Federated Member Hovis Auto & Truck Supply Opens New Technical Training Facility

Federated member Hovis Auto & Truck Supply has opened its new Hovis Technical Training Center located in Mercer, PA. The 10,000 square-foot hands-on training facility is equipped with the most advanced tools and equipment and is dedicated to instructing professional service technicians about time-saving and problem-solving techniques, according to Hovis.

The center offers a fully equipped body shop with mixing rooms, prep deck and oversized paint booth, a 14-foot overhead door for heavy-duty truck access as well as four-post and two-post lifts, a wireless alignment machine, tire changer, balancer and diagnostic labs.

“The Hovis Technical Training Center is committed to educating automotive, paint and heavy-duty truck technicians in a state-of-the-art facility, close to home, reducing shop downtime and travel expenses,” said Curt Hovis, vice president of Hovis Auto & Truck Supply. “We recognize the critical need to provide technicians with comprehensive instruction, technical materials and educational programs, and we understand they don’t want to travel across the country to get it. That is why we are bringing leaders in the industry to western Pennsylvania.”

The Hovis Technical Training Center has developed an educational curriculum that will bring together leaders in the automotive, heavy-duty and paint and body industries to train technicians on the latest technology, techniques and applications in their specific fields. These certified trainers from such companies as DuPont, AkzoNobel/Sikkens, 3M, Delphi, Federal-Mogul, Abex and Meritor will bring their expertise and industry knowledge to the center in a streamlined curriculum that allows technicians to choose the courses that best suit their needs.

In addition to offering technical training, the Hovis Technical Training Center also will offer technicians, managers and owners the opportunity to participate in best business practice education to maximize traffic to their shops, improve return visit rates and increase their bottom lines.

“We want to congratulate Cliff and Curt Hovis and their staff on putting together one of the finest training facilities in the country,” said Rusty Bishop, CEO of Federated Auto Parts. “Their dedication and investment in training is a testament to Hovis’ continual commitment to helping their customers grow their businesses.”

Located in western Pennsylvania, Hovis Auto and Truck Supply has been a family-owned business since 1952. Since that time, the company has grown to 14 locations including a new warehouse facility. Hovis executives are industry leaders with Cliff Hovis currently serving on the executive committee and board of governors for Federated Auto Parts, while Vice President Curt Hovis serves on a variety of paint, body and equipment manufacturer boards. In addition, Cliff has also served as a member of the board of governors of AWDA.

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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