"To Unite and Elevate Automotive Professionals, and Give Them Voice" | | Samantha Tracey – Scotty's Auto Repair
Shop Manager, Licensed Smog Inspector | |
This month, we’re excited to spotlight Samantha Tracy of Scotty’s Auto Repair in Riverside. Known for her professionalism, dedication, and positive attitude, Samantha brings valuable insight and heart to the automotive repair industry. In this Q&A, she shares her journey, her experience in the field, and why being part of the ASCCA community matters.
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Q: Can you tell us a bit about your journey into the automotive industry? What drew you to this field and how did you end up at Scotty’s Auto Repair?
ST: I am Sam from Scotty's Auto Repair, Inc. My parents, Scott and Caren Marshall, opened our company in 1991. Growing up in the shop, I always knew this could be a career for me. I worked off and on for years and always enjoyed it. Then, in 2013 I decided to work there full time with the intent to purchase.
Q: Did you have any mentors or role models who influenced your growth in the industry?
ST: My parents have been a huge inspiration to me. I have had technician role models as well as business coaches. Maylan Newton was also a huge inspiration for me. In addition to helping me grow as a business owner, he helped me grow as an individual and in motivating the next generation of automotive employees.
Q: What aspects of your job do you find most rewarding or enjoyable?
ST: For the business, I enjoy helping and educating customers in maintaining their vehicle. In the SkillsUSA California role, I enjoy giving career opportunities...
| | | 2025 ASCCA Annual Training Conference - Register Today! | | |
At ATC 2025, you’ll take away tools and resources to improve employee retention, increase sales, team productivity, and day-to-day shop operations.
Our hand-picked line up of speakers delivered over multiple tracks depending on the attendee focus, provide best practices on effective teamwork, communication, technology, and more.
Early bird rates end in less than a month on July 17—register now so your team attending gets the best pricing available.
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Hotel Information:
Embassy Suites by Hilton, San Francisco Airport Waterfront
150 Anza Blvd.
Burlingame, CA 94010
ASCCA Special Rate: $159.00/night (Plus Taxes and Fees)
Reservations Deadline: Friday, August 21, 2025
| | | Hotel Reservations: Book your hotel room via the book room link, through the ASCCA webpage or by calling 650-342-4600 and stating you are an attendee of the ASCCA Annual Training Conference to receive the group rate. Remember, ASCCA has a minimum number of rooms to book for our conference, so use only the official links to book a room. | | |
Check it out!
ASCCA recently hosted a webinar on the
Cool Air Rebate Program for Automotive Shops.
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We are so proud to be a partner with the Car Care Council for the Cool Air Rebate Program! Many ASCCA Members have joined the program as participating repair shops, and on June 24, the program was officially expanded into the Inland Empire at a special ASCCA Chapter 14 Meeting hosted by ASCCA Member CSAI Auto Service in Riverside.
Gilbert Rios, ASCCA Inland Empire President, kicked off the event that welcomed Nathan Perrine, Executive Director, Car Care Council, and Edith Duarte, Program Manager, Cool Air Rebate. Nathan shared information about the program that offers financial assistance to low-income Californians to cover up to 80% of repair costs to remove leaking R-134a refrigerant – a greenhouse gas 1,400 times more harmful than CO₂ – from personal vehicles manufactured between 1993 and 2019.
As of June 20, the Cool Air Rebate Program has repaired more than 1,000 vehicle air conditioning systems and paid out more than $1 million in repair subsidies. Funding for the Cool Air Rebate Program comes from unclaimed deposits on cans of R134a sold in California, in coordination with the Car Care Council and the California Air Resources Board.
ASCCA is a proud supporter—all members throughout the State of California are encouraged to join as authorized repair shops. We have a long way to go to spend that $20 million pool of available funds, so REGISTER NOW!
One of our ASCCA Members in Santa Monica shared recent that he has had several service orders with new clients as a result of this program and all of them have been ROs over $1,000 each. Becoming a participating shop is easy! Click here to review the shop eligibility requirements and enroll today. There’s also a great ASCCA video on YouTube that explains the program here.
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 18, 2025
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CONTACT: Kate Peyser
kpeyser@amgroup.us
| | The Automotive Service Councils Educational Foundation Awards 2025 Scholarships to 21 Aspiring Automotive Students | | |
Sacramento – The Automotive Service Councils Educational Foundation (ASCEF) proudly announces that its Board of Trustees has awarded 34 scholarships to 21 outstanding students, totaling $28,000 in support for their automotive education. These scholarships, which have grown from a single donation into fully funded awards named after influential ASCCA members and leaders, reflect ASCEF’s ongoing commitment to the future of the automotive industry.
