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Automotive Enthusiast/Consumer News Show
with Steve Ford



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This Week's Show:
Motorist Assurance Program: "Building Consumer Trust in Auto Repair" with Larry Hecker
Date: 09/22/98
Time: 08:00pm est


Show Topic:
As the world of auto service and repair becomes more intimidating to consumers with the vast complexity of new cars, this segment moves the spotlight over to a relatively new organization created to build trust in car care: "Motorist Assurance Program." The featured guest for this show is Larry Hecker, president of the Motorist Assurance Program (MAP), who joins Steve Ford, The Car Guy, to review today's world of consumerism and how many of the nation's leading auto service providers are working to improve both the image and the quality of auto repair. The show includes discussion of what consumers can look for in finding good auto repair, as well as the new programs that MAP is spearheading, such as "Uniform Inspection Guidelines" to help add consistency to auto service estimates and procedures; new dialogues between regulatory groups and consumer groups, including the Better Business Bureau; and introduction of a new program of "MAP accredited shops" that will display the increasingly recognizable "MAP" sign to give motorists extra "assurance" of quality auto repairs.
MAP

Join us each week for an informative program that features:

  • Consumer topics:
    • Automotive Service and Maintenance
    • New Automotive Events and Destinations
    • Questions from listeners
  • Guests:
    • Automotive Celebrities and Auto Industry Personalities
    • High-Performance and Repair Experts
    • Public Institutions such as Highway Patrol and AAA
  • Trivia Contests:
    • E-Mail Participation in Automotive Trivia


CAREER BACKGROUND

Steve Ford, THE CAR GUY, holds one of the strongest combinations of in-depth national marketing knowledge, hands-on automotive service experience, and consumer reporting abilities in the mass media. His blend of being an accomplished automotive service technician and award-winning journalist gives him keen insights into the needs of contemporary motorists.

With a career commitment to utilizing his multi-media skills and automotive credentials to assist the public, Ford has achieved journalism successes across a broad spectrum of media. In addition to being a four-time winner of the prestigious International Automotive Media Conference (IAMC) "Moto" award for automotive reporting in radio, television, syndicated newspapers and trade/technical columns for the professional auto-service industry, he has also earned the IAMC "Silver Medallion" for Internet Digital Audio/Cybercast reporting on the World Wide Web and a Detroit Press Foundation "Wheels" Award for outstanding automotive journalism in broadcast news. In addition to IAMC journalism awards, Ford's automotive press materials and media campaigns have earned the International Association of Business Communicators 1st-place "Ace" award, Publicity Club of Los Angeles 1st-place "Pro" award, and Public Relations Society of America 1st-place "Protos" award.

Education & Experience

As an automotive industry professional, Ford has developed insights and depth from more than 20 years in the field. While a youngster, his zest for automobiles was so great that his high-school auto-shop teacher called him a "car-a-holic," and encouraged him to supplement his high-school shop training with night courses in advanced automotive service at an occupational center. Ford completed the occupational program, along with more than 10 semesters (550 hours) of high-school shop class, and earned his California Bureau of Automotive Repair Tune Up and Emission Control License prior to receiving his high-school diploma. Upon graduation from high school, Ford earned an award from the Pacific Automotive Show as one of the "Top Ten Automotive Technical Students in the Western United States."

Throughout his subsequent years as a dealership and independent repair shop auto technician, Ford attended college at night. His enjoyment of marketing studies and interest in sales promotion led him to work as automotive manufacturers' representative. This experience, combined later with college experience, enabled Ford to work as a key automotive account product specialist at the leading national advertising agency, Saatchi & Saatchi/DFS. After serving several years in a national advertising agency while continuing college at night, Ford left full-time work to dedicate his final year-and-a-half of college on a full-time basis.

After earning a bachelor's degree in marketing communications, Ford entered the broadcast media. At Los Angeles radio station 93 KHJ, he reported daily automotive consumer features as THE CAR GUY. Ford also continued automotive advertising and public relations agency work, which has provided him with national marketing experience helping achieve campaign and sales successes for auto manufacturers/ distributors, specialty tool, global auto supplier, industry association and service businesses.

Ford is a member of the International Motor Press Association, Motor Press Guild, Automotive Press Association, International Automotive Technicians' Network and Service Technicians Society, and holds advanced-level professional technician certification by the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) in Engine Performance (L1 - Engine Computer Controls & Emission Systems).

Awards Won By Steve Ford, THE CAR GUY

· International Wheel Awards - 1998:
	Detroit Press Foundation
	3rd Place:  All Broadcast Media - Best News Programming
		
· International Automotive Media Conference - 1997:
	"Moto" 1st Place   -  TV News - Topical Short Features
	"Moto" 1st Place   -  Newspaper: Regular Column/Syndicated
	"Moto" 1st Place   -  Newsletter: Technical/Trade Column
	Silver Medallion   -  Internet/World Wide Web: Digital Audio Program

· International Automotive Media Conference - 1996:
	"Moto" 1st Place   -  Radio/News Programming: Short Features
	Silver Medallion   -  Radio/Live Weekly Show: Feature Programming
	Silver Medallion   -  Newspaper: Regular Column/Syndicated
	Silver Medallion   -  TV News - Topical Short Features
	Bronze Medallion   -  Newspaper: Features/Syndicated

· Publicity Club of Los Angeles - 1994:
	Annual "Pro" Award - 1st Place/Overall, Media Campaign

· International Association of Business Communicators - 1993:
	Annual "Ace" Award - 1st Place/Overall, Press Materials 

· Public Relations Society of America - 1992:
	Annual "Protos" Award - 1st Place/Overall, Press Materials

For more information on The Car Guy® visit www.thecarguy.com

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