Meet the New AASP-MN Board Members

The new AASP-MN Board members were introduced at the Annual Meeting & Leadership Conference, April 5 at the Minneapolis Marriott Northwest in Brooklyn Park. Each will serve a three-year term 4/1/23 – 4/1/26. They are:

Shannon Christian, Shannon’s Auto Body, Brainerd – Collision Seat I am Shannon Christian, owner of Shannon’s Auto Body, a family-owned and operated business out of Brainerd. I have been in the industry for over 30 years and have been operating my business for over 28 years. My business includes a collision center, mechanical shop, Western & SnowEx snowplows sales and service and I will also be opening a new state-of-the-art 40,000 square foot collision repair facility in Brainerd soon.

An active member of the collision repair industry, I have participated in and led 20 groups at the local, regional and national level. A strong passion has always been to improve the industry through the education of customers and other shops on correct repair procedures. I continue to work closely with SCRS, Collision Hub, Collision Advice and NABR.

My wife, Amie, is an active member of the business as well. We share a blended family of eight children and one grandchild. We enjoy traveling and spending time at the lake with friends and families.

Randy Notto, Lenfer Automotive & Transmission, Lino Lakes – Mechanical Seat Hello, I’m Randy Notto, one of the newly elected Mechanical Seats of AASP-MN.  I’m the owner of Lenfer Auto & Transmission in Lino Lakes and Wyoming.  I have been a shop owner for over 30 years and worked for my father prior to taking over the business in 1989.

I have been an AASP-MN member since 1989 and have realized a tremendous benefit from my membership and participation in Alliance activities and events, and I’m happy to be able to give back.

Through my membership and involvement in AASP-MN, I have built relationships with many other members that have been extremely valuable. They have shared information on difficult repairs, loaned me tools and discussed difficulties I may have been having in my business, often offering a different point of view or way of approaching the problem.   

Like many of you, I am plenty busy just trying to run my business and don’t have a lot of time to find things out on my own.  Our association does a great job helping us all stay on top of new laws and regulations so we can run our business instead of the business running us.

AASP-MN has also done the homework for us when it comes to cost savings programs.  From credit card processing and uniform and linen supplies to workers’ compensation and property/liability insurance, the association’s programs are difficult to beat!

If you haven’t been an active member, make 2023 your year!  I encourage everyone to get involved.  All of you have more to offer than you think. And, I promise, you will get 10 times back what you put in.

Tim Kruse, TGK Automotive, Hugo – Mechanical Seat I have been in the automotive industry for 34 years. I started as a parts runner then moved on to technician, management, owner, director of operations and now market director. I enjoy every aspect of this industry and the people who work in it. The fast pace and ever-changing vehicles are what keeps me intrigued and interested in this industry still today, and tomorrow.

I have been involved with AASP-MN for a couple years and enjoy having conversations with others in this industry about how to make it better. I am also President of the WBL HS Automotive Program, and a Board Member for Century College. I have been married for 24 years, with two children (grown men) and a dog. I love hunting, fishing, snowmobiling and ATV riding in my spare time.

Shannon, Randy and Tim join other members of the Board, which include:

  Mike McLynn, Automotive Electric, Grand Rapids – President
  Jesse Jacobson, Heppner’s Auto Body, Woodbury – Immediate Past President
  Aaron Swanson, LaMettry’s Collision, Eden Prairie, Secretary/Treasurer
  Paul Yager, Enterprise Rent-A-Car, Eagan, Associate Division Director
  Travis Doyle, Arrowhead Auto Body, Hermantown, Collision Division Director
  Dan Gleason, Pro-Tech Auto Repair, Corcoran, Mechanical Division Director

 

Join AASP-MN for the 28th  Annual AASP-MN Golf Outing

The 28th Annual AASP-MN Golf Outing is Wednesday, June 21, 2023 at Majestic Oaks Golf Club in Ham Lake.  All collision repair and auto service industry professionals and suppliers are invited to attend the event to enjoy a day of golfing and socializing with industry peers.

Play will begin at 12:30 pm, followed by dinner and an awards presentation.  The cost to participate is $100 per golfer or $400 per foursome.  Golf holes are also available to sponsor for $350 each.

For additional information, see page 18 or visit the association’s website, aaspmn.org or contact the Alliance office at aasp@aaspmn.org or (612) 623-1110.

 

Want more? Check out the May 2023 issue of AASP-MN News!