AGTO Welcomes Returning Judges

The Fourth Annual Auto Glass Technician Olympics (AGTO) is excited to welcome back
the judges of the 2007 AGTO to this year's event at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center in Las Vegas, November 7-8, 2008.

Bob Beranek, Steve Coyle, Gene Nichols and Jeff Olive will once again reside over the competition and award one winner a $10,000 cash prize along with the title of "World's Best Auto Glass Technician."

Bob Beranek has owned Automotive Glass Consultants since 1992. Beranek started his career as a technician and became one of the first certified auto glass technicians. He is the founder of autoglassuniversity.com as well as the Auto Glass Technical Institute
and numerous other training programs for organizations and auto glass shops nationwide.

Steve Coyle began his career in the auto glass replacement industry in 1976 as a technician with Auto Glass Specialists. From 1992 to 2006 Steve furthered his career as a technical supervisor and training manager with Performance Achievement Group. Currently, he is a service center manager for Auto Glass Specialists/Safelite and a columnist for AGRR magazine.

Gene Nichols joined Guardian Auto Glass in 1983, but his glass career began several years earlier in Indiana. Maintaining status as a top producing installer, he became a certified technician as soon as it was available. Living in Ohio for the past 20 years, Gene's support role for Guardian Automotive Products' Aftermarket Group includes development of safety and quality programs, technical education and management of a 270-vehicle fleet.

Jeff Olive serves as director of quality control for Glasspro Inc. in Summerville, S.C. and is a certified technician. He has certifications from Performance Achievement Group, Automotive Glass Consultants and Dow Automotive/Essex ARG. Jeff is no stranger to AGTO—he was the gold medalist from the first ever Auto Glass Technician Olympics in 2005.

These judges bring proven records of safety and integrity to the competition. Together they will help determine this year's "World's Best Auto Glass Technician."

AGTO is co-sponsored by AGRR magazine and the Independent Glass Association (IGA) and will be held alongside the Auto Glass Expo @ NACE. The competition takes place Friday and Saturday, November 7-8.

CLICK HERE for complete details, including registration and contestant information. (Don't forget - registration closes September 8.)

CLICK HERE to register for the event.

CLICK HERE to contact the event director by e-mail or call 540/720-5584.

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