The annual Celebration of Excellence will be a featured part of the Automotive Service Association’s (ASA) 2009 Annual Convention, celebrating members of the automotive aftermarket.

The convention is April 30-May 2 at the Caribe Royale All-Suites Hotel and Convention Center in Orlando, Fla. The Celebration of Excellence is a special evening function dedicated to honoring the achievements of ASA members and will take place May 2, from 6:45 p.m. to 9 p.m.

“The independent service and repair industry has enjoyed a rich tradition of inspired volunteer leadership,” says Ron Pyle, ASA president and chief staff executive. “It is truly gratifying to recognize the contributions these individuals have made to advance the professionalism of their chosen pursuit.”

Award presentations will include division awards, communicator of the year, legislative, affiliate of the year, largest affiliate delegation, benefit provider and Automotive Management Institute (AMI) recognition, and the Chairman’s Award of Excellence.

In addition to dinner and the awards presentation, the program will include AMI’s graduation ceremony, which recognizes those who have earned AMI’s Accredited Automotive Manager (AAM) designation. The swearing-in ceremony of ASA’s new board of directors will conclude the event and an AMI dessert reception will follow.

The Celebration of Excellence is included in the annual convention registration, complete with dinner and the dessert reception. Anyone not registered for the annual convention can purchase tickets for $85 per person before the early-bird deadline of March 31. Attire for the evening is semiformal, black tie optional.

Online registration for the Celebration of Excellence and the ASA Annual Convention, including registration for housing accommodations, is available at www.ASAshop.org/Annual09. Members who register for the annual convention before the early-bird deadline of March 31 will receive savings.