Ryan Friedlinghaus to Headline AASP/NJ’s NORTHEAST® 2015

With less than three months left before the Alliance of Automotive Service Providers of New Jersey (AASP/NJ)’s flagship event, the NORTHEAST 2015 Automotive Services Show, the industry is abuzz with excitement. The association is pleased to announce that Platinum Sponsor BASF will be bringing Ryan Friedlinghaus, CEO of West Coast Customs, Inc., as a celebrity guest to the show.

BASF is a repeat sponsor of NORTHEAST, the largest regional event of its kind in the country.

“We’ve had a long history with the show and have been involved with it since the very beginning,” says BASF Marketing Services Manager Tina Nelles. “It gives us the opportunity to interact with our customers, listen for their feedback and find new ways to meet the important needs of today’s collision repair facilities.”

“The celebrity guests are always very popular,” says AASP/NJ President Jeff McDowell. “They’re a huge draw for a lot of attendees. We’re very excited to welcome Ryan to our show; he understands what it’s like to be part of this industry and people can’t wait to meet him.”

Friedlinghaus founded West Coast Customs in 1993 on just hard work and a $5,000 loan from his grandfather. He grew the business from a one-stall location to a global leader. Ryan is well known in the industry for his unique creativity, exceptional work and attention to detail. In the past, his talents have been featured on networks such as MTV, TLC, Discovery HD and Velocity. His current show, West Coast Customs, airs Sunday nights at 10pm EST on Fox Sports 2.

“I’m excited to be a part of the NORTHEAST show on behalf of BASF and the R-M® brand,” says Friedlinghaus. “I understand the daily struggles of owning, running and growing an automotive business. For me, this show is unique, in that I get to meet with repair professionals that share my same passion and hear their stories.”

Friedlinghaus will appear at the show on Saturday, March 21. At the event, he will be promoting BASF’s R-M brand paint, the official paint of West Coast Customs.

“The BASF booth at NORTHEAST is where the excitement takes place,” adds Nelles. “In addition to Ryan, we will be highlighting our R-M brand and we will have staff to highlight how BASF tools and services can make shops more profitable and efficient.”

The 2015 NORTHEAST Services Show will be held March 20-22 at the Meadowlands Exposition Center in Secaucus, New Jersey. Registration is currently open at www.aaspnjnortheast.com. For more information, visit the website, the NORTHEAST Automotive Services Show on Facebook, The NORTHEAST Automotive Services Show on YouTube page (www.youtube.com/AASPNJNORTHEAST or follow the show on Twitter @AASPNJNORTHEAST.