The Automotive Oil Change Association (AOCA) has been serving the auto maintenance industry for decades. We very much appreciate all of the hard work and dedication everyone involved has contributed throughout the years. The founding purpose of the AOCA is the advancement of the fast lube industry and to enhance the competency of fast lube owners and their employees through education and training. We would like to recognize the current board members and hope you enjoy getting to know them a bit better through this Q&A.
David Haney: president
NOLN: How many shops do you have?
Haney: I own one oil change shop, but I have five business operations in two buildings at the same location. Not counting the lingerie and bait shop, I have a quick lube, a tire shop, a mechanic shop, an auto glass repair/replace shop and a car and truck accessories shop.
N: What is your title?
H: My title is “King of all I survey,” but I go by David.
N: What city and state are you located in?
H: I am located in the beautiful city of Magnolia, Arkansas.
N: How long have you owned your shop?
H: I bought my quick lube on July 3, 2008. I’m not very good at math, so I would say somewhere between seven and nine years.
N: What inspired you to become an AOCA board member?
H: The better question is, who inspired me to become a board member? That would be Jimmy Grant. He said the pay was great, if you like working hard for no pay.
I decided to get involved several years ago by serving on committees. I wanted to give back to an organization that had given so much to me. I felt we had gotten off track a few years ago, and I wanted to help us get focused on the important things again.
Fortunately, under Jimmy Grant and Len Minco’s leadership, along with the addition of some new board members, that change was already being made before I was elected to the board. I am so pleased with the makeup of the board we have and the new members who have just joined. There are no hidden agendas, no “what’s in it for me” and no personality conflicts. There is one single focus — what is best for the members of AOCA.
We are in a fight for our business’ lives right now and are being attacked on every front. These battles are being fought by AOCA to protect our shops’ very existence. These battles are fought over things that haven’t made it to the news media yet and aren’t on anyone’s radar, other than some level of local, state or federal government agency. Just one piece of information about the Kia/Hyundai engine problem saved me replacing a $9,000 engine. That savings paid for my AOCA membership for the next 20 to 25 years. That’s a pretty good ROI, and it’s just one example of the value of what AOCA does. AOCA has been dealing with this and many other issues over the past few years that impact us all (whether AOCA members or not). It frightens me to think what our industry would be like without the AOCA fighting for all of us. That’s why I got involved.
N: What do you envision for the future of AOCA?
H: I see great things ahead for ACOA. Our new partnership with iFLEX at the Car Wash Show is opening up new opportunities for a much larger AOCA membership. By not having to spend 80 percent of our time on planning and executing the iFLEX show, we can spend more time communicating the value of what AOCA provides to our current members and our prospective members alike. With a growth in membership, the AOCA will have more power to go up against business-killing laws and regulations. If you are not a member of AOCA, I would strongly encourage anyone who changes oil as part of their business to join and help protect our industry and our business.
N: What is an interesting fact about yourself?
H: I’ve never played in the NBA.
Dave Jensen: vice president
NOLN: How many shops do you have?
Jensen: We have the one lube location, and we opened up a tire location also.
N: What is your title?
J: Owner/operator of Pennzoil 10 Minute Oil Change Centre.
N: Where is your shop located?
J: Waterloo, Ontario, Canada
N: How long have you owned your shop?
J: Since April 1992
N: What inspired you to become an AOCA board member?
J: I wanted to be a board member for the training and the networking, but I also wanted to grow membership in Canada and help operators here. The AOCA is a very valuable resource for operators here in Canada as well, and it’s important for them to be professional and knowledgeable.
N: What do you envision for the future of AOCA?
J: AOCA has gone through many transitions over the last three years, and I feel that we’re on the right path. Joanna Johnson and the government affairs committee have been very involved, and they are doing a lot of great things for the AOCA and our membership. I believe we need to expand our training offerings and grow our membership, as well. Shops are offering many different services now, and we need to make sure our training grows along with the industry.
N: What is an interesting fact about yourself?
J: I’m a guitar player in an 80s rock band named “1989.”
Jimmy Grant: secretary
NOLN: How many shops do you have?
Grant: Four
N: What is your title?
G: Owner/operator
N: Where are your shops located?
G: Chattanooga, Tennessee
N: How long have you owned your shops?
G: 28 years
N: What inspired you to become an AOCA board member?
G: The governance was one of the big reasons, along with buying at discount prices.
N: What do you envision for the future of AOCA?
