Though we are only half way through the year, 2018 is shaping up to be a success for the Automotive Oil Change Association (AOCA). Our trade show, iFLEX at The Car Wash Show 2018, was a hit among operator and vendor members, with nearly 8,800 car care professionals gathering at the Las Vegas Convention Center in April. AOCA’s various educational sessions at the event covered hot topics within the industry, employment best practices, our advocacy efforts and much more.
Our President’s Reception at The House of Blues on the Las Vegas Strip exceeded expectations with over 220 individuals attending to kick-off the iFLEX festivities. This served as an opportune moment for operators and industry partners to connect.
With nearly 100 votes cast, AOCA’s 2018 Board of Directors election has concluded, and our new Board has been announced. We are pleased to welcome Mark Bochnowski and Justin Cialella to the AOCA Board. Mark Bochnowski has been with Lube ‘n Go for over 20 years and is the current president and partner of the company. He has previously held the positions of Human Relations director, general manager and director of Operations since joining the company in 1997. Under his leadership, Lube ‘n Go operates 12 locations in El Paso, Texas.
Justin Cialella currently is the chief executive officer of Victory Lane. Justin started as a franchisee of four Victory Lane locations. In addition to being a franchisor, Justin also owns and operates 20 Victory Lane corporate stores within the Victory Lane chain. He has been active in the quick lube industry, most recently becoming the interim chair of the Government Affairs committee for the AOCA.
Returning to the Board of Directors this year are the following individuals: president John Lindsay of Power Lube, vice president Bill Floyd with Lucas Oil Center, secretary David Haney with Oil and Lube Express, treasurer Bob Falter with Jiffy Lube, Sue Ackley with Oil Change Plus, Steve Barram with ISI, Amber Kossak with Solid Start/True Brand, and Jeff Malicote with Valvoline. We would also like to thank AOCA immediate past president Dave Jensen and outgoing board member Jim Grant for their years of dedication to the Board of Directors and the industry. Thank you!
Looking ahead, AOCA will be providing two Management Certification Courses this fall. We encourage you to join us or send your managers to our Chicago course on September 11-12 or our Dallas Course on October 23-24. You can find more information at: www.aoca.org
As always, don’t hesitate to reach out if you have any questions, comments or concerns. On behalf of our team, we hope you enjoy your summer!
