Nigerian Times: Succession Planning for Dummies

9 Apr 2012 14:00 Africa/Lagos

Touro University Worldwide Professor Authors Dummies Book on Leadership and Succession

WESTLAKE VILLAGE, Calif., April 9, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Dr. Bernard Luskin, CEO and Sr. Provost of Touro University Worldwide today announced the availability of a strategic new book by TUW Industrial and Organizational Psychology Professor Arnie Dahlke, Ph.D.

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20111123/DC12194LOGO)

"I am thrilled with the publication of Succession Planning for Dummies as a text to be recommended in programs such as Industrial and Organizational Psychology. My goal is that Succession Planning for Dummies becomes a reference for companies, consultants, and Human Resource departments everywhere. Change is inevitable. How we handle the change is critical when planning a graceful and effective succession," said Dahlke.

"This is Dr. Dahlke's third book. Other books by Professor Dahlke focus on team building within organizations and helping employees make productive choices. These are important subjects for companies and corporations as well as students enrolled in the MA degree program in Industrial and Organizational Psychology," added Luskin.

"He brings extensive knowledge and experience in operational strategy development and customer service to his students. In his Consulting Psychology work, Arnie helps Boards, Executives, Teams, and Individual Contributors align their roles with the organization's mission and strategy. Clients include Chevrolet, Saturn, Coca Cola, Gelson's Markets, and Northgate Markets. Arnie Dahlke is a practicing example of a scholar practitioner. We are pleased to have Dr. Dahlke as Program Director for our I-O Psychology program and in a central role in growing TUW psychology-centric programs," Luskin explained.

The TUW Industrial and Organizational Psychology graduate program is enrolling interested students every day. The online program is specifically designed for the working adult and prides itself on the applied knowledge students receive, helping them excel in the workplace in settings that foster personal attention and small classes.

For more information regarding programs or enrollment, please contact:

Heather Grace Hoglund, Director of Enrollment Management 818-874-4121 Heather.Hoglund@tuw.edu
Matteo Indelicato, Senior Program Advisor 818-874-4118 Matteo.Indelicato@tuw.edu

Press Contact:

Alisa German, CMO & Director of Communications (818) 874-4105 Alisa.German@tuw.edu


Touro University Worldwide (TUW)

Touro University Worldwide a division of Touro University Los Angeles, accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC). TUW presently offers online Masters' Degree Programs in Business (MBA), Industrial and Organizational Psychology, Media and Communications Psychology, Physician Assistant, and Marriage and Family Therapy. For program and enrollment information, visit: www.TUW.edu .


About the Touro College and University System

Touro is a system of non-profit institutions of higher and professional education. Touro College was chartered in 1970 primarily to enrich the Jewish heritage, and to serve the larger American and global community. Approximately 19,000 students are currently enrolled in its various schools and divisions. Touro College has branch campuses, locations and instructional sites in the New York area, as well as branch campuses and programs in Berlin, Jerusalem, Moscow, Paris, and Florida. Touro University California and its Nevada branch campus, as well as Touro University Los Angeles and its Touro University Worldwide division is a WASC accredited member of the Touro College and University System. For further information on Touro College, please go to: http://www.touro.edu/media/

SOURCE Touro University Worldwide

Web Site: http://www.tuw.edu


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Looking Great With Womens Fitness

There ar? m?ny distinctive characteristics that sepa?ate m?n from ?omen and ?ice versa. W?ether t?ey b? phys?cal, emotional ?r ps?chological in nature, the? create the uniqueness that is ?man? and ?woman?. One t?ing r?mains constant between t?ese two gende?s, though. And that is they have to ?e well and good, fit and healthy in all of their ?spects. That w?y, whether one is a man o? ? woman, well being ?nd a good quality ?f l?fe ?re en?ured. On the subject ?f women, there ?re certain health ?nd fitness principles whic? ar? applied solely to them. After all, there are health issue? ?xclusive to women alone.

