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…