Autobody News
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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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Getting Paid Starts at the Beginning of the Process: MSCRA Hosts Collision Hub for Estimating Training
Printed in Autobody News “You get to decide what you want to charge and what line items to put on an estimate,” Kristen Felder of Collision Hub stated during an estimating training session, taught by Larry Montanez III of Collision Hub and hosted by the Mississippi Collision Repair Association (MSCRA). She noted, “Getting paid is part of the process that has to start at the beginning when you write your preliminary estimate.” MSCRA Executive Director Josh Kent welcomed attendees, thanked association sponsors, and introduced the evening’s trainer. After reading the antitrust statement, Montanez examined the six steps to completing a damage report: gather information and data, look up procedures, report…
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WIN Webinar Explores What’s NEXT for Auto Body in the Digital World
Published in Autobody News On International Women’s Day on March 8, Elaina Farnsworth, CEO of The NEXT Education, shared insights on “What’s NEXT for the Future Autobody Worker in Our Emerging Digital World,” during a webinar hosted by the Women’s Industry Network (WIN®). “Never before have we seen such a change in how transportation has been done,” Farnsworth began. “We are experiencing a wonderful period of growth, and the industry needs as many women as possible.” Referencing technologies, such as intelligent infrastructure, self-driving and autonomous vehicles, and connected cars, Farnsworth pointed out, “If we don’t have technicians who really understand the technology, all this great technology is worthless. We focus…
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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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Collision Repair’s Unsung Hero: How Does CREF Distribute In-Kind Donations to Vo-Tech Schools Around the U.S.?
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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…
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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
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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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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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AASP/NJ: Citing Section 64 Could Backfire on Insurers
Printed in Autobody News Non-DRP shops in New Jersey often receive requests to match DRP pricing from insurers, who cite NJ 17:33B-36.1, commonly known as Section 64. AASP/NJ Executive Director Charles Bryant has voiced a plethora of concerns related to this statute and its impact on labor rates, but he recently pointed out that the “terms and conditions” phrase within Section 64 could require insurers to rethink their position on using it to force “prevailing” labor rates. Section 64 begins: If an insurer has a financial arrangement with one or more auto body repair shops or other repair facilities or a network of facilities for the purpose of repairing vehicles…
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Beth Rutter Shares Sneak Peek of Pilot Program
Printed in Autobody News Four guest speakers attended the St. Louis I-CAR Committee’s September virtual meeting, including collision repair industry professional Beth Rutter who spoke about the Pilot Program. Rutter graciously agreed to share some additional information with Autobody News. The Pilot Program originated three years ago at Ranken Tech, where Collision Director John Helterbrand designed an apprenticeship program to ensure that collision students are prepared to successfully enter their career after graduation. Students work with mentors at local shops, obtaining hands-on repair experience in conjunction with classroom education, as the taught tasks begin with the most mundane and progressively advance as the student’s knowledge and skill advances. “Students rotate…
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100-Year-Old Shop Enjoys State-of-the-Art Color Matching with Lusid GenRock
Published in Autobody News Longevity sets Runge’s Auto & Tire apart from the competition in Chicago, Ill. The 18,000 square foot facility has been home to automotive repair shops since 1920, before being purchased by the Runge family in 1963. The reputation the shop has built in the community over the past century has driven the success of the business, according to body shop manager Joe Sobczac, who began working for Ralph Runge shortly after the family acquired ownership. “Boasting a longevity of 100 years means that we serve third and fourth generation customers, and we’ve been able to retain that business because our focus is on treating people the…
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AIRCAT Pneumatic Tool Line Makes Work Easier for Ohio Shop
