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Marching Forward: Right to Appraisal Bill Moves Ahead
Published in Texas Automotive – Thomas Greco Publishing Texas legislators are taking significant strides to require the Right to Appraisal be included in every Lone Star insurance policy! When insurers refuse to reimburse consumers for the cost of safe and proper repairs, policyholders’ best method of recourse is to invoke the Appraisal Clause whereby two independent appraisers attempt to agree on a fair value; if they cannot come to an agreement, an umpire is selected to cast the final, binding decision. The Right to Appraisal (RTA) saves consumers from the need to engage in costly and time-consuming litigation, but tragically, this vital protection is not available to every policyholder in…
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School Profile: Ocean County Vocational Technical School
Published in New Jersey Automotive – Thomas Greco Publishing As auto body shops continue to face a workforce shortage, some collision repair instructors report a lack of interest in their programs, but that’s not the case everywhere! Ocean County Vocational Technical School’s (OCVTS) ASE-certified auto collision course receives more interest than it can handle. The school offers two daily classes with capacity of 24 students in each class, but “we have over 100 students on a waiting list because so many kids are interested in being here,” shares OCVTS Collision Repair Technology Instructor Mike Lundin. “We’re one of the only shared-time programs in the state, meaning students attend a regular…
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What’s Fueling the MSO Fire?
Published in New Jersey Automotive – Thomas Greco Publishing Running a collision repair shop is a tough gig – between contending with customers’ expectations, insurers’ demands and rising costs of, well, everything, many owners report struggles to turn a profit. Yet, for over a decade, consolidation has been ballooning forth in markets from coast to coast! How did the MSO boom begin, and are there any indications of implosion? Repairers first noticed an increase in consolidation in the late 1990s and early 2000s when Caliber, Gerber and Service King entered the market in California and Texas, purchasing independent shops and converting them to their brands. But beginning in 2013, more…
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Criswell Collision Center Focuses on OEM Certification and Safe Repairs
Published in Hammer & Dolly – Thomas Greco Publishing No man can serve two masters. The same concept applies to body shops. George Criswell first opened Criswell Collision Center (Annapolis, MD) in 2008 to “answer the call of [his] growing Acura and Audi dealership clientele. He decided to open his own facility because he was continually disappointed with the feedback he received about collision repair services his customers were having in the Annapolis area,” Body Shop Manager Kevin Marvin recalls. At first, the shop operated heavily on a DRP-centric model. “It was just the thing to do – get into a relationship with insurance companies so they can ramp up…
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When Will the MSO Bubble Burst?
Published in New England Automotive Report – Thomas Greco Publishing Running a collision repair shop is a tough gig – between contending with customers’ expectations, insurers’ demands and rising costs of, well, everything, many owners report struggles to turn a profit. Yet, for over a decade, consolidation has been ballooning forth in markets from coast to coast! How did the MSO boom begin, and are there any indications of implosion? Repairers first noticed an increase in consolidation in the late 1990s and early 2000s when Caliber, Gerber and Service King entered the market in California and Texas, purchasing independent shops and converting them to their brands. But beginning in 2013, more…
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Open Your Eyes: Shops Need to Follow OEM Procedures!
Published in AASPMN News – Thomas Greco Publishing Once upon a time, vehicles entered a repair shop – mechanical or collision – and could be repaired based upon the repairers’ knowledge and experience. Those days are long gone! With vehicles growing increasingly complex due to the use of new materials, inclusion of ADAS and telematics, not to mention the challenges related to electric vehicles (EVs), researching the OEM repair procedures for every job has become a necessity, even when the repair order calls for something as simple as replacing a bumper or a wheel alignment, either of which may require calibrations. Even if a shop performed the exact same repair on the…
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The Best Technology Shouldn’t Be Reserved for Seasoned Painters: DeVilbiss’ Spray Gun Donation Allows Students to Produce a Flawless Finish
Created for Collision Repair Education Foundation Educating students in collision repair requires instructors to cover a variety of topics to ensure students acquire the entry-level skills needed to obtain employment after graduation, but obtaining the necessary supplies, tools and equipment to provide instruction on everything from welding and bodywork to refinishing necessitates a financial investment that often exceeds the budgets allocated to collision educational programs. Fortunately, the Collision Repair Education Foundation (CREF) aids these programs, with generous assistance from industry employers, such as DeVilbiss, a silver-level sponsor in the Foundation’s Industry Leadership Circle. Last year, DeVilbiss’ donation of 20 DV1 Basecoat Spray Guns, 20 DV1 Clearcoat Spray Guns, 20 PROLite…
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Tee Off to Support Collision Repair Schools and Students at CREF’s 2025 Golf Fundraiser!
