CalABC is focused on building a better future for the industry through education by supporting career technical education and the certification of training institutes
Pleasanton, Calif.—The California Automotive Business Coalition (CalABC) has announced changes within the organization at its recent board of directors meeting involving the election of officers and board of director assignments.
CalABC is alliance of members from various corners of the automotive service industry that works with other stakeholders including those representing consumers, vendors and government agencies in an effort to improve the industry and the customers it serves. It focused on building a better future through education by supporting career technical education and the certification of training institutes.
PRESIDENT
CalABC has elected Tess Dubois-Carey as the new president for CalABC which takes effect July 1, 2023, through June 30, 2026. Carey has served on the CalABC Board of Directors since 2017, and Universal Technical Institute (UTI) was one of the original supporters of CalABC since the organization began in 1992. She will be the second female president for CalABC and serve a three-year term. Carey’s role is key for CalABC as Education is one of its four key pillars, which includes Regulations, Legislation, Education, Environmental & Safety.
Carey has been in leadership roles for the past 29 years and began her career in the automotive industry with UTI in 2009. She has held the role of Campus President at UTI since 2015 and manages a variety of campus teams to reach assigned benchmarks for student outcomes, ongoing financials, community outreach, industry relationship and regulatory compliance.
Carey currently serves on the Advisory Committee for BPPE (Bureau for Post Private and Post- Secondary Education). In addition, she has been newly appointed to the BAR Advisory Group and the BAR Educational Advisory Committee. Carey has also served as board president/board member from 2018-2023 for JIBE, a local non-profit organization with the mission to foster transportation behaviors that enhance place-making in the community through advocacy, programs, education, and services.
She was also a board member of NEXTED in 2015-2016, another non-profit organization that worked to develop partnerships among business, labor, education, community, and government to advance regional economic objectives and enhance the academic performance and career readiness of students.
VICE PRESIDENT
CalABC has elected Nelson Diaz as the new vice president for CalABC, which takes effect July 1, 2023, through June 30, 2026. Diaz has served on the CalABC for a few years and is currently the Regional Sales Manager, Midas International. Midas was another one of the original companies that supported CalABC when it began.
Diaz supports 26 Midas Franchise locations and owners, consulting with them and building relationships with owners to drive operational excellence in all its locations.
Prior to Midas, Diaz worked for Bridgestone Retail Operations as the Area Manager, Firestone Complete Auto Care. He’s held the positions District Manager/Assistant District Manager for|15 years, Operations Manager, and a General Manager/Managing Partner for 7 years. Diaz served as the company’s spokesperson on several advisory boards including UTI in Arizona, participating in industry panels, providing interviews, and executing sales initiatives. Diaz is familiar with CalABC because Bridgestone Retail Operations is a founding member and Diaz sat in many meetings with Johan Gallo over the years.
TREASURER
CalABC has re-elected Nikki Ayers as the returning treasurer for CalABC which takes effect July 1, 2023, through June 30, 2025. Ayers is a longstanding member of CalABC having served on the Board of Directors, Past President, Secretary and now returning Treasurer.
Ayers and her husband, Robert, were shop owners for 38 years. They owned automotive repair shops in Santa Barbara. Robert was a Jaguar tech when they decided to go into business for themselves. They have formed a new company that works on accident and automotive repair reconstruction cases with their clients.
SECRETARY
CalABC has elected Jerry Froehlich as the new secretary for CalABC which takes effect July 1, 2023. Froelich first began working with CalABC when he was with the BAR. Froehlich has been on the CalABC Board of Directors since 2015 and has worked on many committees with CalABC.
He joined after leaving Automotive Advisory Services where he worked with Jonathan Morrison and Johan Gallo to develop the AAS Dealership Service and Compliance Program.
Froehlich is the owner of JBS which provides advisement for Auto Repair and BAR issues relating to Service Drives and Auto Body Compliance.
His business also provides training for service drive staff and managers. In 2015, Froehlich started providing compliance advisement with Auto Advisory Service (ASS). ASS, which was sold to KPA in 2018, was a compliance consulting company providing California and federal legal expertise to facilities on automotive issues ranging from service drives, sales, finance, advertising, and franchise laws.
