March 2017 Northeastern Edition

Northeastern Norrtheastern Edition E d i t i on Connecticut Delaware Maine Maryland Massachusetts New Hampshire

New Jersey New York Pennsylvania Rhode Island Vermont

35

YEARS

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LKQ Corporation Purchases Pennsylvania Body Shop

by Stacey Phillips

A Muncy, PA, body shop has confirmed that it was purchased by LKQ Corporation, one of North America’s largest aftermarket parts suppliers. Autobody News reached out to Dustin Newman, the body shop manager at Apple Hill Auto & Collision, regarding the deal.

“I think the owner felt he took the business as far as he could himself and wanted to see about getting corporate to be able to further continue growing and getting bigger,” said Newman.

He said the business was sold in February and the logistics are not yet finalized. Autobody News asked LKQ

AASP/NJ Announces 40th Annual NORTHEAST™ 2017 Educational Program March 17–19

by Chasidy Rae Sisk

Apple Hill Auto & Collision, located in Muncy, Pennsylvania

about the recent purchase and was told that “At this time, we have no comment regarding this transaction.”

LKQ Corporation provides alternative and specialty parts to repair and accessorize automobiles and other vehicles. The company has operations in North America, Europe and Taiwan and See LKQ Buys PA Shop, Page 20

Chubb Sets Insurance Precedent: Will Pay for Preand Post-Repair Scans on “Modern” Vehicles

going to allow for pre and post scans on all “modern” autos (1990 and Newer).

Body shops across the country watched Your first line on the estimate should with interest as the world’s largest pubread pre-scan at 1.0 hour of body rate lically-traded property and caand the last line on the estisualty insurer announced it mate should read post-scan at would pay for pre- and post1.0 hours of body rate. If you repair scans on vehicles 1990 find that the cost of doing the and newer. scan is going to be higher, In a move that many rethen provide the actual scan pairers found a welcome surreport and the invoice and we prise, including the owner of will reimburse accordingly on Matthew the SUPPLEMENT. Big Sky Collision Center, McDonnell, Matthew McDonnell, Chubb Chubb takes this owner of Big Sky sent the following email to very serious and wants to Collision Center body shops in December: make sure the vehicle is reSee Chubb, Page 24 “Chubb has decided that we are

by Stacey Phillips

VOL. 7 ISSUE 12 MARCH 2017

On February 1, AASP/NJ announced the agenda for its 40th Annual NORTHEAST 2017 Automotive Services Show to be held at the Meadowlands Exposition Center in Secaucus, NJ on March 17–19.

NORTHEAST 2017 will begin with the 2017 East Coast Resolution Forum and Leadership Meeting on Friday afternoon, co-hosted by AASP/NJ and SCRS. This annual session provides an opportunity for industry leaders to conduct and discuss their shared concerns.

Another highlight of the event will be AASP/NJ’s “Path to Certification,” a four-part exclusive panel discussion running Friday night and Saturday afternoon. The first session is “The Shop Owner’s Perspective,” moderated by former SCRS Chairman Gary Wano.

On Saturday morning, Assured Performance’s Aaron Clark will moderate “The OEM Perspective (Non-Luxury Brands” with “Tooling and Equipment Consideration” being moderated by Kristen Felder of Collision Hub, and Clark will return to moderate the fourth segment, “The OEM Perspective (Luxury Brands).”

Friday night’s offerings also include “Ford High Voltage Vehicle Components and Operation,” presented by Ford Motorcraft Technical Trainer Mike Brabble; “Supercharge Your Profits” by Jim Saeli of Management Success; and “Who Pays for What?

Survey Results” with Mike Anderson of Collision Advice.

Friday night will conclude with AASP/NJ’s yearly Exhibitor Appreciation Party. During the weekend, Accudraft will also be hosting National Sales See NORTHEAST, Page 12

CIC Panel Discusses Scanning, Need For Following OEM Repair Procedures

ing,” Rodenroth said. “We found this had been a [used] car, and someone had The value of pre-scanning collision- sewn a resistor into the wiring harness damaged vehicles was reiterated a numto cheat the airbag light from coming ber of times by panelists at the recent on.”

Collision Industry Conference (CIC) Chuck Olsen of AirPro Diagnosheld this January in Palm Springs, CA. tics, another remote scanning service Jake Rodenroth of Collision Diprovider, said pre- and post-scanning agnostic Services (maker of removes liability issues for the asTech remote scanning collision repairers and insurers. system), who said his com“I know the condition of pany did just over 6,000 vehithe vehicle when it came in, cles scans in December, cited and I know the condition of an example of a vehicle problem found in a pre-scan that the vehicle when it went out, the shop—and potentially the so [as the shop] it’s not going Chuck Olsen to be my fault,” Olsen said. vehicle owner—would otherCIC attendee Gary Wano, an wise not have known about. The scan showed one fault code, related to lost Oklahoma shop owner, posed a realcommunication with the airbag control world analogy for a question often discussed in the industry: Does an insurer module, triggering the shop to check the owe for a scan if the scan reveals nothinstrument cluster.

“What we found was pretty alarmSee CIC Panel, Page 28

by John Yoswick

Change Service Requested

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2 MARCH 2017 AUTOBODY NEWS | www.autobodynews.com

REGIONAL

3D Auto Body & Collision Centers Opens

30,000 sq. ft. Symach Shop in Pennsylvania . 6

AMi Launches New Online Courses . . . . . . . 80 AMi Launches Online Course: “Management’s

Guide to Scanning and New Technology”. . 64

AASP/NJ Announces 40th Annual NORTHEAST

Auto Body Program Offers Training, Hope

Auto Parts Chain with Location in Bloomfield

Autologic Diagnostics Joins ASA as

Bus Catches Fire in Wethersfield, CT

BASF Teams up With Driven to Cure . . . . . . . 78

Fined for Price Discrepancies . . . . . . . . . . 14 Auto Body Shop . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

Carubba Collision Presents $10,000 Check

to the SPCA Serving Erie County. . . . . . . . 13

Carubba Collision Sponsors NY State

Golden Gloves Boxing. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16

Collision Safety Consultants Teams with Collision Repair Stakeholders for

Proper Repairs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34

H&V Collision Center Introduces Mobile

Estimating Tool. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

LKQ Corporation Purchases Pennsylvania

Body Shop . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1

for Return to Old Jobs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18

Corporate Member . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 80

CCC Donates $4M+ in Software

Subscriptions to CREF . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16

ChemSpec USA Launches New Website . . . . 74 Chief® Offers Chassis Liner® Frame Rack in

Custom Packages for Heavy-Duty Repairs . 74

Collision Repairers in FL Voice Their Concerns to Commissioner of Dept. of Agriculture

Adam Putnam . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22

CREF Spring Career Fair Has Sprung . . . . . . 75 DA and Insurance Commissioner Announce Bust of Insurance Fraud Ring in

San Diego County. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26

New Jersey Senate Introduces Bill to

Driven Brands Charitable Foundation Raises

Orleans/Niagara BOCES Students Win at

Ford Vehicle Owners Can Easily Upgrade

Require Warranty Disclosure . . . . . . . . . . 13 WNY Auto Collision Competition . . . . . . . . . 8

Police Commission Irked Over Continuing

East Maple and Main St. Visibility Issue

in New Canaan, CT. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18

more than $650,000 in 2016 . . . . . . . . . . 75 2010–2016 Vehicles with Connectivity

Features . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 83

Houston Digital Corporation Officially

Releases Q-Scheduler . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23

Sisk - LIABRA and ABCG January Meeting

I-CAR’s Josh McFarlin Named to ATMC

Tech Casts Uncertainty in CT Auto Industry . . 10

Martin Senour Introduces Rustproof M/D™ . . 83

Covers BMW Color System . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

COLUMNISTS

Attanasio - Do 3 Things Right With Your Shop

Board of Directors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14

Members-Only Registration Opens: “Be

Extraordinary” WIN 2017 Educational

Conference . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44

Marketing, Stick to Them and Thrive . . . . . . 48

National Industry Goodwill Tour Kicks Off

a Cause, But a Way of Life for Lefler

New Global Warranty Program for

Attanasio - Supporting Orphans is Not Just

Collision Family . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56

SkillsUSA Week . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 64 Architectural Powder Coatings . . . . . . . . . 36

Attanasio - The Spira Saves Lives Because

OEM Diagnostic Scanning Positions Quick

Chess - Kool Tools 2016 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50

PPG Announces Key Advances in Color Tools . 70

It’s Encased in Foam . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32

Phillips - Collision Safety Consultants Teams with Collision Repair Stakeholders for

Proper Repairs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34

Phillips - NADA Kicks Off 100th Anniversary at National Convention and Expo in

“The Big Easy” . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30

Phillips - Successful Female Shop Owner in OR Encourages Shops to Keep an

Reference Chart . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 76

Program Offers Young Pros Scholarships . . . 68

SCRS Releases Video of Collision Repair

Summit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 70

SEMA Scholarship Applications Due March 1. . 78

Service King Considering Sale, Bloomberg

Says . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 78

Seven Arrested in Coachella Valley, CA,

$500,000 Insurance Fraud Probe . . . . . . . 23

Open Mind, Have No Fear and Dive in . . . . 38

Snap-on Adds MODIS Edge to Diagnostic

Includes Concern About Refinish Materials

UpdatePromise Unveils New Electronic

Yoswick - Retro News: Industry History

Calculation, “Underwritten” Estimates. . . . 52 NATIONAL

AAPEX Announces 2017 Dates. . . . . . . . . . . 72

Calculator. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 68

Signatures Feature . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 70

Wreck Check Car Scan Opens 30th

Laura Larson, Board Member for ICRA, showing off Autobody News at the Midwest Auto Body Trade Show. Story next issue. The Midwest Auto Body Trade Show is the largest and most comprehensive collision trade show in the Midwest. Auto body shop owners, auto body technicians, industry vendors, and collision repair leaders flock to this highly regarded February event.

Sponsored by ICRA, the Midwest Auto Body Trade Show is open to the public.