And wom?n?s fitness s?hemes ?s well, they c?n be different from men?s. When one types in the key?ords ?women healt? fitne?s? in Google, w?at ?ould normally c?me up are related websites. Data and information ab?ut women?s issues.

And relat?d product? ?s well and scheme? whic? ?ould ?romote womanly well-being. Ther? ?re tons of w?bsites wh?ch relate to th?se. Some ar? ?f course a l?ttle more than advertisements, ?ut ? lot are also scientific data, res?arches and studi?s. They m?y be pertaining to conditions and disea?es, nutrition, pre?ention and treatment as well as ed?cation on w?men?s fitne?s. It ?s import?nt that ?omen get accurate information ?n matters and iss?es concerning them, and thi? includes their health fitness a?pect.

And t?ey have to be r?cent ?nd updated as well. Aft?r all, ?hat was thought of to be the best advi?e ? ye?r ago ?ay have been modified. F?r instance, ?t ?as be?n c?ted that women?s fitness should be ? primary con?ern t? attain b?tter cardiovascular h?alth. Women actually ?uffer fro? heart attacks ?n the ?ame r?te ?s men do. T?e thing is, t?ey present differently ?n em?rgency wards and many g? undiagnosed. Women?s fitness and health is also criti?al especially in coping wit? the difficulties ?f menopau?e. Du?ing t?e menopausal per?od, female natural protection ?s diminis?ed, thus pr?per measures a?e need?d t? fort?fy the defenses.

Over the age of 40, a woman is most likely to gain weight on the w?ist line. Pro?er exercises and wo?kouts in ?omen?s fitness ?ay ?e necessitated to defy mother nature ?n this sense. Female fitness and health schemes are also gaining ?ore att?ntion ?s much as males? do. Other than keeping h?r weight off, ? woman has t? direct the?e m?ans fo? better ?eart healt? as well. Thus, s?e m?st take time for cardio workouts. On the subject of weight l?ss, ?omen ?re mo?t often told that diet ?ills a?e crucial. But that i? not necessarily the case as th?y can sti?k t? t?e basics ?f losing weight. And that is n?ne ot?er th?n burning more calories than what one is taking in. T?e b?sics may even suffi?e ? regul?r ex?rcise and ? ?ealthy diet.

A wo?an most ?ften ?s given ?ore attenti?n on how sh? looks and f?els. In general though, those ?n th? female gender ?re much in tune with th? signal? of their bodies and in sending them. Th?y are also m?re interested in health fitness matters in relation to well-being. Thus, wo?en?s fitness and health con?erns should be a prior?ty. After all, women have crucial rol?s to perform ?n th? balance of nature, and the? oug?t to b? well and good t? ?eep up.

Want To Know The Fastest Way For How To Gain Weight Fast For Girls? Let me tell you, how I Did it! Please Visit At My Personal Blog http://www.howtogainweightfastforgirlss.com

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Safety Tops Concerns As Public Meets with Regulators, Duke Energy at Oconee Nuclear

By: WSPA Staff | News Channel 7 , WSPA

Update: April 9, 2011

Safety was at the top of the list of concerns at a meeting Monday night at the Oconee Nuclear station.

About two dozen people living near the plant came to ask questions to officials at Duke Energy and the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.

Duke Energy says it has corrected two problems reported at the plant in the last year.

The most recent issue happened Friday when one of the plant's three nuclear reactors had to be shut down to repair a non-radioactive leak. Duke Energy spokesperson Sandra Magee says a flex hose on a pump of the reactor has now been fixed. The reactor?was restored to full?operations again on Sunday.

Duke Energy says there was no public threat. The Nuclear Regulatory Commission is investigating per protocol, but a spokesperson for that agency also says there is no public threat related to the incident.????

Last summer the NRC put the plant under increased scrutiny after faulty breakers were found at the standby shutdown facility.

