Friday, 19 October 2018 21:04 Featured in AUTOBODYNEWS Dave Luehr of Elite Body Shop Solutions On Wednesday, Oct. 10, the Women’s Industry Network(WIN®) hosted a webinar featuring Dave Luehr of Elite Body Shop Solutions, who presented “Developing a WINner’s Mindset (Pun Intended!).” “Right now is the greatest time to be in the collision repair business, but only for those with the right mindset,” he said. “But, what IS the right mindset? “When I think of the word ‘limitless,’ I’m immediately inspired by the beauty of human potential. It makes me think of a childlike quality that dares to dream big and live life to the fullest. No one said this business was going to…

Wednesday, 26 September 2018 18:17 Featured in AUTOBODYNEWS As the technician shortage continues to plague the collision repair industry, the topic of attracting new blood to shops has become common at events and in facilities across the country. However, once someone new is sold on collision repair, the next concern is ensuring they receive the proper training to successfully begin a career in the industry. The Collision Career Institute (CCI) has developed a means of addressing this dilemma. According to Chief Operations Officer Amber Ritter, “CCI is an apprenticeship program that consists of 3,000 on-the-job training hours plus 250 related supplemental knowledge hours. Our role is to help recruit, manage and…

Thursday, 13 September 2018 16:53 Featured in AUTOBODYNEWS Mike Cassata of Hammer Insights delivered an eye-opening presentation on DRPs during North Carolina Association of Collision and Autobody Repair’s Third Quarter Meeting in Fayetteville, NC, on August 16. According to NCACAR President Brian Davies, “Our keynote speaker was Mike Cassata, whose main focus was ‘How to Create a World Class Culture to Communicate and Respond to our Clients from an Insurer’s Point of View.’ Mike also spoke on the science behind NPS (Net Promoter Scores) and how it relates to our business. Finally, he spoke about the three C’s: Clear–Complete–Concise. He shared his thoughts on how critical file documentation is to the insurer…

Friday, 13 July 2018 20:05 Featured in AUTOBODYNEWS “I’ve often heard technicians say women don’t belong in a shop—what does that mean? Just do your job, and she’ll do hers!” stated Kim Barks, who co-ownsComplete Car and RV Repair in St. Charles, MO, with her father, Bob. In May, Barks hosted her first Wheels, Women and Wine Car Care Clinic at the shop in an effort to educate and empower women in their community when dealing with their vehicles. The class attracted 35 ladies, some of whom brought their daughters, inspiring Barks to teach both the current and future generations. She put a car on a lift to show the group how it works,…

Thursday, 05 July 2018 22:11 Featured in AUTOBODYNEWS On June 20, the Automotive Service Association (ASA) hosted a webinar called “The Road to Great Technicians” with Chris Chesney, senior director of customer training for the CARQUEST Technical Institute. Attendees qualified for one credit from the Automotive Management Institute. After ASA Vice President Tony Molla introduced the webinar’s presenter, Chesney recounted his collaboration with the National Automotive Service Task Force (NASTF) to identify the Road to Great Technicians. They began in March 2016 when NASTF’s Spring General Meeting focused on the topic of building a road to great technicians. Chesney was asked to explain the current state of the aftermarket training industry.…

Wednesday, 13 June 2018 22:07 Featured in AUTOBODYNEWS On May 29, AASP/MA announced its recent decision to have Evangelos “Lucky” Papageorg take over the role of executive director for the association.  With previous experience as the executive director for the Massachusetts Auto Body Association and more recently running his own consulting business for the industry, Papageorg is excited to return to the role of executive director for a Massachusetts collision repair association. Papageorg shared, “I am especially pleased to be assisting the Board members as they strive to make AASP/MA the premiere collision repair association in Massachusetts. Together, we will work hard to advance the industry and benefit and assist its members as they work toward safe,…

Thursday, 10 May 2018 20:20 Featured in AUTOBODYNEWS NOTE: This June SPS profile was originally published in print in June 2018 and online in May 2018. Ultimate Collision in Edison, NJ, opened its doors for business in 1988. Ultimate Collision Location: Edison, NJ (732) 494-1900 www.ultimatecollisioninc.com Company At A Glance… Type: Collision Repair Facility Employees: 28 In Business Since: 1988 DRP Programs: Six Number of Locations: One Combined Production Space: 10,000 square feet “I grew up in this industry, and there’s nothing I can’t do,” said shop owner Jerry McNee. “My focus is on correctly repairing cars. We stand up for our customers behind the scenes and make sure the work is done correctly as advertised.” The 10,000-square-foot facility employs…