Publisher & Editor: Jeremy Hayhurst General Manager: Barbara Davies Online Editor and Copywriter: Deana Cacus Contributing Writers: Tom Franklin, David Brown, John Yoswick, Janet Chaney, Toby Chess, Ed Attanasio, Chasidy Sisk, David Luehr, Stacey Phillips, Victoria Antonelli Advertising Sales: Joe Momber, Sean Hartman, Bill Doyle, Norman Morano (800) 699-8251 Office Manager: Louise Tedesco Sales Assistant: Jessica Day Content/Social Media Specialist: Cass Heckel Art Director: Rodolfo Garcia Graphic Designer: Michelle Lucas

Indexof Advertisers

2017 Educational Program. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1

Location in Arizona. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 64

Acura of Westchester . . . . . . . . . . . 38 Aircat Pneumatic. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 AkzoNobel. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 Amato Agency . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48 Atlantic Hyundai . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54 Audi Wholesale Parts Dealers . . . . 78 Axalta Coating Systems . . . . . . . . . . 5 Bald Hill Chrysler-Jeep-DodgeRam . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24 Bergey’s Wholesale Parts . . . . . . . . 37 BMW Wholesale Parts Dealers . 66-67 Cadillac of Mahwah . . . . . . . . . . . . 75 CarcoonAmerica Airflow Systems. . 58 CCC Information Services . . . . . . . 15 Central Avenue Chrysler-JeepDodge-Ram. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26 Certified Automotive Parts Association (CAPA). . . . . . . . . . . 47 ChemSpec USA, LLC . . . . . . . . . . . 24 Chief Automotive. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21 Classifieds. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 82 Clinton Acura . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51 Collision Equipment Consulting, Inc. . 4 Colonial Automotive Group . . . . . . 73 Continental Auto Parts . . . . . . . . . . 23 Diamond Standard Parts, LLC . . . . 35 Ditschman/Flemington Auto Group. 53 DJS Fabrications. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 Dominion Sure Seal, Ltd. . . . . . . . . 46 Eco Repair Systems of North America, LLC . . . . . . . . . . 39 ECS Automotive Concepts . . . . . . . 28 Empire Auto Parts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 Equalizer Industries, Inc . . . . . . . . . 50 Fitzgerald’s Lakeforest HyundaiSubaru. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72 Ford Wholesale Parts Dealers . . . . 70 Fred Beans Parts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 84 Fuccillo Kia of Schenectady . . . . . . 71 Global Finishing Solutions . . . . . . . . 6 GM Wholesale Parts Dealers . . . . . 77 GYS Welding USA. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 Heritage Chrysler-Jeep-DodgeRAM Owings Mills . . . . . . . . . . . . 40 Herkules Equipment Corporation. . 14 Honda-Acura Wholesale Parts Dealers. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42-43 Hyundai Motor America . . . . . . . . . 25 Hyundai Wholesale Parts Dealers . . 83 Indasa . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22 Infiniti of Norwood. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 68 Insta Finish Car Care . . . . . . . . . . . 55

Serving New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Northern Virginia, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont and adjacent metro areas. Autobody News is a monthly publication for the autobody industry. Permission to reproduce in any form the material published in Autobody News must be obtained in writing from the publisher. ©2017 Adamantine Media LLC. Autobody News P.O. Box 1516, Carlsbad, CA 92018 (800) 699-8251 (760) 603-3229 Fax www.autobodynews.com Email: news@autobodynews.com

Northeast

Contents

Kia Motors Wholesale Parts Dealers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 79 Killer Tools & Equipment. . . . . . . . . 49 Koeppel Mazda . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34 Long Automotive Group . . . . . . . . . 62 Lumaiii. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 Lusid Technologies . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41 Lynnes Auto Group. . . . . . . . . . . . . 65 Malco. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 Matrix Automotive Finishes. . . . . . . 19 Mazda Wholesale Parts Dealers . . . 52 McGovern Chrysler-Jeep-DodgeRam . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 Mercedes-Benz of Atlantic City. . . . 61 Mercedes-Benz of Fort Washington . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61 Mercedes-Benz of West Chester . . 61 Mercedes-Benz of Wilmington . . . . 59 Mercedes-Benz Wholesale Parts Dealers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56 MINI Wholesale Parts Dealers . . . . 64 Mitsubishi Wholesale Parts Dealers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 80 MOPAR Wholesale Parts Dealers . . 45 Nissan/Infiniti Wholesale Parts Dealers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 80 Nucar. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63 O’Reilly Auto Parts . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29 Porsche Wholesale Parts Dealers . . 52 PPG . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 Prima Welds, Inc . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30 ProLine Tool & Supply, LLC . . . . . . 16 Providence Lacquer & Supply Centre . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 Reliable Automotive Equipment . . . 20 SATA Dan-Am Company . . . . . . . . 27 Security Dodge-Chrysler-JeepRam . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 Spanesi Americas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44 Subaru of Morristown . . . . . . . . . . . 69 Subaru Wholesale Parts Dealers . . 74 Tasca Automotive Group . . . . . . . . 57 Toyota of Morristown . . . . . . . . . . . 69 Toyota Wholesale Parts Dealers . . . 60 Valspar Automotive . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31 VIP Honda . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36 Volkswagen Wholesale Parts Dealers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 81 Westbury Jeep-Chrysler-DodgeRam-SRT. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17 Wizards Products . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33 Yellow Jacket . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32

www.autobodynews.com | MARCH 2017 AUTOBODY NEWS 3

LIABRA and ABCG January Meeting Covers BMW Color System and Much More

by Chasidy Rae Sisk

On January 17, the Long Island Autobody Repairmen’s Association (LIABRA) and the Auto Body Craftsmen’s Guild (ABCG) held its January General Meeting at Competition BMW in Smithtown. The meeting was hosted

by Parts Director Wayne Locanthi and Group Parts Director Tony Solla.

Ed Kizenberger Executive Director of LIABRA

The Competition Auto Group also treated attendees to a buffet dinner before the meeting commenced at 8PM. LIABRA Executive Director Ed Kizenberger began the January meeting by reminding members that LIABRA facilitated the passage of a bill last year which amended 2610 of the insurance law. The law, which took effect January 1, 2017, requires insurers to include the following statement on every estimate: “pursuant to 2610 of the insurance law, an insurance company cannot require that repairs be made to a motor vehicle in a particular place or repair shop. You have a right to have your vehicle repaired in the shop of your choice.”

Kizenberger also discussed a rate change recently enacted by a major insurance carrier. Kizenberger reminded association members that it’s vital “to dismantle the vehicle and prepare an accurate and detailed estimate using rates determined by you and your accountant and that every element of a claim is negotiable including rates.

If insurers refuse to negotiate any element of the claim you can file a complaint with the New York State Department of Financial Services at http://bit.ly/nycomplaint. A complaint can be filed for any unfair claim practice. If you file a complaint please send pertinent details of your complaint including the DFS claim number to Liabracomplaint@gmail.com.

Consumer complaints are very impor-

tant as they help the DFS understand claims issues.”

Next, Kizenberger introduced Diana Walters, BMW Color System Program Manager, who discussed the benefits of the new BMW color system: no contract is required, and BMW will cover the cost of the initial spray ready set-up for this water-based system which can be used on any car and provides superior color-matching. Also, BMW factor training is available to participants who will also receive support from BMW factory-trained technicians.

Those interested in acquiring more information can contact Diana Walters at 201-571-5918.

Kenny Tran, Director of BMW Training, then discussed the importance of using BMW’s advanced technology at www.BMWtechinfo.com to prepare an itemized repair estimate using BMW parts and repair techniques.

Tran also talked about new BMW technology, future changes and the new BMWi while stressing BMW’s proper repair procedures.

Next, Mercedes-Benz Parts Sales Manager for the Northeast region, Bill Mohrmann, covered the new Mercedes-Benz multi-beam LED headlamp system, pre-safe sound, pre-safe side collision systems, MercedesBenz parts positions statements, and new Mercedes-Benz parts warranties.

According to Kizenberger, “Mercedes-Benz now warranties its parts for 24,000 miles and engines and transmissions 48 months or 50,000 miles. Mercedes Benz and BMW now

Kenny Tran, BMW training director

require repairs with OEM parts only in their lease contracts. He recommended the use of collision link to price match OEM parts with the cost of salvage or aftermarket parts. Go to www.CollisionLinkShop.com for more information or call Michael Levantino Mercedes Benz of Smithtown parts rep at 631-265-5339.”

The final speaker of the evening

4 MARCH 2017 AUTOBODY NEWS | www.autobodynews.com

was Lisa Brown from Collision Diagnostics Services who discussed the diagnostic services provided by her company. Brown explained, “Using the CDS scan tool connected to the

Lisa Brown of Collision Diagnostics Services

vehicle OBD-II port and your computer all the vehicle information will be sent via the cloud to CDS where the vehicle will be remotely scanned and diagnosed using OEM scanning equipment and OEM trained technicians. A report will be generated and returned to the shop. The cost of the scanning tool is $2500 and the first scan will cost $119.95 the second and any subsequent scans will cost $50.00, however all invoices paid timely will

receive a 25% discount. Virtually all OEM manufacturers are now requiring that their vehicles be scanned before and after a collision to be sure that all safety systems are in proper working order.”

All OEM position statements regarding pre- and post-repair scanning are available at www.oem1stop.com, and those interested in obtaining more information about Collision Diagnostics Services can reach Ms. Brown at 888-486-1166.

At 10PM, LIABRA and ABCG’s meeting adjourned with raffle drawings. Bob Smith of USA Autobody in East Patchogue won $300 from the 50/50 drawing, and Gil Phillips of Big and Little’s Autobody won the grand prize: a beautiful BMW mountain bike.

Kizenberger added, “LIABRA and ABCG would like to thank the Competition Automotive Group for their gracious hospitality and the use of their beautiful venue for the meeting as well as the buffet dinner, coffee and dessert, chairs, tables and the raffle prizes.”

The associations’ next meeting will be held in March at Precision Transmissions in Brooklyn.

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www.autobodynews.com | MARCH 2017 AUTOBODY NEWS 5

H&V Collision Center Introduces Mobile Estimating Tool

H&V Collision Center, the largest independent and family-owned collision repair company in the Capital region, has introduced a mobile estimating device that allows customers to get free and confidential estimates on damage to their vehicle in minutes.

H&V’s Mobile Estimating Tool allows for the estimates to be made via an app on the H&V website, www.handvcollision.com, and use of a smartphone or tablet.

The H&V Mobile Estimating Tool was developed in partnership between H&V and Body Booster.

H&V is the only collision repair shop in the Capital Region of upstate New York to offer the Mobile Estimating Tool.

“The new H&V Mobile Estimating Tool gives our customers the ability to get a free and confidential estimate for their car, truck or SUV in just minutes,” said H&V’s Vartan Jerian Jr. “We are excited about using this new technology to make the repair and estimating process easier and more convenient for our customers.”

“Customers can help jump-

start the repair process with the Mobile Estimating Tool, gathering information for an estimate just minutes after an accident or event.

The Mobile Estimating Tool is easy to use for both customers and those of us at H&V, and we are excited to incorporate this new resource into H&V’s repair process,” added Jerian.

H&V’s Mobile Estimating Tool only takes about 10 minutes to complete the estimating process.