Created for Collision Repair Education Foundation Looking for an opportunity to support a great cause AND have a little fun doing it? The search is over! The Collision Repair Education Foundation (CREF) is excited to announce that its 23rd Annual Golf Fundraiser, co-hosted by PPG Automotive Refinish, is scheduled to take place on Tuesday, July 22, 2025 at Philmont Country Club in Huntingdon Valley, PA in conjunction with national industry meetings being held in Philadelphia that week. CREF invites collision professionals to join in “fore” a fun and impactful day on the green as the Foundation raises funds to support collision repair schools and students. Registration is now open at bit.ly/CREFgolf2025. “The…
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Donations by the Truckload: Vendors Donate Products to TCAT After Sherwin-Williams National Sales Meeting
Created for Collision Repair Education Foundation There’s nothing like a collision repair industry event for bringing folks together…and when they can collaborate to support a good cause, the feeling of comradery and positivity is enhanced even more. And that’s exactly what happened at Sherwin-Williams Performance Coating Group’s 2025 Sales Meeting, held in February at the Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center in Nashville, TN, when vendors were invited to donate showcased products to a local collision repair education program. “During our annual National Sales Meeting, we host a vendor showcase in a large exhibit hall, and through our partnership with the Collision Repair Education Foundation (CREF), we’ve had this awesome…
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CREF Introduces 2025 Executive Committee and Thanks Departing Members for Service
Created for Collision Repair Education Foundation The Collision Repair Education Foundation (CREF) is excited to announce and introduce its newly appointed Executive Committee, which consists of seven industry professionals who are dedicated to supporting the future of the industry through engagement with collision schools and students. CREF’s 2025 Executive Committee includes: Chair Brenda Hogen (Parts Trader) Vice-Chair Stacy Bartnik (Intertek) Treasurer Mark Verbois (Enterprise Holdings) Secretary Sandee Lindorfer (Allstate Insurance Company) Trustee-at-Large Chris Dewes (PPG Industries) Trustee-at-Large Kayla Williams Clark (Classic Collision) Immediate Past Chair Steve Schmidt (State Farm) “As the Chair of the Collision Repair Education Foundation, my primary goal this year is to advance our mission of supporting…
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Institutional Bias? It’s a Madhouse at the ADALB
Published in New England Automotive Report – Thomas Greco Publishing Last month, New England Automotive Report explored the ineffectiveness of the Auto Damage Appraiser Licensing Board’s (ADALB) actions regarding its never-ending review of proposed revisions to 212 CMR 2.00 et seq (available to read online at grecopublishing.com/near0325coverstory). But are those regulations even enforced? Anyone who has witnessed their handling of complaints in recent years has certainly asked this question, and it seems to be a topic worth exploring more closely. Disorder. Mayhem. Hullabaloo. These are all synonyms for madhouse, which Websters defines as “a place of uproar or confusion.” Thus, the term madhouse certainly seems to apply to meetings of the Auto Damage…
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Dealing ADAS Calibrations: What Option Is Best?
