Chasidy Rae Sisk

Freelance Writer

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  • Home
  • About
  • Portfolio
    • Articles
      • Feature stories
      • News Stories
      • Profiles
      • Editor’s messages
    • Book Editing
    • Press Releases
    • Social Media
  • Contact
  • Testimonials
  • Blog
    • Collision Repair Industry
    • Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
    • Dirty Little Secrets – Femcanic Collab
    • Grammar Guidance
    • Creativity Corner
News Stories, Thomas Greco Publishing

More Delays at the ADALB

Published in New England Automotive Report – Thomas Greco Publishing Not much happened during the July 12 meeting of the Auto Damage Appraiser Licensing Board (ADALB). The Board was scheduled…

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September 2, 2023
Feature stories, Thomas Greco Publishing

Forging a Path to the Future Through Specialization

Published in New England Automotive Report – Thomas Greco Publishing Navigating the rapidly advancing technology of the collision repair industry has created many challenges for shops as they struggle to…

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July 2, 2024
Feature stories, Thomas Greco Publishing

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…

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April 1, 2022
Autobody News, News Stories

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…

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July 21, 2021
Autobody News, News Stories

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…

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April 27, 2021
  • Automotive Education Advances to Meet New Demands

    November 6, 2024 /

    Published in AASP-MN News – Thomas Greco Publishing Last month, AASP-MN News shared how two schools’ automotive technology programs are thinking outside the box to address the challenges they face in providing students with the tools and knowledge they need to become successful shop employees after graduation, but with today’s technology advancing faster all the time, several enlightened educators have seen the opportunity to take things a step further by creating new initiatives that specifically target some of the industry’s changing demands.  These schools have taken the initiative to offer unique courses that address shops’ developing needs. Two years ago, Minnesota State Community and Technical College (Moorhead) received a $349,652 grant from…

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    Keeping Score: KPIs for Mechanical Shops

    April 4, 2025

    Appraisal: An Issue of Life and Death

    April 8, 2023

    Tech Shortage Solutions: Shop Owners Engage with Local Schools and Students

    May 1, 2022
  • ADALB Demonstrates Consistency in Pushing Everything Down the Road

    November 6, 2024 /

    Published in New England Automotive Report – Thomas Greco Publishing The Auto Damage Appraiser Licensing Board (ADALB) reconvened late September with a full agenda to discuss, but as has become customary at these meetings, little actually moved forward as the Board consistently decided to delay making an actual decision on even the most trivial details. As the ADALB resumed its review of proposed amendments to Regulation 212 CMR 2.00 et seq., Board member Peter Smith (MAPFRE) launched into discussion on 212 CMR 2.02, which largely relates to appraisal forms and the application and examination processes. His suggested updates to the verbiage were made to account for the application and renewal…

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    Texas Shop Partners with ATEQ TPMS Tools to Give Tools for Schools

    July 21, 2021

    Shop Calls on Labor Rate Hero for Aid against Insurance Bullies

    June 1, 2023

    Moving Forward: A Q&A with New AASP/NJ President Ken Miller

    December 8, 2023
  • Embracing Opportunity: Collision Shops Bring Calibrations In House

    November 6, 2024 /

    Published in New England Automotive Report – Thomas Greco Publishing It’s no secret that the majority of new vehicles being sold today include ADAS. 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 (available at cccis.com/reports/crash-course-2024/q1) – and experts anticipate that number will continue rising as consumers increasingly rely on these types of safety systems.  With cars being produced with a growing number of electronic components, it’s no wonder that the majority of repairs necessitate calibrations to maintain those components’ functionality following an accident, though the frequency of shops performing calibrations does…

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    Are Insurance Premium Spikes a Ripoff?

    October 8, 2024

    Are DRPs Dying?

    September 8, 2022

    Protect Your Gold: Data Privacy Concerns and Solutions

    August 2, 2022
  • CREF’s Support Ensures Collision Professional Acquires Full View of Collision Career Opportunities

    October 23, 2024 /

    Originally published at CollisionRepairEducationFoundation.org The collision repair industry offers a vast array of career opportunities for those interested in the field, though not all young people realize the variety of options at their fingertips. The Collision Repair Education Foundation (CREF) seeks to highlight the many different choices available by its multitude of endeavor, including participating in industry events, hosting career fairs and funding scholarships to help students pursue their education. That support can be vital for aspiring collision professionals who may not receive encouragement from other areas of their lives. Christina Sepulveda was the youngest of three children born to parents whose increasingly severe disabilities made it difficult for them…

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    Tee Off to Support Collision Repair Schools and Students at CREF’s 2025 Golf Fundraiser!

    April 11, 2025

    Racing to Support Collision Students: Northeast Ohio I-CAR Committee Chair to Run 209 Miles for CREF Fundraiser

    March 12, 2024

    CREF Welcomes Kayla Clark to Board of Trustees

    April 25, 2024
  • CREF Celebrates 2024 PiN Master Winners

    October 11, 2024 /

    Originally published at CollisionRepairEducationFoundation.org The Collision Repair Education Foundation (CREF) is excited to celebrate the winners of the 2024 PiN Master Challenge, held in conjunction with LKQ Refinish’s 5th Annual Hood Master Challenge on August 29, 2024 at The Bell Tower in Nashville, TN. Congratulations to this year’s victors who won a Craftsman Tool Kit, detailed buckets and gloves to aid them as they advance in their careers: 1st Place: Koi-Upstream by Teisha Chambers (McFatter Technical College; Davie, FL) 2nd Place: Freedom Pin by Sara Jane Elzinga (Careerline Tech Center; Holland, MI) 3rd Place: The Wrath of Artemis by Skylah Kellogg (Warren Tech; Lakewood, CO) Wild Card: Simpsons Shark Bite by…

