Articles
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Is It Time to Cancel Your Programs?
Published in New England Automotive Report – Thomas Greco Publishing Repairing modern vehicles becomes more complicated with each passing year, thanks to advancing technology, an ever-evolving legislative landscape and the complexity of third-party relationships that many shops feel they must maintain. Of course, as independent businesses, shops reserve the right to operate the way they see fit…until they enter an arrangement with an outside entity, such as by participating in insurers’ referral and program contracts, the Commonwealth’s version of direct repair programs (DRPs). The concept of a “referral” program sounds pretty great: Insurers refer claimants to a contracted shop in exchange for certain concessions, such as reduced labor rates or…
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Change Creates Opportunity: CIC Considers Current and Coming Concerns
Published in Hammer & Dolly – Thomas Greco Publishing In the collision repair industry – as in life – the only true constant is change. But change is scary, especially when it comes to all the evolving technologies on the horizon. Industry leaders examined current trends and explored future shifts that shops can expect at the most recent Collision Industry Conference (CIC) in Pittsburgh, PA. Few topics bridge the gap between the present and the future quite like ADAS and EVs…so much so, in fact, that CIC decided to add a half-day special session specifically focused on helping repairers “Elevate Your Understanding” with four adventure stations honing in on specific…
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Filling the Tech Labor Pool: An Instructor Roundtable
Published in AASP-MN News – Thomas Greco Publishing As summer comes to an end, shops struggle to stay afloat amidst evolving technology, ever-changing requirements and higher-than-normal workloads, but at least they don’t need to worry about drowning in the current technician labor pool. Trying to find and retain qualified help in the current workforce pool remains a hot-button – and increasingly frustrating – issue for automotive repair employers. The well of talent has dried up to offer little more than a trickle, and although a multitude of reasons contribute to the lack of qualified technicians entering the automotive and collision industries, it’s difficult to imagine this dilemma being resolved without…
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Backlog Forces Shops to Strengthen Core Principles
Published in New England Automotive Report – Thomas Greco Publishing Continued supply chain delays + ongoing workforce shortage = no relief from the backlog that has been plaguing Massachusetts body shops since late last year. If someone had predicted the influx of repair work that would inundate shops in 2022 just two years ago, most collision repairers would have laughed in their face. Yet, that far-fetched forecast has become a reality for many shops. Current inflation has driven gas prices sky-high, resulting in fewer vehicles on the road and fewer accidents, and the Massachusetts Department of Transportation website reports there have been 55,959 accidents so far this year, as of…
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How They See Us: Changing the Perception of the Industry
Published in Hammer & Dolly – Thomas Greco Publishing For an auto body shop to sell repairs to consumers, the collision professional must first sell the potential customer on the shop itself. Tragically, that sale often presents the largest hurdle in the process. Why? Often, shops struggle to convince customers that they’re the right repair facility because the average consumer perceives automotive shops unfavorably! “The average consumer views the collision repair industry in a negative light,” believes Micki Woods (Micki Woods Marketing). “Many feel that shops are trying to scam them, and there is general mistrust related to many different factors. The most common are bad past experiences, a lack…
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Protect Your Gold: Data Privacy Concerns and Solutions
Published in AASP-MN News – Thomas Greco Publishing Social security numbers. Driver’s license numbers. Vehicle identification numbers. Personally identifiable information (PII) is “any information that permits the identity of an individual to be directly or indirectly inferred,” per the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s website. In today’s digital economy, PII is incredibly valuable – its position as such a prize has led to data being dubbed “the new gold.” This claim rings particularly true in the automotive industry where modern vehicles know more about their drivers than the vehicle owner knows about their car, but what happens to all this data when the vehicle is in the shop for service…
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Navigating the Storm: Shops Prepare for the EV Evolution
Published in New Jersey Automotive – Thomas Greco Publishing As electric vehicles (EVs) become increasingly prevalent on the roads, collision repair shops have begun seeing more damaged EVs in need of repair, but are EVs really that common? How will the increase in EVs impact shops? And how can auto body repair facilities prepare for and adjust to the morphological changes in the industry’s landscape without being submerged? Industry experts shared advice about how shops can prepare for the onslaught of constantly advancing vehicle technology in last month’s New Jersey Automotive (find their tips at bit.ly/NJAEV0622), but who better to provide practical recommendations for proactively bracing for impact from the “Technical Tsunami”…
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Remembering Sheila Loftus
Published in Hammer & Dolly – Thomas Greco Publishing Founder, editor and publisher of Hammer & Dolly. Executive director of WMABA. Hall of Eagles inductee. Founder of CRASH Network. Co-founder of the Women’s Industry Network (WIN). One of the first Most Influential Women honorees. Any auto body professional would be proud to hold a single honorific from this list of impressive accomplishments, but Sheila Loftus never settled for mediocrity. As the executive director of WMABA and publisher of Hammer & Dolly from the early 1970s until 2007, this fearless trailblazer tirelessly advocated for the collision repair industry – even after her 2008 retirement. Her death on May 13, at age 79, struck a…
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Where Does Your Data Go, and Who Can Access It?
