West Coast's largest automotive training event returns to Seattle in March

by J.B. (Jerry) Smith

SEATTLE, Wash., October 27, 2009 - After a successful inaugural event in March 2008, the Automotive Training Expo (ATE) will return to the Doubletree Hotel in SeaTac on March 11-13, 2011, for its second annual training event and product exhibit. The theme for the 2010 event is "Learn Skills for Survival in Today's Automotive Industry."

More than 30 technical and management training seminars will be presented at ATE 2010 over a three-day period. Courses offered will cover training designed for mechanical, collision, tire, service, and specialty shop owners, managers, service advisers, technicians, high-school and college instructors, and automotive students.

Several courses are AMI-approved for those attaining AAM designations from the Automotive Management Institute. In addition, I-CAR will present several courses for collision-repair professionals.

Trainers at ATE include some of North America's top instructors who offer courses ranging from hybrid system components to service adviser skills, electronic systems diagnosis to marketing.

A registration fee of $399 per person includes attendance at as many classes as desired over three days, all training materials, buffet breakfasts on Saturday and Sunday, lunches on Friday and Saturday, buffet appetizers on Friday and Saturday evening (during trade show hours), free admission to the trade show, and special hotel rates. There will be keynote speakers at both breakfasts, as well as at the Saturday lunch.

Registration discounts are available to members of sponsoring associations (Feb. 13 registration deadline) and for multiple attendees from one shop. Discounts are also available for accredited automotive instructors from high schools and colleges, as well as students enrolled in automotive programs.

The Friday and Saturday evening 80-booth trade show will open as afternoon classes conclude. Food will be served in the trade show area this year, and no-host bars will serve beverages.

Exhibits will include automotive parts, specialty products, tools and equipment, automotive-specific business support services, and training venues. Special discounts for ATE attendees will be offered by all vendors at the show.

In its second year, ATE is an outgrowth of the former Northwest Automotive Industry Tradeshow (NAIT) that was staged since 1985 at various Puget Sound-area locations. NAIT was a trade show that offered training programs, while the focus of ATE is to offer the West Coast's largest training venue.

ATE is sponsored by the Automotive Service Association of Washington (ASA-WA), the Northwest Tire Dealers Association (NWTDA), and the Washington Automotive Wholesalers Association (WAWA). Parts & People's Northwest Motor Edition is the official media sponsor of ATE.

"Last year we drew more than 400 industry professionals to training classes from more than 10 states," said Jeff Lovell, ASA-WA president and executive director, and the show's producer. "Because we had such a successful event in 2008, we expect to draw some 600 attendees in 2010. The positive feedback from attendees rated ATE extremely high in both the courses offered and the quality of our instructors."

Lovell also said the diversity of classes in 2010 will offer any shop or service center an excellent opportunity to have an entire staff trained at one event, from owners and managers to service advisers and technicians.
 
"Many Northwest shops close their operations and attend all three days of ATE to take advantage of the extensive range of classes provided," he said, adding that many shops send up to six or more employees over the three-day event.

For additional information on ATE, or to register online, visit www.atetrainingexpo.com or call (888) 774-1253. As of press time, there was a limited number of ATE exhibit booths remaining.

Media / Press Kit

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