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    Falling for a Collision Career: Students Connect with Industry at CREF’s 2024 High School & College Transportation Student Career Fairs

    September 16, 2024

    Over 100 Collision Schools Receive $678,500 in 2023 Benchmark Grants, Funded by Generous Industry Supporters and Facilitated by CREF

    November 13, 2023

    2024 in Retrospect: CREF Celebrates Another Impactful Year

    February 11, 2025
  • CREF Reconnects with Collision Professional Who Attended First CREF Career Fair

    October 11, 2024 /

    Originally published at CollisionRepairEducationFoundation.org All too often, collision students enter the industry for a short time and then abandon their collision career aspirations for other fields. The need to create long-lasting connections to his industry is apparent and something the Collision Repair Education Foundation seeks to accomplish through its many initiatives. The success of such endeavors is visible in the case of Brandon Wennin, a 10-year industry veteran who met CREF Executive Director Brandon Eckenrode as a student and later spoke to students during the Foundation’s first-ever career fair, then titled the Cars, Careers & Celebrities Expo, in August 2014. Wennin’s entrance into the industry began a few years earlier.…

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    CREF Celebrates Creativity: 2024 Art Meets Automotive Winners

    November 26, 2024

    Racing to Support Collision Students: Northeast Ohio I-CAR Committee Chair to Run 209 Miles for CREF Fundraiser

    March 12, 2024

    The Best Technology Shouldn’t Be Reserved for Seasoned Painters: DeVilbiss’ Spray Gun Donation Allows Students to Produce a Flawless Finish

    April 24, 2025
  • Are Insurance Premium Spikes a Ripoff?

    October 8, 2024 /

    Published in New Jersey Automotive – Thomas Greco Publishing If it seems like your auto insurance premiums increased more than ever last year, you aren’t too far off base. Nationally, premiums rose by approximately 20 percent in 2023. That means insurance coverage costs rose six times faster than the Consumer Price Index (CPI) inflation rate of 3.4 percent, outpacing nearly every other common consumer cost and reflecting the largest annual increase since 1976. And those rate spikes are anticipated to continue in 2024 with predictions indicating an increase of 12.6 percent nationwide…and New Jersey drivers could see one of the highest increases of up to 34 percent! Insurance premium prices…

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    Forget About the Price Tag and Focus on Proper Billing

    April 1, 2022

    TDI Responds…but Do They Ever ANSWER?!

    May 1, 2022

    Progressive Poaching Body Shop Repair Planners

    May 8, 2023
  • Digging Deep in His Pockets to Protect the Right to Appraisal

    October 8, 2024 /

    Published in Texas Automotive – Thomas Greco Publishing It’s easy enough for people to claim they’re willing to “put their money where their mouth is” when there isn’t much money involved, but few people are actually willing to invest time, energy and money – and certainly not all three! – to stand by their convictions and do what’s right to protect others. Texas consumer Joe Collins is a rare exception to that rule. Last summer, a Rusk County District Court jury ruled in Collins’ favor in Joseph Wayne Collins v. State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company. During the trial, 12 Texans found the insurance giant had knowingly or intentionally engaged in…

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    Overcoming Adversity to Take A Family’s Legacy to the Next Level

    August 2, 2024

    A New Era: ABAT Bleeds Red, White and Blue for Texas Repairers

    September 8, 2024

    CREF Reconnects with Collision Professional Who Attended First CREF Career Fair

    October 11, 2024
  • ABAT Celebrates a Decade

    October 8, 2024 /

    Published in Texas Automotive – Thomas Greco Publishing It’s hard to believe that 10 years ago, ABAT did not officially exist yet. But in the association’s earliest days, it set out to address some pretty specific matters impacting collision repair shops in Texas. Since its inception, ABAT has made some huge strides for the auto body world and is still going strong as it celebrates a decade of dedication to this industry. In early 2014, the idea began to take hold during an estimating seminar at Paint Works (Tyler). Burl Richards (Burl’s Collision Center; Henderson) and Chad Neal, owner of Paint Works, had engaged in several conversations about the need…

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    Seeking Ripples to Make a Huge Splash

    January 1, 2025

    A Comedy of Under-Indemnification: Starring Progressive Insurance

    November 8, 2023

    Cultivating a Winning Shop Culture

    October 1, 2024
  • CREF Welcomes Heather McMahon to Board of Trustees

    October 3, 2024 /

    Originally published at CollisionRepairEducationFoundation.org The Collision Repair Education Foundation (CREF) is excited to welcome Heather McMahon, Vice President of Material Damage, Corporate Claims for Erie Insurance, to its Board of Trustees. “The Foundation is delighted to have Heather join our Board of Trustees,” says CREF Executive Director Brandon Eckenrode. “Her industry experience and her passion for promoting education will certainly be a major asset. I look forward to her joining in CREF’s efforts to support collision school programs and students.” McMahon’s industry career began in 2003 as an inside claim adjuster for Erie Insurance, but it didn’t take long for her to move up the ranks, utilizing her bachelor’s degree…

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    CREF’s Support Ensures Collision Professional Acquires Full View of Collision Career Opportunities

    October 23, 2024

    Over 100 Collision Schools Receive $678,500 in 2023 Benchmark Grants, Funded by Generous Industry Supporters and Facilitated by CREF

    November 13, 2023

    CREF’s 22nd Annual Golf Fundraiser Gets Bigger and Better, Raises Over $110,000 for Collision Schools and Students!