Published in Texas Automotive – Thomas Greco Publishing ADAS features have become pretty standard on most vehicles; in fact, around 95 percent of light duty vehicles manufactured in 2023 came equipped with automatic emergency braking, according to CCC Intelligent Solutions’ 2024 Q1 Crash Course Report (bit.ly/CCC-CC2024q1). These days, around 70 percent of vehicles being brought to a body shop require at least one calibration, but there’s a lot of debate about whether it makes more sense to sublet this task or to bring calibrations in-house. Simple answer: there isn’t one! It all depends on your business model and what makes sense for each shop. “Calibrations are an absolutely integral part…
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WMABA School Profile: Washington County Career and Technical Education Center
Published in Hammer & Dolly – Thomas Greco Publishing When it comes to attracting young people to collision repair – and retaining their interest in the field – no tool is as valuable as engagement from local industry professionals! That certainly seems to be the case at Washington County Career and Technical Education Center (WCCTEC) in Abingdon, VA. “Industry involvement is always a plus for our students,” reports WCCTEC Auto Body Repair Instructor Brian Casey. “We sometimes have guest speakers from the local industry, which gets students thinking and talking about their future, which is always a positive. We try to take three or four field trips per year because…
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Keeping Score: KPIs for Mechanical Shops
Published in AASPMN News – Thomas Greco Publishing Running a successful automotive repair business is similar to playing a game in that respect – only whether you win or lose ultimately comes down to whether or not the shop is successful, and the best way to “keep score” requires monitoring and tracking certain key performance indicators (KPIs). But with so many moving parts, how does a shop owner or manager know which KPIs are most important? Last month, AASPMN News explored this subject on behalf of collision repair facilities (available at grecopublishing.com/aasp0325coverstory), but while mechanical shops share some of the same KPIs, they typically need to look at things a little differently. Jeff…
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CREF Welcomes Frank Pickering to Board of Trustees
Created for Collision Repair Education Foundation The Collision Repair Education Foundation (CREF) is excited to welcome Frank Pickering, Vice President, Physical Damage for GEICO, to its Board of Trustees. “We are honored to welcome Frank Pickering to our Board,” shares Brenda Hogen, Chair of CREF’s Board of Trustees. “His extensive experience and dedication to the collision industry will be invaluable as we continue to advance our mission.” Pickering began his career in the collision industry in 1998 as a sales associate for GEICO, but after several years, it was time for a change. “In my interactions with fellow associates, I heard the stories from our auto damage adjusters about being…
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Editing Sample
BEFORE: On September 28, 1970, at Sacred Heart Hospital in Chester, Pennsylvania, Kevin “Rock” Oropeza, thrived his way into the world to a 20 year old drug addicted mother while his 22 years old father was at a party with the president of the Pagan Motorcycle Clubhouse. A hyperactive child, at the age of three years old and controlled with the use of pot administered by his father; a decision that would alter Kevin‘s mind body and spirit sentencing him to a life of endless struggles. On November 18, 1992 , Kevin Oropeza was sentenced to natural life without parole for murder and conspiracy in the first- degree for the…
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A Technician Shortage Education: Are the Shops to Blame?
Published in New Jersey Automotive – Thomas Greco Publishing “I can’t find help for my shop.” “No one wants to be a technician anymore.” “Kids these days just aren’t interested in collision repair.” Nearly every shop owner in New Jersey and across the country shares the same complaint, but it just may be time to recognize the issue doesn’t lie with the next generation – shops are largely to blame for this ongoing problem! Although the number of collision repair educational programs have dwindled in recent years, the remainder report high interest in collision technology; however, instructors often fail to get the support they need from the industry to keep students engaged…
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Insanity at the ADALB: Are the Inmates Running the Asylum?
