Business View Magazine | Volume 9, Issue 3

72 BUSINESS VIEW MAGAZINE VOLUME 9, ISSUE 3 By: Tricia Sauls, Executive Director, ASTA I ndependent Garage Owners of North Carolina (IGONC) has been supporting independently owned automotive repair shops since 1959, and in 1960, the North Carolina Tire Dealers Association (NCTDA) formed to support independent tire dealers. For the past 60 years, these two organizations have been working tirelessly, often side by side, to ensure the success of these business owners with work on legislative issues, training, discount programs, and fellowship. In early 2020, it became clear that as our industry evolved, repair shops and tire stores were becoming more similar, with the average repair shop now selling new tires and tire stores counting on repair work as part of their respective business plans. Officers of both groups came together to see what would be possible if we joined forces, and in October of 2021, we completed our merger to become the Automotive Service and Tire Alliance (ASTA). The ASTA staff and board of directors is full of the kind of energy and enthusiasm normally found in a startup, but with a unique twist, as this energy is backed by over 60 years of success. ASTA will continue hosting the Automotive Service and Technology Expo (ASTE), the largest after-market automotive event in the Southeast, from September 29-October 1 at the Embassy Suites & Convention Center. The ASTE draws automotive service owners AT A GLANCE AUTOMOTIVE SERVICE AND TIRE ALLIANCE (ASTA) WHAT: A trade association to serve, support, and better the aftermarket automotive industry WHERE: Based in Raleigh, North Carolina WEBSITE: https://www.linkedin.com/company/automotive-service-tire-alliance/ ervice lliance Combined Associations = Improved Support And Representation