    July 22, 2024
  • Seeing Bronze: Maryland Collision Student Places Third at SkillsUSA Nationals

    October 1, 2024 /

    Published in Hammer & Dolly – Thomas Greco Publishing Benjamin Kimbark has SKILLS!  Kimbark, a 2024 graduate from the Frederick County Career and Tech Center (FCPS CTC) in Frederick, MD, showcased his talents as a collision repair technician when he took first place in the collision repair competition during the Maryland SkillsUSA State Leadership and Skills Conference, held last April. FCPS CTC Collision Instructor Philip Allen acknowledges, “One of my students won the collision repair competition at States in 2023, so I did apply a little fun pressure to Ben to make it two years in a row for us.”  Kimbark has always been interested in the automotive world. “Cars, trucks,…

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    Digging Deep in His Pockets to Protect the Right to Appraisal

    January 8, 2024

    A Breed of Their Own: ABAT Honors the Ladies of Collision

    June 8, 2024

    NABC® Leadership Shares 2021 Outlook

    February 21, 2021
  • Shielding Your Shop from Tragedy

    October 1, 2024 /

    Published in Hammer & Dolly – Thomas Greco Publishing Catastrophes may strike without warning, but being proactive can help shop owners avoid becoming the next tragedy. Unfortunately, a lot of collision repair facility owners do not have enough coverage through their business insurance, according to David Willett of Spark Underwriters. “From a risk management standpoint, it’s just as important to make sure your insurance policy reflects today’s needs as it is to send your technicians to training or to invest in current tools; it’s an aspect of running a fine-tuned, efficient business,” he insists, recommending an annual review of one’s policy at a bare minimum, though his company monitors their…

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    A New Era: ABAT Bleeds Red, White and Blue for Texas Repairers

    September 8, 2024

    Are Insurance Premium Spikes a Ripoff?

    February 8, 2024

    What Cars Say: “We Need More Female Technicians!”

    April 30, 2021
  • Northern Neck Technical Center

    October 1, 2024 /

    Published in Hammer & Dolly – Thomas Greco Publishing Collision repair professionals often bemoan the scarcity of young people interested in pursuing a career in this industry, but Matt Ingram, auto body instructor for Northern Neck Technical Center (Warsaw, VA), believes this field continues to hold the same appeal it always has, as evidenced by his program’s complete enrollment year after year. “We run a two-year, ASE-accredited program at a regional technical center serving six school districts, so students get bussed in from up to 40 minutes away,” he says, noting that first-year students attend the morning session, while the afternoon session is reserved for second-year students. “We spark interest…

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    Don Kennett Delivers a Personal Touch in an Increasingly Corporate World

    February 1, 2025

    Retired Shop Owner Tom Rawson Cruises Through Retirement

    March 1, 2025

    Get to Know WIN’s 2018 MIW Honorees

    March 17, 2021
  • Your Business Insurance Coverage Isn’t Enough!

    October 1, 2024 /

    Published in Hammer & Dolly – Thomas Greco Publishing Just like drivers purchase auto insurance policies to cover them in the event of a loss, shop owners invest in business insurance that will protect their assets if the unthinkable happens…but is it enough?  According to Peter Kelyman of Wheaton Body Shop (Wheaton, MD), it probably isn’t, especially if your policy was written years ago and simply renewed without being thoroughly reviewed! Unfortunately, Kelyman learned this lesson the hard way when his shop went up in flames – literally! He agreed to share his story with Hammer & Dolly in hopes of preventing other shop owners from suffering a similar scenario.  Kelyman first…

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    Are DRPs Dying?

    September 8, 2022

    Navigating the Storm: Shops Prepare for the EV Evolution

    July 8, 2022

    Lessen the Learning Curve with SOPs

    January 2, 2024
  • Thinking Outside the Box: Automotive Educators Keep Pace with Industry Innovations

    October 1, 2024 /

    Published in AASP-MN News – Thomas Greco Publishing There’s no denying that the skilled trades are in dire need of qualified talent to fill the void being left as baby boomers reach the age of retirement, but many tech school programs teach licensed industries that don’t change quickly – technology and techniques related to plumbing, cosmetology and most other “trades” remain fairly fixed year after year.  Automotive technology is a different beast altogether. “Very few technical programs are driven by such rapidly-changing technology and consumer demands,” AASP-MN Executive Director Linden Wicklund points out, acknowledging that shops often complain that schools are failing to keep up with these rapid changes. “Automotive…

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    2009 CREF Scholarship Winner Pays It Forward

    May 26, 2022

    Slaying a Giant: Consumer Defeats Progressive in Short-Pay Lawsuit

    August 8, 2024

    Information Providers Inspired by SCRS Blend Study to Research Blend Times

    January 8, 2024
  • Albert Kemperle Inc. Touts Training to Support Collision Industry

    October 1, 2024 /

    Published in New Jersey Automotive – Thomas Greco Publishing Distributors of automotive paint, body shop supplies and related equipment abound, but how can shops know that their supplier is truly invested in their success? Albert Kemperle LLC demonstrates their commitment to clients and collision repair excellence by offering a slew of training and educational opportunities for the industry.  “Albert Kemperle’s commitment to training is a key component of our service offering, which is designed to add value beyond just product distribution,” explains Roy Griep, territory sales manager for Albert Kemperle. “This focus on education and skill development is vital for both our company and our clients, particularly in the ever-evolving…

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    Passion Breeds Passion: New Teacher Breathes Life into Auto Body Program