Published in Hammer & Dolly – Thomas Greco Publishing Cars know more about their drivers than vehicle owners know about their cars these days. Many benefits come from the ever-increasing technology turning our transportation into supercomputers on wheels, such as improvements in safety and convenience factors, but those same systems that improve the driving experience also pose potential privacy hazards by collecting – and potentially sharing – vehicle data. What a scary thought! Data sharing concerns grow even more frightening for collision repair shop owners who often find that their data has been accessed without their knowledge or consent. Data pumps constantly monitor the estimate management standard (EMS) export routine,…
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Investments in Consumer Education Pay High Interest
Published in AASP-MN News – Thomas Greco Publishing Do your customers understand what’s involved with repairing a vehicle and running a shop? Do they know how heavily shops invest their time, energy and funds into training, tools and equipment? They may appreciate having safe, reliable transportation, but do they actually recognize the complexity of today’s vehicles? Last month, AASP-MN News talked to consumers to find out exactly what they know…and the initial results were underwhelming to say the least (check it out at bit.ly/AASPconsumer). Yet, after a brief educational session, many consumers developed a better grasp of how much training, effort and expense goes into automotive and collision repair. Education…
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CIC Navigates Challenges Amid Unprecedented Inflation, Workforce Shortages & Evolving Technology
Published in Hammer & Dolly – Thomas Greco Publishing Collision repairers face challenges in today’s market unlike anything that’s ever been seen before. Unprecedented rates of inflation drive costs up, compounded by constantly advancing technology that requires ongoing investments in tools and equipment. At the same time, shops struggle to hire and retain qualified employees amid the ongoing workforce shortage. The most recent Collision Industry Conference (CIC), held in Oklahoma City, OK, addressed these challenges and more. “The recent rise of inflation affects a growing number of businesses, but small businesses in particular are faced with the challenge of determining how to adjust and pass it along to ensure that…
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Is Every Appraiser Really Your Enemy?
Published in New England Automotive Report – Thomas Greco Publishing Want to watch a shop owner or estimator’s blood pressure rise? Merely utter the phrase “insurance appraiser!” Many shops engage in contentious dialogue with appraisers during the appraisal process. As the expert in the repair, it can be quite frustrating to have your Labor Rate be challenged, to have OEM required and recommended procedures be rejected or to be told you’re “the only one.” On the other hand, appraisers argue that they can’t pay more because the Labor Rate is set by the insurance company, they uphold viewpoints that seem contradictory to conducting a safe repair, or sometimes they merely…
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Surviving the Storm: Who Will Repair Vehicles in 2030?