Published in Autobody News Investing in tools that offer both quality and value is absolutely imperative for John Plevris, owner of Copley Auto & Collision in Copley, Ohio. While running a full-service mechanical and collision repair facility that repairs nearly 300 vehicles on a monthly basis, Plevris cannot afford delays caused by tool difficulties or failures. Since 2000, the shop has utilized AIRCAT Pneumatic Tools by Florida Pneumatic because “There seems to be an evolution in ergonomics that makes work easier.” By allowing the shop’s 13 employees to work more efficiently, AIRCAT Tools provide Copley Auto & Collision with an opportunity to deliver even more of the high-quality repairs, which…
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Modern Auto Body Triples Production with Accudraft Paint Booths and Prep Station
Published in Autobody News Founded in 1932, Modern Auto Body in South Orange, NJ, boasts a reputation for trustworthiness, superior quality, and customer service, but as word of the shop’s excellence spread to neighboring communities, owner Jack Haberman identified the need to expand his space to meet his client’s demands just three years after taking ownership of the business. In 2016, Modern Auto Body relocated to its current location, offering 14,000 square feet of production space. Knowing that he also needed to equip the shop with tools designed for high-volume operations, Haberman turned to Accudraft for all his paint hardware needs. In addition to installing two Accudraft XL downdraft paint…
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Restore Crashworthiness with Corrosion Protection– Keys to a Safe and Proper Collision Repair
Published in Autobody News “Today’s vehicles are highly engineered and not forgiving of imprecise repair processes. When it comes to crashworthiness after the repair, millimeters and milliseconds matter!” according to Scott Peirce, Strategic Account Manager at 3M during ASA’s August 19th Webinar Wednesday. “The responsibility to restore crashworthiness lies with you, your business and your technicians. Many products and processes combine together to restore the initial condition of the vehicle so it’s capable of handling a subsequent collision.” Peirce explained that corrosion protection is vital to restoring a vehicle’s crashworthiness. Corrosion can impact airbag timing, and fatalities are more likely due to rust. He stated, “If you can effectively access…
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CREF Scholarships and Support Enable Body Shop Estimator to Move Up the Ladder Faster
Written for the Collision Repair Education Foundation, Printed in Autobody News Hoffman Estates, Ill. (September 16, 2020) – Justin Furman, an estimator at Bill Brown Ford on the fast track to becoming a manager, largely credits his career successes to the support he received from the Collision Repair Education Foundation (CREF) and PPG. “The scholarships I received from the industry enabled me to graduate college with a bachelor’s degree in Technology Management, virtually debt-free,” Furman said. “Unburdened by worries about college debt, I was able to focus my attention on my passion for the automotive industry,” Furman added. “Additionally, my relationship with CREF provided a solid foundation to show the…
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CARSTAR Owner Keeps Up with Industry Changes
Published in Autobody News David Ellis, owner of CARSTAR Ellis Brothers Collision in Milford, MI, joined the CARSTAR franchise network in 2019 “in order to keep up with the changes in the industry, to up my game, and to have access to the tools, technology, training, analytics, metrics and nationwide warranty that will set me up for success in this rapidly changing industry.” Although his shop has recently joined the CARSTAR network, Ellis has over two decades of automotive industry experience. In 1999, he founded Complete Automotive Restoration Inc. (CAR Inc.) and “grew the business to one of the largest mobile paint companies in the state. That growth required us…
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Turn Eight Common Shop Owner Mistakes into Positive Life Lessons with Mike Anderson
Published in Autobody News Mike Anderson of Collision Advice recently explained how to turn eight common collision shop owner mistakes into life lessons to benefit their businesses. “When you look at mistakes you’ve made, you have to realize that they aren’t mistakes if you’ve learned from them, and when you learn from them, they become life lessons. I’ve got a lot of life lessons I’d like to share today,” Anderson began. While presenting “Life Lessons of Collision Shop Owners” on Sherwin-Williams’ Ecolean University, Anderson was joined by Mike Lanza, Manager of Business Consulting Services at Sherwin-Williams Automotive Finishes, as they discussed why shops struggle and how to fix it. Anderson’s…
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VersionEX Autobody Hooked on GenRock by Lusid Technologies