Published in New England Automotive Report – Thomas Greco Publishing It’s commonly said that “insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results,” but how crazy is it to repeat the same actions and yield NO results? Yet, that’s exactly what happens at the Auto Damage Appraiser Licensing Board (ADALB) meetings time and time again! Seated under the Division of Insurance (DOI), the ADALB is charged with the regulation of motor vehicle damage appraisers in the Commonwealth. Although the Board is charged with a laundry list of duties, the bulk of its agenda in recent years seems to be consumed with two specific responsibilities: maintaining…
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RTA: A Ray of Light to Warm Consumers
Published in Texas Automotive – Thomas Greco Publishing Getting in a car crash tends to be a traumatic experience for any driver, but when their insurance carrier – the entity sworn to make them whole after an accident – adds insult to injury by under-indemnifying them for the claim, many vehicle owners find themselves shivering with apprehension as to how they’re going to get their car repaired or afford a replacement. But then a ray of light appears amidst the clouds for those who learn that they have the ability to contest value through their policy’s Appraisal Clause without being forced to pursue costly litigation. Unfortunately, few consumers realize they…
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The Rhythm of Success: Key KPIs for Collision Shops
Published in AASPMN News – Thomas Greco Publishing How do you measure success in your shop? Some owners define success simply by looking at the dollars they have in the bank, while others take a more holistic approach of measuring a variety of key performance indicators (KPIs); however, with the many changes that shops have been forced to make in recent years – due to the pandemic, technological advances, the lengthening average age of the vehicles and changes in consumer behavior – it’s easy to fall into a pattern of collecting a ton of data and never doing anything with it. Those numbers mean something, but if your shop’s KPIs have become…
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Retired Shop Owner Tom Rawson Cruises Through Retirement
Published in New England Automotive Report – Thomas Greco Publishing Over the years, a multitude of collision repair professionals have left their mark on the Massachusetts auto body industry through their work with associations, their dedication to performing proper repairs and their devotion to their customers. New England Automotive Report resumes its mission to catch up with retired repairers to find out what they’ve been doing since they turned over their shop keys. This month, we caught up with Tom Rawson, former owner of Rawson Auto Body in Wakefield. New England Automotive Report: When did you first get into the industry? Tom Rawson: I was into cars as a kid, but I got…
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WMABA School Profile: Carroll County Career & Technology Center
Published in Hammer & Dolly – Thomas Greco Publishing Today’s students have many options when it comes to deciding their futures, and although the auto body industry offers a multitude of exciting career paths, many collision repair educational programs struggle to attract and retain those students due to an inability to show them that potential future; outdated tools, equipment and facilities leave them stuck in the past. That’s not the case at the Carroll County Career & Technology Center (CCCTC) in Westminster, MD – the school recently invested in its collision repair technology program by renovating the shop and classroom areas. “The new shop and updated equipment have been a…
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ADALB Throws Negotiations Out the Window
Published in New England Automotive Report – Thomas Greco Publishing Merriam-Webster defines the word negotiate as “to bring about through discussion and compromise,” yet some members of the Auto Damage Appraiser Licensing Board (ADALB) appear uncertain what constitutes a negotiation, despite the fact that these two terms appear a half dozen times in Regulation 212 CMR 2.00 et seq. Although the ADALB’s January 21 meeting included a brief review of the proposed amendments to the regulation, that discussion focused on revisions to 2.02(7) Conflict of Interest and 2.02(8) Revocation or Suspension of a License. The apparent uncertainty over what constitutes a negotiation arose during the review of six complaints filed by auto body…
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2024 in Retrospect: CREF Celebrates Another Impactful Year
Created for Collision Repair Education Foundation Everything the Collision Repair Education Foundation (CREF) does for collision repair educational programs, schools and students is geared toward making as much of an impact as possible. Why? Because “impactful” means impressive, exciting, meaningful…It’s all about making a difference, and CREF certainly made a difference in 2024! “The Foundation’s goal each year is to add value to our efforts to create stronger high school and collision educational programs and a more qualified future workforce, and we are excited and proud of everything we accomplished in 2024,” shares CREF Executive Director Brandon Eckenrode. “From school grants to scholarships to representation at various events around the…
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Collision Instructors: Fund Your Program by Applying for a 2025 CREF Benchmark Grant!