Tuesday, 08 August 2017 17:40 Featured in AUTOBODYNEWS On July 17, ASA announced the addition of a new affiliate in MA and RI (ASA-MA/RI). The new affiliate’s Executive Director is Stephen Regan, who agreed to speak with Autobody News about his experience and plans for the group. On July 17, ASA announced the addition of a new affiliate in MA and RI (ASA-MA/RI). The new affiliate’s Executive Director is Stephen Regan, who agreed to speak with Autobody News about his experience and plans for the group. Regan has been involved in the automotive industry since 1999, serving as the Executive Director of the Massachusetts Auto Body Association from 1999-2011. He also served on the Board of Directors for…

Monday, 17 July 2017 22:35 Featured in AUTOBODYNEWS In June, Maine Governor Paul LePage (R) vetoed Legislative Document 1540, which sought to require insurers in ME to communicate a specific auto body shop choice disclosure. The House voted 102-41 to override the veto, but the Senate failed to acquire the two-thirds margin required to override the Governor’s veto with a vote of 20-14. The bill, which passed ME’s House by an overwhelming margin and by a narrower margin in the Senate earlier in June, would have expanded upon the current shop choice language in the ME Revised Statutes, which prohibits insurers and their agents from recommending a specific shop without informing their…

Monday, 19 June 2017 22:40 Featured in AUTOBODYNEWS Area Developers received demonstrations and hands-on training. On June 5 to 7, Colors on Parade hosted a training class in Denver, CO for their new CarLove Recon Advantage Program. Originally launched in January 2017, the program is now expanding into new markets led by Area Developers within the company who attended the training in order to acquire program certification. They will now bring the program to their home areas of Raleigh, NC; Orange County, CA; Colorado Springs, CO; Southeastern Philadelphia, PA; and Denver, CO. The CarLove Recon Advantage Program is designed to simplify processes, eliminate risks, and fix costs for dealership groups, and it…

Friday, 16 June 2017 21:40 Featured in AUTOBODYNEWS Jody DeVere’s breakout session addressed the importance and value of employing females in the collision repair industry. Among the three breakout sessions offered on Tuesday afternoon during WIN’s 2017 Educational Conference was “Why Is It So Important to Attract, Hire and Retain Women Employees?” presented by Jody DeVere, CEO of AskPatty.com. DeVere began by observing that most women enter the collision repair industry by accident, but there is something special about the automotive industry, and it makes for a fun, challenging and interesting career. Starting with some statistics on female consumers, DeVere noted that women buy more than half of new cars, influence up…

Thursday, 25 May 2017 19:23 Featured in AUTOBODYNEWS John Royer, general manager at SheerMetal CARSTARin Plano, TX, has no qualms admitting that his journey in the collision repair industry has been rather unorthodox, entering the business just four years ago with no experience. In 2013, some business associates and friends asked him to manage the business they had purchased four years earlier after the previous manager, with an abundance of industry experience, left. Since Royer began running the shop, the business has more than doubled its revenue from $1.3M to $4.0M in 2016. How did Royer achieve this seemingly miraculous feat? With the goal of helping the shop grow, the ownership…

Wednesday, 24 May 2017 18:28 Featured in AUTOBODYNEWS  Mike Jones lectured on the importance of seeking clarity in order to improve communication at the 2017 WIN Educational Conference. On May 10, Discover Leadership Training’s PresidentMike Jones presented “Creating a Better Version of Yourself” during the last day of WIN’s 2017 Educational Conference. Drawing on his personal experiences flying police helicopters, creating programs for high school students to encourage their success, and as a cognitive scientist, Jones noted, “Words are not bad. People use words in bad ways. I urge you all to listen with the intent to be influenced, or you’ll miss the opportunity to be a better you.” Asking everyone to consider…

Wednesday, 03 May 2017 20:49 Featured in AUTOBODYNEWS Erica Eversman On April 18, AASP-PA hosted a presentation during CIC Week in Pittsburgh, PA, featuring Vehicle Information Services Chief Counsel Erica Eversman. This presentation focused on the liabilities shops are open to currently, how shops can protect themselves and tips on getting paid for proper repairs. Eversman took time to discuss some of the key points of her presentation. According to Eversman, “The most important thing for shop owners to remember is that they are the professionals. They are responsible for making decisions, and they are subject to the burden of resolving issues with the consumer or insurance companies, whether it’s…

