Moving Our Industry Forward

by Brandon Wistrom, AASPMN President

As the new President of AASPMN, I’m honored to serve an industry that has been a part of my life from the very beginning.

I grew up in a body shop, working alongside my parents as a child and learning early on the values of hard work, honesty and taking pride in doing things the right way. Those early experiences shaped not only my career, but also my commitment to the people and businesses that make up this industry.

Over the years, I’ve worked my way through nearly every role in the shop – from detailer to body technician, estimator and eventually general manager. Each step gave me a deeper understanding of the day-to-day challenges shop owners and technicians face, as well as the importance of strong relationships, both with customers and within the industry.

Today, I’m the owner of two body shop locations in Elk River and Andover, where I continue to focus on doing what’s best for the customer and staying true to the values I was raised on. That same mindset carries directly into my role with AASPMN.

As the new President, I’m excited to meet others across the industry, learn from their experiences and help be a strong, unified voice for our profession. I believe AASPMN plays an important role in supporting shop owners, advocating for the industry and helping all of us navigate the changes and challenges ahead.

My goal is to bring a practical, real-world perspective to the association, one grounded in firsthand experience and a genuine respect for the work we all do. I’m committed to leading with integrity, building trust and helping strengthen the future of the industry for the next generation.

At the end of the day, this industry has given me so much, and stepping into this role is an opportunity to give back, support others and help move our industry forward in a positive direction.

Want more? Check out the May 2026 issue of AASP-MN News!