Published in New Jersey Automotive – Thomas Greco Publishing Although experts predict that the increase in safety features will reduce accident frequency, repair complexity is apt to lead to increasing severity – and repairers can expect these trends to magnify as electric vehicles (EVs) become more prevalent. Collision repairers have been bracing for the “Technical Tsunami” for nearly a decade as a dwindling number of shops are inundated with constantly advancing vehicles while simultaneously struggling to process unprecedented high volumes of repair with a limited staff. Although experts predict that the increase in safety features will reduce accident frequency, repair complexity is apt to lead to increasing severity – and…
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OEM Repair Procedures: Debate Over Recommended vs. Required Continues
Published in Hammer & Dolly – Thomas Greco Publishing “Review and follow the OEM repair procedures on every car, for every reason, every time.” The instructions sound simple enough, yet collision repair shops often encounter challenges in regards to insurer reimbursement, largely based on which of two simple words the vehicle manufacturer opted to use: required or recommended. Since “required” translates into “essential or indispensable,” repairers experience less pushback when performing those procedures, but what about “recommended,” a word that merely means “advised or suggested”? For many, this subtle shift in semantics grants permission to skip a process, but industry leaders disagree and have expressed the opinion that the two…
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Passion Breeds Passion: New Teacher Breathes Life into Auto Body Program
Published in New Jersey Automotive – Thomas Greco Publishing Collision repair offers a wonderful career path, but fewer and fewer young men and women enter the trade each year. With students’ fading interest in collision careers resulting in decreased enrollment, many high school auto body programs have fallen into oblivion, limiting the industry’s ability to inject new blood into shops. During the 2020-2021 school year, the auto collision repair technology program at Salem County Vocational Technical School (SCVTS) in Pilesgrove desperately needed resuscitation – only 12 students were enrolled in the class, barely keeping it alive. Eager to revitalize the languishing program, SCVTS Principal Jason Helder and Jack Swain, superintendent…
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TDI Responds…but Do They Ever ANSWER?!
Published in Texas Automotive – Thomas Greco Publishing Since ABAT began in 2014, association leadership has been in constant contact with the Texas Department of Insurance (TDI) in relation to consumer under-indemnification. Attempts to rectify the situation repeatedly meet with frustration on ABAT’s part as TDI continues to turn a blind eye to insurer abuses. “It seems like TDI is actively deciding not to do anything,” ABAT Executive Director Jill Tuggle claimed last month (catch up on the story at bit.ly/blindTDI). “Any attempt by TDI to downplay or disregard indemnification issues is disingenuous and appears to be an attempt on TDI’s part to distort the facts.” In hopes of getting to…
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Tech Shortage Solutions: Shop Owners Engage with Local Schools and Students
Published in New England Automotive Report – Thomas Greco Publishing Collision repair industry professionals around the country struggle to find and retain qualified help, but with the average technician age now exceeding 50 years old, it’s obvious that a lack of young people entering the industry is driving the tech shortage. Last month, New England Automotive Report featured insights from three local collision repair instructors whose various experiences yielded a cohesive message: “Schools and industry have to work hand in hand,” according to Kenneth Stukonis (Assabet Valley High School; Marlborough). “Engagement from local shops is great because they help us and our administration understand which tools and equipment to buy and what…
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TDI Turns Blind Eye to Consumer Under-Indemnification
Published in Texas Automotive – Thomas Greco Publishing If an employee in your shop blatantly refused to perform the job you hired them to do, they probably wouldn’t maintain their position for very long. That’s generally the case at any job, in any industry; however, when it comes to some state agencies governing the insurance industry – the entities tasked with protecting consumers from unfair business practices and under-indemnification – it seems that employees are encouraged to shirk their duties and protect the insurers, rather than the consumers who are being injured. In the December 2021 edition of Texas Automotive, ABAT accused the Texas Department of Insurance (TDI) of being…
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Forget About the Price Tag and Focus on Proper Billing
Published in Hammer & Dolly – Thomas Greco Publishing Unless you’ve been living under a rock (and growing your own food), it’s impossible to ignore the rising costs in every area of life – from groceries to gas and everything in between. With inflation hitting a 40-year record high of 7.5 percent, everyone is feeling the impact, especially shop owners who are contending with rising costs from every angle, including paint and materials, for which they aren’t being properly reimbursed. “Raw materials is the main issue,” according to John Shoemaker (BASF). “On top of that, a limited number of items are able to enter and leave the ports, making transportation…
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CIC Navigates Challenges Amid Unprecedented Inflation, Workforce Shortages & Evolving Technology
Collision Repair’s Unsung Hero: How Does CREF Distribute In-Kind Donations to Vo-Tech Schools Around the U.S.?
