NEWS, VIEWS, INTEREST & PEOPLE 45 The Auto Recycler Trade Show ® In Print 800-238-3934 Sandy’s tenure as Executive Director is effective immediately following unanimous approval from the ARA Board of Directors. A professional automotive recycler since 1993, Blalock joined the ARA Executive Committee in 2005 and previously served as President of ARA in 2007. She has served in a number of executive positions at the state level. ARA is pleased to announce that Sandy Blalock has been named the Asso- ciation’s new Execu- tive Director. Sandy has been serving as interim CEO for the past six weeks, work- ing closely with ARA leadership and staff dur- ing the transition. “Over the past several weeks, it has been our priority to find the individual best suited to lead ARA given the many chal- lenges facing the professional automotive recycling industry,” said ARA President David Gold. “During this period of transition, Sandy has proven herself to be a stable, uni- fying presence. She has moved quickly to implement efficiencies within ARA’s opera- tional structure and continues to be a tireless advocate for ARA members and all recyclers. The ARA Board of Directors is con- fident that we have chosen the right leader to protect and promote the future of ARA and member businesses. I am delighted that she has accepted the position of Executive Director. What she brings to the table in terms of experience in the industry as a yard owner, Past President of ARA, and state association executive is a combination that is truly one-of-a-kind.” “I am excited to take on this new oppor- tunity and continue to serve the industry that has already given me so much,” said Blalock. “I am committed to moving ARA for- ward in a collaborative, cohesive manner and to working with all stakeholders. I hope to see everyone at our 75th Annual Convention later this year! Sandy Blalock Hired as Executive Director of ARA The Automotive Recyclers Association (ARA) expressed disappointment today with the enactment of legislation in Rhode Island that has serious anti-competitive conse- quences for consumers, professional automo- tive recyclers, and independent collision repair professionals across the country. Senate Bill 2679 went into effect on July 4, 2018 and would require that automotive repairer facilities in the state comply with the recommendations of the original equipment manufacturer (OEM). ARA was on record expressing serious concerns with the legisla- tion as it sanctions automotive manufacturers' surreptitious campaign to restrict the reutilization of recycled OEM parts. ARA believes that manufacturers are using the imposition of repair standards to discourage the use of genuine OEM recycled parts and to secure a market that establishes manufactur- ers as the only source of parts and services for the repair of consumers’ vehicles. “Over the past ten years, automobile man- ufacturers have become more aggressive in their efforts to force recycled OEM parts out of the replacement parts market,” said ARA Interim CEO, Sandy Blalock. “Manufacturers have done this by releasing position state- ments, repair specifications and procedures prohibiting the reutilization of recycled OEM parts. The fact is that recycled OEM parts went through the same rigid testing as “new” parts to ensure they are integratable and func- tional with all vehicle systems. Prohibiting any repairer from using repair specifications or pro- cedures that differ from narrowly-defined OEM recommendations serves to limit the reutilization of alternative replacement part options and is a detriment to all.” ARA Statement on Passage of Rhode Island Legislation ARA Responds to General Motors Ban on Recycled Bumpers ARA’s Contact information: Phone: 571-208-0428 Fax: 571-208-0430 www.a-r-a.org ARA issued a press release on June 15 calling a recent position statement by Gen- eral Motors (GM), in which the automobile manufacturer bans the use of aftermarket, reconditioned, or salvage Bumpers/Fascias on vehicles equipped with advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS), a disservice to consumers. GM references the company’s commitment to safety and says that such parts might have “different material specifica- tions than what was designed, tested and vali- dated for use with ADAS.” “The fact is,” said ARA Interim CEO Sandy Blalock, “the genuine, original equip- ment manufacturer (OEM) recycled parts that ARA members sell are the very same parts manufactured by General Motors. They are genuine GM parts, designed by GM and built to meet their requirements for fit, finish, dura- bility, reliability and safety. For the company to effectively ban the reutilization of their own parts speaks not to a commitment to safety, but rather a commitment to forcing lower-cost alternative parts out of the market.” Following the GM action, Honda updated its position statement on June 21 regarding the repair of vehicles with ADAS to state that using anything other than an OEM part for windshield and grill repairs would put the vehicle at risk. These are just the latest examples of auto manufacturers’ taking aggressive steps to monopolize their market share. ARA con- tinues to dialogue with stakeholders in the fed- eral government and broader repair industry to build support for holding automakers accountable for their actions, and to promote the automotive recycling industry’s important role in a fair and competitive repair market.