Created for Collision Repair Education Foundation Collision repair is a fast-paced industry that offers a fascinating career path for young people, especially as advancing technology like ADAS and AI piques their interest, but as any industry professional can attest, investing in these innovations is expensive, creating a significant barrier for instructors who already struggle to maintain their programs at current capability levels – never mind being able to advance those programs. Although constantly advancing technology necessitates that programs keep up with the ongoing changes in the industry to ensure the industry’s future workforce is prepared to enter shops with the skills necessary to make them a valuable part of the…
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Right to Appraisal: Bringing Consumers In from the Cold
Published in Texas Automotive – Thomas Greco Publishing Your car is mangled, and your body aches…You just got into a minor car accident, but the initial damage may not be the most painful part of this experience! For many vehicle owners who’ve been in an accident, the real agony occurs at the hands of their insurance carriers – the entity contracted to indemnify them for their loss – due to tactics designed to increase insurer profits at the expense of their policyholders. Whether the vehicle is repairable or deemed a total loss, there’s an incredibly high likelihood of receiving a settlement offer that does not truly cover the cost of…
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Artificial Intelligence for Smart Shops: Making AI Work for You
Published in AASPMN News – Thomas Greco Publishing Artificial intelligence (AI) is often viewed as a future technology, yet AI already plays many important roles in the automotive industry. Some ADAS, such as crash avoidance systems and lane assist cameras, utilize predictive AI algorithms to enhance safety on the roadways. Vehicle manufacturers have implemented AI in the design, development and assembly of today’s vehicles. Insurers rely on AI for photo estimating and total loss triage. And AI technology also offers opportunities for automotive and collision repair shops to improve their businesses. Who doesn’t want to work smarter, rather than harder? Shrewd shop owners around the country have begun embracing AI…
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A Risky Business: Understanding Shop Liability
Published in Hammer & Dolly – Thomas Greco Publishing “Without risk, there is no reward” – perhaps this well-known and often-repeated saying helped you find the courage to pursue your dreams of a career in the collision repair industry or even open your own shop. But while some risks are worth taking, others simply expose your business to liability and endanger your livelihood. Between technological advancements in today’s constantly changing vehicles, environmental requirements and workplace safety concerns, it’s necessary to recognize the various accountabilities that fall on shops and identify methods to circumvent those potential liabilities to protect the business. As Warren Buffett said, “Risk comes from not knowing what…
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Don Kennett Delivers a Personal Touch in an Increasingly Corporate World
Published in New England Automotive Report – Thomas Greco Publishing The world of collision repair constantly changes in every imaginable way, and while Don Kennett Inc. has certainly undergone its fair share of shifts in recent years, one thing remains consistent – this family-owned-and-operated automotive paint and body supply company offers a personal touch. “The New England market has changed drastically over the past four years,” Vice President Bob Levy notes. “Private equity companies have bought out many businesses like ours, and only a handful of jobbers are left in this area. Although much of the industry’s landscape has changed – with changes in repair quality, technicians, consolidation and shops…
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Refund Fishing for Insurers: Shops Speak Out on Wilber Group’s Collections Horse Play
Published in New Jersey Automotive – Thomas Greco Publishing Imagine: A wife goes to the store and purchases a gallon of milk. She pays the bill and goes home, but weeks later, her husband – who never does the grocery shopping and has no clue what amount is reasonable to pay – writes to the store to demand a partial refund and insists his wife overpaid. Seems pretty ridiculous, doesn’t it? Yet, the absurdity of a similar situation is less laughable. For the past several years, shops across the country have been receiving communications from the Wilber Group, demanding partial reimbursement for invoices paid to those repair facilities by insurers…
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Professionalism and Pride: CCA Donates Student Uniforms to Lexington Technology Center Through CREF
Created for Collision Repair Education Foundation “Dress for success.” This is a common expression with multiple implications – others may gauge someone’s professionalism based on their appearance, but more importantly, donning the right apparel can affect how we feel about ourselves and give us a sense of pride, a consideration that is especially true for future collision repair students who often receive mixed messages about their future career paths. The 28 students enrolled in the auto collision repair program at the Lexington Technology Center (Lexington, SC) can now hold their heads high as they proudly sport official technician shirts, sponsored by the Carolinas Collision Association (CCA), in collaboration with the…
