ALI Schedules First ‘All-in-One’ Inspector Certification Event To Be Held In Conjunction With SEMA Show

The Automotive Lift Institute (ALI) has scheduled its first "all-in-one" session to provide Lift Inspector Certification Program participants with a rare opportunity to complete multiple key program requirements in a single location over a three-day period. The event will be held Nov. 6-8 in Las Vegas in conjunction with the SEMA Show. Interested participants must register by Sept. 20.

The Automotive Lift Institute (ALI) has scheduled its first “all-in-one” session to provide Lift Inspector Certification Program participants with a rare opportunity to complete multiple key program requirements in a single location over a three-day period. The event will be held Nov. 6-8 in Las Vegas in conjunction with the SEMA Show. Interested participants must register by Sept. 20.

ALI staff members and Factory Designated Trainers will open the session with a Participant’s Orientation on Wednesday, Nov. 6. Attendance at a six-hour Orientation is mandatory for all Certified Lift Inspector candidates. The Orientation will outline administrative aspects of the Lift Inspector Certification Program, introduce expectations and answer questions.

Thursday, Nov. 7, activities will include group study for both the pre-course exam and the course exam. The group study sessions are open to any enrolled participants who have attended an Orientation. On Friday, Nov. 8, participants may take the pre-course exam. Those who have previously passed the pre-course exam will be given the opportunity to take the course exam.

“We know our inspectors’ time is valuable and want to give them a cost-effective opportunity to take care of several requirements at once,” said R.W. “Bob” O’Gorman, ALI president. “The ‘all-in-one’ session will provide an efficient and focused environment to move an inspector quickly through the certification process.”

The previously scheduled Participant’s Orientation on Nov. 8 will still be held as a standalone event for those who do not wish to take advantage of the “all-in-one” package.

Registration for the “all-in-one” event’s Participant’s Orientation and group study activities are included in the Lift Inspector Certification Program fee, which is discounted to $1,000 through Dec. 31. The fee also includes a Candidate Handbook and extensive course materials. Additional fees will be required for those taking an exam.

To reserve a seat at the “all-in-one” event, email [email protected] or call (607) 756-7775 by Sept. 20.

The ALI Lift Inspector Certification Program was created to provide third-party qualification of vehicle lift inspectors and to certify those who demonstrate that they are capable of properly inspecting vehicle lifts in accordance with the ANSI standard governing vehicle lift inspection and in support of OSHA’s General Duty Clause, as well as provincial requirements in Canada. Detailed materials can be found at www.autolift.org/certified-inspectors.

To learn more about ALI, visit www.autolift.org or call (607) 756-7775. You can also connect with ALI on Facebook at www.facebook.com/LiftInstitute, on Twitter at www.twitter.com/LiftInstitute, and on YouTube at www.youtube.com/LiftInstitute.

When Your Shop Is Worth Much More Than You Thought

Although every sale of a shop in which I am involved has its own unique set of circumstances, which makes my job both very interesting and very challenging, Cowden Automotive stands out as particularly memorable because I was able to demonstrate to the long-time owner, Paul Cowden, that his business was worth about three times what he had initially thought.

Case Study: Owner of San Francisco-based Import Service Shop Delighted to Discover Just How Valuable His Business is to Qualified Buyers
I sometimes share case studies of the clients I have been able to assist in my role as an aftermarket business broker and provider of intermediary and advisory services. I do that when I think the story will provide a reader in similar circumstances with new insights or helpful information.
In the case of Cowden Automotive, Inc., I acted in a consulting capacity assisting the owner and his broker in valuing the business, creating a marketing plan, finding a qualified buyer, and arranging financing for the sale.
Although every sale of a shop in which I am involved has its own unique set of circumstances, which makes my job both very interesting and very challenging, Cowden Automotive stands out as particularly memorable because I was able to demonstrate to the long-time owner, Paul Cowden, that his business was worth about three times what he had initially thought.
Needless to say, delivering that kind of good news to a shop owner is a rewarding experience. Discovering that the sale of his business would result in his retirement nest-egg being substantially larger than he had ever thought was a fitting tribute to someone who had spent his entire working career as a busy automotive service shop owner.

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