    May 1, 2022

    Get to Know WIN’s 2019 MIW Honorees

    March 24, 2021

    Don Kennett Delivers a Personal Touch in an Increasingly Corporate World

    February 1, 2025
  • Vendor Affinity Program Spotlight: PartsTrader

    October 1, 2024 /

    Published in New England Automotive Report – Thomas Greco Publishing It’s impossible to repair a vehicle without the parts necessary to do so, but over the past couple of years, sourcing parts has become increasingly challenging – between intermittent shortages, delivery issues and inflation leading to increased costs, it can be difficult to know where to find the best parts for one’s business. PartsTrader sets out to alleviate those burdens by providing a single marketplace where repairers can easily locate and acquire the parts they need. “PartsTrader is an online real-time marketplace that connects suppliers, insurers and repairers in the collision repair industry to help them find parts for vehicles,”…

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    Don Kennett Delivers a Personal Touch in an Increasingly Corporate World

    February 1, 2025

    Passion Breeds Passion: New Teacher Breathes Life into Auto Body Program

    May 1, 2022

    Get to Know WIN’s 2018 MIW Honorees

    March 17, 2021
  • Cultivating a Winning Shop Culture

    October 1, 2024 /

    Published in Texas Automotive – Thomas Greco Publishing The collision repair industry’s workforce shortage keeps coming up again and again as shops struggle to staff their facilities with qualified help, but at the same time, stories abound of technicians leaving the industry for other fields – even for jobs at Amazon or McDonald’s! Many experts believe the industry’s problem isn’t recruitment but retention, and even with an unlimited supply of incoming technicians, it will never be enough if the work environment isn’t a place where people want to stay. It’s all about developing a work culture that keeps employees happy and motivated and, in turn, results in higher customer satisfaction.…

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    Is Inflation Good for Your Body Shop? Part 2

    July 2, 2023

    Filling the Tech Labor Pool: An Instructor Roundtable

    September 2, 2022

    Parts Authorization, Indemnification and More—Documentation Part 3

    July 14, 2021
  • Falling for a Collision Career: Students Connect with Industry at CREF’s 2024 High School & College Transportation Student Career Fairs

    September 16, 2024 /

    Originally published at CollisionRepairEducationFoundation.org Collision repair shops and other industry businesses often struggle to find qualified help, but it may be a matter of neglecting to look in all the right places! Thousands of young people have fallen in love with the idea of working in this field and are pursuing a collision career through various educational programs around the country, and the Collision Repair Education Foundation (CREF) wants to connect these future employees with the businesses looking to hire them! Don’t miss the opportunity to engage locally with hundreds of future collision repair professionals during the Foundation’s Fall 2024 High School and College Transportation Student Career Fairs. “The collision…

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    CREF Welcomes Frank Pickering to Board of Trustees

    March 11, 2025

    CREF Introduces 2024 Executive Committee, Announces New Chair and Welcomes Two New Board Members

    February 12, 2024

    CREF Celebrates Creativity: 2024 Art Meets Automotive Winners

    November 26, 2024
  • A New Era: ABAT Bleeds Red, White and Blue for Texas Repairers

    September 8, 2024 /

    Published in Texas Automotive – Thomas Greco Publishing Over the past decade, ABAT has done some truly great things for the Texas collision repair industry. Whether the association is hosting local training sessions that feature nationally renowned educators, bringing the best vendors and speakers from around the country to the annual Texas Auto Body Trade Show, educating legislators at the Capitol in Austin or challenging the Texas Department of Insurance (TDI) to protect consumers’ rights, there’s no doubt about it – ABAT continues to do everything possible to support auto body repairers in the Lone Star State. Earlier this year, ABAT celebrated its double digits (check it out at grecopublishing.com/txa0224coverstory). Now,…

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    Is Time Finally Up for Total Loss Under-Indemnification Tactics?

    July 8, 2024

    Grow or Get Out: Positioning Your Business for Success and Sale

    February 2, 2024

    Is a Partial Repair Ever Good Enough?

    August 2, 2024
  • Waiting for the Other Shoe to Drop: Will Others Follow asTech/GEICO’s Path?

    September 8, 2024 /

    Published in New Jersey Automotive – Thomas Greco Publishing Two’s company, three’s a crowd, but four on the sidewalk is not allowed! The simple childhood proverb offers a lot of wisdom in terms of business contracts, especially in the collision repair industry where it’s not uncommon for confusion to exist when it comes to which entities a repair facility owes its loyalty: the customer who brings the vehicle into the shop or the insurance company that typically compensates for the repair. But when another type of business – a vendor – recently decided to insert itself into the equation, collision leaders and business owners around the country immediately made their…

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    ADAS All Over…But Where Are the Calibrations?

    January 2, 2023

    The Machine Behind the Women: Drive Safer and Smart by Knowing Your Vehicle’s Capabilities

    January 20, 2021

    Filling the Tech Labor Pool: An Instructor Roundtable

    September 2, 2022
  • Cybersecurity Concerns: Fortify Your Data Defenses

    September 2, 2024 /

    Published in New England Automotive Report – Thomas Greco Publishing Protecting your shop’s assets requires forethought and preparation, and these days, data is often considered more valuable than gold. Headlines over the summer featured a cyberattack against CDK Global – used by 15,000 dealerships – which led the software to be shut down for weeks, causing parts supply disruptions across the country. Although CDK’s situation has been resolved, the data breach raises concerns about what level of risk cybercriminals pose to automotive businesses. A 2023 report conducted by CDK (bit.ly/CDKreport2023) indicated that 17 percent of dealers experienced a cyberattack in the previous year. And cyberattacks prove increasingly costly. Citing research…

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    Appraisal: An Issue of Life and Death

    April 8, 2023

    Overcoming Adversity to Take A Family’s Legacy to the Next Level

    August 2, 2024

    Battling for Right to Appraisal: Do You Understand the Impact?