Printed in Autobody News Shop & Product Showcase Devin Hansen, owner of VersionEX Autobody in Eugene, OR, was raised in Okinawa, Japan and immigrated to the U.S. when he was 15 years old. “I always had a passion for cars because that was a big part of my culture,” he shared. “When I moved to America, I bought a 1996 Nissan in honor of my heritage. I started working on the car in my parents’ driveway, but the cold, rainy weather in Oregon wasn’t ideal, so a friend and I invested in a small, 300 square foot shop space where we could work on cars.” After tinting his own windows,…
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CARSTAR Owner Shares Vision for Success
Printed in Autobody News Shop & Product Showcase Bob Waldron, owner of Waldron’s Auto Body in Marlboro, MA, was among the first shop owners to join the CARSTAR franchise network in 1989. According to Waldron, “It’s hard to go it alone. CARSTAR does tons of research and development, and while I must be the driving force behind implementation, what they do for shops is huge – I can’t quantify how greatly it has benefitted my business! Joining CARSTAR has given me a wonderful quality of life, and I believe it will someday give me a really good retirement.” Waldron entered the collision repair industry as a vo-tech student in 1975,…
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ARA Takes Summer Road Trip Virtual, Annual Convention to Follow Suit
Printed in Autobody News The Automotive Recyclers Association (ARA) planned its inaugural ARA Summer Road Trip for July 23-25, 2020, with the intention of connecting up-and-coming industry leaders with experienced auto recycling veterans through tours of several ARA member facilities. The Road Trip is an evolution of the association’s FLARES (Future Leaders of Automotive Recyclers Educational Summit), which was established in 2018. The tour was scheduled to begin in Chicago, but unfortunately, in the days leading up to the tour, Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot issued an emergency order requiring two w eeks of self-quarantine for travelers from 15 different states due to COVID-19 concerns. Although ARA was forced to postpone…
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Auto Body Concepts Guarantees “Best of the Best” with Accudraft Paint Booths
Printed in Autobody News Shop & Product Showcase Crossing state lines between its two locations in Texas and Oklahoma, Auto Body Concepts must comply with each state’s requirements and ensure clients in both markets are pleased with the high-quality repairs the shops perform. According to owner Dan Ott, “The main thing that sets our shop apart from others is our dedication to our customers. We aren’t here for the insurance companies or the tow companies – we are here for our customers, first and foremost. We are a local business, so these are our neighbors, friends and family, and we treat them as such.” In order to guarantee customer satisfaction…
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NORTHEAST Collision P.R.E.P. Kicks Off with Mark Olson’s Bulletproof File
Printed in Autobody News This year’s Collision P.R.E.P. program commenced on August 6th with “Documenting for Repair Process and Liability, and Building a Bulletproof File,” presented by Mark Olson of VECO Experts. Hosted by the Washington Metropolitan Auto Body Association (WMABA), Collision P.R.E.P. is the educational portion of AASP/NJ’s Virtual 2020 NORTHEAST Automotive Services Show. “There’s a much bigger picture than what you’re probably already doing in your shop,” Olson began. “You’ve got to get it right the first time. You don’t have a second chance to get the right information. As soon as the car enters your shop, you need to start taking pictures of the vehicle and the…
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Hawaii Shop Increases Net Profit with AkzoNobel’s ACOAT Selected Performance Group
Since 1937, Island Fender has been providing high-quality collision repairs to Honolulu, Hawaii and the surrounding area. Utilizing the latest technology in collision repair, framework, alignment and painting, Island Fender offers superior workmanship and service. According to owner Van Takemoto, the key ingredient to his shop’s success is his involvement with AkzoNobel’s Acoat Selected Performance Group. He shares, “The Acoat Selected Performance Group helped me build my body shop from $50,000 monthly sales to $250,000 and increased our net profit. With the profit generated from the shop, we were able to invest in the real estate instead of paying rent. Over the years, the cash flow from the shop and…
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Mill Run Collision Praises Matrix Edge as Asset to Business Due to Cost, Coverage and Ease of Application
Printed in Autobody News Mill Run Collision Center opened in the quaint borough of Mill Village, PA in 1984, but despite being located in a historic district, the shop owned by Lee DeBrakeleer is anything but dated. Six employees work on an average of 40 vehicles each month in the facility’s two buildings which are outfitted with the industry’s latest and most technologically advanced tools and equipment. Two of the most valuable tools in Mill Run’s arsenal are the Spectrometer and the Matrix Edge™ refinish system, a Valspar Automotive® brand. DeBrakeleer said, “The reasonable cost of the Matrix Edge system, as well as the excellent coverage and ease of application,…
