Bedford, Texas, Nov. 17, 2004 - The Automotive Management Institute (AMI) is the first beneficiary of the recently announced Collision Industry Advancement Initiative (CIAI) sponsored by Akzo Nobel's Car Refinishes North America. CIAI was established to aid in the growth, advancement and perception of the collision industry in North America by providing financial assistance to organizations and individuals possessing specific needs and/or goals they are unable to meet on their own.

As a beneficiary to the program, AMI received a $50,000 contribution to continue its efforts to create and distribute educational and personal development programs for individuals pursuing career advancement in the automotive industry. The contribution was made to AMI during the Automotive Service Association (ASA) "Celebration of Excellence," held Nov. 5, in Las Vegas.

"If our industry is to meet the challenges of the future, owners, managers and technicians will need to acquire and develop an array of business and management skills while continuing to stay abreast of technological developments," said AMI Executive Director, Toni Slaton. "AMI is committed to providing educational programs to ensure the future success of automotive service professionals, and we are very appreciative and honored to be the first recipient of the CIAI grant."

"Our two organizations want the same thing - to advance the knowledge and the image of our industry," said John Francis, AMI Board of Trustees Chairman. Akzo Nobel's commitment to the automotive service professional is well-demonstrated by this generous grant."

Jim Rees, general manager for Akzo Nobel Coatings car refinishes division in North America, commented on AMI's receipt of the CIAI grant. "Businesses throughout the world daily scrutinize investment choices. The choices are often difficult and frequently the options are greater than the resources," said Rees. "Akzo Nobel has chosen as part of our investment decision criteria to allocate funds toward industry stewardship, giving something back so others may grow."

AMI was established to answer the demand for continuing education tailored specifically for the business needs of the automotive service industry. The Institute offers the Accredited Automotive Manager (AAM) designation, the first business management accreditation exclusively for the automotive service professional. To date, AMI programs have attracted more than 125,000 enrollments throughout North America. AMI is a not-for-profit educational foundation to which tax-deductible contributions can be made. For more information about the Institute, its curriculum, or EXCEL, please contact AMI at (800) 272-7467, ext. 233, or visit the AMI Web site at www.amionline.org.