    February 8, 2024
  • Is a Partial Repair Ever “Good Enough?” Part 2

    September 2, 2024 /

    Published in AASP-MN News – Thomas Greco Publishing Collision industry leaders consistently emphasize the importance of performing a “complete and proper repair” in accordance with OEM recommendations in order to restore a vehicle to its pre-accident condition, but – for a variety of reasons – shops may not be performing every single task. Are all those repairs necessary? If the vehicle is still “driveable” without addressing those issues, is it “good enough”…or should shops be refusing these partial repairs? Last month, AASP-MN News explored this subject with experts on the mechanical side of the industry (available at grecopublishing.com/aasp0824coverstory). Now, the conversation continues with two leading collision consultants: Mike Anderson (Collision Advice) and…

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    Is Time Finally Up for Total Loss Under-Indemnification Tactics?

    July 8, 2024

    An Eye Forward: Does Specialization Give Shops an Advantage?

    January 2, 2024

    Forget About the Price Tag and Focus on Proper Billing

    April 1, 2022
  • Slaying a Giant: Consumer Defeats Progressive in Short-Pay Lawsuit

    August 8, 2024 /

    Published in New Jersey Automotive – Thomas Greco Publishing Walking into a courtroom to confront a massive corporation like Progressive Insurance on a short-pay lawsuit would intimidate many people. And Carmen Torres* acknowledges she was one of those people. She admits to being terrified when she realized that her case was actually going to trial, but armed with documentation from her collision repair shop, she walked away with justice served and a sense of empowerment from her encounter with the insurance giant. It all began when Torres was rear-ended in her newly-leased Mazda which only had a couple hundred miles on it. She had been in a couple fender benders…

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    Broke? Insurer CEOs are Rolling in Dough

    December 6, 2024

    Dealing ADAS Calibrations: What Option Is Best?

    April 4, 2025

    Act II: Waiting for Progressive to Act in Good Faith

    March 2, 2024
  • ADALB Slides Down a Slippery Slope Away From Consumer Protection

    August 2, 2024 /

    Published in New England Automotive Report – Thomas Greco Publishing Seated under the Division of Insurance (DOI), the Auto Damage Appraiser Licensing Board (ADALB) shares the DOI’s supposed mission of protecting consumer interests and is specifically charged with “adopt[ing] rules and regulations governing licenses under this section in order to promote the public welfare and safety.”  At least that’s what the DOI’s website and Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 26 Section 8G (MGL c. 26 § 8G) assert, but at each gathering to review complaints and regulatory amendments, the blatant bias of the Board’s insurance representatives – as well as Chairman Michael Donovan – serves as a reminder that they are…

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    Is Time Finally Up for Total Loss Under-Indemnification Tactics?

    July 8, 2024

    A Breed of Their Own: ABAT Honors the Ladies of Collision

    June 8, 2024

    On-the-Spot” Blending Options: CCC Responds to SCRS Blend Study

    July 2, 2023
  • Overcoming Adversity to Take A Family’s Legacy to the Next Level

    August 2, 2024 /

    Published in Hammer & Dolly – Thomas Greco Publishing It’s the dream for many – open your own auto body shop to provide a nice life for your family. One day, when you retire, your children will take over to continue your legacy. Sounds lovely, but sometimes life has other plans. Although no father intends to burden his 22-year-old child and her new spouse with a floundering business, there’s no doubt that the late Roland O’Haran Sr. would be extremely proud of his daughter and son-in-law, Jenn and Kyle Goad, for turning a struggling shop into a success story by overcoming the odds after being unexpectedly thrown into ownership. O’Haran,…

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    Moving Forward: A Q&A with New AASP/NJ President Ken Miller

    December 8, 2023

    Valiant Hearts: ABAT Members Donate Repairs to Local Mom

    November 8, 2023

    Paving the Road Forward: AASPMN Updates and Strategies for 2025

    January 1, 2025
  • Is a Partial Repair Ever Good Enough?

    August 2, 2024 /

    Published in AASP-MN News – Thomas Greco Publishing “Complete and proper repair” – it’s the golden standard that gets emphasized and reiterated in industry documentation and training events, and in a perfect world, of course every shop always performs every single task associated with restoring a car to its factory or pre-accident condition. But in the real world, various factors may create scenarios where shops do NOT address every item on that extensive list. Sometimes, it’s accidental; the shop fails to properly diagnose all the necessary repair items. Maybe the aftermarket warranty company or insurer debates whether certain repairs are truly necessary, or perhaps the customer refuses to invest in something they…

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    Dancing in the Sky: Remembering Longtime AASP/NJ Board Member Sam Mikhail

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    Beating the Drum: ABAT’s 2025 Legislative Plans

    December 6, 2024
  • CREF’s 22nd Annual Golf Fundraiser Gets Bigger and Better, Raises Over $110,000 for Collision Schools and Students!

    July 22, 2024 /

    Originally published at CollisionRepairEducationFoundation.org The Collision Repair Education Foundation’s (CREF) 22nd Annual Golf Fundraiser, co-hosted by PPG Automotive Finishes, was among the biggest and best in the organization’s history! Held at the Arrowhead Golf Club in Littleton, CO – one of the most scenic courses on which the annual fundraiser has ever been held – the July 9th event enjoyed participation from 126 golfers and nearly three dozen sponsors supporting the industry as they enjoyed a day on the green while also raising over $110,000 to support collision repair programs, schools and students around the country. “What an incredible day of golf, networking and fundraising at our 22nd annual golf…

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    What Cars Say: “We Need More Female Technicians!”