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Progress Through Change: A Q&A with New AASP/MA President Matthew Ciaschini
Published in New England Automotive Report – Thomas Greco Publishing The association has undergone some pretty significant changes in recent months. The association has seen a recent shift in leadership as Past President Kevin Gallerani (Cape Auto Body and Service; Plymouth) passed the torch into the capable hands of Matthew Ciaschini (Full Tilt Auto Body & Collision; West Hatfield). As the association’s new president, Ciaschini has high hopes for the progress that can be achieved if the industry works together, and he sat down with New England Automotive Report to share his thoughts on what the future holds for auto body shops in the Commonwealth. New England Automotive Report: What industry experience do you…
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Paving the Road Forward: AASPMN Updates and Strategies for 2025
Published in AASP-MN News – Thomas Greco Publishing Change is inevitable, and 2024 was a year of many changes for Minnesota automotive and collision repairers. From technological advancements and differing hiring practices that impact individual shops to the AASPMN’s decision to hire a new legal team and the dissolution of the national AASP organization, things look a lot different than they did a year ago. However, amidst the many transformations in the automotive landscape, one thing remains constant: AASPMN persists in its efforts to champion shops and pave the way forward to advance and improve the industry in the North Star State. As AASPMN builds on last year’s momentum to…
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AASP/NJ Recognizes DJ’s Restoration as 2024 Body Shop of the Year
Published in New Jersey Automotive – Thomas Greco Publishing AASP/NJ is only as strong as its members, and during its Annual Meeting each year, the association acknowledges the value that individual members contribute to the association and the industry at-large by recognizing an outstanding member shop with the Stan Wilson/New Jersey Automotive Body Shop of the Year Award. This year’s honoree was DJ’s Restoration (Ewing), an association member whose involvement began decades ago – before AASP/NJ even existed! “I originally got involved with the Garden State Automotive Federation,” shares Daniel Brandt, Jr., owner of DJ’s Restoration. Brandt’s passion for auto body work began when he was a teenager, but cars are…
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People, Process and Passion: Collision Restoration Joins VIVE Collision Family
Published in New Jersey Automotive – Thomas Greco Publishing Nearly four decades after its doors first opened in 1986, Collision Restoration (Fairfield) has begun a brand-new journey as a member of the VIVE Collision family of auto body repair facilities! Garden State collision repairers were stunned last year when Eddie Day, a prominent and respected figure in the industry, decided to retire and sold the shop he founded so many years ago (read Day’s interview at grecopublishing.com/nja0924coverstory). But the legacy he created made the facility an ideal addition for VIVE Collision’s growing organization, which is dedicated to “redefin[ing] the collision repair industry by focusing on three core principles: People, Process and…
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Seeking Ripples to Make a Huge Splash
Published in Texas Automotive – Thomas Greco Publishing With 2025 underway, businesses around the country are examining their budgets and determining which investments to undertake. To deal with ongoing challenges related to advancing technology, Texas collision repair shops likely plan to allocate funding to a number of important business needs, such as tooling, equipment, training, certifications, employee benefits and so forth. But what about the challenges related to shops’ continuous struggles with insurance companies – how can repairers budget for ways to address confrontations with appraisers who under-indemnify claims or refuse to pay for the parts and procedures necessary to safely and properly repair customers’ vehicles? By joining ABAT and…
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WMABA School Profile: Frederick County Career & Technology Center
Published in Hammer & Dolly – Thomas Greco Publishing While some collision repair technology instructors struggle to fill their classrooms, Philip Allen – auto body instructor at Frederick County Career & Technology Center (CTC) in Frederick, MD – laments the inability to accept every student interested in his program! The two-year program admits 18 new students each year, and when Allen began teaching at CTC in January 2019, “student interest and retention was a problem” with only 22 students filling the 36 available slots. During that year’s Shadowing Program, where ninth and 10th grade students from the county’s 12 high schools “shadow our programs for a class period to see…
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Congratulations to the 2024 CREF Cup Champions!
