BEDFORD, TEXAS, May 2, 2006 - The Automotive Management Institute (AMI) announces the members of its 2006-2007 Board of Trustees, with John Francis Jr., AAM, Francis Automotive Service, West Chester, Pa., re-elected as chairman; George Witt, AAM, George Witt Service, Inc., Lincoln, Neb., re-elected as vice-chair; Bob Pearson, AAM, Pearson Auto Body, Shakopee, Minn., re-elected as Treasurer and Bill Sauer, founder, Identifix, Roseville, Minn., re-elected as secretary.

Other board members include Freda Thompson, Ace Auto Body, Inc., Hartselle, Ala.; Ron Pyle, president, Automotive Service Association, Bedford, Texas; and Ron Ray, executive director, I-CAR Education Foundation, Hoffman Estates, Ill.

AMI Executive Director Toni Slaton stated, "I'm pleased to be working with this dedicated group. Each Trustee is committed to fulfilling their responsibility as board members and expanding the Institute's benefits to the entire automotive service and collision repair industry."

The seven members of AMI's Board of Trustees represent both mechanical and collision repair shops of varying sizes and industry associations and companies. Members of the 2006-2007 Board of Trustees were announced during the Automotive Service Association (ASA) annual business meeting, held April 26-29, in Austin, Texas.

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.