He was instrumental in the development of AAS’s Service Drive Compliance Audit program including Auto Body. Froehlich went on to manage that program for AAS with their team of auditors until it was sold. While with AAS, he conducted Service Drive Compliance Seminars including 18 compliance seminars through the state for the California New Car Dealer Association.
Prior to owning his business, Froehlich was with the State of California Bureau of Automotive Repair (BAR) for 27 years. He managed three different BAR Field Offices and two Undercover Documentation Labs. He was involved in BAR investigations throughout the state and worked with the attorney general and district attorney in the prosecution of investigative cases.
Froehlich was also instrumental in the development of the BAR’s Auto Body and Air Conditioning Regulations. Additionally, he provided investigative training and was involved with several developmental processes for the BAR. During his time with the BAR, he attended training and gained I-CAR certification.
Prior to joining the BAR, Froehlich was in the automotive industry for 18 years. He worked in the industry as a technician, smog technician, service writer, dispatcher, shop foreman and oversaw a used car sales department and was in charge pre-delivery inspections and warranties.
He received an AAS Degree from Cincinnati Technical Institute with an emphasis on Automotive Service Management. Through the years, Froehlich has attended various universities and colleges for continuing management and legal emphasis.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Ryan Flanigan was recently appointed to the CalABC Board of Directors representing several clients of the Flanigan Firm. Flanigan will serve a two-year term on the board of directors, and he begins his term July 1, 2023, through June 30, 2025.
Flanigan is the managing partner of The Flanigan Firm, a full-service lobbying and government affairs firm in Sacramento. He is a registered lobbyist who represents business clients before the legislative and executive branches of California state government. He has been with the firm almost two decades, and prior to that, worked as a senior staff member in the California legislature, both as the legislative director and press secretary for a state assembly member and as a senior advisor for two successive legislative leaders.
As a professional advocate and lobbyist representing the business sector, Flanigan is considered an expert on the state legislative process and a respected subject-matter expert on a variety of sophisticated business issues. He is a graduate of the University of California, Davis, and holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science
Brian Kupferman was recently appointed to the CalABC Board of Directors representing Big O Tire Northern CA Franchise Group. Kupferman will serve a two-year term on the board of directors, and he begins his term July 1, 2023, through June 30, 2025.
Kupferman is an independent owner of Big O Tires in Pleasant Hill. He has over 30 years of experience in the automotive repair industry, and notes he has a passion and love of cars. As a young man, Kupferman worked as a “Petroleum Transportation Engineer” while earning his degree in Automotive Technology from Skyline Community College.
After turning wrenches and gaining valuable experience from other independent service centers, he was recruited to work for Bridgestone Retail Operations in February of 2003. Kupferman managed several of its locations and served on the San Francisco District Staff as an Assistant District Manager until he purchased his Big O Tire Franchise location in 2015.
Kupferman often mentors those interested in growing their mechanical talents.
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
CalABC has appointed Bud Rice as the new executive director for CalABC, which takes affect Dec. 31, 2023. Rice has been a long-time member of CalABC, serving on the board of directors, secretary and served three terms as president of CalABC. Rice will replace Johan Gallo, the current executive director, founding member and past president for four terms. Gallo will remain as Historian and Consultant to CalABC.
Rice had a long career in serving motorists and services centers in various capacities. He began his career while in school, working for an independent Shell Station as a station attendant attending the well-known De Anza Automotive Technology Program attached to the engineering department at De Anza College, Cupertino. During that time, he became an officer in the AutoTech Club coordinating student needs and community service activities.
Rice became a service center manager at a Tune-Up Shop in 1976 in one of their first shops in Cupertino. He rose through the ranks managing larger units and eventually supervising five separate service centers. He became a franchisee with a partner who owned five of the Tune-Up Shop’s Franchises.
After several years, he took a position with the Tune-Up Shop’s corporate office to shape the company operated units and franchise network. The Tune-Up Shops went through a corporate change and Rice ended up with one of the founders and helped managed one side of the organization as vice president. When the founder/president of the operation wanted to retire, Rice purchased his half of the company and became president of Side B Corporation for the Tune-Up Shops.
In addition, he was appointed by Governor Schwarzenegger in 2008 to the Inspection, Maintenance and Review Committee.
During his career, he has been focused on working with consumers, repair shops and state agencies to make a difference in enhancing the industry.
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