G: It’s going to get larger and stronger; there’s no doubt about that. Co-locating with the carwash owners has really helped us as well. They’re good people and will help us grow.
N: What is an interesting fact you’d like others to know about yourself?
G: I’ve been married to the same woman for 40 years!
Bob Falter: treasurer
NOLN: How many shops do you have?
Falter: More than 50
N: What is your title?
F: Director of legal, HR, IT, operations, safety, environmental, government compliance, real estate, contracts, accounting and anything else that needs to get done
N: What states are you located in?
F: Maryland, Delaware, Pennsylvania and New Jersey
N: How long have you owned your shops?
F: I’ve been in the industry for more than 30 years and an owner/operator for more than 20 years.
N: What inspired you to become an AOCA board member?
F: For many, many years we enjoyed the direct benefits of AOCA representation and its many dedicated boards. So, at some point, you have to say to yourself, “It’s my turn to give back and serve.”
N: What do you envision for the future of AOCA?
F: Just as the National Automotive Dealers Association (NADA) represents all new car dealers regardless of brand, I could envision all quick lube brands coalescing under the membership and representation umbrella of AOCA.
N: What is an interesting fact you’d like others to know about yourself?
F: I actually like Jimmy Grant.
Bill Floyd: director
NOLN: How many shops do you have?
Floyd: Currently, we have one location in Evansville, Indiana, at which we just celebrated our five-year anniversary. We have acquired property for a second location in Evansville Westside, which is under construction scheduled to open this November. Just a quick note to bring you up to speed; Lucas Oil Center was the brainchild of my wife Brenda and I after news broke in 2007 that Lucas Oil Products agreed to pay for the naming rights of the new Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Indiana. So for the next 20 years, the Indianapolis Colts and many other major events would be housed at Lucas Oil Stadium. This was a brand new start-up, so after forming and being granted a license agreement with Lucas Oil Products in 2008, we set out to develop the road map for Lucas Oil Center, while going through one of the worst economic times in my lifetime. I guess we proved we were up for the challenge!
N: What is your title?
F: My wife says my title is husband to the owner! I guess that makes me co-owner.
N: What city and state are you located in?
F: Evansville, Indiana
N: How long have you owned your shop?
F: This is my very first shop, and we built a doozy. I had a very successful 35-year career in automotive racing and high performance aftermarket products. Originally a native of southern California, we relocated to southern Indiana in 2000 when I was approached with an opportunity to head the sales and marketing of a major racing suspension and exhaust company. Known as the guy to launch new products, I looked at Lucas Oil’s entrance into the fast lube industry just like a new product launch. How could we improve performance? What differentiates us from other shops? Generating greater revenue and serving our community. We ended with developing what we call, “The Lucas Oil Experience!”
N: What inspired you to become an AOCA board member?
F: I spent many years affiliated with racing and high performance and served eight years on the SEMA council. Most recently, I was chairman of SEMA Motorsports Parts Manufacturers Council. Prior to opening our business, we attended many AOCA iFLEX trade shows, seminars and general membership meetings. In 2010, we were getting ready to plunge into what I felt was an enormous opportunity and underserved market, yet all I kept hearing from many operators and industry people was, “How can we survive all these challenges we face?” My involvement has been driven by trying to turn some of that industry negativity around and look forward to sharing and engaging with the industry leaders as I see many opportunities on the horizon.
N: What do you envision for the future of AOCA?
F: I see AOCA as the solid foundation and mouthpiece of the industry. Continued advancement in fast lube technician and management training is extremely important, along with expanding new car technology sharing and training. I believe that AOCA will become the industry-leading tradeshow with substantial growth in both vendors and attendees.
N: What is an interesting fact you’d like others to know about yourself?
F: My racing name was “Wild Bill” Floyd. I raced and built many open-wheel dirt midgets, sprint cars and modifieds that were painted with my trademark in hot pink! So who’s the real “Pink Floyd?”
John Lindsay: director
NOLN: How many shops do you have?
Lindsay: I am the president/owner of one store in Blackfoot, Idaho, and have been in business for 19 years. We are a traditional lube center with additional bays for auto repair and auto glass repair and replacement.
N: What inspired you to become an AOCA board member?
L: I was inspired to become a board member so there would be someone big enough to keep David Haney in line! I also want to be able to give back to an organization that has done so much for me and my business.
N: What do you envision for the future of AOCA?