MSCRA and GCIA Hire New Executive Director, Josh Kent Expands Leadership to Five States
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Body Shops Embracing AI Processes Positioned to Lead: June CIECAST Explores Future of AI in the Collision Repair Industry
Published in Autobody News Artificial intelligence (AI) isn’t just a vision for the future; it’s here now, and as it becomes more prevalent in the collision repair industry, body shops need to prepare to navigate its integration into various technologies… or risk being left behind. During the June CIECAST, “The Future of AI in the Collision Industry,” Driaan du Toit, Vice President of Business Development at Solera, and Evan Davies, Solera’s Chief Technology Officer, shared insights on the ways that AI is currently used in the collision repair industry, as well as its future uses. du Toit began by acknowledging, “We all know the world has changed significantly over the…
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WIN’s 2021 Virtual Conference Demonstrates Collision Industry is “Stronger Together”
Published in Autobody News After skipping 2020’s annual event due to the worldwide pandemic, the Women’s Industry Network (WIN®) worked diligently to host the 2021 WIN Educational Conference virtually. Held on May 4th and 5th, this year’s conference theme was “Stronger Together.” Event emcee Chelley Canales, an inspirational author, coach and speaker, brought her brand of infectious energy to the 2021 WIN conference while introducing each session, and she kicked the event off by introducing Outgoing Chair Cheryl Boswell who welcomed attendees and noted that WIN had reached record membership with 562 members. Reiterating the organization’s vision to be “THE network driving the future of collision repair by attracting, developing…
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Texas Shop Partners with ATEQ TPMS Tools to Give Tools for Schools
Published October 1, 2019 in Autobody News Jeff Buckley, owner of My Father’s Shop in Midlothian, Texas, has partnered with ATEQ TPMS Tools & Solutions for the second year to give away three ATEQ VT36 tools to deserving automotive high schools, technical centers or colleges. Buckley stated, “I am so honored and excited to be involved with great companies that believe in giving back. It means a lot for the instructors to have the latest technology to teach on today’s vehicles. This is a great concept to support the schools; we are investing in the future of our industry.” ATEQ will donate two tools, while Buckley will contribute a third tool. Buckley explained, “My…
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Texas House of Representatives Votes in Favor of Appraisal Clause Requirement
Published in Autobody News On May 13, House Bill 2534 passed the Texas House of Representatives by a vote of 91-50. If signed into law, the legislation requires insurers to include appraisal clauses on all automotive policies, but it also includes the untraditional stipulation that the loser refunds the winner’s appraiser’s fees and expenses. All other appraisal expenses, including umpire fees, are split evenly between the two parties. Representative Travis Clardy (R – Nacogdoches) sponsored the bill, and prior to the House’s vote, he explained, “House Bill 2534 has to do with the Right of Appraisal. This is a longstanding tradition in the Insurance Code, but this will make it…
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Parts Authorization, Indemnification and More—Documentation Part 3
Published September 23, 2014 in Autobody News Over the past two issues (see August and September Autobody News), industry attorney Erica Eversman has offered some insights into the various types of documentation that collision repair facilities can use to protect their interests and help them obtain proper compensation for work performed. In the final installment in this series on repair documentation, Eversman helps explain the purpose for and how to use the Parts Notice/Authorization and the Indemnification/Hold Harmless Letter, with a few additional documents. The Parts Notice/Authorization is an important form for repair shops to utilize since most states have statutes pertaining to the use of used or aftermarket parts which requires the…
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Subaru Mediates with Insurer on Non-Repairable Item, Shop’s Commitment to Doing the Right Thing Retains Consumer’s Brand Loyalty
Published in Autobody News When a customer dropped off her collision-damaged 2019 Subaru Ascent on January 20, John Baker, manager at Wallace Collision Center in Bristol, TN, had no clue that the vehicle would not be repairable, that it’d be at the shop for six weeks, or that the vehicle manufacturer would need to mediate with the insurer on the consumer’s behalf! Fortunately, by doing their due diligence and researching all OEM repair procedures on every vehicle, Wallace Collision Center ensured that the customer’s safety was at the forefront of every conversation, and the level of customer service provided by the dealer-owned, Subaru-certified shop inspired her to maintain brand loyalty…
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Repair Documentation Series, Part 2: Assignment of Proceeds and Writ of Replevin
