Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) in Corsa's name in recognition of its achievement.
The Automotive Parts & Service Association of Illinois (APSA-IL) has recently named two Ralph Silverman Memorial Foundation Scholarship (RSMF) winners. They are Eric Koester, a sophomore studying collision repair at Olney Central College; and Adam Goldstein, also a sophomore at Olney Central College, who is studying collision repair. Among the several requirements, a applicant must be sponsored by an APSA-IL member; be pursuing a career in the automotive aftermarket; and be enrolled or planning to enroll as a full-time undergraduate student in a curriculum leading to a degree or certification in a accredited college, university or technical institute.
In other APSA-IL news, Ron Petrucci of Prix Parts of St. Charles has been named the assocation's Golden Recognition Award winner. This honor is in recognition of Petrucci's 50 years of dedication to the automotive industry, as well as community contributions. Petrucci, who began his automotive career in 1955 and started Prix Parts in 1964, has been an APSA-IL member since 1969.
Two Wood River dealerships have new showrooms. Federico Chrysler-Dodge has moved into its new 21,000-square-foot showroom, and neighboring AutoCenters Nissan also has a new 24,000-square-foot home. The two are business partners.
O'Reilly Auto Parts has opened a new store in the Alton. Jeff Gaines, who has 25 years of service with the company, is the manager. Gaines said the Alton location is the fourth store he has opened. The store is located at 1620 Washington Avenue.
INDIANA
Thomas W. Shepard, owner of Shepard's Pontiac-Buick-GMC Truck in Kendallville, was recently honored with the 2007 Herman R. Goddin Civic Service Award by the Automobile Dealers Association of Indiana, Inc. Shepard and his father are the only father-son team to receive the award since its inception 55 years ago.
Steve Bassett, president of General Truck Sales of Muncie, was named dealer of the year for Volvo Trucks North America. Bassett is also vice chairman of the Volvo Truck's Dealer Council. In addition to honoring Bassett, the award from Volvo honors each dealership's entire organization and its employees for overall accomplishment and performance. The award is based upon a number of factors, including new truck sales, parts sales, financial performance and customer satisfaction scores.
KENTUCKY
Adkins-Slone Automotive owners Dan and Marian Adkins and Craig Slone of Grayson recently sold the Ford, Chrysler, Dodge and Jeep dealership to Greg and Linda Crawford, who have renamed it Kentucky Automotive Center of Grayson. All 30 Adkins-Slone employees will continue to work at the dealership.
MISSOURI
Big changes are in the works for St. Louis's original BMW dealership. Next spring Autohaus BMW will open a new, dealership at 3015 S Handley Road in Maplewood. The company's Clayton location at 8455 Maryland Ave. will be dedicated to MINI.
Plans were unveiled for a new KIA Dealership in Rolla. Laury and Cindy West of Sullivan have purchased the property located at 2600 North Bishop Ave. West also owns Chrysler and Ford dealerships in Sullivan.
Jim Butler Chevrolet is now open in Fenton at 759 Gravois Bluffs Blvd. The dealership boasts a new quick lube facility, state-of-the-art service center, and shuttle service to and from shopping and businesses in the area for no charge.
After 29 years in business at its current location, 5th & Oak Auto Body of Washington will relocate east of the city to 5222 Highway 100. "We will have two downdraft paint booths," Carl McGowan, body shop manager, said. "We will also have a paint mixing room, four body frame rack bays and four additional auto bays," he said.
Lowe Automotive in St. Louis and Van Senus Auto Parts in Highland, Ind., have become Auto Pride members of the
Independent Warehouse Distributors (IWD) group. Lowe Automotive, opened in 1966, today has five satellite locations throughout St. Louis and Cape Girardeau. Lowe also serves Milwaukee and Chicago with one location in each city. Van Senus was founded in 1946. It serves western Indiana and northeast Illinois from one warehouse and two satellite locations.