Customers can submit pictures of their damage vehicle and information and receive an estimate from the comfort of their home. The app is FREE, and takes up no memory on the user’s phone thanks to cloud technology.

Founded 40 years ago, H&V has expanded from a two-man operation on Oakwood Avenue in Troy, to the largest independently-owned collision repair business in the Capital Region. H&V Collision Center now operates seven locations in the Capital Region and upstate, including locations in Troy, Queensbury, Saratoga, Colonie, Kingston, Schenectady and Clifton Park.

6 MARCH 2017 AUTOBODY NEWS | www.autobodynews.com

3D Auto Body & Collision Centers Opens 30,000 sq. ft. Symach Shop in Pennsylvania

3D Auto Body & Collision Centers president David Niestroy recently announced the opening of the nearly year-long build of 3D’s state-of-the-art Symach Shop, which opened its doors on January 10th, 2017.

3D’s largest facility and largest Symach shop in North America, 3D Conshohocken, employs technology that dramatically reduces drying times for paint, primer and body filler from almost an hour down to seconds, with paint fully cured in less than a minute.

“It is hard to put into words how I feel at this point,” stated Niestroy.

“This was by far the largest endeavor we have ever taken on and now that we have ran past the finish line, we all feel it was well worth the incredible effort and financial outlay. Traveling to Italy to see the system in person and standing in the middle of our shop right here in Conshohocken Pennsylvania is a little surreal. Needless to say, we are fired up and excited to already have work in our doors.”

“This shop provides our cus-

tomers and insurance partners something they cannot obtain anywhere else in the region, actually anywhere within thousands of miles,” stated Craig Camacho, 3D’s VP of Marketing & Business Development. “We have started the process of emailing exclusive invitations which were sent to our insurance partners, vendors and business colleagues to attend our celebration event scheduled for Thursday, March 16th, 2017, ahead of the Northeast Trade Show.”

The 24,000 sq. ft. shop will include 26 bays with two sterile aluminum repair areas. The 6,000 sq. ft. office area will accommodate unique conveniences such as private offices for customers and insurance partners to conduct business.

3D, an independently owned multi-shop operator of seven state-of the-art collision repair centers, was founded in 1981 by David Niestroy.

For additional information, contact VP of Marketing & Business Development Craig Camacho at 610-587-3187 or CraigC@3DBodyWorks.com.

www.autobodynews.com | MARCH 2017 AUTOBODY NEWS 7

Orleans/Niagara BOCES Students Win at WNY Auto Collision Competition Orleans/Niagara BOCES Auto Body students dazzled at the first ever WNY Auto Collision Competition recently held at Auto Collision and Glass of WNY in Amherst. The event was sponsored by Auto Collision and

(l to r) Auto Collision and Glass owner Rick Greenwalt, Kevin Swift (Newfane) and Auto Body teacher Tom Struebing

Glass of WNY, Sherwin Williams Automotive Refinishing, Millstream Collision, Snap-On, Dodge, Wurth Automotive Products, Hertz Rent a Car, Axalta Coating Systems and AlWil-Auto Supplies and gave auto body students from four local BOCES a chance to show off their skills.

From Orleans/Niagara BOCES, Kevin Swift (of Newfane) won first place in the Senior Division and Jon Montgomery (of Wilson) took first in

the Junior Division. Nicholas Nowicki, also from Wilson, took second place in the Junior Division. There was $1000 in cash prizes given out.

Each student received $25 for competing and a goodie bag filled with apparel and supplies from the sponsors.

First place winners won $200 and second place winners received $100 and tools from the sponsors.

Swift is a student in the Auto Body program taught by Tom Struebing at the Orleans Career and Technical Education Center. Jon and Nick take the Auto Body program taught by Paul Magyar at the Niagara Career and Technical Education Center.

“It was a fantastic event,” said Struebing. “Several local collision shop owners decided to hold it to give the students a chance to show off their skills. It is also great for them because they can see some of the young talent coming up and get a chance to offer them an opportunity to work for them.”

Magyar said the organizers did an outstanding job with setting up the event. “It could not have gone any better. All my students thought it was a lot of fun and were very happy about what they received from the sponsors. They even had competi-

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tions for the students’ parents that came, and one of my student’s mothers won a signed Jack Eichel hockey stick that was donated by Rick Greenwalt, the Auto Collision and Glass owner. Everyone had a great time and was very impressed with the event.”

(l to r) Auto Collision and Glass owner Rick Greenwalt, Jon Montgomery (Wilson) and Auto Body teacher Paul Magyar

The senior competition was on refinishing and blending for color match and damage estimating. Not only did Swift walk away with over $200 in prizes, he also got a job offer at Auto Collision and Glass.

“I was pretty shocked that I won,” Swift commented. “Mr. Struebing taught me a lot. He showed me how to

estimate a couple of days before the competition and it made a big difference with me winning.” Fittingly, Swift is now working with a former student of Struebing’s who graduated 18 years ago. “He told me that Mr. Struebing was the best teacher he had in high school,” Swift said.

The junior competition involved dent repair and color mixing. The students were required to correctly compile ratios and mix products into the correct colors and repair a damaged fender. Montgomery took home the $200 prize and a 3M spray gun donated by Al-Wil-Auto Supplies and Nowicki received $100 and a sander donated by Millstream Collision.

“The students were judged by local collision experts Russ Haney and Rick Greenwalt from Auto Collision and Glass, Tim Deasey from Millstream Collision, and Ken Wanamaker from Sherwin Williams Automotive Refinishing,” said Magyar.

“We are very grateful at how generous they were with their time, knowledge and money.”

“We very proud of all our students,” said Struebing. “I think it is great that they walked away with some great prizes and a chance to impress the judges.”

www.autobodynews.com | MARCH 2017 AUTOBODY NEWS 9

Tech Casts Uncertainty in CT Auto Industry

by Myles Odermann, Yale News

As vehicular technologies develop, Elm City automobile business owners are expressing uncertainty over innovation’s effects on business.

Recent advancements, such as self-driving cars, have led to speculation about the future of the traditional automobile industry. But for automobile repair shop owners, these changes are leading to safer drives and thus less demand for repairs , and owners of vehicle insurance companies say that safer rides also lead to fewer liabilities for their companies to cover.

Though vehicle-related industry leaders in the Elm City differed in exactly what they were concerned about, all expressed a common belief: change is certain.

“With the age of technology and with all the safety systems that are being installed in these vehicles, it’s going to reduce the number of real accidents that may happen in the future,” said Dave Fogarty, a 37-year veteran of the industry and the wholesale parts director for the Lorensen Auto Group, which owns seven dealerships around the state.

Recent research and development has already led to front sonar

technology, which can detect objects ahead of vehicles and force them to decelerate if the driver fails to slow down.

Signals have been developed to notify drivers when they shift out of their lane, and within the decade, fully self-driving cars are expected to hit the market. Tesla and Google have already tested prototypes for autonomous vehicles, said Tony Ferraiolo, president of the Auto Body Association of Connecticut, who also owns A&R Body Specialty and Collision Works in Wallingford, Connecticut.

As these new features expand, industry administrators expect fewer accidents to happen, said Bob Amendole, president of the New Havenbased shop Autoworks of Westville.

But with the accidents that do occur, the cost of repairing each vehicle will increase since the mending will require more sophisticated labor and technology, Amendole said.

Some local automobile repair shops have begun updating their technology. Autoworks of Westville already installed the necessary infrastructure to service cars with newer technology.

But other automobile repair shops across the state are closing before they

10 MARCH 2017 AUTOBODY NEWS | www.autobodynews.com

can prepare for these new services. In the last decade, roughly 35 percent of automobile repair shops have closed, Fogarty said. And out of the 350 automobile repair shops licensed today, only 27 are capable of fixing the hightech cars, according to Amendole.

He added that these shops are primarily forced to close, not because of new technology, but due to the low rates — $52 per hour of labor — auto insurance companies agreed to pay automobile repair shops.

For New Haven-based Autocycle Insurance, the effects of self-driving cars on business is also uncertain.

“The insurance companies don’t know what’s going to happen,” Autocycle insurance agent Tom Hardy said.

Hardy said he believes that the state would not allow autonomous vehicles to be ridden without insurance. Riders would also need aid and coverage for when computers experience failure and when cars are out of the satellite reception that allows the vehicle to navigate.

Self-driving vehicles are also referred to as robotic cars.

We thank Yale News for reprint permission.

Bus Fire in Wethersfield, CT, Body Shop

A small school bus caught fire on the night of January 24 in an auto body shop.

Wethersfield fire officials said the fire was in the Mirabelli Automotive building on the Berlin Turnpike. No one was injured.

Credit: FOX 61 News

Officials said the small school bus from American School for the Deaf was undergoing repairs when it began smoking and caught fire, although it was very minor.

The body shop was expected to be in business January 25th.

We thank FOX 61 News for reprint permission.

www.autobodynews.com CHECK IT OUT!

www.autobodynews.com | MARCH 2017 AUTOBODY NEWS 11

Continued from Cover

NORTHEAST

Meetings for their distributors on Thursday, Friday and Saturday.

Sessions on Saturday commence at 8AM with a “Honda Technology/Emerging Industry Trends,” presented by American Honda’s Chris Tobie and Susanna Gotsch of CCC Information Services. Beginning at 8:30AM, Jerry McNee and John Niechwiadowicz will share their estimating expertise during “Open Your Eyes… And You WILL Become a Game Changer!” which they will repeat later on Saturday afternoon. Also at 8:30AM, Larry Montanez of P & L Consultants will present “Proper and Accurate Blueprinting with Pre-Scan/PreMeasure” with assistance from AsTech’s Jake Rodenroth and Anthony Cetani of Metropolitan Car-O-Liner.

At 10:30AM, Toyota Collision Repair and Refinish Trainers will present “Toyota OE Resources: Get Connected,” which will be repeated at noon on Sunday. “2020 – The Future of Staffing: Where Will You Be?” will be taught at 12:30PM by Mike Lanza of Sherwin-Williams Automotive. Montanez slides into the presenter position

again at 2PM with “Take Back Your Business from the Rekey Process.” Saturday’s seminar end with Mike Anderson’s “100% Disassembly Best Practices” at 4-5:30PM. On Sunday morning, American Honda and Axalta Coating Systems will present “Information for Innovation” to ProFirst shops. At 9:30AM, Superare Marketing’s Tony Lombardozzi and Peter Abdelmaseh will present “Stop Playing by the Appraiser’s Rules,” followed by “Set Your Own Prices and Make Them Stick!” at 10:30AM. On Sunday, AASP/NJ will also hold its 9th Annual Family Day. During 2017 NORTHEAST, several demonstrations on the tradeshow floor are also scheduled with “Women’s Industry Network: Engaging Women in Collision Repair” at 11AM on Saturday. Michael Fiannazzo from Absolute Perfection Media will present “Customers Changing Buying Habits: Shifting Your Online Marketing into High Gear in 2017,” but the time has yet to be determined.