Published August 22, 2014 in Autobody News Repair documentation plays an important role in your collision repair business, but many shop owners are not very familiar with what they need to protect their interests, so I’ve turned to an industry-leading attorney to provide crucial information on what you need to know about documentation in the collision repair industry. Last month, Erica Eversman, Chief Counsel for Vehicle Information Services, Inc. and founder of the Automotive Education and Policy Institute, a non-profit organization geared toward educating consumers, explained how collision repair facilities can use the Authorization to Repair and Repair Contract to receive proper compensation from insurers in legal battles. While those…
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How to Write an Authorization to Repair and Repair Contract—Documentation Part 1
Published July 29, 2014 in Autobody News When I first started to write about the collision repair industry, I was astonished by the plethora of issues that can arise on any given day, but what surprised me the most was the difficulty that so many repair facilities face when trying to receive proper compensation for the work they have (already performed); after all, I fully expect to be paid for the work I do, and as a consumer, I would hope that the people who repair my vehicle receive the same consideration. Unfortunately, I now know that is not always the case, but I’ve also learned that there is a…
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Combat the Tech Talent Crisis with CREF
Printed in Autobody News With the average technician age approaching 50 years old, shops and other collision repair industry businesses are in desperate need of qualified entry-level staff to fill positions as technicians age out. The industry has a major problem, but by supporting the schools that educate future collision repair employees, the Collision Repair Education Foundation (CREF) offers the solution! CREF is a 503(c)(3) nonprofit organization that facilitates the industry’s generosity by investing in collision repair educational programs around the country, helping equip school shops, and funding student scholarships, among many other endeavors that serve to attract, properly train, and retain more qualified collision professionals. Since 2009, the Foundation…
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What Cars Say: “We Need More Female Technicians!”
Written on behalf of the Collision Repair Education Foundation. Printed in Body Shop Business In recognition of Women’s History Month, author Rachael Alfonso has partnered with the Collision Repair Education Foundation (CREF) to raise funds in support of female collision repair students. When industry supporters purchase a copy of Alfonso’s new book, “What Cars Say,” through the dedicated link, a portion of the sale will be donated to a fund for future female technicians. “This is a great book for any auto enthusiast,” Brandon Eckenrode, Director of Development for CREF, said. “The Foundation is proud to endorse Rachel, a female automotive professional and author, and we’re excited to announce a…
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Will Rising Oil Prices Drive Up Automotive Paint Costs?
Published in AutoInc. A handful of companies in the lubricant industry have announced price increases, the third round since December 2020, and the major players in the industry are likely to follow suit quickly. “This is industry wide,” Chevron’s Jason Thomas shared during ASA’s March 9th Breaking News segment: The Oil Market is Shifting. The cause for these continuing price shifts can be attributed to rising costs of raw materials; in addition to increased pricing for base oil, the cost of packaging and transportation have increased, along with the cost of the metal used to create storage drums. While mechanical shops may contend with increases quicker than auto body shops,…
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Baker’s Collision Recognized by Ohio EPA for Staying on Cutting Edge of Environmental Progress
Published in Autobody News Baker’s Collision Repair Specialists in Mansfield, Ohio was recently recognized by the Ohio EPA for achieving its E3 (Encouraging Environmental Excellence) Achievement Level, obtained for “completing pollution preventing activities that decreased emissions from painting operations, initiating activities in management commitment, employee involvement, energy efficiency, continuous improvement and recycling.” DeLee Powell, president of Baker’s Collision, is proud of the accomplishment which she views as “acknowledgement that they recognize the efforts that we have put forth. We are honored to be recognized for doing something that is good for our business and, in turn, good for our community and the environment. At Baker’s, we’ve always benefitted from being…
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New Jersey Collision Repair Professionals Want Schools to Put Students First
Published in Autobody News John Truman, owner of Truman Muscle Car Parts in Egg Harbor Township, NJ, has been fighting to save local collision repair education programs since 2014, when he learned that his alma mater, Atlantic County Institute of Technology, had discontinued its high school auto body program. “In the last seven years, auto body education programs closed in Atlantic and Cumberland counties. The collision repair industry is poising to shut down – we need new techs NOW; however, many of the vo-tech auto body programs are dying. Once they’re gone, they’re gone for good. It’s impossible to bring them back!” Truman stressed. Truman’s passion for the collision repair…
