Dallas--The Automotive Service Association and the 2008 International Autobody Congress & Exposition have announced that Darrell Amberson, the current ASA Collision Division director, has once again accepted the appointment as the 2008 event chairman, which includes serving as chairman of the NACE Attendee Advisory Council.
Returning as the Exhibitor Advisory Council chairman is Katie Henwood, Marketing Communications manager for Standox, a DuPont Performance Coatings brand. 2008 represents the second consecutive year both Amberson and Henwood have served in these capacities.
NACE 2008 will be at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center in Las Vegas during the recently created Automotive Repair & Service Week (ASRW) on Nov. 5-8.
Amberson is president of Lehman's Garage in Bloomington, Minn. A 37-year veteran of the industry, his career began in the dealership sector of the business where he worked 22 years before moving to an independent shop, primarily as the body shop manager.
With the exception of a two-year tour as a professional drag racer (Nitro funny cars)--finishing third in the International Hot Rod Association's World Championship Points Race in 1989--Amberson has worked in and supported the collision repair industry.
In addition to his ASA Collision Division directorship, Amberson serves on a number of industrywide committees including the CIC Database Task Force (joint effort of ASA, SCRS, and AASP), the URG Advisory Committee, the CCC/Motor Industry Forum Group, and the AASP-MN Workforce Task Group and Government Affairs Committee, as chairman.
Since joining DuPont five years ago, Henwood has worked in the Marketing Services Group. Currently, she is responsible for the development, implementation, and management of marketing, branding, communications and loyalty program initiatives for Standox.
Henwood also manages all NACE participation and sponsorship activities for DuPont Performance Coatings. She has been an active member of Women in the Industry (WIN) for two years and is pursuing an MBA at Eastern Michigan University.
The educational conference will begin on Nov. 5 and run through Nov. 8. The Exposition will take place Nov. 6-8. The event takes place within the recently created Automotive Repair & Service Week, and is co-located with CARS (Congress of Automotive Repair & Service--serving the mechanical segment of the industry).
Both events also take place during the Automotive Aftermarket Industry Week (AAIW), taking place that same week in Las Vegas.