The tradeshow portion of AASP/ NJ’s 2017 NORTHEAST will feature over 100 exhibitors, including 3M, Accudraft, American Honda, ASE, Axalta Coating Systems, BASF, CCC Infor-

12 MARCH 2017 AUTOBODY NEWS | www.autobodynews.com

mation Services, Chief Automotive, DJS Fabrication, FinishMaster, I-CAR, Jasper Engines, Nucar Wholesale Parts, Pinnacle Collision Repair Equipment, PPG, Sherwin-Williams, Valspar and many, many more.

The tradeshow will also feature several special events: New York Yankee Sparky Lyle will be at the Flemington Car and Truck Country booth on Saturday from 10AM-12PM. Also on Saturday morning, BASF’s booth will provide a meet-and-greet opportunity with KC Mathieu of Discovery Channel’s “Fast N’ Loud with Gas Monkey Garage.” In honor of their 40th Annual NORTHEAST event, AASP/NJ’s booth will have a 2017 Harley Davidson Softail Slim motorcycle on display. The bike will be customized by industry artists Nub of Nub Graffix and Javier Soto, available by silent auction throughout the course of the weekend.

Mike Anderson Returns for 2017 Collision Advice’s Mike Anderson to NORTHEAST 2017. Mike spends the year traveling coast-to coast educating collision repairers and will present two seminars over the weekend for the second consecutive year.

Mike will debut a brand-new sem-

inar, 100% Disassembly Best Practices, sponsored by Axalta Coating Systems, on Saturday, March 18 at 4pm and will also bring back his ever-changing “Who Pays for What?” Survey Results seminar (also sponsored by Axalta Coating Systems) on Friday, March 17 at 7:30pm.

“It’s really a feather in our cap to be able to have Mike Anderson debut a presentation at the NORTHEAST show,” says AASP/NJ President Jeff McDowell. “The fact that he has chosen our show to do it truly humbles us.

We are extremely honored.”

100% Disassembly Best Practices will explain why implementing a 100% disassembly process is critical to the success of your collision repair center.

Not only can it help you improve your cycle time by ensuring all the parts are discovered and ordered up front, but it can also minimize your supplement ratio, which can affect your shop’s Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), as well as profitability.

Complete vehicle disassembly also supports and complements the parts mirror matching process since all parts are off the vehicle, stored in one common location and available to compare See NORTHEAST, Page 20

Carubba Collision Presents $10,000 Check to the SPCA Serving Erie County Carubba Collision Presents $10,000 Check to the SPCA Serving Erie County for their New Animal Shelter Facility in West Seneca, NY. Carubba Collision Corp. president Joe Carubba presented a $10,000 check recently to the SPCA

which was held this past August at Diamond Hawk Golf Course in Cheektowaga.

“Thanks to the tremendous support we received from our sponsors and participants of our golf tournament this year, we are thrilled to present this check, which will help support the construction of the new SPCA animal shelter project in West Seneca,” stated Carubba.

In April of 2017, the SPCA will be officially opening its brand new 52,000 square foot facility at the West Seneca, NY site. This shelter will allow the SPCA to provide proper care for (l to r) SPCA director of public relations Gina Browning, dozens of different speCarubba Collision Corp. president Joe Carubba, SPCA cies. executive director Gary Willoughby and SPCA director Accepting the check of development Jennifer Gurz at the Check Presentation from the SPCA Serving Ceremony at the new SPCA Animal Shelter Facility in Erie County was execuWest Seneca, NY tive director Gary WiServing Erie County at their new lloughby, director of public relations SPCA animal shelter located in West Gina Browning and director of development Jennifer Gurz.

Seneca, New York.

“We are so appreciative of reThe monies are from part of the proceeds of the 4th Annual Carubba ceiving this wonderful donation from Collision Golf Classic Tournament, the Carubba Collision Golf Classic.

We know that Mr. Carubba is very passionate about animals and has been a supporter of the work that we do here at the SPCA,” said Willoughby.

This year’s $10,000 donation, plus the $10,000 that was donated in previous years, is part of the $50,000 pledge that has been committed by Carubba Collision for the new SPCA animal shelter.

Because of Carubba Collision’s pledge of $50,000, the company will receive name recognition on the greeter station in the adoptions lobby of the new facility.

Carubba Collision has served the greater Buffalo area since 1955.

Giving back to the community is something that Carubba Collision has a long and proud history of. Several not-for-profits have benefited from the generosity of Carubba Collision over the years including Make A Wish, Young Life, Mercy Flight, ECMC Trauma Unit, YMCA, the Food Bank of WNY, the Niagara County Sheriffs K-9 Unit, the City Mission, the NYS Golden Gloves, the Buffalo Bills Alumni Foundation and the University at Buffalo, just to name a few.

New Jersey Senate Introduces Bill to Require Warranty Disclosure

by SEMA Washington, D.C., Staff

Legislation to require new-car dealers to provide purchasers a written statement declaring it is illegal for manufacturers or dealers

to void a warranty or deny coverage because aftermarket or recycled parts were installed or because someone other than the dealer performed service was introduced.

For more information, visit the SEMA Action Network (SAN) website. For details, contact Steve McDonald at stevem@sema.org.

www.autobodynews.com

www.autobodynews.com | MARCH 2017 AUTOBODY NEWS 13

I-CAR’s Josh McFarlin Named to ATMC Board of Directors

Recently, ASE (Automotive Service Excellence) announced the new slate of board members for the Automotive Training Managers Council (ATMC).

Josh McFarlin, I-CAR’s Director, Curriculum and Product Development, has been named to the Automotive Training Managers Council’s Board of Directors. McFarlin will be serving his first three-year term and bringing his automotive and technical training experience to the ATMC board. ATMC is a nonprofit organization dedicated to the advancement of training and professional development within the transportation service industry. McFarlin has more than 20 years of experience in the automotive industry and is in his fourth year as I-CAR’s Director, Curriculum and Product Development, where he leads the product development team in the creation of all training materials and works with the rest of the I-CAR leadership team to develop and refine growth strategies for the organization.

Prior to joining I-CAR, McFarlin was Curriculum Manager at Raytheon Technical Services Company for eight years, and has served as a Service Engineer for both Audi AG and Ford Motor Company, and as Heavy Line Technician and Team Leader at Greenway Ford in Orlando, Florida.

Visit www.I-CAR.com.

Auto Parts Chain with Location in Bloomfield Fined for Price Discrepancies

by Fred J. Aun

Advance Stores Co., which has an Advance Auto Parts location at 77105 Bloomfield Avenue in Bloomfield, NJ charged customers more than the amount shown on store displays, according to the state Attorney General’s Office.

Although the pricing violations were discovered in 2015, Advance Stores agreed to make changes at all of its 69 New Jersey stores “to ensure the accuracy of its pricing both at point of display and at the register,” said the Attorney General’s Office.

It said the company will also pay more than $69,000 in fines.

“Prices would be displayed for... items on the store shelves, but differ-

ent prices would be charged when items were scanned at the register,” according to the Attorney General’s Office. The pricing problem was found at the chain’s stores in East Orange, Newark, Linden, East Brunswick, Bloomfield, Avenel, and Fanwood.

“Investigators visited the Advance Stores between Jan. 21 and Feb. 23, 2015, and found that certain merchandise items were priced at as much as $4.84 over what was indicated on the item or at the point of display,” said the state.

In a judgment signed in February of 2017, Advance Stores “agreed to ensure the accuracy of its pricing both at point of display and at the register,” said the Attorney General’s Office. “In addition, Advance Stores will implement in its 69 Advance Auto Parts stores throughout New Jersey a monitoring program, in which the company will conduct regular audits of its pricing and keep a log of those audits. The company will also provide its general managers and other employees with training to ensure compliance with its pricing poli-

cies. Advance Stores will designate a corporate compliance coordinator to oversee the compliance program.”

The state noted similar pricing practices were discovered at AutoZone, which has locations in Irvington and Union, and a settlement was reached, in March 2016, that led AutoZone to “revise its business practices.”

The state has a similar action against Pep Boys that is still pending, according to the Attorney General’s Office.

We thank Tap Into Bloomfield for reprint permission.

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Carubba Collision Sponsors NY State Golden Gloves Boxing

CCC Donates $4M+ in Software Subscriptions to CREF

The Carubba Collision New York State Golden Gloves Boxing organization held a news conference recently in Buffalo, NY to announce the 2017 kickoff of one of the nation’s greatest amateur events in all sports.

their moment and earn their place in history and become a Golden Gloves champion.

“This is going to be a very exciting year for amateur boxing in Buffalo,” stated Don Patterson, President of the New York State Golden Gloves. “We have a tremendous slate of boxing that we want to officially announce to all the many boxing fans in Western New York and across the state.”

Several of the competing boxers were on hand and sparring at the news conference. Over 30 Boxing Clubs throughout the State from the Adirondack Carubba Collision Corp. President and CEO Joe Carubba Region (Albany, Schenec(right) and NYS Golden Gloves President Don Patterson tady), Niagara District As(center) are joined by young boxing hopefuls who will sociation Local Boxing be competing in the Carubba Collision New York State Committees (LBC), to the Golden Gloves Southtowns (Salamanca, The Carubba Collision New York Jamestown, Dunkirk), Syracuse, JaState Golden Gloves will be hosted in mestown, Niagara Falls, Geneva, CorBuffalo at the Buffalo River Works in ning and Elmira have entered. More downtown Buffalo. than 200 pugilists will participate over Boxers from across New York the course of the tournament.

State (excluding New York Metro) will Carubba Collision of Buffalo, be competing in Buffalo. The boxers NY has been the presenting sponsor are enthusiastically preparing to seize of the New York State Golden Gloves

CCC Information Services Inc. (“CCC”), through its partnership with the Collision Repair Education Foundation (“CREF”), donated more than $4 million in software subscriptions to qualified secondary and post-secondary schools in 2016.

CCC and CREF offer CCC ONE® Estimating software at no cost to technical schools and colleges that have a qualifying collision repair program.

Student and teacher recipients of CCC ONE software learn how to write estimates while examining damaged vehicles. The software package includes access to collision repair databases, digital imaging capabilities, and CCC ONE® Touch, a mobile estimating solution designed exclusively for tablets.