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CREF Helps Student-Turned-Industry-Pro Clear Collision’s Hurdles
Written on behalf of the Collision Repair Education Foundation. Printed in Body Shop Business. Printed in Autobody News. When the Collision Repair Education Foundation erased Destiny Potter’s student debt in 2017, it did not erase every challenge she’d face while pursuing a career in the collision repair industry, but with the support of the Foundation, a solid education, devotion to the industry, and some good old-fashioned determination, Potter is jumping every hurdle in her path – and gaining loads of experience along the way! A mixture of factors sparked Potter’s interest in the collision repair industry. At age five, she helped her father with small repairs on his vehicles. They…
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Get to Know WIN’s 2019 MIW Honorees
Published in Autobody News The Women’s Industry Network (WIN) recently announced that four women will be honored as Most Influential Women (MIW) and celebrated at the MIW Gala and Awards Ceremony in May. The ceremony will be held during WIN’s Educational Conference in Fort Lauderdale, FL, from May 6–8. Originally established by AkzoNobel in 1999 and taken on by WIN in 2013, the MIW program aims to recognize women whose leadership, vision and commitment to excellence have enriched the collision repair industry. The 2019 MIW honorees are Yen Hoang, CEO of UYL Color; Erica L. Schaefer, Mopar collision marketing manager at Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA); Kathy Mello, CFO of TGIF Body Shop; and Judy Folk, manager of…
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Get to Know WIN’s 2018 MIW Honorees
Published in Autobody News The Women’s Industry Network (WIN) recently announced that four women will be honored as Most Influential Women (MIW) in 2018. They will be celebrated at the MIW Gala and Awards Ceremony, held during WIN’s Educational Conference in Indianapolis May 7–9. Originally established by AkzoNobel in 1999 and taken on by WIN in 2013, the MIW program aims to recognize women whose leadership, vision and commitment to excellence have enriched the collision repair industry. The 2018 MIW honorees are Shelly Bickett, Director and Co-Founder of Fix Auto USA; Mary Mahoney, Vice President of the Insurance Replacement Division for Enterprise Holdings; Marie Peevy, Owner of Automotive Training Coordinators LLC; and Collisionista Petra Schroeder. While all…
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Women in Automotive Empower One Another at 2019 Winter Conference
Published in Autobody News On Dec. 15-16, 2019, Women in Automotive (WIA) hosted its 2019 Winter Conference at the Omni Rancho Las Palmas Resort in Palm Springs, CA. WIA Board Member Scotty Reiss shared, “The big topic of this winter’s Women in Automotive conference was empowerment: how we empower ourselves, how we support each other and how we see ourselves. [Our presenters] shared not only how they have achieved their success but also, how we can help other women to achieve theirs, and how we develop leaders for the future.” “There was also a lot of discussion about how to develop Millennials into great team members, how to support each other by building a…
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AWAF Hosts Seminar on Emotional Intelligence
Published in Autobody News On June 8, the Automotive Women’s Alliance Foundation (AWAF) hosted a Professional Development Workshop on Emotional Intelligence (EI) called “The Heart of Great Leadership” at the VisTaTech Center at Schoolcraft College in Livonia, MI. Corinne M. Smereka, who is in charge of Workforce Training Solutions for the Schoolcraft Business Development Center and is also co-chair of AWAF’s Professional Development Committee, taught the session, which was attended by more than a dozen industry professionals. Smereka explained, “Emotional intelligence is critical for enhancing leadership abilities. In fact, studies have found that 67 percent of all competencies deemed essential for high performance were related to EI. “Most people achieve technical and…
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Kim Barks Teaches Girl Scouts Automotive Care Basics in St. Charles, MO
Published in Autobody News April 1 might have been April Fool’s Day, but Kim Barks, owner of Complete Car and RV Repair in St. Charles, MO, wasn’t joking around when she hosted a meeting for a troop of nearly a dozen Girl Scouts to teach them some basic car care tips. Kim shared, “It was a pleasure meeting this great group of Girl Scouts and teaching them safety and education about their cars. These ladies are 14–15 years old and eager to learn about their vehicles; it’s never too early to start learning!” With Bob Barks, her father and business partner, Kim showed the girls how to check their tire pressure and read their…
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Collision Repair’s Unsung Hero: How Does CREF Distribute In-Kind Donations to Vo-Tech Schools Around the U.S.?