“On behalf of the Board of Trustees, we are honored to carry on the tradition of empowering the next generation of automotive professionals,” said John Eppstein, Foundation Chair. “Each scholarship is an investment in the innovation, skill, and passion that will continue to drive the automotive sector forward. Supporting these students is not only about education—it's about building a stronger, more sustainable future for the industry.”
The ASCEF's Cars4Careers program plays a central role in funding these opportunities, converting donated vehicles into training and education for individuals pursuing careers in automotive service and repair. Each year, ASCEF awards scholarships ranging from $500 to $1,500 to high school graduates entering technical training and college undergraduates studying automotive service disciplines. Since its founding in 1998, ASCEF has awarded $257,250 in scholarships.
“We’re excited to welcome these students into the ASCEF family,” said David Kusa, ASCEF President. “Their drive and enthusiasm show that the future of our industry is in great hands. This year’s applicants and recipients truly represent the best and brightest in automotive education.”
The 2026 scholarship application opens in October, and we encourage all those to apply by March 31, 2026.
To view the full list of scholarship recipients, visit https://ascef.org/scholarships.
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Founded in 1998, The ASC Educational Foundation exists to provide educational and training opportunities, scholarships, and endowments in the field of automotive repair and maintenance. ASCEF Scholarships have been instrumental in helping recipients create rewarding careers in Automotive Technologies.
To learn more about the ASCEF and the Cars4Careers program, visit www.ascef.org.
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Calling All Members!!!
We want to see photos of you with other ASCCA members, promoting ASCCA and our Spirit of camaraderie and unity.
Show your ASCCA Spirit – Participate in the photo contest!
Cash prizes! No limits on Participation!
| | Contest ends October 31, 2025. | | ICYMI: BAR Implements Major New Regulations That Will Significantly Change How Automotive Repair Dealers Conduct Business in California | | |
BAR is updating the Write it Right guide to include these new requirements and will provide a Q&A section to help dealers stay compliant.
The new regulations will take effect on July 1, 2025.
Here are some key highlights:
Separate Estimate and Invoice for Towing Charges.
Authorization for towing fees must be obtained separately from any authorization for repair work. This means you will need to create separate estimates and invoices for any towing charges that you intend to bill the customer for towing their vehicle to your shop.
Accepting Payment from Third-Party Payor (e.g. Insurer or Extended Car Warranty.
If you accept payment for repairs from a third-party payor, you must, prior to obtaining authorization from the customer, do one of the following:
(1) If the amount of the payment to be made by the third-party payor is known, you must include the amount approved to be paid by the third-party payor on your estimate;
(2) If the amount of payment to be made by the third-party payor is not known, you must include the following disclosure on your estimate:
“This estimate is for repairs to meet vehicle manufacturer and industry standards. As the customer, it is your responsibility to contact the third-party payor for approval of payment.”
Estimates Must be Free of Technical Terms & Clearly Describe Each Repair. Estimates must include a statement of each repair to be performed, along with a description written in plain language—free of technical or industry-specific terms—so that a person without professional or specialized knowledge can understand it.
Tear Down or Disassembly Estimate.
The tear down estimate must include the portion(s) or area(s) of the vehicle or vehicle component(s) necessary to assess the extent of the damage or evaluate the condition of the vehicle or vehicle component(s).
Using an Estimate Prepared by Third-Party Payor (e.g.. Insurer or Extended Car Warranty.
Shops that choose not to create their own estimate but use a third-party payor estimate must meet stringent requirements including notifying the customer that the third-party estimate is subject to the Fair Claims Settlement Practice Regulations. And the estimate must also include:
- A statement of intent to repair the vehicle according to the third-party estimate.
- The name of the third-party payor.
- The unique identifier from the third-party estimate.
- The total repair cost listed on the third-party estimate.
You must also attach the third-party estimate (original, duplicate, or printout) to the estimate provided to the customer. If the customer approves changes to the repair before proceeding, you must notify the third-party payor of these customer-approved changes in your estimate, which could alter the specified payment amount in the third-party estimate.
