2014 Mort Schwartz Excellence in Education Award Presented to Bobby Bassett

BETHESDA, Md. – May 28, 2014 – The 2014 Mort Schwartz Excellence in Education Award was awarded to Bobby Bassett, manager of training, Gates Corporation, on May 21 at the Global Automotive Aftermarket Symposium (GAAS) in Chicago, Ill. The award was accepted by Dave Miller, Gates, on Bassett’s behalf.

Bassett was recognized for his great educational leadership, being at the forefront of tangible training and knowledge transfer during his career. Specifically, he was selected to receive the 2014 award in recognition of his most recent accomplishments:

• Introducing the “Gates Tools for Schools” program to provide support for automotive instructors, those who have a direct role in educating tomorrow’s technicians. The “Tools for Schools” program includes a website where educators can download presentations, tech tips, training videos, register for timely webinars and get access to free supplemental Gates materials. Today there are more than 1300 educators, representing about 48,000 students, who take advantage of these free resources.
• Introducing “Inside AAPEX for Automotive Instructors,” a program where automotive instructors are encouraged to attend AAPEX to meet with manufacturers, learn new technology and earn NATEF credits by attending the education sessions.
• Developing the Gates Performance e-Learning Center, which provides videos and other training lessons for Gates employees, customers, DIYers, technicians and students. Gates training resources are also available via several social media platforms. 
  Bassett was also recognized for being an overall educational “good citizen,” volunteering to share his passion for education and training by serving in a leadership role on a number of organization committees and boards, such as the Auto Care Association Education Committee, ASE Board of Governors, Automotive Training Managers Council, the North American Council of Automotive Teachers and SkillsUSA.

The Mort Schwartz Award is given annually to the person, company or educational institution that best advances the concepts and programs for education or continuing education in the North American auto care industry. It is administered by the Auto Care Association Education Committee, and was created to reward innovation of new auto care industry education programs, advancement of existing programs and/or superlative effort to further promote the educational programs or education fund raising efforts established by its namesake.