Published in Autobody News Each year, the Collision Repair Education Foundation receives millions of dollars’ worth of in-kind donations from generous industry companies and professionals eager to support the next generation of collision repair professionals. Donations include tools, equipment and even car parts, which are distributed to the collision repair programs in need at vo-tech schools around the country. With so many large-scale donations and a limited staff, distribution seems an impossible task for CREF to manage alone – and it is! As the Foundation’s efforts to raise awareness of the challenges in collision repair education gained traction, the industry’s generosity caused CREF leaders to ask about schools offering warehouse management…
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NABC® Leadership Shares 2021 Outlook
Published in Autobody News by Chasidy Rae Sisk The new year has arrived in full force, and though many of 2020’s challenges have not yet been completely eradicated, progress occurs daily. The National Auto Body Council® (NABC) saw progress last year, despite the many health and societal concerns that froze much of society, and their leaders are hopeful that this year will be even better. Newly elected Chairman Clint Marlow of Allstate joined NABC® President and CEO Bill Garoutte to share the organization’s “very positive” outlook for 2021 with Autobody News. For NABC, 2020 concluded with its annual meeting, which included executive committee and board elections. During that meeting, three…
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Politics, Guns, Religion and Other Things You Should Never Talk About in Your Shop: IGONC’s November Tireside Chat
Printed in Autobody News On November 19th, Carfix owner Mike Allen hosted the Independent Garage Owners of North Carolina’s (IGONC) monthly Tireside Chat, “Politics, Guns, Religion and Other Things You Should Never Talk About in Your Shop.” According to IGONC Executive Director Tricia Sauls, “The open forum discussion went very well, with about 20 individuals participating – both members and nonmembers. We covered many topics including shop talk, loaner cars, cyber security, and credit card processing fees. It was neat seeing how the conversation developed and touched on so many key issues that the participants were passionate about.” “The response to the November Tireside Chat was positive,” Sauls continued. “With…
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MSCRA and GCIA Hire New Executive Director, Josh Kent Expands Leadership to Five States
Printed in Autobody News The Mississippi Collision Repair Association (MSCRA) and the Georgia Collision Industry Association (GCIA) recently hired the same new executive director: Josh Kent, Executive Director of the Carolinas Collision Association (CCA) and the Tennessee Collision Repairers Association (TCRA). Kent promised, “I bring passion and drive to my new role, as well as my experience with CCA and TCRA.” Kent’s professional involvement with the position of executive director began in 2016 with the North Carolina Association of Collision and Automotive Repair (NCACAR), followed by 2018’s South Carolina Association of Collision and Automotive Repair (SCACAR); the two combined to form CCA in January 2020. Kent was hired by TCRA…
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The Machine Behind the Women: Drive Safer and Smart by Knowing Your Vehicle’s Capabilities
Printed on AskPatty.com AskPatty CEO, Jody DeVere, recently joined the Ladies Offroad Network (LON) for an off-roading adventure through Moab, Utah’s challenging terrain. While most of us think that makes Jody a total badass, she largely credits the experience to ZACC, her 2017 Jeep Renegade Desert Trailhawk. “In the world of off-roading, ZACC is among the smallest vehicles, but he and I have developed a symbiotic relationship; understanding his capabilities and developing my skills around them enhances the driving experience, both off and on the road,” she shares. “Other off-roaders were astonished by some of the things ZACC did, but I wasn’t surprised – he’s a very capable vehicle.” ZACC…
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Be Prepared and Be Ready: Tips for Selling Your Business
Printed in Autobody News If you own a collision repair business, you will eventually have to ask: “Is it time to sell?” Rick Schwartz of Schwartz Advisors discussed this important decision during “Tips on Selling Your Business,” on October 21st as part of ASA’s Webinar Wednesday series. Tony Molla, ASA vice president of industry relations, introduced Schwartz and the presentation: “While it’s not uncommon to have a succession plan in place, changing circumstances can and often do require a different strategy. It’s an individual decision that can only be made by a business owner.” Beginning by looking at mergers and acquisitions (M&A) over the last decade, Schwartz pointed out the…