Paulette Chassin attended Monday?s meeting. She lives close to Oconee Nuclear. Chassin says, ?I am very concerned about safety, just living four miles away. I believe in all kinds of power, nuclear being one of them, but there have been some yellow flags here, and I've been listening really for about a year and a half. There seems to be one issue after another with Oconee, and I'm very concerned about the back-up for emergencies."

The NRC tells 7 On Your Side Oconee Nuclear is operating safely, and it will do an extra inspection at the plant in the coming months because of the previous problem with the standby shutdown facility.

Monday?s meeting was part of an annual assessment by the NRC at Oconee Nuclear.????

For more information on evacuation routes and procedures during an emergency at Oconee Nuclear, click here.

Original Story: April 6, 2011

Officials with Duke Energy say a leak prompted them to shut down one of three reactors at the Oconee Nuclear Station in Seneca.

Unit 2 was powered down because of the leak and as crews began to increase the power, they say the leak increased.

It has been shut down for repairs and the Nuclear Regulatory Committee was notified.

Duke officials say the leak was contained to the reactor and there was no public threat.

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Pakistan evacuates 120 foreigners caught in curfew

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The Presence of Sleep Apnea Without Snoring is Possible

When ? pe?son snores loudl?, they ?re often th? butt of many jokes ?r laughed and giggled ?t b? anyone who not?ces. Their partner m?y n?dge them with their elbo? t? get the snoring t? stop and restore thei? ?wn ?leep each night. Even though in ?ost c?ses loud snoring i? not?ing mor? than annoying, it can b? ? sign of a sleep di?order ?alled apnea. Anyon? can suffer fr?m this disorder with one ?f th? most notic?able symptoms being loud snoring. Bef?re running t? the doct?r t? be ?valuated, do remember that snoring ?s comm?n and does not always mean t?ere is ? problem. The?e a?e othe? sym?toms you can l?ok fo? t? confirm that this sleep disorder does ?xist. Sleep apnea without snoring is just as possibl? and that ?s why ?nowing the oth?r symptoms i? ?o important.

Snoring it?elf disrupts others sle?p and ?an ?e irritating.

Here ar? oth?r symptoms y?u c?n look fo? to determine ?f the ?erson snoring h?s apnea o? just has ? snoring problem. These symptoms can als? ?ake sleep apnea with?ut snor?ng ea?ier to recognize. Someone suffering from this conditi?n w?ll wake ?p gasp?ng fo? air and m?king chok?ng noi?es. The snoring ma? o? may not oc?ur between thes? epi?odes. Thes? occurrences do not happen just a f?w t?mes ? night. Instead the? will happen many times within a single hou?. When these attacks occu?, t?e up?er airway is blo?ked ?nd th?ir ability to breathe is limited ?r completel? gone. The gas?ing and cho?ing th?t follows is ? ?esult of th?ir b?ain attempting to increase their oxygen intake onc? it realiz?s not enough oxyg?n ?s entering the body. D?e to t?e freq?ency of these attacks, the sufferer ?s not ?ble t? get the sle?p the? need and ?s fatigued during t?e day. Over time performance characterist?cs such ?s memory, concentration, and mood are aff?cted. If n?t detected and tr?ated, thei? h?alth can b? i?paired resulting in illnesses and disease? they ma? have otherwise not had t? deal with.

If no other apparent sign? ?f apnea exist and t?e per?on simply sno?es, the?e ?re many things ?ou can do to help. Anyone wh? is ov?rweight ?s more likely to snore and ?as an increased r?sk of developing apnea. En?ourage them t? eat h?althy and lose weight. People tend to snore more and louder ?f ?n th?ir back. Have t?em t?y sleeping on the?r side. Alcohol, other st?mulants, and larg? meals ?an increase snoring. Anyone with this probl?m needs to avoid these thing? ?t l?ast two h?urs before bedt?me. S?datives c?n relax the mus?les that ?eep the a?rway open. Speak with a doctor to ?ee w?at alternative? there are f?r sedatives if needed.