Tuesday, 11 April 2017 22:05 Featured in AUTOBODYNEWS Tony Lombardozzi teaches shops how to get paid properly. On the last day of AASP/NJ’s 40th Annual NORTHEAST Conference and Tradeshow, Superare Marketing’s Tony Lombardozzi and Peter Abdelmaseh hosted two sold-out sessions for shop owners: “Stop Playing by the Appraiser’s Rules” and “Set Your Own Prices and Make Them Stick.” In his introduction, Lombardozzi stated, “Twenty-five years ago, I made a commitment that I’d leave this industry better off. The word ‘superare’ is Italian for excellence, and we need to be more advanced than we are currently. We play by the insurer’s rules not because we have to but because we allow…

Wednesday, 05 April 2017 19:51 Featured in AUTOBODYNEWS The Women’s Industry Network (WIN®) introduced its 2017 Most Influential Women (MIW) honorees on March 3. This award is designed to recognize women whose leadership, vision and commitment to excellence have enriched the collision repair industry. This year’s honorees, to be recognized at WIN’s MIW Gala and Awards ceremony during the association’s May conference in Denver, are Cristina Fronzaglia-Murray, Manager of Marketing Communications for PPG’s Automotive Refinish Division; Renee Ricciotti, Sales and Marketing Manager for 3M Automotive Aftermarket; and Elizabeth Stein, Vice President of Business Development and Marketing for the Assured Performance Network. WIN Chair Petra Schroeder stated, “Having been with WIN…

Friday, 03 March 2017 21:45 Featured in AUTOBODYNEWS The collision repair industry is known for being male-dominated, and with the increasing need for young professionals to enter the industry, it’s refreshing to meet Katie Inge, a 23-year-old shop owner in Chesapeake, VA. Inge’s passion for cars transcends any question of her place in this industry and proves that women have an important perspective to bring and role to play as we move into the future; it’s not just a man’s world anymore! Inge grew up in her father’s Maaco Collision and Repair Center, spending weekends in the shop where she learned about the entire process, from painting to sanding to…

Wednesday, 22 February 2017 22:43 Featured in AUTOBODYNEWS Ed Kizenberger, Executive Director, LIABRA The Long Island Autobody Repairmen’s Association (LIABRA) and the Auto Body Craftsmen’s Guild (ABCG) held its January General Meeting at Competition BMW in Smithtown, hosted by Parts Director Wayne Locanthi and Group Parts Director Tony Solla. The Competition Auto Group also treated attendees to a delicious buffet dinner before the meeting commenced at 8PM on January 17. LIABRA Executive Director Ed Kizenberger began the meeting by reminding members that LIABRA facilitated the passage of a bill last year which amended 2610 of the insurance law. The law, which took effect January 1, 2017, requires insurers to include…

Wednesday, 28 December 2016 00:07 Featured in AUTOBODYNEWS Many collision repair industry professionals have taken up arms in reaction to State Farm’s decision to lower labor rates in parts of NJ and NY, but amidst the outrage, a very recognizable voice is strangely absent. Industry advocate Larry Montanez of P & L Consultantshas taken a different stance on this situation as he appeals to the industry to consider a logical approach. Montanez notes, “State Farm is lowering labor rates to what they consider to be a reasonable amount based on what they say is their market research. Conversely, they did originally claim that their extensive market rate survey is what placed their labor…

Thursday, 07 July 2016 17:22 Featured in AUTOBODYNEWS Photo estimating is the newest hot topic in the collision repair industry, causing quite a stir after Pennsylvania, Virginia and Delaware passed laws allowing insurers to write estimates based on photos of vehicle damage submitted by the insured. Advocates of photo estimating praise its convenience while those in opposition are concerned about supplement increases and its impact on the reputation of collision repair facilities. So how does photo estimating impact shops, consumers and insurance companies? To find out what this new trend really entails, Autobody News spoke with CJ Przybyl, president of Snapsheet; Aaron Schulenburg, executive director of SCRS; Dan Risley, executive director of ASA…