Originally published at CollisionRepairEducationFoundation.org Collision repair professionals love coming together “fore” a good cause, and the 2024 CREF Cup Competition, held at Topgolf in Schaumburg, IL on November 21, offered a memorable evening of competition and comradery while raising funds to support the industry’s future generation. Caliber Collision’s team earned bragging rights for the next year as they walked away with the CREF Cup trophy! “CREF always has a great time connecting with industry supporters to enhance our efforts to assist collision students as they prepare for their future collision repair careers,” says CREF Executive Director Brandon Eckenrode. “Funds raised from this event allow CREF to continue supporting high school…
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Grabbing Gold: NJ Student Wins Refinishing Competition at SkillsUSA Nationals
Published in New Jersey Automotive – Thomas Greco Publishing Rowan Cummings has refinishing SKILLS! Cummings, then a junior at Morris County School of Technology (MCST) in Denville, showcased his talents in automotive refinish technology when he took first place in the collision repair competition during the New Jersey SkillsUSA State Leadership and Skills Conference, held last spring. “I sent Rowan and a second-year student to the state level competition where Rowan took gold and my second-year student took the bronze,” shares MCST Instructor of Collision Repair and Refinishing Lou Rosso. “I am extremely proud of Rowan’s performance at the state level. I was not overly surprised at all – more like…
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AASP/NJ Awards Russ Robson Scholarships to Two Young Industry Professionals
Published in New Jersey Automotive – Thomas Greco Publishing Each year, AASP/NJ helps make a young person’s educational pursuits a little more reachable by providing assistance in the form of the Russ Robson Scholarship. During its 2024 Annual Meeting, held October 23 at the Gran Centurions (Clark), the association expanded its efforts to support the next generation of aspiring automotive professionals by awarding scholarships to two promising automotive workers employed by member shops in good standing! Brayan Colomer (K&L Auto Body; Somerville) and Erick Garcia (Krehel Automotive Repair; Clifton) were the lucky recipients of the 2024 Russ Robson Scholarships, and both young men received plaques to commemorate the honor in addition to…
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ABAT Member Profile: San Antonio Collision Center
Published in Texas Automotive – Thomas Greco Publishing Quality and safety are undoubtedly the most important aspects of performing a proper collision repair, but for a shop to convince customers that they will take care of their vehicle the right way, it begins by building trust. San Antonio Collision Center (San Antonio) assures customers of their trustworthiness by striving to exceed expectations from the beginning of the process. They understand that accidents are stressful for their clientele, so they focus on providing a courteous and honest environment where vehicle owners can rely on qualified technicians to restore each car to its pre-accident condition. Although San Antonio Collision Center was founded…
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Beating the Drum: ABAT’s 2025 Legislative Plans
Published in Texas Automotive – Thomas Greco Publishing ABAT’s first priority is consumer safety, and that objective guides much of what the association focuses on each year, especially when it comes to its biennial efforts to help legislators understand how proper repairs impact their constituents’ wellbeing. So, it comes as no surprise that ABAT leaders have already begun planning for the 89th legislative session, opening January 14, 2025. Although recent sessions have seen pursuit of two pieces of legislation, ABAT is taking a new approach this time around, going back to its roots to concentrate on the importance of following OEM repair procedures and addressing the safety of aftermarket…
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Fine, It’s All Fine – Nothing to See at the ADALB
Published in New England Automotive Report – Thomas Greco Publishing When the Auto Damage Appraiser Licensing Board (ADALB) reconvened for its most recent meeting on October 22, it quickly became apparent that it was unlikely any progress would be made – even less than usual, actually – due to the fact that Board member Bill Johnson (Pleasant Street Auto; South Hadley/Belchertown) was unable to attend. In fact, Board member Peter Smith (MAPFRE) specifically indicated that, in Johnson’s absence, he had no plans to review anything new as it pertained to the Board’s ongoing review of proposed amendments to Regulation 212 CMR 2.00 et seq. He indicated that he would merely…
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Broke? Insurer CEOs are Rolling in Dough
Published in New England Automotive Report – Thomas Greco Publishing Up and up and UP! From east to west and north to south, drivers all over the country have seen significant increases in their auto insurance policies. According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Consumer Price Index (CPI), the cost of motor vehicle insurance in the first half of this year rose by nearly 21 percent compared to the first half of 2023, an annual trend that has intensified since the pandemic. The average cost of premiums in the first half of 2019 saw an increase of just 1.6 percent compared to the previous year, yet from the first…
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You Can’t Afford a Poor Shop Culture!
