Winning Requires Showing Up

by Aaron Swanson, AASPMN President

“Ninety percent of success in life is just showing up.”

          – Woody Allen

Prior to becoming the president of AASPMN, I spent many years on AASPMN committees, so I generally understood what was being done on behalf of members. Most of my engagement was with the collision government relations work. During committee meetings Sam Richie, AASPMN lobbyist, and Linden Wicklund, executive director of AASPMN, would give updates and ask for support in various ways to keep the process of passing new legislation and protecting existing laws moving. They made it look straight forward, which if anything, made not getting major wins frustrating. 

What I have learned is that it is not at all straightforward. Advocacy requires participation from many different voices all pushing in the same direction. Too many members become frustrated and want to see change, but don’t show up when they are needed. As president, I have pushed hard for a win, which has meant weekly meetings with Sam and Linden, meeting with the Insurance Federation of Minnesota, having LaMettry’s leadership golf with Senator Klein at a Commerce Committee fundraiser and hosting Senator Klein at LaMettry’s, and more recently, hosting the Democratic House members during their boycott at the start of the session. Showing up has been a good deal of effort, but very much worth it. 

I now understand the value of offensive as well as defensive lobbying work. In 2023, the insurance industry was trying to block shops from charging storage fees and we have successfully pushed back against that. We have seen progress with a larger number of shops having customers submit complaints to the Department of Commerce and openly talk about the positive impact of that process. I haven’t seen giant “wins” with fines against adjustors with complaints, but I have personally seen adjustors turn around and correct issues. Defending the laws we have is critical. More shops need to participate in that. 

Even more importantly, I now have a much better understanding of how critical it is to focus our talking points on the impact on customers. Lawmakers care about the voters they represent. Shops and lawmakers have the same customers. If we talk about struggles with making a good profit and fighting market power and about what goes on in the shop, all those points distract from the main goal of serving the mutual customer. 

Ultimately, if we want real change, more members need to show up. Far too few people are participating. This is not a statement that is even specific to AASPMN. I’m curious about politics so I attend the state caucuses, and reliably the same people show up to those. As an industry, we need to show up more. As an association, we need to help members show up and make full use of the laws we have. On the shop level, we need to keep repairs moving forward without losing sight of the why, the customer, the mutual customer we share with elected officials, for whom we are advocating. 

Thank you to those who have donated to fund our lobbying efforts and to those who participated in our Day at the Capitol on February 26th. Your efforts benefit all of our businesses. Thank you also for trusting me as president of this association. I have learned a great deal in the role. I hope to see you at the Leadership Conference & Annual Meeting coming up April 28 and 29, where I will pass the gavel to incoming president Randy Notto (Lenfer Automotive & Transmission).

Want more? Check out the March 2025 issue of AASP-MN News!