    April 30, 2021

    From CREF Scholarship Recipient to Gerber Apprentice: Olivia Peterson Shines as an Incoming Collision Repair Professional

    January 2, 2022

    CREF Introduces 2025 Executive Committee and Thanks Departing Members for Service

    April 9, 2025
  • Is Time Finally Up for Total Loss Under-Indemnification Tactics?

    July 8, 2024 /

    Published in Texas Automotive – Thomas Greco Publishing When a vehicle owner brings their car to a shop after an accident, they typically expect it to be repaired, so it’s a tough blow when they learn their vehicle has been deemed a total loss. It’s even more upsetting when their insurance carrier shortchanges them by undervaluing the actual cash value (ACV) of the loss. Yet, that’s a common occurrence these days as demonstrated by the prevalence of allegations, lawsuits and settlements related to under-indemnification. While shops, vehicle owners and consumer advocates have been bringing these concerns to the forefront for a number of years through a variety of methods, a…

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    July 2, 2023
  • Doing It Differently: The Fight for Appraisal Expands

    July 8, 2024 /

    Published in Texas Automotive – Thomas Greco Publishing Texans deserve to drive safe vehicles, even after their car is damaged in an accident; however, proper vehicle repairs can be costly, and it’s all-too-common for insurance carriers to use unfair methodologies to undervalue both repairable and total loss vehicles, thereby under-indemnifying their policyholders. This is no surprise to collision repairers who repeatedly witness this tragic situation, and for years, shops have taken this burden on their shoulders, encouraging customers to utilize the Appraisal Clause in their policies to get a fairer shake. Unfortunately, in 2015, the Texas Department of Insurance (TDI) permitted State Farm to eliminate the Appraisal Clause from its…

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  • Forging a Path to the Future Through Specialization

    July 2, 2024 /

    Published in New England Automotive Report – Thomas Greco Publishing Navigating the rapidly advancing technology of the collision repair industry has created many challenges for shops as they struggle to keep pace with all the changes happening on what seems like a daily basis. These days, properly repairing vehicles requires investing in specific tools, equipment and training – all of which vary drastically depending on the vehicle make and model.  It can be difficult to see the forest for the trees, but technology truly presents some amazing opportunities for those who are willing to take a step back and embrace some different ways of proceeding. The path forward may look…

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    October 1, 2024

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    November 2, 2023
  • Keeping a Clean Table at the ADALB

    July 2, 2024 /

    Published in New England Automotive Report – Thomas Greco Publishing Although the Auto Damage Appraiser Licensing Board (ADALB) entered its May meeting with a full agenda of items to discuss, votes to table topic after topic quickly cleared their plate. The Board reviewed a request to approve a course of instruction for motor vehicle damage appraisals, which was submitted by AASP/MA Executive Director Lucky Papageorg and designed to prepare students to successfully complete the Part-I and Part-II portions of the examination for motor vehicle damage appraiser licensure. The proposed course was approved by the ADALB in January 2017 for Springfield Technical Community College and was most recently used as the…

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    January 8, 2024

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    March 2, 2024

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    August 8, 2023
  • Fair or Foul? Ford Dealer Offers Opt-OE Parts for OE Prices

    June 8, 2024 /

    Published in Texas Automotive – Thomas Greco Publishing “Quality means doing it right when no one is looking.” Henry Ford’s famous quote speaks to a level of integrity that many aspire to achieve…many, but not all. Over the past couple of months, David Osburn (David McDavid Ford Collision Center; Fort Worth) noticed something odd related to parts pricing. “Insurers began writing estimates that called for opt-OE parts from [a Central Texas Ford dealership] due to the lower price, but when I called the dealership to order the part, I was told that my cost would be the same as for an OE part, even though the MSRP for the opt-OE…

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    July 8, 2023

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    October 2, 2023

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    February 8, 2023
  • A Breed of Their Own: ABAT Honors the Ladies of Collision

    June 8, 2024 /

    Published in Texas Automotive – Thomas Greco Publishing Perspicacious. Selfless. Resilient. Compassionate. Vivacious. Superhero. These are just a few of the adjectives used to describe the honorees at ABAT’s Inaugural Night of Honor for Collision Industry Women, held last month at Cook’s Garage in Lubbock.  “There’s something special about the women in the collision repair business,” said ABAT Executive Director Jill Tuggle. “It’s almost like we are our own breed – so wildly unique yet still similar! Since industry events often attract fewer women, ABAT wanted to get the ladies together to network as we attempt to build a community among the women in our industry, locally and nationally.” Over…

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    Time is Money: Estimating in a Post-Blend Study World

    April 2, 2024

    Be Prepared and Be Ready: Tips for Selling Your Business

    January 13, 2021

    Seeing Bronze: Maryland Collision Student Places Third at SkillsUSA Nationals

    October 1, 2024
  • A.I. for Dummies: Embracing the Business Benefits

    June 8, 2024 /

    Published in New Jersey Automotive – Thomas Greco Publishing What is artificial intelligence (AI)? Cinema and literature depict computer programs and robots assuming human-like personalities and taking over the world. While most of us recognize the fictional aspect of the science-fiction genre, plenty of misconceptions and fears related to AI abound, even as it becomes an increasingly integral part of everyday business. Although we often fall into the habit of viewing AI as “the future,” it is actually being used today in myriad ways that can benefit collision repair facilities – from damage analysis to improving the customer experience, AI tools offer the ability for shops to work smarter, not harder. “AI…

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    March 1, 2025

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    December 6, 2024

    Progressive Poaching Body Shop Repair Planners

    May 8, 2023
  • Over $235,000 Awarded in 2024 CREF Scholarships and Tool Grants to Diverse Group of Students

    June 6, 2024 /

    Originally published at CollisionRepairEducationFoundation.org The Collision Repair Education Foundation (CREF) is excited to announce that over $235,000 in 2024 scholarships and tool grants have been awarded to 90 collision repair students across the country, but the Foundation is happy to note that this year’s recipients look a little different than they have in the past – for the first time, over two-thirds of the students receiving a scholarship and/or tool grant are women and other minorities, demonstrating the industry’s forward movement toward a more diverse workforce. “CREF is honored to recognize these outstanding students through the 2024 scholarships and tool grants, which were funded thanks to the generosity of our…

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    Congratulations to the 2024 CREF Cup Champions!

