BEDFORD, TEXAS, Jan.16, 2006 - The Automotive Management Institute (AMI) announced that Ron Ray, executive director, I-CAR Education Foundation, will serve on the AMI Board of Trustees.

Ray participates on advisory boards for the collision and repair training programs for several career and technical schools and colleges. He is a member of the Automotive Industry Planning Council (AIPC), the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE), the Association for Career and Technical Education (ACTE) and the American Society of Association Executives (ASAE). Ray has maintained his ASE certification as a master automotive technician since 1976.

Ray said he was honored to be joining the AMI Board. "I feel AMI serves a very important role in providing management education to the automotive service industry. I look forward to working with this dedicated group."

AMI Board of Trustees Chairman John Francis stated, "I'm pleased to welcome Ron to the board. With his more than 32 years of industry experience, Ron is ideally suited to serve and I'm confident he will bring a wealth of knowledge and expertise to the group." AMI Executive Director Toni Slaton added, "Ron recognizes the industry's need for continuing education and will be a valuable resource to AMI's continued growth and success."

The seven members of AMI's Board of Trustees represent both mechanical and collision repair shops of varying sizes and industry representatives. The board works on behalf of AMI to provide and promote business management education tailored to automotive service industry.

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 132,000 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. 241, or visit the AMI Web site at www.amionline.org.