“Educating the next generation of collision repairers is critically important,” said Mary Jo Prigge, president, Service Operations, CCC. “CCC is proud to work with CREF to provide collision repair schools with the industry’s most advanced software, giving them an opportunity to learn with the tools they will encounter once they start their careers.”

for the past eleven years.

“It has been my privilege to support these young athletes who have trained so hard to compete in this American sports tradition,” said Carubba Collision Corp. President and CEO Joe Carubba.

Carubba Collision has served the greater Buffalo area since 1955. Giving back to the community is something that Carubba Collision has a long and proud history of. Several notfor-profits have benefited from the generosity of Carubba Collision over the years including Make A Wish, Young Life, Mercy Flight, ECMC Trauma Unit, YMCA, the Food Bank of WNY, the Niagara County Sheriffs K-9 Unit, the City Mission, the NYS Golden Gloves, SPCA and the University at Buffalo, among others.

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Auto Body Program Offers Training, Hope for Return to Old Jobs

by Jim Martin, GoErie.com

The Occupational Outlook Handbook, produced by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, reports that another 15,300 auto body technicians will be needed between now and 2024.

Erie Institute of Technology calls the building at 122 W. 13th St. in Erie, PA an auto body technician lab.

But it looks, sounds, smells and feels more like a garage, complete with the scent of Bondo that hangs in the air, the sight of sparks flying from a body grinder and the gentle whoosh of sand paper polishing a car door to a glassy, smooth finish.

The new classroom, which opened in September, is a place where rusted, dented and broken cars and trucks come for a new lease on life.

More importantly, the school, which has is headquarters at the Millcreek Mall complex, sees this building, outfitted with a lift, paint booth and frame-straightening machine, as a place where students can take the first steps toward a new career.

The auto body curriculum entered the planning stages after school officials had a clear answer to one key question, said Paul Fitzgerald, director of Erie Institute of Technology.

“To me, the most important thing is are there jobs out there in that field?

The answer was a resounding yes,” he said.

An analysis by the federal government supports that conclusion. The Occupational Outlook Handbook, produced by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, reports that another 15,300 auto body technicians will be needed between now and 2024. That’s an increase of 9 percent, a rate of growth that exceeds the rate of most jobs.

Instructors John Lent and Dave Little, both veterans of the auto body business, say demand is likely to be particularly high in the Erie area, where a lot of auto body specialists are expected to retire in the next few years.

Thanks in part to wages that had been stagnant, but are rising once again, few people in this area have entered the profession in recent years, Little said.

That means there should be plenty of opportunities for students who can expect to emerge not as specialists, but qualified as entry-level technicians.

Kirk Griffith, 44, who worked at GE Transportation until he was laid off in Feb. 5, said he used to do body work years ago and saw the two-year program at EIT as a way to update his skills.

Police Commission Irked Over Continuing East Maple and Main St. Visibility Issue in New Canaan, CT

by Michael Catarevas, NCAdvertiser.com

All three members of the New Canaan Police Commission, at their meeting Dec. 14, expressed, in varying degrees, their frustration that the saga over the issue of visibility and parking at the corner of East Maple and Main

East Maple Street and Main Street. Credit: Page Jones

Streets. AC Auto Body owner Anthony Ceraso, who was not in attendance, might have been chagrined had he been, as one commissioner after another voiced annoyance with him and his stances regarding his business that sits on the corner in question. Ceraso and his neighbors have been embroiled in a years-long dispute over who can park where and when on East Maple. The commission has worked with both parties in the past, but there continues to be problems with visibility and safety. “This is ridiculous that it is still not solved,” Commissioner

Paul Foley said. “It would be resolved if this individual [Ceraso] would perform in a neighborly way.” He was referring to continuing complaints from neighbors that Ceraso parks his company’s vehicles, and customer vehicles, on the street in ways that are seen by them as potentially dangerous.

“There shouldn’t be any commercial vehicles in that first spot,” Commissioner Sperry DeCew said of the point where East Maple Street meets Main Street. “And there really shouldn’t be any parking on the first spot as you turn onto East Maple Street where his commercial vehicles used to be parked.” Police Commission Chairman Stuart Sawabini said that he drove on East Maple recently and there was a vehicle that obstructed his ability to see oncoming traffic clearly.

He asked Police Capt. John DiFederico to speak to Ceraso and hopefully get it straightened out for good.

“Hopefully this stays a very amicable relationship,” Sawabini said. “And if it continues without it, and he puts us into a corner, we will start to explore alternatives which we do not want to do. So let’s make another verbal appeal and say, ‘Look, help us out here, and help yourself out.’ ”

18 MARCH 2017 AUTOBODY NEWS | www.autobodynews.com

But like another former GE Transportation worker, 51-year-old Ray Ramey, who used to do touch-up paint work on GE locomotives, he sees the auto body education as his best shot at returning to GE Transportation.

Both Griffith and Ramey say they hope to obtain their painting credentials with the hope of winning a painting job when business picks up at GE Transportation.

Griffith and Ramey aren’t unusual, Lent said, explaining that the program includes a number of former GE employees, most of whom receive money for tuition under the Trade Adjustment Assistance program, which is available to employees who lose jobs due to foreign competition.

Most of the younger students in the program, which has an enrollment of about 40, are planning careers in body shops or working as adjusters for insurance companies, painters or auto glass technicians.

“It’s about a 50-50 mix,” Lent said. “The younger ones are looking to do it so they can get a job in the field.”

But many of the older students, particularly those who worked at GE Transportation, are hoping to return to a position there, especially in the highdemand field of painting.

“GE won’t let anybody paint unless they have the paperwork behind it,” he said.

Neither Griffith nor Ramey, however, is betting everything on turning back the clock.

Aside from painting, Griffith said he’s being trained in welding and a long list of other skills.

“They are all good skills for other jobs,” he said.

Lent said he enjoys the work.

“To me, it’s very rewarding,” he said. “You take a guy who doesn’t know one end of a wrench from another, and all of a sudden, he is tearing down cars.”

Fitzgerald said students learn their craft both in the classroom and in the shop, where they work on their own cars as well as those provided by friends, faculty members and sometimes outsiders who are willing to take a chance on a student.

Little said he’s convinced that most of the students—at least those prepared to pursue a career in auto body—are going to be successful.

“Anyone who wants it is going to get a job,” he said.

We thank GoErie.com for reprint permission.

www.autobodynews.com | MARCH 2017 AUTOBODY NEWS 19

Continued from Cover

LKQ Buys PA Shop

offers customers a broad range of replacement systems, components, equipment and parts to repair and accessorize automobiles, trucks, and recreational and performance vehicles.

Newman said the new name of the shop will be Apple Hill Auto & Collision division of A&A. A&A is an auto parts store owned by LKQ. Apple Hill has a history of working with LKQ in the past, using the company’s collision parts as well as consumables such as sandpaper and plastics.

The small family-owned company was established in 1997 by Aaron Salvatori. The original garage was located outside of Muncy, Pennsylvania, on the Continued from Page 12

NORTHEAST

with the new parts. On top of all that, it can also decrease the stress caused by last minute parts orders for estimators, technicians and parts personnel. So why do so many shops have trouble getting their estimators and technicians to buy-

top of a hill where the owner’s grandfather sold apples from his farm. He named his business Apple Hill 4x4 and specialized in mechanical repair and spray-on bedliners. In 2010, the company opened a collision repair facility in Muncy and Newman became the body shop manager. As the shop grew and needed more space, the decision was made to move to a new building near the mechanical shop.

In addition to collision repair, the body shop also focuses on spray-on bedliners and recently became a Line-X franchise.

“My hope for the future is that we keep expanding and getting bigger,” said Newman. “When you first find out that you are being sold, you have that nervousness about whether or not you’re going to be able to still have your

job or what’s going on,” said Newman.

“Now that everyone has had a chance to talk, it seems like it’s going to be very very good for us. It’s going to be good for keeping the business growing, the employees are all happy with what’s going on and I think it’s going to be a good change for us.”

In 1998, LKQ was initially formed through the combination of a number of wholesale recycled products businesses located in Florida, Michigan, Ohio and Wisconsin. The company has subsequently expanded through internal development and over 220 acquisitions of aftermarket, recycled, refurbished, and remanufactured product suppliers and manufacturers; self service retail businesses; and specialty vehicle aftermarket equipment and accessories suppliers.

One of LKQ’s significant acquisi-

tions was Keystone Automotive Industries, Inc. in 2007. The company said that at the time of acquisition, Keystone was the leading domestic distributor of aftermarket products, including collision replacement products, paint products, refurbished steel bumpers, bumper covers and alloy wheels. In 2014, the company then acquired Keystone Specialty.

LKQ said this expanded its product offerings and increased its addressable market to include specialty vehicle aftermarket equipment and accessories.

Two years later, it acquired Pittsburgh Glass Works (PGW), a global distributor and manufacturer of automotive glass products, further growing the company’s product offerings.

Autobody News will continue to follow this story and report on further developments.

in and perform 100% disassembly? This class will explore the importance of creating a culture of doing things WITH your people, not TO your people and how to gain their support for the common goal of 100% disassembly.

“Who Pays for What?” Survey Results explores the truth of who pays for what, based on quarterly surveys conducted by Mike and the CRASH

Network, and will give attendees insight into how the project—which currently boasts more than 1,000 shop participants—helps identify where shops are succeeding in receiving proper payment for the work they perform.

Pre-registration is required for these sessions, with limited seating! To register for 100% Disassembly Best

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The 2017 NORTHEAST Automotive Services Show will be held March 17-19 at the Meadowlands Exposition Center in Secaucus, New Jersey. Registration is currently open at www.aasp njnortheast.com. @AASPNJNORTHEAST / #NORTHEAST2017..

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Collision Repairers in FL Voice Their Concerns to Commissioner of Dept. of Agriculture Adam Putnam

by Stacey Phillips

A group of industry stakeholders in Florida recently sat down with Commissioner Adam Putnam of the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. During the hourlong meeting in January, repairers, suppliers, industry experts and consumers shared concerning issues regarding the collision repair industry.

“We were able to express some serious concerns relative to consumer safety and economic well-being,” said Barrett Smith, owner of Auto Damage Experts (ADE). The 20 attendees included Smith; Ray Gunder of Gunder’s Auto Center; David Stewart of Stewart Auto Repair; Charlie Rodriquez of Color Recon; Chance Smith of Crash Depot; and Attorney Brent Geohagan.

Smith said two consumers also attended the meeting to share their experiences in regards to insurance denials and underpayments of recommended repair procedures and quality replacement parts.

One of Smith’s consumer clients, Mrs. Orr, talked about the difficult time

Commissioner Adam Putnam of the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services

she had getting her car repaired and the re-repair that was necessary. “It was a battle every day for this consumer to get her car repaired properly,” said Smith. “She had made numerous complaints to the Department of Agriculture and the Florida Department of Insurance of which neither were much help to her.”