    December 18, 2024

    Combat the Tech Talent Crisis with CREF

    May 27, 2021

    CREF Celebrates Creativity: 2024 Art Meets Automotive Winners

    November 26, 2024
  • AI: Friend or Foe?

    June 2, 2024 /

    Published in Hammer & Dolly – Thomas Greco Publishing I don’t know about you, but to me, it seems like the “future” is being shoved down our throats constantly, and it’s full of acronyms. EV, AV, AI – no thanks! As an older member of Gen-Y (remember when they called us that instead of “Millennials?!”), I’m pushing middle age since I’ll be entering the last year of my thirties later this month, and although my generation is known for embracing technology, I’m over it.  I’ve got a long list of qualms whenever anyone broaches the topic of electric vehicles. They’re expensive, and the infrastructure isn’t there yet – plus who…

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  • Consolidation Deal on Your Radar? What to Know Before Selling

    June 2, 2024 /

    Published in AASP-MN News – Thomas Greco Publishing Maybe you’ve already been approached by a consolidator and are considering their offer. Perhaps you are interested in getting out of the business and debating whether that’s the route you want to take. Or it’s possible that the idea of handing over the shop keys to someone else isn’t even on your radar – yet. Whatever your current situation, only one thing remains consistent in this business: change is inevitable. And the best way to successfully tackle what comes next is to be prepared for the various possibilities. For any business owner, the day will come when it’s time to close up…

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    April 4, 2025

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    June 8, 2024

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    October 8, 2022
  • Dancing in the Sky: Remembering Longtime AASP/NJ Board Member Sam Mikhail

    May 8, 2024 /

    Published in New Jersey Automotive – Thomas Greco Publishing Fearless and outspoken. Dedicated and loyal. Passionate and relentless.  Auto body professionals and friends used these words over and over as they reflected on the legacy and impact left on the industry and their own lives by Sam Mikhail, longtime AASP/NJ Board member, who passed away on March 12 at the age of 80. “Sam was determined to make the industry better and willing to do whatever was necessary to make that happen,” AASP/NJ Executive Director Charles Bryant shared. “He was dedicated, relentless, direct and to the point, and he was willing to put in whatever effort necessary to accomplish his…

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    OEM Repair Procedures: Debate Over Recommended vs. Required Continues

    May 1, 2022

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    April 4, 2025

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    June 2, 2023
  • ADALB Plays Duck, Duck, Dismissed

    May 2, 2024 /

    Published in New England Automotive Report – Thomas Greco Publishing The way that the Auto Damage Appraiser Licensing Board (ADALB) reviews complaints at their bimonthly meetings often seems akin to a game of “duck, duck, goose” in the sense that the discussion tends to run in circles, nothing ever actually progresses and one is often left feeling like they’ve been bonked on the head.  The ADALB reviewed 11 complaints during its most recent meeting, held March 12, resulting in six dismissals, four requests for additional information and one contested complaint which will not move forward. Most of the votes were actually unanimous with Chairman Michael Donovan breaking one tie in…

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    WIN Webinar Explores What’s NEXT for Auto Body in the Digital World

    May 16, 2021

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    November 6, 2024

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    August 8, 2023
  • Only Time Will Tell: Is Consolidation Coming to New England?

    May 2, 2024 /

    Published in New England Automotive Report – Thomas Greco Publishing Consolidation is nothing new in the collision repair industry; it first caught repairers’ attention 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 since 2013, “big” has gotten even bigger, spreading all across the country, as increasing technology and the rising cost of doing business make the idea of selling the keys to the shop for a pretty penny more palatable to mom-and-pop operations pursued by the deep-pocketed consolidators and multi-shop operations (MSOs) interested in expanding their footprint.  Over…

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  • CREF Welcomes Kayla Clark to Board of Trustees

    April 25, 2024 /

    Originally published at CollisionRepairEducationFoundation.org The Collision Repair Education Foundation (CREF) is excited to welcome Kayla Williams Clark, Vice President of Business Development for Classic Collision, to its Board of Trustees. “The Foundation is delighted that Kayla has joined our Board of Trustees,” says CREF Executive Director Brandon Eckenrode. “Her experience in this industry and her passion for assisting students as they pursue collision careers will certainly be a major asset. I look forward to her joining in CREF’s efforts to support collision school programs and students.” Clark began her career in the collision industry in 2010 as a management assistant at Enterprise Rent-A-Car, where she was introduced to several multi…

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    CREF Benchmark Grants Enhance Ability to Educate Students, 2024 Applications Now Open!

