The Alliance of Automotive Service Providers of New Jersey (AASP/NJ)’s Hall of Fame has been used for over 30 years to recognize individuals in the New Jersey automotive repair field who have made an impact on the local industry and on the association. At their 2015 Annual Meeting on October 28 at the Gran Centurions in Clark, the gathering of collision and mechanical repair representatives added two more names to the list of influential people to be welcomed into the Hall of Fame.
left to right: Charles Bryant, Jerry McNee, Jeff McDowell, Tom Elder, Mike Kaufmann (partially obscured), Dan Hawtin, Ted Rainer and Pete Cook
Peter Cook of P&N Auto Works (East Orange) and Citro’s Auto Body (Pompton Lakes) has been a member of the association since the 1980s, and soon after joining, he found a seat for himself on the Board of Directors. Over the years, Cook has served as a director, secretary and treasurer, and was an instrumental part of organizing the NORTHEAST® Automotive Services Show for over 20 years.
“I was shocked when I heard my name called,” Cook recalls. “I’ve been a member of the association for a long time. It’s a great group of guys and I’m so lucky to call them my peers and my friends. I’m honored to join some of the great people who are also a part of the Hall of Fame.”
Dan Hawtin of Auto Body Craftsman, Inc. in Island Heights was the second inductee of the night. Having been a significant force in the early days of the AASP/NJ merger (in particular, Chapter One), he was an obvious choice for this nomination to Executive Director Charles Bryant, who called Hawtin “a fighter.”
“I was absolutely, totally surprised; I was floored,” Hawtin said of his induction. “A lot guys work a whole lot harder, but they were gracious and it was gratifying that they think that of me.”
Although they are both too humble to truly tout their accomplishments, President Jeff McDowell has no doubt that these two men are more than deserving of their awards.
“These two guys have had such an impact on the association and where we are today,” he says. “We need more people like them who are willing to put in the time and effort to make a difference.”
For more information on the AASP/NJ Annual Meeting, please read the coverage in the upcoming December issue of New Jersey Automotive. To find out more about AASP/NJ, visit aaspnj.org. Registration for the NORTHEAST 2016 Automotive Services Show is now open at tinyurl.com/NE16reg. To find out more about the Show, go to aaspnjnortheast.com.
