Nov. 23, 2015—The Alliance of Automotive Service Providers of New Jersey (AASP/NJ) inducted two industry veterans into its hall of fame during a ceremony at the organization’s 2015 Annual Meeting, held this year at the Gran Centurions in Clark.
Pete Cook of P&N Auto Works (East Orange, N.J.) and Citro’s Auto Body (Pompton Lakes, and Dan Hawtin of Auto Body Craftsman in Island Heights were the two inductees.
Cook has been a member of the association since the 1980s, and soon after joining, he found a seat for himself on its board of directors. Over the years, Cook has served as a director, secretary and treasurer, and was an instrumental part of organizing the NORTHEAST Automotive Services Show for over 20 years.
“I was shocked when I heard my name called,” Cook said. “I’ve been a member of the association for a long time. It’s a great group of guys and I’m so lucky to call them my peers and my friends. I’m honored to join some of the great people who are also a part of the Hall of Fame.”
Hawtin has been a significant force in the early days of the AASP/NJ merger (in particular, Chapter One), he was an obvious choice for this nomination to Executive Director Charles Bryant, who called Hawtin “a fighter.”
“I was absolutely, totally surprised; I was floored,” Hawtin said. “A lot guys work a whole lot harder, but they were gracious and it was gratifying that they think that of me.”
To find out more about AASP/NJ, visit aaspnj.org.