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NORTHEAST 2020 Goes Virtual, Collision P.R.E.P. Classes Announced
Printed in Autobody News On July 20th, AASP/NJ shared preliminary details for its virtual 2020 NORTHEAST Automotive Services Show. Originally scheduled for March 20-22, this year’s event was postponed until August 21-23, but when the association decided to cancel the in-person trade show in June, they announced that they would host a free virtual event instead. “We are really excited about the virtual show,” AASP/NJ President Jerry McNee said. “With the cancellation of the in-person show this year, we looked for a new way to get our exhibitors in direct contact with our attendees so that 2020 wouldn’t be a lost year. It obviously won’t be the same as face-to-face,…
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TCRA Welcomes Josh Kent as Executive Director, Establishes Interim Board of Directors
Printed in Autobody News The Tennessee Collision Repairers Association (TCRA) was established in 2007 but has hit a lull in recent years. That’s about to change with the appointment of Josh Kent as the association’s executive director. “I heard from some Tennessee shops that they needed an association, and when I reached out to [TCRA admin coordinator] Georgia Thorson, I volunteered to help out,” Kent said. Kent has served as the executive director of NCACAR and SCACAR since the associations were founded four and two years ago, respectively, until the groups combined to become the Carolinas Collision Association (CCA) earlier this year. CCA and TCRA will continue to operate separately…
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Massachusetts Insurance Commissioner and ADALB Requested to Direct Attention to COVID-19 Exploitations
Printed in Autobody News As shops focus on providing a safe environment for both customers and employees during the COVID-19 outbreak, AASP/MA has received notice of a variety of collision repair industry related concerns. As a result, AASP/MA Executive Director Lucky Papageorg requested “immediate steps to stop exploitative practices being employed by insurance providers” in a letter to Massachusetts Commissioner of Insurance Gary Anderson, which was copied to Governor Charlie Baker, Lt. Governor Karyn Polito and Attorney General Maura Healey. “As the ‘first responders’ meeting the needs of the motoring public, the collision repair industry and the customers we serve are subjected to the potentially life-threatening exposure of the pandemic…
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Bogi Lateiner Discusses Post Corona Customer Care and Communications
Printed in Autobody News Now that the world has been dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic for a couple months, things are slowly starting to reopen, leading people to talk about the new normal and what life will be like post-corona. Bogi Lateiner, of All Girls Garage, dove into the topic of “Post Corona Customer Care and Communication” during a recent installment of a collaborative series of technical and management classes focused on necessary topics for navigating business operations during the COVID-19 pandemic. The series is hosted by the Carquest Technical Institute and Worldpac Training Institute (CTI+WTI.) Charlie Sanville, most commonly known as the Humble Mechanic from YouTube, introduced Lateiner, who began by posing several questions: “How…
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WIN Hosts Webinar on WIN’ning SOPs with Dave Luehr
Printed in Autobody News The Women’s Industry Network (WIN®) hosted a free webinar May 20 for more than two dozen members, featuring Dave Luehr of Elite Body Shop Solutions. Luehr’s presentation, “WIN’ning SOPs,” dove into the difference between a good and bad SOPs (standard operation procedure), root problem solving, how winning SOPs help build a winning shop culture and how to get the team on board with the new processes. He began by sharing a positive message: “Anyone willing to work hard on the right thing can be an unlimited entrepreneur.” Good processes bring value to the customer and remove unnecessary waste from the system, according to Luehr. They challenge unnecessary waste, solve root problems…
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Wealth Strategies Webinar for Shop Owners Presented by Kukui – How to Grow Your Money and Use It Along the Way
On January 16, the Kukui Corporation hosted a webinar for shop owners entitled “How to Grow Your Money and Use It Along the Way – Just Like Banks,” featuring wealth strategist and owner of Big Life Financial, Derick Van Ness, who addressed a common entrepreneurial dilemma: “Do I invest my money, or keep it available to grow my businesses?” During the webinar, Van Ness explained how to do both by building a personal banking system that allows collision and automotive repair shop owners to use their money to prospect with almost no extra effort. He described “how to create financial certainty to allow business owners to compound profits by coercing…