L: Starting under the direction of Jimmy Grant, the association has made great strides to adapt to our changing business needs and environment. I hope that through my participation on the board, I can assist in continuing the trend of helping our members be successful. I would like to see greater strength and unity throughout the industry. Building personal relationships in our business has been one of the biggest keys to success for us, and I would like to see more personal relationships and trust built within the association to further unite us in the cause.
Greg Strawhun: director
NOLN: How many shops do you have?
Strawhun: I have three stores located in eastern Missouri near St. Louis.
N: How long have you been in the industry?
S: I have been in the quick lube business for over 20 years, building all three of our stores from the ground up.
N: What inspired you to become an AOCA board member?
S: I have been interested in the AOCA from the beginning, when we first joined 19 years ago. The AOCA brings much needed information and resources into one place and is extremely valuable when you are entering into the industry.
N: What do you envision for the future of AOCA?
S: My vision for the AOCA is to see us develop into an organization that can bring more value to all members, no matter if they are just starting out or have spent many years in the oil change industry. As our businesses and industry grow, we need to meet those varying needs of both members and the industry as a whole. I am excited to be part of the AOCA board and look forward to the challenges and opportunities that it will offer.
Steve Barram: vendor director
NOLN: What is your position?
Barram: CEO of Integrated Services, Inc. (ISI)
N: Where are you located?
B: Portland, Oregon
N: How long have you been in the industry?
B: ISI is a 28-year-old point-of-sale information management system provider to the fast lube industry. We serve approximately 2,500 customer sites, primarily across the United States and Canada.
N: What inspired you to become an AOCA board member?
B: AOCA has historically been an advocate for both the operator and vendor stakeholder elements of our community and market segment. I have always believed that serving the market in which one has an interest is part of the responsibility we shoulder. The AOCA board has been through a myriad of challenges in the last few years, and the opportunity to serve came at a time I believed I could make meaningful contributions with the others on the board.
N: What do you envision for the future of AOCA?
B: AOCA, as an association, and the board representing it are in a position to exercise leadership in many areas. The area I believe we are most able to impact is the government affairs arena. We have an established and well-respected arm in this area. I see us increasing our role in providing membership value as well as industry leadership.
Jeff Malicote: vendor director
N: What is your title?
M: I am the director and general manager of Valvoline Express Care.
N: Where are you located?
M: Lexington, Kentucky
N: What inspired you to become an AOCA board member?
M: The opportunity to assist in changing the association and providing great value, all in support of quick lube industry growth.
N: What do you envision for the future of AOCA?
M: Value. I envision the AOCA providing great value that can be monetized in terms of dollars and cents for every member operator; dollars and cents owners can use to grow their current stores’ profitability and/or grow via buying or building additional stores. Dollars and cents, which far exceed the cost of membership or the cost to participate in one of our events, including iFLEX in collaboration with the ICA.
As we continue to strengthen the value proposition, I envision non-members becoming eager to join the association and attend the events in order that together we may push the AOCA agenda more aggressively. There’s a lot of great work and many outstanding results coming from the AOCA government affairs group at the federal, state and local levels, results that members and non-members benefit from. If we all band together within this association, how much more effective can we be in improving safety for our teams, providing consumers what they need in a quick, convenient manner, saving owner/operators money and more?
With a slow-growing economy, our industry may have as much or more opportunity available as it did in the mid-1970s during its infancy and growth years. It’s a great environment, and I’m proud to be part of an outstanding board and association structured to help operators improve their opportunities for success.
N: What is an interesting fact you’d like others to know about yourself?
M: If you read the answer above, you’ll know that when I am passionate about a subject, I can talk for a long time.
Sean Malmstrom: vendor director
NOLN: What do you do in the industry?
Malmstrom: I am a supplier to the quick lube and automotive repair industries.
N: What is your title?
M: vice president of Sales at S&E/Fast Track
N: What city and state are you located in?
M: Draper, Utah
N: What inspired you to become an AOCA board member?
M: I wanted to have a substantial, positive impact on our industry both professionally and personally.
N: What do you envision for the future of AOCA?
M: We need to create and implement sustainable programs that improve access, opportunity, growth and services, now and for future oil change generations.
N: What is an interesting fact you’d like others to know about yourself?
M: I don’t always drink beer, but when I do, I drink Dos Equis!
To all of those who have served on the AOCA board, we thank you, and we are excited to see what the future brings. The fast lube industry is ever-evolving, and we feel confident the AOCA will continue to grow and fight for the prosperous future of the industry and those who serve it proudly.