When ?ymptoms of apnea ar? pre?ent, it is tim? to ?peak with ? doctor t? ?ee if sleep apnea treatment i? necessary. A do?tor w?ll r?n tests to d?termine if apnea i? pre?ent o? ?f an? other problems ?re caus?ng the notic?s symptoms. Any ti?e apn?a i? present, ? sleep apnea treatment will be required to ensure prope? sl?ep. If y?u notice ?ymptoms, recommend a ?isit to the doctor ?o th? sufferer ?an be evaluated ?ppropriately.

Are You Looking for Sleep Apnea Cures? Here Is Proven Sleep Apnea Treatments Which Help You Get Rid of Sleep Apnea Snoring Like It Never Happened to You.

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Amid Iran tensions, neighbor becomes den of spies

Joern Haufe / dapd via AP, file

The $350 million Flame Towers are due to be official opened in the center of Baku, Azerbaijan, later this spring. A secular dictatorship with a long border with Iran, Azerbaijan is one of the few remaining countries than can act as a reliable listening post for America and Israel.

By Alastair Jamieson, msnbc.com

A Soviet-legacy oil nation is emerging as a hotbed of global espionage as tension escalates between Israel and Iran.

Azerbaijan, which links Russia to the Middle East, has strategic importance as a bridgehead for the West in its war of diplomacy with Tehran.


A secular dictatorship with a long border with Iran, it is one of the few remaining countries than can act as a reliable listening post for America and Israel, turning its capital, Baku, into a hotbed of intelligence activity.

?Like Casablanca in World War II, Baku is now also a center of monitoring Iranian mischief,? Ariel Cohen, senior research fellow at the Washington-based Kathryn and Shelby Cullom Davis Institute for International Studies, part of the Heritage Foundation, told msnbc.com. ?This is understandable taking into account visa-free regime of travel between the two countries and aggressive Iranian intelligence tactics.?

NYT: US defines first move in new talks with Iran

Recent events have lifted the lid on some of the international maneuvering in Baku. In March, Azeri security services arrested 22 people they say were trained by Iran to carry out terrorist attacks against the US and Israeli embassies.

In January, two accused of plotting to kill teachers at a Jewish school were also held.

'The Israelis are more subtle'
Most experts agree there are many Mossad agents?in Azerbaijan?working for Israel.

?The Iranians act in the open, they want everyone to know that they are here,? Dr. Arastun Orujl, director of the east-West Research Center in Baku told Britain's?Times newspaper. ?The Israelis are more subtle, like the Americans. But in the end everyone knows they are here, too.?

Iran lawmaker: We can produce nuclear weapons

So why does Azerbaijan matter? Not only does its geography make it an ideal place for the U.S. and its allies to face down Tehran, but its political history entangles it in the current tensions with Israel.

Millions living in northern Iran are ethnic Azeris, theoretically binding the two nations. But Azerbaijan has allied itself increasingly with Israel and the West as it uses its oil wealth to leverage its global standing.

?It was one of the first countries to back America after 9/11,? Gerald Frost, director of the Paris-based Caspian Information Centre told msnbc.com. ?It is as politically helpful to the West as its position close to the Middle East will allow. America needs to pay it close attention.?

While the country has made concessions to the West, it remains a dynastic dictatorship under the rule of Ilham Aliyev, who inherited power from father Heydar Aliyev, a former Soviet leader who reinvented himself as a nationalist during the collapse of the Soviet Union. Ilham took over in a 2003 election described by Human Rights Watch as ?fraudulent? and which it said was ?followed by protests that turned violent, plunging Azerbaijan into a human rights crisis from which it has not recovered?.

David W Cerny / Reuters

Azerbaijan's President Ilham Aliyev answers questions during a news conference in Prague, Czech Republic, on April 5.

Israel last year established a factory in Azerbaijan making parts for its military drones, and has supplied?the country?with $1.6 billion worth of military equipment.

The BBC?reported Russia President Vladimir Putin "surprised Western leaders" in 2007 by offering to let America use its radar base in Azerbaijan to defend Europe against any missile attack from Iran.