    February 5, 2024

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    October 11, 2024

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    September 11, 2023
  • Tomorrow’s Collision Professionals Learn on Today’s Repair Planning Software Thanks to Donations from Audatex, CCC and Mitchell Through CREF

    April 15, 2024 /

    Originally published at CollisionRepairEducationFoundation.org Would any shop owner be impressed by a young estimator who demonstrated their knowledge by pulling out a clipboard, paper and pen as they began inspecting a damaged vehicle? Probably not – with today’s complex vehicles, most shops utilize modern estimating software, and a new hire who isn’t familiar with electronic repair planning will need a lot of additional training. It makes sense that collision professionals expect students to graduate with a basic understanding of modern estimating tools and techniques, but software costs money, which is a resource that many collision repair education programs find themselves lacking. Fortunately, thousands of collision repair students across the country…

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    October 4, 2023
  • Tomorrow’s Collision Professionals Learn on Today’s Repair Planning Software Thanks to Donations from Audatex, CCC and Mitchell Through CREF

    April 15, 2024 /

    Originally published at CollisionRepairEducationFoundation.org Would any shop owner be impressed by a young estimator who demonstrated their knowledge by pulling out a clipboard, paper and pen as they began inspecting a damaged vehicle? Probably not – with today’s complex vehicles, most shops utilize modern estimating software, and a new hire who isn’t familiar with electronic repair planning will need a lot of additional training. It makes sense that collision professionals expect students to graduate with a basic understanding of modern estimating tools and techniques, but software costs money, which is a resource that many collision repair education programs find themselves lacking. Fortunately, thousands of collision repair students across the country…

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    November 13, 2023
  • Weird Book Girl

    April 8, 2024 /

    Published in Texas Automotive – Thomas Greco Publishing When I was 18 years old, I began working at a real estate appraisal management company while attending college. I planned to work there until I graduated – when I would immediately land a high-profile writing/editing job with a $100,000 starting salary, of course (hahaha, the naivety of youth)! Well, I was wrong, so I hung onto that reliable paycheck for the next 17 years, transitioning from one position to another in an attempt to make myself valuable enough to survive the layoffs that came every couple years. And I excelled in every role, becoming the top performer on my team more…

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  • Continuing the Legacy: A Q&A with New WMABA President Kris Burton

    April 2, 2024 /

    Published in Hammer & Dolly – Thomas Greco Publishing After three years under the leadership of Past President Steve Krieps (Greg Cline Auto Body; Winfield, WV), who bid adieu to his role in last month’s Hammer & Dolly (available at bit.ly/HD-0324), WMABA has a new head honcho, current President Kris Burton (Rosslyn Auto Body; Alexandria, VA), a dedicated collision industry professional whose affiliation with the association spans more than two decades.  What can members expect as WMABA moves into this new era? Burton sat down with Hammer & Dolly to help readers get to know him a little better as he shares his thoughts on what he hopes to accomplish as he takes the reins.…

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  • Time is Money: Estimating in a Post-Blend Study World

    April 2, 2024 /

    Published in AASP-MN News – Thomas Greco Publishing Blending takes longer than refinishing – it’s a fact that painters and other collision repair professionals have known for years, yet cries for an update to the 50 percent calculation cited by all three major information providers (IPs) fell on deaf ears until the Society of Collision Repair Specialists (SCRS) teamed up with AkzoNobel, Axalta, BASF, PPG and Sherwin-Williams to evaluate blending in comparison to full refinish values when considering solid, metallic and tri-stage refinish options across all the paint manufacturers. The results of the study, released during SEMA 2022, determined that blend times are 31.59 percent greater than full refinished value on average,…

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  • Racing to Support Collision Students: Northeast Ohio I-CAR Committee Chair to Run 209 Miles for CREF Fundraiser

    March 12, 2024 /

    Originally published at CollisionRepairEducationFoundation.org Ensuring the next generation of collision repair professionals is trained and equipped to hit the ground running when they enter the field is why the Collision Repair Education Foundation (CREF) was created and the Northeast Ohio I-CAR Committee’s most recent fundraiser gives new meaning to the concept as Committee Chairman Dave Cottrell (Crash Champions; Akron, OH) prepares to run 209 miles from Cedar Point Amusement Park in Sandusky to Kings Island in Cincinnati, OH in the Coast to Coaster, an ultra-marathon race taking place April 25-30! Proceeds from his run will benefit CREF and collision repair educational programs throughout Ohio. “We are always looking for ways…

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  • Act II: Waiting for Progressive to Act in Good Faith

    March 2, 2024 /

    Published in New England Automotive Report – Thomas Greco Publishing “ESTRAGON: I can’t go on like this. VLADIMIR: That’s what you think.” ― Waiting for Godot by Samuel Beckett Waiting for insurers to do the right thing by their policyholders often feels like an exercise in futility, much like sitting around and waiting for someone who never shows up. Waiting for Godot is often described as a play in which nothing happens, and some shop owners can attest to the fact that attempts to negotiate with carriers may feel just as endlessly repetitive with no resolution.  Last year, Texas Automotive featured “A Comedy of Under-Indemnification: Starring Progressive” (available online at grecopublishing.com/txa1123coverstory), which told the story of a shop…

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  • Third Time’s a Charm? Unlikely at the ADALB!

    March 2, 2024 /

    Published in New England Automotive Report – Thomas Greco Publishing In 2016, a revised version of 212 CMR 2.0 was sent up the chain for approval after being reviewed by the Auto Damage Appraiser Licensing Board (ADALB) that was seated at the time. No response was received from the Department of Insurance (DOI) for years, but after three Board members were replaced in early 2019, an allegedly misplaced letter made its way to the surface, raising issues with the amendments and justifying the need for the regulations to undergo review by the new Board. Following delays caused by the pandemic, the ADALB hashed out the minutiae and argued through semantics…

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    SCRS Continues DOI Dialogue About Consumer Complaints

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    July 8, 2024

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