To view the final regulatory text and materials, visit www.bar.ca.gov/regulatory-actions.
| | New Benefit for ASCCA Members | | Past Webinar Recordings Available! | | All Past ASCCA Webinars Playlist on YouTube: | | Bureau of Automotive Repair Updates: | | 2025 Dates For BAR Advisory Group Meetings | | Remarkable Results Radio - New Podcast Episodes! | |
Check the Part: Warranty Fraud and Returns
(Town Hall Academy)
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The automotive parts industry faces a disproportionately high return rate compared to other sectors, driven by misdiagnoses, improper installations, and fraudulent returns. This creates a significant financial burden on manufacturers and the entire supply chain. In this podcast, the guests explore these challenges and emphasize the need for stronger collaboration and communication between manufacturers, distributors, and repair shops. They advocate for a “Check the Part” initiative, encouraging thorough quality checks, proper documentation, and accurate diagnosis to reduce return rates. By adopting these strategies and leveraging technology, the industry can improve profitability, reduce inefficiencies, and boost customer satisfaction.
Read More/Listen...
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It’s the Person, Not the Software: Solving Common Shop Management Gaps
(Remarkable Results)
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Recorded at Vision Hi-Tech Training & Expo, Ben Dexter sheds light on a common issue: many shop owners are only scratching the surface of what their shop management systems can do. From underutilized tools to overlooked processes, this conversation uncovers the true value of role-based training, strategies for better customer communication, why profit should be seen as a healthy business goal, the impact of digital vehicle inspections (DVIs), why strong service advisors are essential, and the crucial role of inventory control in shop performance. Whether you’re a shop owner, service advisor, or team leader, this episode offers practical takeaways to help your business thrive.
Read More/Listen...
| | You can find all the newest episodes as well as the entire library HERE! | | Get Involved - Join the 2026 ASCCA Board of Directors | | |
The ASCCA is pleased to call for nominations for seats open on the 2026 Board of Directors. Participation on the ASCCA Board of Directors is a unique opportunity for automotive repair professionals to help guide the state's largest organization of independent auto shop owners in shaping the future of the industry and building a stronger industry.
Board participation is a chance to grow personally and professionally, and to develop skills, experience and connections with a team of other passionate and motivated professionals.
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Submit completed applications to
ASCCA Deputy Executive Director, Anne Mullinax,
on or before July 16, 2025 @ 11:59pm.
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Arturo Medina
Power Muffler & Brakes, Inc.
Monrovia, CA
Ch. 5 Regular Member
| | Attention ASCCA Chapters! | | |
Have a Chapter Meeting Coming Up?
ASCEF Chair John Eppstein and ASCEF President Dave Kusa would like to come to your meeting and talk about the ASCEF Car Donation Program and the value it can bring to not only your shop, but also your customers!
To schedule a date, email either John at john@johnsautomotivecare.com or Dave at dave@autotrenddiagnostics.com.
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ASCCA Committees NEED YOU to engage with them! Involvement your time and responsibilities. Just send us an email and we’ll hook you up with the right person: info@ascca.com.
You can learn more about all of the ASCCA Committees here at: www.ascca.com/committees
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Your donations will continue to help us award scholarships to
students seeking a career in the automotive aftermarket industry.
We appreciate all the support!
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Visit www.ascef.org.
Help us reach our goal of $45,000 in car donations by providing your customer with a simple way to donate an unwanted vehicle quickly and safely!
- It’s easy and the pick-up is free!
- The proceeds from the sale of the vehicle will help us continue to award scholarships to students wanting to develop a career in the automotive aftermarket industry!
- Donating saves time and money on repairs and maintenance.
- Added value to your shop while supporting an automotive industry nonprofit.
- Our Vehicle Donation Support Team is here to guide you every step of the way.
- We help you take care of the paperwork and provide you with any necessary tax documents.
- Vehicle donations are tax-deductible.
To donate, call (844) 877-2473. We accept all types of vehicles that meet the following basic requirements:
- Vehicle has a clear title.
- Vehicle is in one piece.
- Vehicle is accessible for safe towing.
- Vehicle does not need to be running.
| | It’s so easy to build careers one car at a time. ASC Educational Foundation rewards scholarships each year to students wishing to develop a career in the automotive aftermarket industry. So help us make a difference in a student’s life! Learn more about donations through the ASC Educational Foundation. | | |
The ADA Checklist: 2021 Compliance
Guidelines for Website Accessibility
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ADA website compliance and web accessibility are two terms that are used interchangeably but they are distinct from one another.
ADA stands for the Americans with Disabilities Act which prohibits discrimination on the basis of disability. Courts are construing Title III of the ADA to mean that websites must be accessible. Thus, with ADA website compliance, we're referring to the law.
Read more...
| | Refer a Member Receive $125 | |
You're eligible for a $125 referral fee when you refer a new Regular or Associate member to ASCCA!
Referral Awards are paid out when the member's annual dues are paid for their first year.
Contact the ASCCA office if you have any questions at info@ascca.com or (800) 810-4272!
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1 Capitol Mall, Ste. 800
Sacramento, CA 95814
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