Cohen says Iran has been trying undermine Azerbaijan's secular position in the hopes of turning it from a dictatorship into a theocracy, echoing the transition of countries such as Libya and Egypt that now appear destined to be ruled by conservative Islamists.

Mark Perry, in a Foreign Policy article titled "Israel?s Secret Staging Ground", claimed Obama administration officials now believe that the security cooperation between Baku and Tel Aviv is actually "heightening the risks of an Israeli strike on Iran".

Azerbaijan has denied it?would allow the U.S. or Israel ?to launch airstrikes, although Frost noted that it could provide associated support since it already allows the U.S. military into its airspace to reach Afghanistan and to evacuate injured troops.

While ties with Israel deepen, the future relationship with the United States is less clear because Washington does not currently have an ambassador in Baku. The last holder of the post, Matthew Bryza, left last year after his appointment was not confirmed by Congress, a decision Frost believes is likely to have been influenced by America's powerful Armenian lobby.

Cultural boom
Meanwhile, its strategic importance?is being echoed in a cultural boom. Baku is enjoying a Dubai-style explosion of luxury hotels and designer fashion stores. "It is all very glitzy, very much reflecting the way Azeris want to be seen as an establish European-style country rather than a backwater," said Ben Illis, co-author of a new Time Out guide to Baku, which is due to be?published next month.

It has launched a major tourism advertising campaign, and its ambitious bid to host the 2020 Olympic games found its way onto the IOC shortlist.

This spring is expected to see the unveiling of the $350 million Flame Towers ? three glass-sided skyscrapers up to 620ft in height inspired by the country?s ancient association with fire. Human Rights Watch says ?thousands of residents? have been forcibly evicted to make way for some of these projects.

However, billing itself as?tourism destination may be a challenge for a country that still has a very poor human rights record and still is often confused with Kazakhstan, home of comic creation Borat.

An unlikely litmus test of its political ambitions will come next month when it hosts the Eurovision Song Contest, a live music competition beamed across Europe that is a byword for kitsch (it was once won by a transexual representing Israel). Baku's bitter enemy, neighboring Armenia, pulled out of the contest in disgust when an Azeri duo won last year.

David Mdzinarishvili / Reuters, file

Eurovision Song Contest 2011 winners Eldar Gasimov (2nd left) and Nigar Jamal (2nd right), who are known as Ell-Nikki, are greeted by fans in Baku. Their victory means Baku will host this year's competition.

"This will perhaps be a good indication of how far the regime is prepared to go to further its relationship with the west," said James Nixey, of British think tank Chatham House.

More from msnbc.com and NBC News:

Follow us on Twitter: @msnbc_world

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Hiball Energy drinks in cans with advanced color display

PKBR Staff Writer Published 09 April 2012

US-based Hiball Energy's line of energy drinks will now come in 16oz. sustainable cans having thermochromic ink packaging from Chromatic Technologies (CTI), enabling temperature-based color display.

The new cans unveiled in March feature a number of white bubbles that turn blue on attaining a refreshing temperature of 45? F.

Ball Corporation provided the new cans, and the new visual display technology is based on the principle of cold temperatures affecting certain portions of beverage bottle labels and cans which turns them into blue.

CTI claims the cans come to life with such colorful display that is not only used as a temperature indicator, but also to provide some fun.

Hiball Energy said the shift to the new cans was the outcome of consumers' demand for a more portable package with a larger size.

"Hiball's customers ultimately win by getting 60 percent more volume, 30 percent lower cost per ounce and 100 percent more energy fueled by premium organic and fair trade ingredients - all packaged in lighter, more portable and 100-percent-recyclable aluminum cans," said Hiball founder and president Todd Berardi.

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Analysis: Asia gauges inflation through rear-view mirror

SINGAPORE (Reuters) - Depending on where you look, Asia's inflation is either benign or stubbornly hot.

