Greetings ASCCA members and partners,
We made it through 2020 and well into January 2021! We have all learned to be more resourceful and innovative managing our businesses. Challenging times do tend to make us stronger. However, many of us have lost family, friends and co-workers to the Covid-19 virus and are trying to deal with devastating losses. Together we will get through this pandemic. However, we will be changed because of the experience.
Throughout the Covid-19 pandemic ASCCA has helped to provide crucial resources, information, and contacts to move our businesses forward and survive this difficult time. It has also been helpful to network with other shop owners. I have found the support, feedback and insight to be extremely valuable in remaining creative and positive. Although Covid-19 has been extremely negative in many ways, it has only further solidified my dedication to ASCCA’s members and partners. ASCCA’s staff at AMG have also been extremely resourceful in meeting the demands of our association while dealing with challenges of their own. We should be extremely thankful to have AMG backing us when we need it most.
2021 will be an exciting year in the automotive industry on many levels. I know we will have more opportunities to learn and grow as business owners and technicians and be better prepared to face challenges in the industry as a result. This year we have marketing professionals helping to get our message out and share all the great benefits ASCCA has to offer. We ALL have to be proactive in sharing our experiences and how this association helped to make our businesses better. Working together we have the opportunity to give back to the industry and build a stronger association to serve all of us into the future. Recruiting young members with exciting new ideas is the lifeblood of any association. We must cultivate an environment to attract these upcoming leaders to us. We also must respect senior volunteers who have given for so long and asked for little in return. They provide the wisdom to avoid repeating mistakes and insight from past experiences.
I know bright days are ahead for ASCCA and the industry. Everyone has a role to play to help make us better and stronger moving into the future. ASCCA is a great catalyst to elevate and unite automotive professionals and give them voice!
Sincerely,
Rory Balmer
ASCCA President 2021