Tuesday, 10 May 2016 17:20 Featured in AUTOBODYNEWS On Tuesday, May 3, during the 2016 Educational Conference, WIN members took a break from the informative sessions to honor the 2016 Most Influential Woman (MIW) honoree as well as this year’s scholarship winners. The MIW Reception was held outside and attendees were dressed to the nines as they sampled hors d’oeuvres while networking with their collision repair industry peers. Read full article in PDF format here Cheryl Boswell welcomed attendees and introduced Beverly Rook-Twibelland Petra Schroeder, co-Chairs of the Scholarship Committee. Recipients of the scholarships are required to possess a 3.0 GPA, provide school involvement, engage in community service, bring a recommendation from their…

Wednesday, 01 July 2015 19:19 Featured in AUTOBODYNEWS Across the country, collision repair industry training programs face jeopardy due to a lack of funding, and although it seems like summer just began, classes will be back in session in a blink of an eye. While students enjoy the beach and make memories in the sun, their instructors are already busy plotting how to provide the best possible technical education with limited budgets and resources. The Collision Repair Education Foundation (CREF) invites the industry to partner with their organization to ensure that the next generation of collision repair professionals graduate with the skills necessary to be useful to their future employers.…

Thursday, 18 December 2014 00:00 Featured in AUTOBODYNEWS From record snowfalls in the southern U.S. to a missing Malaysian airplane to the fear of an Ebola outbreak, 2014 was a memorable, if somewhat frightening, year around the world. In the American collision repair industry, 2014 was riddled with lawsuits against insurers’ unfair business practices and other battles for the rights of collision repair professionals, but industry associations still managed to provide some positive experiences for their members throughout the year. As the New Year rolls around, Autobody News asked a handful of association leaders about the most memorable things their associations did in 2014. Dan Risley, Executive Director of ASA-National,…

Sunday, 26 January 2014 17:57 Featured in AUTOBODYNEWS If you’ve been paying the least bit of attention to legal issues in the collision repair industry over the past decade, you probably know of Erica Eversman. She’s an OH attorney and consumer advocate specializing in understanding collision repairers’ issues and their impact on consumer safety. A noted authority and frequent speaker on the topics of diminished value, DRP networks and the influence insurers attempt to exert over repairers, Eversman serves as a consultant to the industry, assisting repairers to analyze proposed regulations and laws affecting the industry. In addition to writing “AutoMuse”, an award-winning blog, she is chief counsel for Vehicle…

Wednesday, 25 September 2013 22:21 Featured in AUTOBODYNEWS Anyone who has been involved in repair for any amount of time knows how frustrating it can be when insurers refuse to pay the full amount billed for a repair. Many repairers count their losses and move on to the next vehicle, but Mark Schaech Jr., co-owner of Mark’s Body Shop in Baltimore, MD, refuses to take this insult lying down. While he and his partner, his father, would prefer to avoid the necessity of taking legal action, he’s definitely “not taking it anymore!” Schaech knows this is a common problem that shop owners face, so he’s glad to share his experience…

Thursday, 25 October 2012 16:47 To view a pdf file of this article with photos, click HERE. As a follow-up to the CCRE legal seminar held in March 2012—which I attended and wrote about in Autobody News (search “CCRE” at autobodynews.com)—the Pennsylvania Collision Trade Guild (PCTG) hosted the Coalition for Collision Repair Excellence for the second event in this series of seminars. CCRE’s 2012 Fall Seminar was held Friday and Saturday, September 21–22 at the Airport Embassy Suites in Philadelphia, PA. PCTG decided to host CCRE again due to the overwhelmingly positive responses they received on the 2012 Spring Seminar. An audience of nearly 50 came to Philadelphia from as far away…

Thursday, 23 December 2010 20:08 Featured in AUTOBODYNEWS What’s the connection between black gunpowder, auto refinishing, and Jeff Gordon? In a word: DuPont. On December 10, 2010, DuPont held a grand opening to dedicate their new Coatings Technology Center at the Experimental Station in Wilmington, Delaware, only a short distance from where DuPont’s legacy began with the manufacturing of gunpowder at Eleutherian Mills—now known as Hagley—in 1802. The opening celebration consisted of a tour of the new facility, and Hagley Museum and a memorable lunch with NASCAR-champ Jeff Gordon. DuPont’s Experimental Station in Wilmington is the site of extensive research that has lead to many game-changing inventions, such as nylon, Kevlar…