A customer of Gunder’s Auto Center also attended the meeting and shared her story about the poor repair

22 MARCH 2017 AUTOBODY NEWS | www.autobodynews.com

performed at an insurer’s Direct Repair Program (DRP) shop.

One of the concerns the industry group addressed with Putnam was in regards to a revised automotive policy in Florida by one of the major national insurance carriers. The wording was somewhat changed and ultimately approved by the state of Florida. Smith said the issue was that the policy now states that the cost of repair or replacement that is owed is determined by that insurance company wherein it states in part “as determined by us.”

During the meeting, Smith said they informed Commisisioner Putnam that this was not keeping with past policy wording as approved in Florida and places far too much authority over the insurer while leaving the consumer in a very vulnerable position.

“We’re hopeful Florida state representatives will look into this further,” he said.

“We also spoke about aftermarket parts usage and how they weren’t truly like kind and quality and not crash tested,” said Smith.

David Stewart of Stewart’s Auto, along with his daughter Jenna, brought

with them a box of thousands of pages of documented unpaid procedures his shop had provided the services but weren’t compensated. Smith said that the group shared with Commisioner Putnam that repairers are subsidizing some customers’ repairs virtually out of their pockets where there is no legal obligation to do so.

“Unfortunately, there are a lot of good quality, honest and ethical body repair providers who are doing that— providing the best service they can to their neighbors and retaining their good reputation for workmanship and quality and service in their communities and the insurance companies are taking full advantage of that,” said Smith.

In most cases, he said consumers are unaware of what’s taking place.

“The insurance companies literally save billions and the body shops are losing billions,” said Smith. “When the insurers refuse to provide payment for a procedure, some [repairers] are not providing it and the consumer may be placed in harm’s way and be totally unaware.”

See FL Concerns, Page 28

Seven Arrested in Coachella Valley, CA, $500,000 Insurance Fraud Probe

by Banning-Beaumont Patch.com

Seven people were arrested February 7, in connection with an alleged auto insurance fraud scheme involving more than a half-million dollars in alleged fraudulent payouts to seven Coachella Valley body shops.

The seven were among 40 people charged by the District Attorney’s Office for their alleged involvement in securing $560,492 in payouts, stemming from up to 40 false insurance claims made for car crashes that were either staged or never happened, according to D.A.’s spokesman John Hall.

Body shops involved in the scheme were Tiger Auto Collision Center in Indio, Supreme Auto Collision in Indio, Diamond Auto Body in Indio, All Valley Auto Body in Desert Hot Springs, Ferrari Auto Collision in Indio, 760 Auto Collision in Indio and Superior Auto Body in Indio.

The suspects arrested by investigators from the California Department of Insurance and the Urban Auto Insurance Fraud Task Force during “Operation All in the Family” were: ● Isaac Espinoza Villa, 30, of Indio; ● Luz Virgin, 42, of Indio;

● Samuel Salvador Gomez, 42, of Indio; ● Moises Saldana Paredes, 27, of Coachella; ● Mauricio Lopez-Castro, 29, of Coachella; ● Jose Manuel Luna, 50, of Palm Desert; and ● Erika Feliz, 36, of Indio.

Another 22 suspects are expected to surrender soon, while 11 remain at large, according to the Department of Insurance.

“Insurance fraud schemes like this one steal from our local communities in the form of higher premiums,” Riverside County District Attorney Mike Hestrin said. “The insurance fraud perpetrated by these defendants is alleged to have caused a loss of more than $500,000, a cost that ultimately is passed on to consumers. We have to do everything that can be done to stop these criminals from defrauding the public.”

According to the District Attorney’s Office, the body shop owners worked with employees and family members posing as insurance consumers, who filed the false claims.

The fraud was first brought to light in 2014, when Department of In-

surance investigators received information regarding the scheme during a bust of suspects running a similar crime ring.

“This was an elaborate conspiracy to rip off insurers to the tune of nearly a half a million dollars,” Insurance Commissioner Dave Jones said. “Insurance fraud is not a victimless crime. The cost of fraud is shouldered by consumers who pay higher premiums when insurers pass along their losses. The task force is a critical tool in combating the multibilliondollar problem of insurance fraud.”

Autobody News thanks BanningBeaumont Patch.com for reprint permission.

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Houston Digital Corporation Officially Releases Q-Scheduler

Houston Digital Corporation has officially released Q-Scheduler, a next generation production scheduling tool for collision repair shops. According to Kreg Jetsel, president of Houston Digital Corporation, QScheduler is “revolutionary.”

“For years, the collision repair industry has been in need of ‘Tetris’ style scheduling to enable collision repair facilities to effectively schedule their work by class or job size,” Jetsel said. “Since every job is different, we wanted to take the guess work out of production scheduling.

With the right mix of work coming into the shop, the flow through the shop can stay more consistent and therefore help reduce bottlenecks and improve cycle times. We’ve seen shops show dramatic increases in throughput using these concepts.”

Jetsel also said Q-Scheduler can be up and running in less than 15 minutes and is easy to use. No management system is required and there are no long term contracts.

For more information on the QScheduler system, please contact Summit CRS at (208) 947-1738 or visit www.Q-Scheduler.com.

www.autobodynews.com | MARCH 2017 AUTOBODY NEWS 23

Continued from Cover

Chubb

turned in proper working order.”

Shortly after, in January, Chubb sent a follow up email to clarify their announcement: “The email you received on December 9 regarding a policy announcement on pre and post scans was sent prematurely and we wish to clarify it. Chubb has consistently focused on the safety and integrity of covered vehicle repairs, consistent with manufacturer requirements. Our approach to pre- and/or post-repair scanning is no different. Many manufacturers have issued position statements relating to the need for pre- and post-repair scanning.

Many have not yet done so. Chubb’s approach is to view each repair as unique, and to consider payment for covered repairs on a case-by-case basis, in accordance with policy terms and the need for a high quality repair.”

“This is the insurance company as far as I can see with the most integrity,” said McDonnell. “They looked at it and said, ‘Hey, this needs to be done. We want our shops to do it and we are requiring our shops to do it.”

About two years ago, McDonnell began pre- and post-scanning every single vehicle that came through his Billings, Montana body shops. His father, Matt, started the business in a four-car garage in 1978. Since then, it has grown to include 30 employees at their three locations.

In the past, McDonnell said the shops were only scanning some of the vehicles that came in for repair. Over time, he realized it need to be done dif-

Big Sky Collision Center operates three locations in Montana

ferently. After working with Mike Anderson for several years and being part of his business council, McDonnell asked Anderson which vehicles should be scanned. “Mike said, ‘Matthew, I think you need to scan them all.’ I thought that was impossible,” said McDonnell. “Who is going to pay?”

He went back to his shop and asked his team to help determine which cars needed to be scanned. Over

24 MARCH 2017 AUTOBODY NEWS | www.autobodynews.com

a one-month period, they tested 50 vehicles and scanned every one without asking to get reimbursed by the insurance companies.

After scanning all of the vehicles pre- and post-repair, they found that 49 out of 50 had diagnostic trouble codes that were either created from the accident or from the repair process. “We wouldn’t have known which were related to the accident and which were related to the repair unless we ran a pre and post scan,” said McDonnell.

“If I put the vehicle back together and it’s invisible to me to see those little prongs inside the connectors, I can’t tell if they are all touching and connecting,” he said. “How do I know if they are all connected after the repair?

The answer is I don’t. You absolutely have to scan the vehicle to find out that information.”

After that test, the shop recognized the importance of scanning every vehicle they have coverage for.

“What people think needs to be done and what really needs to be done is probably the biggest issue in the country today,” he said.

He continued to monitor the vehicles that came into the shop and kept a list of approximately 200. He found

only 14 percent of these had dash lights come on and only half of the dash lights were related to the repair.

The other half had maintenance issues such as needing an oil change or in regards to the tire pressure monitoring system.

“All of them needed to be scanned,” said McDonnell. “All of them had codes and faults. For those people out there who are only going to scan when there is a dash light, that means you are only getting a seven percent success rate according to my data.

That’s super scary.”

He said the toughest part is not figuring out whether you need to scan.

Instead, the real work begins after you make the decision.

At one time, Big Sky had 12 DRPs. He only has one major one day—State Farm. “We had every single insurance company that we dealt with deny it for some reason up front,” he said. “They didn’t believe it needed to be done on every vehicle and didn’t agree with our practices so they didn’t want a partner like me.”

However, Chubb saw how he was operating his shop and asked him to be a DRP in Montana. “That was a See Chubb, Page 26

www.autobodynews.com | MARCH 2017 AUTOBODY NEWS 25

major compliment,” said McDonnell.

Over the last two years, he has found that OEMs are surprised to hear that not all vehicles are being scanned, especially since they regularly scan the vehicles that come into the dealerships.

McDonnell said that over half of

the cars driving on the road today have a position statement that requires pre and post scanning of the vehicle.

“That’s 51 percent of the marketshare of the cars driving in the United States right now,” he said. Although many shops have not seen these position statements, McDonnell said the majority know about it by now. “Now you need to make the business decision about whether or not you are going to

follow the rules.”

In the meantime, McDonnell continues to spread the word about the importance of scanning all vehicles.

“We’ve stuck with it long enough that now over 90 percent of the insurance companies we work with have said, ‘Yes, we will pay you for the pre and post scan.

“My message to the industry is that if you are waiting for the insur-

ance companies to tell you that you have to do this, it’s never going to come. That’s something that everyone has to answer internally,” said McDonnell. “If you are going to consider yourself a shop with integrity and doing things right, then you have to ask that question. At least research it enough to know to make the right decision. I challenge every shop owner to say, ‘Let’s do that.’ ”

The San Diego County District Attorney’s Office and California Insurance Commissioner Dave Jones recently announced a major auto insurance fraud ring takedown which was operating in San Diego County. Nine defendants have been charged with 34 felony crimes including filing fraudulent auto insurance claims. Six defendants were arrested on January 31, and police are searching for one more. Two people received notices that they have been charged and must appear in court.

“When cheaters scam insurance companies, law abiding citizens end up footing the bill,” District Attorney Bonnie Dumanis said. “Our insurance fraud team did an excellent job collaborating

with the California Department of Insurance and Highway Patrol to dismantle this crime ring.”

Operation Persistent was a twoyear investigation that uncovered a web of fraudsters who victimized insurance companies over several years.

The ring used various schemes to file 34 false insurance claims for auto property damage. The schemes included staged collisions, nonexistent collisions, using already damaged vehicles, and phony vehicle thefts.