China's March inflation rate stayed below Beijing's 4 percent target and appeared to be on a softening trajectory, and South Korea's dropped to a 20-month low. But other figures show price pressures actually picked up last month, and factories paid more for raw materials.

The disconnect stems from the way inflation is measured. The primary indicator in many Asian economies compares prices against a year earlier, not the prior month as is common in the United States and Europe.

That can be misleading.

Asia's inflation looks tame now largely because prices were high a year ago, when oil spiked because fighting in Libya threatened supplies, and shortages of pork and other food drove up costs. Economists call that the base effect.

Central bankers trying to calibrate interest rates need to know where prices are headed, not where they've been. Otherwise, they risk missing the warning signs of a build-up in inflation that will only become harder to contain.

"The month-on-month data gives you a better gauge of the inflation pulse, what's happening right now," said Rob Subbaraman, chief Asia economist for Nomura in Hong Kong. "I'm a little bit skeptical of looking too closely into the year-on-year numbers now."

Each data set has its limitations.

Few of the statistics agencies in Asia adjust data for seasonal factors, such as the Lunar New Year which distorts month-on-month readings in China and some neighboring economies every January and February.

Comparing year to year solves that problem, but introduces another set of concerns over base effect and timeliness.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Food inflation back on the table:

China March inflation:

GRAPHIC on commodity prices: http://r.reuters.com/hyk57s

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Seasonal adjustment is notoriously difficult to get right. Some economists think the U.S. government mismeasured seasonal shifts in the labor market this past winter, reporting an abnormally sharp drop in the jobless rate.

Nomura's Subbaraman said he thinks inflation will become a bigger problem for Asia later this year. Rising commodity prices, easy monetary policy and tight labor markets suggest that as demand picks up, inflation will quickly follow.

The Bank of Korea and Bank Indonesia both hold policy-setting meetings this week, and are expected to keep rates steady, mindful of the inflation threat even though price pressures are currently subdued.

CONFLICTING SIGNALS

China's inflation numbers on Monday were a case study in how confusing the data can be. The consumer price index rose 3.6 percent year on year, more than economists polled by Reuters had expected. But a measure of producer prices pointed the other way, dropping 0.3 percent from a year earlier.

That suggests little inflationary pressure in the pipeline because manufacturers would feel the effects of rising costs before consumers do.

Yet the month-on-month figure showed the producer price index rose 0.3 percent between February and March, which indicates price pressures may indeed be building.

Because China does not seasonally adjust the data, it is hard to read too much into changes between February and March. The lunar new year fell in January this year, so prices for food and other holiday-related items spiked that month and then eased somewhat in February. The pickup in March may have had more to do with the fact that prices had subsided in February.

Food was the primary driver behind the unexpected pickup in the March CPI, although unlike a year ago the main culprits were fruits and vegetables, not pork.

Vishnu Varathan, an Asia economist with Mizuho in Singapore, said he was "watchful" of signs that inflation was re-emerging as a threat, but saw little to fear in Monday's data. High pork prices persisted last year, but it takes longer to rear a pig than to grow a cabbage.

"What we know about food inflation tells us there's no reason to get distressed," he said. "What we know about fuel inflation tells us there may be a problem but it hasn't come home to roost yet."

Varathan said he would be more worried about Asia's inflation threat if conflict in the Middle East sent oil prices back up to 2008's record high near $150 per barrel.

WHAT'S EATING ASIA

Food and energy account for about 40 percent of the consumer price index basket in most Asian economies outside of Japan, so watching commodities provides the clearest window into where inflation is heading.

Commodity price moves also explain why the yearly inflation data clashes with the month-on-month figures.

The Thomson Reuters-Jefferies CRB index , a broad measure of commodity prices, fell by as much as 15 percent from mid-March 2011 to mid-March 2012. But it was up 1.5 percent from mid-February to mid-March this year.

Even more worrisome to some inflation watchers is how rising commodity prices seem to be filtering through the economy and ultimately into higher wages. The big worry is a wage-price spiral, where pricier goods lead to higher wage demands, which in turn feeds back into higher prices.