Published in AASP-MN News – Thomas Greco Publishing Good employees are hard to find and expensive to keep…but replacing them can also be costly in more ways than the financial aspect, since you never know exactly who you’re getting until you’ve already hired them. Once you’ve built a successful team, it is imperative that you keep them. Yet, employee retention is one of the industry’s largest struggles these days, as owners contend with other fields seeking to “steal” valuable workers. To compete with these entities, shop owners must find ways to keep employees engaged and motivated in their jobs, an effort that largely relates to the culture that has been developed in…
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CREF Celebrates Creativity: 2024 Art Meets Automotive Winners
Originally published at CollisionRepairEducationFoundation.org Collision repair requires a highly technical skill set…but it also demands a certain amount of creativity and inspiration. Those attributes are precisely what the Collision Repair Education Foundation (CREF) seeks to elicit and celebrate each year with its Art Meets Automotive Competition! Now in its third year, Art Meets Automotive provided secondary and post-secondary students with an opportunity to design and create a project, demonstrating their talents in painting, sculpting, welding or a combination of all three. The 2024 winning design was Koi-Upstream by Teisha Chambers (McFatter Technical College; Davie, FL). “This piece represents overcoming the trials in my life,” Chambers explained her inspiration for the…
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Collision Schools Receive Over Half a Million Dollars via CREF’s 2024 Benchmark Grants to Support More Than 4,000 Future Repairers
Originally published at CollisionRepairEducationFoundation.org When a large group of people work together for a common goal, they can make a HUGE impact! Collision repair organizations have proven the truth of this sentiment through their continuing support of the Collision Repair Education Foundation’s (CREF) Benchmark Grant program. Thanks to the generosity multiple industry partners – both small and large – the Foundation is proud to announce that 80 collision schools will receive $536,000 in 2024 Benchmark Grant funding to financially support their efforts to educate the collision industry’s future workforce and ensure students graduate with the knowledge and skills to successfully fill the entry-level positions for which collision repair businesses so…
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Fueling the Future: CREF Honors Industry Professionals at SEMA 2023
Originally published at CollisionRepairEducationFoundation.org The 2023 SEMA Show was a time for celebrations, and the Collision Repair Education Foundation certainly took advantage of the opportunity! In addition to hosting its Benchmark Grants Awards Breakfast where $678,500 in funds were bestowed upon 109 schools, the Foundation celebrated collision repair students’ creativity with an Art Meets Automotive showcase and also honored several industry professionals who are “Fueling the Future” during the Collision Industry Red Carpet Awards. “We truly appreciate the generous impact that’s been made to support the next generation of the collision repair industry,” says CREF Executive Director Brandon Eckenrode. “CREF’s efforts to support collision repair educational programs, schools and students…
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Role Segmentation: Strengthening the Machine
Published in Texas Automotive – Thomas Greco Publishing A machine is defined as “an apparatus using or applying mechanical power and having several parts, each with a definite function and together performing a particular task.” Machines work by accepting an input, transforming or modifying it in some way and then releasing the output of its efforts. Most discussions and examples of a “machine” will include references to automobiles, a vital piece of the collision repair industry, yet there’s an even more important machine that plays a role in this field: the shop itself! Each repair facility (apparatus) requires several parts (employees) to use or apply their power to function together…
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The Non-Existent Clause: A Policyholder’s Nightmare
Published in New Jersey Automotive – Thomas Greco Publishing One bright afternoon in August, Ashley*, a 19-year-old college student, drove down the Parkway on her way home from a shopping expedition with her mother, who was a passenger in her car. When the traffic in front of her slowed down, Ashley slowly engaged her brakes – but the person behind her did not. CRASH! Pulling to the side of the road, Ashley exchanged information with the other driver, but when she attempted to file a claim with the at-fault party’s insurance company, she learned that they had not paid their insurance bill and their card was invalid; they were uninsured. …