The crimes were discovered thanks to the diligent efforts of the San Diego Automobile Insurance Fraud Task Force. The joint task force is dedicated to investigating all forms of auto insur-

ance fraud and is supervised by the California Department of Insurance. It is made up of law enforcement officers from the Department of Insurance, the San Diego District Attorney’s Office, and California Highway Patrol. The National Insurance Crime Bureau also provides support to the task force.

“Insurance fraud is not a victimless crime,” said Insurance Commissioner Dave Jones. “We all pay for these crimes when insurers pass along the losses through higher premiums.”

The San Diego ring made false insurance claims totaling approximately $200,000. The defendants bilked 12 insurance companies out of about $125, 000. Victim insurance companies in-

clude Allstate, Access, GEICO, Infinity, State Farm, Rental Insurance Services, Fred Loya, Nationwide, Alliance, Farmers, Nations, and Travelers.

“Insurance fraud can directly impact the lives of law-abiding people and staged collisions have taken the lives of innocent people in our state,” said Jim Abele, Border Division Chief for the California Highway Patrol. “The California Highway Patrol is dedicated to reducing collisions, vehicle theft, and insurance fraud. The San Diego Automobile Insurance Fraud Task Force partnership provides a needed focus on auto-insurance crimes and enables better sharing of case information among fraud fighters.”

Continued from Page 24

Chubb

DA and Insurance Commissioner Announce Bust of Insurance Fraud Ring in San Diego County, CA

26 MARCH 2017 AUTOBODY NEWS | www.autobodynews.com

www.autobodynews.com | MARCH 2017 AUTOBODY NEWS 27

requires a disciplined process.

“You start with getting the customer’s authorization to obtain the data, taking photographs of the scan ing wrong? Wano said a few weeks ago, tool on the car so you can prove to the his son came home from school after insurer or anyone else that you really hurting his knee playing basketball. As scanned the car,” he said. “Sometimes the knee continued to swell, Wano took we even photograph the different his son to an urgent care clinic, where, codes that come up on the scanner.” he said, they checked his son’s temperOne challenge, he said, is that ature, heart rate and blood pressure, scan times can vary widely from one then decided an MRI was needed to devehicle model to another. termine if his son had damaged his “And if you find fault codes, it meniscus. The MRI showed no damleads to all sorts of questions,” he said. age.

“Sometimes the scan will point you in “The point I’m making is there the direction and give you some insight were all these diagnostic tests to de- [into what needs to be done]. Other termine what happened,” Wano said. times you have dig into it further.”

“And I can tell you from the [paperOthers on the panel concurred work] I’ve received, the tests were all that there’s a need for training related charged out. Even though there was to scanning. Mark Allen of Audi of no tear in the meniscus, the insurer America said his company hasn’t yet would pay for that MRI because it was joined the nearly two dozen other aua concern.” tomakers putting out position statePanelist Chris Evans of State ments on scanning despite the need to Farm called the analogy a good one. ensure systems have been calibrated “There was ‘technology’ in the and reset. area of the damage, right,” Evans said “To pull codes sounds great, but of Wano’s son’s knee. “So it made there’s a danger here,” Allen said. “If sense to do everything that the doctors someone goes in and does a pre-scan, did.” pulls the codes and clears the history, Evans said he recently took his we don’t know what happened to that own vehicle in for collision car. We lose all the back-hisrepair, and a scan was intory on that car. You’re not volved in part because one of just affecting the collision the car’s adaptive headlights world. You’re affecting any had to be replaced. of the campaigns we do to “Our developing posiupdate those computer systion at my company as we try tems for the function of that to get our arms around this entire vehicle system.”

John Eck is: Do what makes sense,” That segued the discussion Evans said. “In that situation, the body into another related topic: the need for shop did what made sense. There’s shops to consistently use automaker technology there. There was an acci- repair procedures. dent. It made sense in that scenario to “If you don’t use the [OEM] infordo what they did.” mation together with the information Panelist Darrell Amberson, vice and results you get from the scan, president of operations for Minnesota- there’s really not much sense in doing a based LaMettry’s Collision, said his scan anyway,” Olsen said. “The process company now scans virtually every isn’t just about scanning the car. It’s incar coming into their eight shops. terpreting the results that you get from “Right now we’re scanning over that scan, and then using the service in1,000 cars a month,” he said. formation and procedures.”

He said that to do that well, and Panelist John Eck of General to be paid for the process by insurers, Motors noted that a survey of shops Continued from Cover

CIC panel

Continued from Page 22

FL Concerns

Smith said the commissioner listened intently and reviewed the provided materials. “He promised to look into his department’s performance in

oversight as well as recent changes in auto policy provisions that may not be in the best interest of Florida policyholders,” said Smith. “Mr. Putnam’s time and attention was greatly appreciated and all are hopeful that something positive will result from this and future meetings.”

28 MARCH 2017 AUTOBODY NEWS | www.autobodynews.com

his company did last year found results similar to other surveys in terms of shops’ regular review of OEM repair procedures.

“It’s less than 20 percent pulling repair procedures [for all repairs],” Eck said. “It’s unacceptable. There are no two accidents that are alike. We change repair procedures often. I understand the cost and the process and the payment issues [related to looking up OEM procedures]. But we’re talking about a safe repair. We have to work with the information providers to find better ways to make it easier, to provide the information to shops in a faster, more intuitive way.”

State Farm’s Evans agreed there’s a need for more OEM scanning and repair information within the estimating systems.

“I believe in the very near future, they are going to become a critical element in this whole process,” Evans said.

GM’s Eck was asked if he has concerns about the industry being ready to repair the autonomous vehicles that are being developed. Eck said his concerns are more immediate. He said he recently learned of a relative who had been in a vehicle accident, and

he immediately began texting that person to find out who was doing the repairs, and suggesting questions to ask the shop.

“We’re on the inside so we know what we really want [for them] out of that repair, and what may not happen,” Eck said. “I’m concerned about the vehicles being sold today, that the industry as a whole isn’t prepared to fix even today’s non-autonomous vehicles.”

He said that obviously there are shops that have the training, equipment and information to repair vehicles properly, but “by and large, the masses” may be five or 10 years behind.

Eck acknowledged his company needs to do more to educate insurers as well, pointing to Mercedes-Benz as a company doing that well.

They’ve done a fabulous job with insurer training, so that insurers understand the type of vehicles their policyholders are owning,” Eck said.

“We need to take those best practices and see how General Motors can improve information communication to insurance companies.”

CIC’s next meeting will be held April 19-20 in Pittsburgh, PA.

www.autobodynews.com | MARCH 2017 AUTOBODY NEWS 29

National Events

Stacey Phillips is a freelance writer and editor for the automotive industry.

She has 20 years of experience writing for a variety of publications.

She can be reached at sphillips.autobodynews@gmail.com.

NADA Kicks Off 100th Anniversary at National Convention and Expo in “The Big Easy” with Stacey Phillips

by Stacey Phillips

Celebrating its 100th anniversary, the National Automobile Dealers Association (NADA) kicked off a series of year-long commemorative events at its annual convention and expo in New Orleans, Louisiana January 26 to 29.

This is the 12th time since 1973 that the convention has been held in “The Big Easy.” An estimated 23,000 new car dealers, managers, automotive industry professional and exhibitors were expected to attend the four-day event.

“It’s not every day that a national trade association reaches its 100-year anniversary, yet NADA is still as strong and relevant as the day it was founded,” said 2016 NADA Chairman Jeff Carlson.

“NADA’s 100th mission for 100 years has been to represent local dealerships and our customers in Washington, DC, with a goal of keeping personal transportation affordable for

everyone,” added Carlson, president of Glenwood Springs Ford and Glenwood Springs Subaru in Glenwood Springs, Colo., and co-owner of Summit Ford in Silverthorne, CO. “It’s an honor to serve such a respected group.”

Mitch Landrieu, Mayor of New Orleans welcomes attendees to the Big Easy

Founded in 1917, NADA formed when a group of local dealers set out to fight a new effort by Congress to levy a luxury tax on new automobiles.

Thirty dealers from state and local associations traveled to Washington, DC,

30 MARCH 2017 AUTOBODY NEWS | www.autobodynews.com

and set up base at the Willard Hotel.

By convincing Congress that cars were not luxury items as they were classified, but instead were vital to the economy, the group prevented total factory conversion to wartime work and succeeded in reducing a proposed five percent luxury tax to three percent.

The incident was the first of many chapters where local dealerships fought to keep new vehicles affordable for their customers. For the past 15 years, more than 90 percent of all new-car and -truck dealerships in the United States have been NADA members.

Prior to the start of the 2017 convention, the NADA Foundation donated $50,000 to the Emeril Lagasse Foundation, which supports organizations that create opportunities to inspire and mentor youth through culinary, nutrition and arts education with a focus on life skills development.

“My wife Alden and I are delighted that NADA has chosen the

Emeril Lagasse Foundation as a grant recipient in conjunction with their convention. This generous philanthropic gift will help us positively impact the lives of more children,” said Chef Emeril Lagasse, chairman and founder of the Emeril Lagasse Foundation.

“Thank you for bringing your convention to New Orleans and for supporting the Emeril Lagasse Foundation.”

Since its inception in 1975, the NADA Foundation has had a long history of providing financial support to New Orleans and the surrounding communities.

“The NADA Foundation through amazing contributions from our dealer network has supported dealership families, military families and children in need from natural disasters and times of emergency, like hurricanes Katrina and Rita and most recently, the flooding in Baton Rouge,” See NADA 100th, Page 46

www.autobodynews.com | MARCH 2017 AUTOBODY NEWS 31

Product Innovation The Spira Saves Lives Because It’s Encased in Foam with Ed Attanasio

Imagine a vehicle that is completely encased in protective foam, so that when it collides with a pedestrian, cyclist or other vehicle, it bounces off and minimizes impact. Remember those old bumper cars at carnivals and fairs?

Look ahead 10-20 years from now and think about a world where self-driving vehicles simply bounce off of each other, thereby reducing severity, saving lives and changing the collision repair industry as a result.

The inventor of this vehicle is Lon Ballard of San Diego, CA, and he calls it the Spira4u. It is a three-wheel motorcycle for two people with a plastic and fiberglass chassis encased in eight inches of foam up front and four inches on both sides. It looks like something out of the old Jetsons cartoon, yet with a certain sense of style. In fact, Ballard’s slogan for the Spira is “Soft, Safe, Sexy.”

Available in either two versions— gas-powered and electric—the Spira

has a range of 200 miles (gas) and 140 miles (EV) with top speeds of 50 mph and 80 mpg with the gas version and a top speed of approximately 75 mph

Ed Attanasio is an automotive journalist based in San Francisco, California. He can be reached at era39@aol.com.

