• Industry veteran Mike Odell is now executive chairman of the Burns Auto Group, a Denver-based regional automotive service roll-up founded by Ben Burns. Odell has been a board member of The Pronto Network, president and CEO of The Parts House/XL Parts, and president and CEO of Pep Boys.
• Spencer Mason is now the COO of Velocity Auto Care, a Texas-based Valvoline Instant Oil Change franchisee. Mason had been the company’s vice president of operations. Prior to Velocity, he spent roughly a dozen years with Valvoline Inc. This included time as a market manager and area manager.
• Strickland Brothers 10 Minute Oil Change has opened three new Texas locations (shops in Midland, Odessa and Lubbock), giving the network more than 20 locations across the state and over 290 shops overall.
• Mike Tanner is the new executive director of the Car Care Council. Tanner has been the director of vehicle technology and innovation for the Auto Care Association. His career also has included time as vice president of software operations at CarMD and principal data scientist with Innova Electronics.
• Maine Gov. Janet Mills has appointed Ryan Kooiman, director of training at Standard Motor Products, to the state’s Motor Vehicle Right to Repair Commission as the representative for parts manufacturers.
• Delphi, a brand of PHINIA Inc., has enhanced its Garage 360 training platform with a refreshed landing page and five new videos. Garage 360 was designed to improve shop performance and strengthen customer interactions via videos that deliver installation tips, diagnostics and practical insights. The videos can be viewed at Delphi North America’s YouTube channel.
• Snap-on Inc. has expanded the digital assistance capabilities available through its customer care team at snap4help.com. New online resources include searching the knowledge base to find answers to frequently asked questions; chatting with AI for instant assistance, information and guidance; and connecting with a live customer care representative during staffed hours for personalized support.
• The Pro-Cut X15 rotor matching system and the X19 cordless rotor matching system have been added as brake service products to the Ford Pro Elite Commercial service facilities. These two on-car brake lathes join the Pro-Cut X1 heavy-duty lathe as essential repair solutions as Ford expands its commercial service network. Pro-Cut has had a partnership with Ford for over 30 years.
• Bridgestone Americas has announced a three-year partnership with the Sports Car Club of America (SCCA), becoming SCCA’s Official Tire as well as the sole tire supplier of the SCCA Club Spec program.