Professional Development Program for Collision Repair Professionals

Family-owned and operated for more than 40 years, Steve’s Imports provides comprehensive vehicle repair services with a focus on exceeding expectations for customer service. Steve’s Imports employs a skilled team of body and refinishing technicians certified by I-CAR. I-CAR offers an array of educational programs that include the Professional Development Program (PDP) for Collision Repair Professionals. 

The PDP for Collision Repair Professionals provides collision repair businesses and technicians with a competitive edge by equipping them with the necessary training to assume key collision repair roles. Designed specifically to meet the demand for technicians with an updated knowledge of collision repair, the program follows industry standard for role-relevant training and contributes to safe and quality repairs. In addition, leading authorities in the collision repair industry assisted with the development of the program to ensure it meets the industry’s current and future needs. 

Technicians who participate in the program may follow several distinct training paths that prepare them to perform their roles successfully. All training pathways provide technicians with up-to-date knowledge on the specifics of their chosen roles and enable them to advance their skills. Furthermore, pathways include the four roles required to earn Gold Class recognition and two specialty roles. Role pathways include estimator, non-structural technician, steel-structural technician, and refinish technician. The specialty roles are production management, aluminum structural technician, and electrical/mechanical technician.

The Automotive Service Excellence Certification Process

Portland, Oregon-based Steve’s Imports is a family-owned car service center that offers quality repair and maintenance services to the owners of European and Asian automobiles. All service technicians employed by Steve’s Imports earn certification with the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE).

The ASE has pursued the promotion of excellence in the automotive services, parts distribution, and repair sectors since 1972. The goal of the organization is to provide a means of technical-knowledge verification so that shop owners and the people they provide services to can trust that a customer’s vehicle is in good hands when an ASE-certified professional works on it.

A professional technician can earn ASE certification if he or she meets set professional experience minimums and is able to pass the organization’s certification test. ASE certification is only available to those professionals who have earned at least two years of training on the job, or who have received a two-year automotive repair degree and have at least one year of work experience. Once this prerequisite is met, a technician must pass a sub-specialty test (written by a group of experienced ASE members) in order to receive his or her certification. Tests must be retaken once every five years in order for professionals to remain among the 300,000 current ASE-certified members. Several levels of of tests are available, in order to reach Master Technician Status, Tests A1 - A8 must be completed. Steve's Imports proudly posts their Master Status Certificates.

RepairPal Provides Fair Pricing Estimates for Auto Repairs

Family owned and operated, Steve's Imports is an import automotive repair facility serving customers across the Portland, Oregon, metro area. As a RepairPal-certified business, Steve's Imports is committed to offering outstanding car repair or service experiences. 

Launched in 2007, RepairPal is dedicated to educating the public in regards to repair pricing. All certified auto repair shops are required to meet the RepairPal’s fair price estimates. Businesses that apply for certification are evaluated using the following criteria:

1. Technical assessment. This review looks at the experience and training of technicians and service staff, as well as the quality of the parts used and the technical level of the tools and equipment

2. Guaranteed work. To become certified, the business must offer a warranty equal to or greater than 12-month/12,000-miles on all automotive services.

3. Customer survey. To ensure a high level of customer satisfaction, verified customers are asked to rate their experience at the business. The survey is administered and the results are compiled by a third party, using a customer list generated from the company’s database.

4. Fair pricing and accurate quoting. To ensure that pricing is in line with industry standards for that area.

Steve's Imports - a Committed Advocate for Portland's Homeless

Family owned and operated, Steve's Imports has served the automotive needs of Portland, Oregon, customers for more than three decades. The firm repairs a full range of quality German and British makes including Mercedes, BMW, Jaguar, and Volkswagen. Steve's Imports maintains a strong community presence and was featured in a recent Autobody News article for its homeless advocacy efforts.

Steve Spinnett, the company's head, has a background in local politics and previously served as mayor of Damascus, Oregon. When people who were homeless began living nearby, he sought to understand what had brought them to this particular juncture in their lives. He also sought out practical ways of helping them, such as by letting them charge their electrical devices and access water through an outside spigot.

Steve Spinnett also learned how to differentiate people who were legitimately homeless, those who had experienced trauma or a run of bad luck and could not get out of their situation, from criminal elements who used homelessness as a pretext for dealing drugs. He assisted one woman who was an addict and near death in receiving drug treatment through his local church and by connecting with a compassionate family. The result was that she regained her health and renewed a relationship with her long-estranged father.

Mr. Spinnett characterizes his current mission as one of engaging with other area business owners in emphasizing the importance of compassion, rather than simply viewing homeless people as a problem.

Foreign Automotive Restoration with Portland's Steve's Imports

Steve's Imports is an automotive service and repair shop based in Portland, Oregon. Working on a number of foreign car models, including but not limited to European cars, Steve's Imports provides clients with an array of services, including mechanical repairs and complete automobile restorations.

This business has more than four decades of experience in areas of automotive repair and restoration. Specializing in European and Asian cars, the company is particularly adept when it comes to repairing Porsche models 356, 912, 911, 914, and 944, as well as all vintage Volkswagen models. Restoration services, of course, are not limited to these cars, as the experienced restoration staff has successfully restored countless Mercedes, BMWs, and Volvos, as well as numerous domestic makes such as Ford Mustangs, Chevy Camaro's and GTO's, to name just a few of the automakers.

The restoration staff at Steve's Imports appreciates the personal value cars often hold for their owners, particularly old or rare models. Restoration services are carried out not only with the utmost attention to quality and detail, but with a clear dedication to customer care and an enjoyable customer-service experience. Steve's Imports truly "Understands What Moves You". To learn more, visit the shop online at www.stevesimports.com or call 503 771 6701.