Noemi Gutierrez Promoted to Regional Sales Manager for Covercraft
 Noemi Gutierrez | |
Noemi Gutierrez has been named Southeast regional sales manager for Covercraft. Gutierrez, who previously worked for 18 years in the company’s customer service department, will oversee product sales in Oklahoma, Arkansas, Texas and Louisiana, the South Central territory, including Kentucky and Virginia, and Southern states East of the Mississippi River, including Mississippi, Tennessee, North Carolina, South Carolina, Alabama, Georgia and Florida. She will continue to work from the company’s headquarters in Pauls Valley, Oklahoma.
Red Kap Names Mike Ness Brand Ambassador
 Social Distortion front man Mike Ness. | |
Red Kap has chosen Billboard-charting recording artist and Social Distortion front man Mike Ness as a brand ambassador. Red Kap will feature Ness in upcoming advertising and marketing programs in addition to future product collaboration.
Social Distortion’s storied history includes seven studio albums, countless sold-out world tours and an unrelenting determination to create something genuine and authentic.
“Ness’ prolific career has spanned decades, establishing him as an American punk-rock legend,” said Chris Holcombe, vice president and general manager of distributor brands, Red Kap. “His passion for car culture, clothing and all things vintage Americana make him an ideal fit for the Red Kap brand and where we are headed.”
James K. Truxal Named Mitchell 1 2014 Educator of the Year
 James K. Truxal | |
James K. Truxal of New Carlisle, Ohio, was named the Mitchell 1 2014 Educator of the Year during the North American Council of Automotive Teachers (NACAT) conference held recently in Greenville, South Carolina. Each year, Mitchell 1 recognizes one of the nation’s top teachers for excellence in automotive repair instruction. Truxal will receive a one-year complimentary subscription to Mitchell 1’s ProDemand diagnostic, estimating and repair information software for the school where he teaches. He was also presented with a check for $500 and a recognition certificate.
Truxal has been an associate professor of automotive technology at Sinclair Community College in Dayton, Ohio, since 1994. In addition to maintaining his ASE Master and Advanced Level Specialist certifications, he participates in ongoing training to maintain his GM and Honda certifications, allowing him to teach in the GM Automotive Service Educational Program (ASEP) and the Honda Professional Automotive Career Training (PACT) programs. He is currently the coordinator for the Honda PACT program at the school.
Selection criteria for the Mitchell 1 Educator of the Year award requires that a master automotive technician excel on all ASE automotive tests, including A1–A8 (Engine Repair, Automatic Transmission/Transaxle, Manual Drive Train and Axles, Suspension and Steering, Brakes, Electrical/Electronic Systems, Heating and Air Conditioning, Engine Performance) and the L1 (Advanced Engine Performance Exam).
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