Southern California

From left: Toyota Senior Advisor Don Esmon, Congressional Medal of Honor recipient John Baca, Toyota Veterans Association President Michael Smith, and ASN founder Annie Nelson stand next to the Tundra that was presented to Baca.

Southern California People & Places - December 2016

The annual Collision Repair Education Foundation (CREF) industry fundraiser, recently co-hosted by PPG Automotive Refinish, raised $110,000, according to the foundation. Funds from the Aug. 10, golf event in Yorba Linda will go toward supporting scholarships and grants for collision schools and...

CAWA President and CEO Rodney Pierini encourages attendees to bid on auction items to benefit CAWA’s scholarship program.

CAWA annual dinner raises funds for aftermarket scholarships

Las Vegas—The CAWA annual dinner meeting, held in conjunction with Industry Week in Las Vegas, raised more than $26,000 for CAWA’S Memorial Scholarship Fund, generated from the event’s live auction and raffle. “The auto care industry is in the public interest and the public good,” CAWA President...

Larry Hohl, president of UTI-Long Beach, says he is proud of the school’s industry-leading job placement record and its more than 30 OEM and aftermarket partners.

UTI built for industry workforce growth

Long Beach, Calif.—Universal Technical Institute (UTI), the largest provider of post-secondary education in the automotive field, is also one of the most successful of its kind, placing four out of five students in their chosen industry career within a year of graduation, Larry Hohl, UTI-Long Beach...

One Stop Engine Rebuilding is owned and operated by three Lopez generations including (from left) Oscar, his father Wilson, his father, Julio and mother Marcela, Wilson’s brother, Christian, and Wilson’s wife and office manager, Marcela (not pictured).

One Stop Engine starts with quality

Hawthorne, Calif.—One Stop Engine Rebuilding opened its doors 14 years ago, but the multi-generation, family-owned business actually began in Honduras about 45 years ago, co-owner Wilson Lopez said. “My father, Julio, got into the trade in Honduras at the age of 14, working at a machine shop during...

Army veteran Travis Steele and his family received a 2013 Dodge Caravan Donated by Insurance Auto Auctions, and repaired by Pacific Elite Collision with nearly $9,000 in parts donated by Glenn E. Thomas Dodge Chrysler Jeep. (Photos by Patricia Fabian)

Five SoCal residents receive Recycled Rides from NABC members

Anaheim, Calif.—Three military veterans and two single parents, from Southern California, received the keys to newly refurbished cars through the National Auto Body Council’s (NABC) Recycled Rides program at the 2016 NACE/CARS Expo, held at the Anaheim Convention Center. “I am grateful, you all...

Stuart Terry was ASCCA Member of the Month for August.

Southern California People & Places - November 2016

The University of the Aftermarket Foundation (UofAF) has awarded 135 students who are attending, or will attend, a two-year vocational/technical college or a four-year college or university a $1,000-$2,000 award for the 2016-17 academic year. Students are either working to become an auto repair...

New CAT Executive Director George Hritz (right) congratulates Bob Barkhouse, retiring executive director and CAT co-founder, on 50 years of service to the organization.

New CAT leadership brings intensified interest in attracting talent to industry

Modesto, Calif.—The California Automotive Teachers (CAT) association is celebrating its 50th anniversary. And, at its spring conference, held at Modesto Junior College, in Modesto, George Hritz was elected executive director after Bob Barkhouse, CAT co-founder and executive director, announced his...

From left, Donald Williams, Shawn Jones and GM Juan De Rada represent 3D International, of Santa Clarita, Calif., to meet with collision repairers from all over the country.

SoCal vendors exhibit at NACE 2016

First responders from Anaheim Fire & Rescue practice extrication drills at the NACE/CARS Expo at the Anaheim Convention Center on a late-model Mazda donated by State Farm as part of the National Auto Body Council’s First Responder Emergency Extrication (FREE) program.

Anaheim Fire & Rescue team demos life-saving auto extraction techniques

Anaheim, Calif.—A team of first responders from Anaheim Fire & Rescue cut up four late model vehicles, donated by State Farm, in front of a live audience at the NACE/CARS Expo & Conference, held recently at the Anaheim Convention Center. The drills were part of a training program called...

California legislation becomes law to thwart unlicensed dismantlers

Sacramento, Calif.—Assembly Bill 1858, environmental justice legislation authored by Assembly Majority Whip Miguel Santiago (D-Los Angeles), was signed into law by Governor Jerry Brown in September. Co-sponsored by the State of California Auto Dismantlers Association (SCADA) and the California...