Dave Gruskos Sheds Light on OEM Certification Mastery at AASP/NJ Meeting

by Alana Quartuccio

OEM certifications can be a great thing for an auto body business, provided one knows how to successfully pursue and make the most out of the investment involved. 

AASP/NJ hosted an OEM certification master class last month featuring Dave Gruskos (Reliable Automotive Equipment). Gruskos, an industry expert who has been instrumental in molding today’s OEM certification programs, provided great insight on every consideration a shop owner needs to weigh before going after certifications, as well as how to best leverage them. 

Gruskos highlighted the many expected investments shops will need to make. Investment is not just monetary, he pointed out. Training plays a huge role in obtaining OEM certification. He warned, “Your A-tech will be gone for about three weeks the first year for that one certification. You’ll be losing productivity. The equipment cost is nothing compared to what you lose in labor.” 

Representing a brand goes deeper than training and equipment. “Everything to do with certifications is about relationships. Your business is going to be built on relationships with the dealership.

“If you have a dirty shop, you will get red-flagged before you even start the process,” he continued. For example, BMW will send someone to inspect the shop. If the operation appears disorderly and disorganized, it will stop the certification process in its tracks. “Operate a nice clean shop, and then start your processes for certification,” Gruskos recommended. “It will pay off 10 times over.”

Gruskos stressed the importance of truly being aware of everything involved before pursuing certifications. “Don’t do something just to put plaques on the wall. It will be a race to the bottom, and you will go out of business,” he warned. 

For more information on AASP/NJ’s educational schedule, please visit aaspnj.org.

Want more? Check out the December 2025 issue of New Jersey Automotive!