China has been at the forefront of raising wages. Its latest five-year economic plan calls for an average annual minimum wage increase of 15 percent through 2015. Rival exporting economies may follow their lead, knowing that they too can boost wages without losing their competitive edge.

Rahul Bajoria, an economist with Barclays in Singapore, points out that wage hikes have been implemented or planned in Thailand, Malaysia and parts of Indonesia, bolstering his view that inflation pressures are building.

"The trough in inflation is going to be a lot shallower than what we were earlier expecting," Bajoria said. "You have to look beyond the headline (inflation rate) and understand that the price dynamics are turning a bit more unfavorable."

(Reporting by Emily Kaiser; Editing by Mathew Veedon)

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Why You Need an ASE Certified Auto Repair Shop in Sarasota ...

Article by Dave?s Auto Repair

Anyone who owns a vehicle is all too familiar with the need for an auto tune up or automotive repairs. There is the regular need for oil change service, the need to check engine light from time to time and, of course, the need for auto AC repair ever so often. Much more serious than car AC repair, though, is the need for brake repair which should not be ignored when necessary. Every vehicle owner in Sarasota, Florida 34233, therefore, needs an ASE certified auto repair shop to rely on for all automotive repairs and auto tune up services.

ASE stands for Automotive Service Excellence. ASE certification is given by the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence, an independent non-profit entity which was founded in 1972 for the sole purpose of improving the quality of vehicle service and repair in the United States. This is done through voluntary testing and certification of automotive service professionals and technicians. Testing is administered through ACT, another independent non-profit institution that offers various tools for assessment, research, information, and program management in the development of the workforce.

ASE certification is categorized into industry-driven specialties covering all segments of vehicle servicing. In order to achieve ASE certification, an individual needs to have documentation for at least two years of relevant work experience and pass a minimum of one specialty test. Once certification is achieved, it must be renewed every five years by undergoing retesting. Testing is made convenient with written tests scheduled twice a year with a choice of more than 750 testing sites all over the US. Some computer-based tests are conducted at 200 locations also twice a year.

Automotive service professionals and technicians who are ASE-certified are authorized to wear the blue and white ASE insignia. Their employers can also display their credentials in the shop and use the ASE signage. Auto repair shops are qualified for the elite ASE Blue Seal of Excellence Recognition Program (BSRP) if they have at least 75% of their automotive service professionals and technicians ASE-certified, and if every service they offer is represented by a minimum of one ASE-certified technician. The ASE Blue Seal of Excellence comes with a wall plaque, counter mat and a promotional kit. The repair shop will also be listed in the BSRP shop locator of the ASE website. All ASE certified auto repair shops with the ASE Blue Seal of Excellence are evaluated annually so that certification credentials are always updated and maintained.

Vehicle owners can, therefore, be assured of excellent service provided by well trained and highly skilled professional technicians when going to an ASE certified auto repair shop. The ASE website lists the following top 10 benefits that automotive service professionals and technicians get from being ASE-certified:

1.ASE certification proves professional credentials covering both knowledge and experience.

2.ASE certification shows commitment to the highest standards of automotive service and repair.

3.ASE certification enhances the image of automotive service professionals.

4.ASE certification shows achievement of excellence in the field of automotive service.

5.ASE certification boosts the self-esteem of automotive service professionals.

6.ASE certification improves the career opportunities and advancement of automotive service professionals.

7.ASE certification gives automotive service professionals more earning potential.

8.ASE certification continually develops the growth in skills and knowledge of automotive service professionals.

9.ASE certification prepares automotive service professionals for greater job responsibilities.

10.ASE certification gives automotive service professionals peer recognition.

All of the benefits mentioned above result in better auto tune up and automotive repairs service for the customer. So do you have an ASE certified auto repair shop you can trust for your automotive repairs and auto tune up needs in Sarasota, Florida 34233?

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