Retail Observer

RETAILOBSERVER.COM FEBRUARY 2022 62 S eas the Moment…and reconnect was the theme of the 2022 Annual Service Training Institute (ASTI). A concept we can all take to heart in today's climate, regardless of our industry, role or responsibilities and after everything it took for us to get everyone to St. Pete Beach this year. This year's ASTI took place at the beautiful TradeWinds Island Grand Resort on St. Pete Beach in sunny Florida. At UASA, and through ASTI and our training events, as well as through our relationships, we are committed to helping our Members become more efficient with their time, more analytical with their processes, more knowledgeable in their business and – by putting those into practice – becoming more profitable. By doing this, UASA continues to elevate the service industry. The goal was to ensure that when ASTI attendees left at the end of the week they would have had every opportunity to seize (seas) the moment and reconnect not only with their peers in the industry but also with themselves and the goals they had set, both professionally and personally. It had been two years since the last full ASTI, and it proved to be a successful one. People were ready to see their friends again and learn something new! The sunshine allowed the attendees to thaw out for a few days and learn not only from the instructors and facilitators but from each other, too. Everyone's experiences the last two years have been vastly different. To hear the ingenuity, variety of ideas, plans and changes people have made to their businesses to survive the pandemic was inspiring and motivating. UASA would first like to thank all of the attendees for making the investment and coming to ASTI, the Sponsors who make this awesome convention possible, as well as all of the vendors who contributed to the success of the event. We couldn't have done it without all of you! Although we were excited to surpass 600 attendees, we heard from many who wanted to be at ASTI but were unable due to travel restrictions, illness, etc. We truly appreciate everyone and everything that contributed to the success of the 2022 ASTI. Over the years ASTI has grown into a full five-day event with the fun beginning Sunday morning and running through early afternoon on Thursday – with 140 training sessions including both Service/Business Management and Technical training. The management sessions' goals are to help owners and managers learn how to manage and grow their business successfully. The huge variety of technical classes offer great insights into appliance repair and customer satisfaction. Attendees can choose to go to any session they desire, and it is always interesting to watch the attendees from the same company discuss which sessions they'll attend and regroup afterward to share what they learned. Their goal is to be efficient and get the most out of the whole convention, which allows them to receive the greatest value for their time and investment. Technical Sessions included 16 of the major manufacturers. Business classes included Employee Management, How to Communicate Effectively, HR, Customer Service, How-To Avoid an IRS Audit, When and How to Fire an Employee, Technician Soft Skills, Leadership Classes, Warranty Tips & Tricks, Responding to Negative Reviews, How To Get The Most Of Every Call, Is the Price You are Charging What You Should Be Charging, The Difference Between Cashflow and Profit, Dynamics of Working with Family, Modernizing Communication and Marketing, Marketing, etc. as well as user meetings with multiple software companies, home warranty companies and other Home Services Companies/Networks. This year we had our first ever Sunset Pirate Cruise, which was very popular and lots of fun after a full day of learning. Thank you again, Encompass Supply Chain Solutions and National Service Alliance, for sponsoring the cruise. The keynote speaker this year was Bill Kinnard. Bill's presentation was inspiring and entertaining with his message of Ten Things All Successful Companies Have In Common. It was a great kick-off for the convention. The tradeshow ramped-up on Tuesday with cocktails and hors d'oeuvres and continued on Wednesday with breakfast, more conversing and most important, networking. We had several new vendors at ASTI this year. It never gets old watching vendors introduce and share their offerings with our membership. This is where you really see the goal of attending an ASTI convention: everyone learning from each other and exchanging ideas and solutions to improve. The annual banquet took place on Wednesday night when Sponsors and Partners were presented with awards of appreciation. The winners of the Most Professional Servicer competition were awarded in four categories as well. We want to thank PlusOne Solutions-Check My Badge and Miele for supporting the contest. This year's Lifetime Achievement Award was given posthumously to David Brightman. David had a tremendous career in the appliance service industry, most recently with 26-plus years at BSH Home Appliances Corp., and almost 10 years at Thermador before. David was always a great supporter of the industry, the United Appliance Servicers Association and ASTI. We hope ASTI2023 will be even bigger and better, and we look forward to a less tumultuous 2022. You can receive a discounted registration if you register now at www.asti.us using ROMag as a discount code. S E R V I C E D E P A R T M E N T SEAS THE MOMENT Sarah Brown, Executive Director of United Servicers Association. For more information, please visit www.unitedservicers.com. RO

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