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Collision Repair Industry Associations Make 2021 New Year’s Resolutions
Printed in Autobody News On New Year’s Eve, people typically enjoy reflecting on the ending year, but 2020 has been a little chaotic, to say the least. While no one seems particularly sad to say goodbye to 2020, there’s still excitement and hope for the incoming year, expressed by making New Year’s resolutions. Collision repair industry associations are optimistic about the upcoming year and graciously agreed to share their 2021 New Year’s resolutions with Autobody News. Because 2020 has contained so many unprecedented events and situations, many associations’ resolutions for the new year are centered around anticipating and addressing members’ imminent needs. Bob Amendola, president of the ABAC, is “looking…
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Set Yourself Up for 2021 Marketing Success with Shop Marketing Pros
Printed in Autobody News With 2020 quickly coming to an end, most collision repair shop owners have likely already begun to think about their marketing plans for next year, but Kim Walker of Shop Marketing Pros knows, “It’s easy to get so focused on the here and now that we forget about the future, but it’s time to think about what you want to accomplish in 2021 and how to plan for that. What are your overall business goals? You need to know your goals in order to determine your marketing plans.” In Shop Marketing Pros’ newest class, Walker explains how aligning your overall business goals with your marketing plans…
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Aiming to Win at ABAT’s 4th Annual Skeet Shoot
Printed in Autobody News On October 15th, the Auto Body Association of Texas (ABAT) hosted its 2020 Annual Dean Griffin Memorial Skeet Shoot at Elk Fork Shooting Sports in Dallas, Texas. Jill Tuggle, Executive Director of ABAT, shared, “The event turned out amazing and definitely exceeded our expectations! We were overwhelmed by the response and had the largest attendance we have ever had with around 90 participants.” “We also sold a record number of raffle tickets,” she added. “The top team won cooler bags, the top shooters won $1,800 in Cabela’s gift cards, and our top two raffle items were a Black Rain AR rifle and a SKB shotgun. Everyone…
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2020 Collision Repair Industry: A Year in Review
Printed in Autobody News It’s undeniable that 2020 has been a year for the history books – the amount of change that has taken place over the past 12 months is unprecedented and has been disruptive in every imaginable way. As 2020 comes to its conclusion, the world reflects on the year’s events, and a handful of collision repair industry leaders share their thoughts on the most impactful memories for their associations in 2020. The largest force this year has been the spread and attempts to prevent further spread of COVID-19. This has translated into many virtual events, and Zoom has become much more than onomatopoeia, with nearly every association…
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LA Anti-Steering Bill Passes House and Senate, Awaits Governor Signature
Featured in Autobody News Wednesday, 05 June 2019 17:13 Written by Chasidy Rae Sisk Louisiana House Bill 411, an anti-steering bill which would require consumers to be notified of their right to choose a shop, passed the state’s House of Representatives and Senate in May. In order to become law, the bill merely needs to be signed by Gov. John Bel Edwards. According to an email written by Edwards’ communications director Shauna Sanford, “The Governor is inclined to sign the bill given the overwhelming support of the measure by the Legislature. There was no objection to the bill by the House or Senate.” House Bill 211 was introduced on March 29. Sponsored…
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Texas Auto Body Insurance Accountability Bill Defeated by Clock, Supporters Optimistic About Progress Made
Featured In Autobody News Texas Auto Body Insurance Accountability Bill Defeated by Clock Written by Chasidy Rae Sisk The Texas Auto Body Insurance Accountability Bill, House Bill 1348, failed to receive a second reading by the end of this legislative session, simply running out of time rather than being defeated by the bill’s opponents. House Bill 1348 was only six bills away from being heard in the House Chamber when the clock signaled the end of the session, but proponents of the bill are still optimistic about the progress that was made. John Kopriva, president of the Houston Auto Body Association (HABA), said, “The 86th Legislative session is in the books. Looking back…