Ballard sees a definite need for a vehicle like the Spira now and in the future. “In 1920, only two billion people roamed this planet, and now, seven billion people want vehicles,” Ballard said. “The pollution and material production will sicken us. Vehicles are already the #1 killer of people in the prime of their lives (ages 540). The Spira weighs less because it contains fewer parts, which means it uses less energy to build it and operate it.

The Spira can travel 300,000 miles on the energy that is used to build a regular car!”

The Spira uses an innovative honeycomb core board Lon Ballard of San Diego, CA invented the Spira4u, a that was first mass produced in three-wheel motorcycle for two people with a plastic 2011 in Germany and then and fiberglass chassis encased in foam later in China in 2014. The embedded glass fibers in the honeycomb with its electric cousin. Both are amazingly lightweight at 440 lbs. (gas) and bend in a crash to absorb energy, Ballard said. “Carbon fibers would be much 550 lbs. (EV).

32 MARCH 2017 AUTOBODY NEWS | www.autobodynews.com

more expensive while only a little stronger. Also, carbon fiber’s rigid stiffness makes them brittle. Several molds cracked as we learned how to produce the largest Expanded Polypropylene (EPP) panels around. We call it ‘Styrofoam on steroids.’ Even first graders are smarter than car companies, as they all protect eggs with foam and cardboard in a drop test instead of heavy metal cans like we drive.”

Several patents have been awarded on the Spira, and others are pending in several countries. “We hope to license our technology and production techniques to others at a low cost to promote safety safe applications for the Spira by sharing our trade secrets and test results,” he said. “We hope to someday be affiliated with or set up a nonprofit organization to promote safer auto designs.”

By breaking the Guinness World record with the EV Spira (555.6 kilometer single trip on a single charge by

going 775.8 kilometers) it proves that lightweight technology can achieve three things—energy saving, safety and strength.

“Car designers have focused on passenger safety while neglecting pedestrians, motorcyclists and bicyclists,” Ballard said. “If the auto companies take responsibility for their cars being the number one killer of people

Foam is the future, and Ballard isn’t soft-pedaling its importance to our next generation vehicles. “Our patent pending technology can revolutionize the way vehicles are designed and produced,” Ballard said. “The Spira uses reinforcing fibers and plastic to provide a strong protective cage covered with soft foam all over the entire vehicle. It’s 100% recyclable and can be completely replaced for around $400. Foam can be substituted for steel in cars for a more cushioned impact just as foam has replaced leather soles on most shoes and sandals. Foam protection on the outside of autos is needed because over half of vehicle deaths in large cities and developing counThe Spira uses reinforcing fibers and plastic to provide a strong protective cage covered with soft foam all over the tries are pedestrians and moentire vehicle. It’s 100% recyclable and can be completely torcyclists.” replaced for around $400 The shape of the Spira is from crashes and pollution, their designs also designed for safety in mind. “The will then change for the better. I say that pointed front decreases air resistance all of the distracted drivers out there, inand makes for a smaller target,” Ballard cluding the texters, drunks and potheads said. “In a crash it is best to deflect and don’t kill. It is the car designs that do it. roll, as in judo. The design choices were The foam Spira is designed to increase to fit a safe yet efficient shape around safety for the pedestrian, bicyclist, mothe people and the mechanics. Styling torcyclist and passengers—people that came secondary to achieve a sleek effithe car designers have all ignored.” cient shape while using lightweight,

built some in the Philippines and now we’re building them in China. For all of the lightweight parts and batteries for the Spira, we buy them in China and the quality is outstanding.”

Ballard knows that for wider acceptance, he will need to develop a 4wheel Spira and that is why he’s currently working on a prototype. “All of the credits and rebates from CARB aren’t available with a 3-wheel vehicle, but by adding that fourth wheel, people who buy them will be able to save roughly $8,000-$10,000 through state rebates and federal tax credits.

Since I can make the car for that, maybe I should just give The Spira has started production in China due to the them away?” wide availability of motorcycle parts, and the company’s Ballard is currently seeking business plan is to also license production worldwide global/ local suppliers, deallard. “In the future, this patent pending ers and manufacturers to share in his foam technology can be utilized in all dream of producing efficient, light and sizes of vehicles to enhance safety and safe vehicles. The Spira has started fuel consumption.” production in China due to the wide Designing and building the Spira availability of motorcycle parts, and has been an international journey, to the company’s business plan is to also say the least. “In 2008, I built my first license production worldwide. Will car one in Thailand, but the government dealerships and consumers start foamthere outlawed it, because it has three ing at the mouth when they see the first wheels,” Ballard said. “So, then we 4-wheeled Spira? Only time will tell.

flexible, energy absorbing materials.

Thought was also given to what will happen to the components in a crash.”

The high mpg and low cost should entice drivers to take a step down from their luxury vehicles to save fuel and help the environment, according to Bal-

www.autobodynews.com | MARCH 2017 AUTOBODY NEWS 33

Shop Services

Stacey Phillips is a freelance writer and editor for the automotive industry.

She has 20 years of experience writing for a variety of publications.

She can be reached at sphillips.autobodynews@gmail.com.

Collision Safety Consultants Teams with Collision Repair Stakeholders for Proper Repairs with Stacey Phillips

what’s wrong the vehicle and then let Since Billy Walkowiak founded Colhim or her decide whether or not to lision Safety Consultants seven years ago, he has helped consumers, body take it back to the shop to repair it corshops, dealerships and even insurance rectly. “The consumer is ultimately companies with diminished value the vehicle owner, and the choice is claims as well as inspecting post-repair theirs,” he said. vehicles to determine whether they When the company was first eswere fixed properly. tablished in 2010, Walkowiak fo“It used to be that body cused mainly on diminished shops didn’t like Collision value claims in North CarSafety Consultants and they olina and South Carolina. were worried about what I was “The more I started doing going to do,” said Walkowiak, diminished value claims, the president of the North-Carmore I found out that conolina-based company. “I actusumers weren’t getting qualally have body shops now that ity repairs, and they were hire me to look at their cars to Billy Walkowiak, being taken advantage of by founder of Collision make sure they’re doing the Safety Consultants not only unscrupulous body right thing.” shops but by insurance comHe said over the last couple of panies,” he said. “They weren’t getmonths, one of the largest MSOs asked ting quality repairs and they weren’t him to inspect vehicles that were regetting paid what they should for paired by their technicians because their vehicle’s loss in value.” they didn’t think they fixed them corHe found he was getting 75,000 rectly and wanted a third-party opinion. to 100,000 hits a year on his website “The ones that care about their business from those who were interested in embrace me and the ones that don’t, what he was doing. Many consumers disgrace me,” said Walkowiak. were also reaching out to share stories His message to collision repairers about a bad experience with a body is to use OEM repair procedures and shop and wanted to know where they the proper equipment to ensure vehicould find someone to help them. cles are repaired correctly. “The cars Walkowiak would then contact a nowadays are so technical a lot of nearby body shop and ask to be his people don’t have a resistance welder eyes and ears. “I handled the paperor computerized measurement system work but I needed someone to physiand they are fixing hard hits,” he said. cally look at the vehicle because there “The vehicles are engineered today might be a bad repair,” he said. He now with such low tolerance you can’t fix receives about 15 to 20 requests per them if you don’t have the right equipweek. Most of these are asking how to ment.” overcome short pays when an insurHe said that shops often tell him ance company is not willing to pay for that they’ve been doing it a certain way the repair. for 40 years. “Well, these aren’t the Since first opening Collision Safety cars we manufactured 40 years ago,” Consultants, Walkowiak has extended said Walkowiak. his business to include total loss assessWhen a consumer brings in a vements. “A huge piece of business now hicle they are concerned about to his is doing valuations for consumers on business, he starts out by doing a free total loss where insurance companies visual inspection. “If it’s something are not willing to pay them a fair marcosmetic, we don’t make an issue out ket value,” he said. of that. That’s not what we’re looking “Now that I have four associate for,” he said. “We’re looking for things locations, it’s more evident to me that that can endanger the lives of the pasthe problem hasn’t changed,” said sengers of the vehicles.”

Walkowiak. The first associate locaAfter conducting an inspection, tion opened in Scottsdale, Arizona in Walkowiak said they always give the March 2016. Locations in Texas and body shop the first opportunity to New Orleans soon followed that same make it right. He will show a customer year and one in Pennsylvania was es-

34 MARCH 2017 AUTOBODY NEWS | www.autobodynews.com

business was helping folks fight for their rights. We liked it very much!”

They now focus on fighting for the rights of the policyholder either to get diminished value for the damage to the vehicle or the actual cash value for the total loss. “We have found that people simply accept the insurance company offer, leaving lots of value on the table—to the benefit of the insurance company, not them,” she said.

When she talks to body New Orleans shops, she tells them that they Vera O’Brien and her hushave an ally when it comes to band Pat own Collision getting the insurance compaSafety Consultants of Southnies to pay them for their ern Louisiana and serve the work. The O’Briens mainly greater New Orleans area. fight for independent shops The O’Bri-ens were in the who don’t cater to big insurbumper reconditioning busi(r to l) Vera and Pat O’Brien with ance companies. “They only ness for more than 18 years. daughter Emma answer to their customer— “It was becoming eviwe like that,” said Vera. “We hope that dent that people were trying everythe public gets wise about their rights. thing not to file a claim for auto When they need a little muscle added damage,” said Vera. “We did research See Proper Repairs, Page 36 as to why that was and found that this tablished just recently in 2017.

All of the locations work with multiple shops in their area of business to help ensure proper repairs, as well as assist customers with total loss value and diminished value.

“It’s kind of like a value-added service that doesn’t cost the shop anything,” he said. “The shop is the one that gets the accolades.”

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Continued from Page 34

Proper Repairs

to their fight, we’re here for them.”

She said it’s an injustice that big insurance companies think they can get away with offering so little to the consumer.

“The consumer doesn’t have to settle—they have the right to pick their own body shop, and to get what their totaled car is REALLY worth, and they have the right to go after diminished value,” said Vera. She said improper repairs are also a safety issue for families. “They don’t have to settle for less than proper repairs either. Big companies won’t give you this information; we have to dig it up and point it out and fight for it. That’s our public service!”

Pennsylvania In December 2016, John Hayduk decided to learn more about the possibility of opening an associate location in Pennsylvania. He traveled to North Carolina to train with Walkowiak in January 2017. By February 1, the business was up and running.

“I have been following Billy for several years and I saw a great need in

the Philadelphia market and the surrounding area to protect the consumer from unsafe repairs,” said Hayduk, the owner and president of Collision Safety Consultants of Pennsylvania.

In July 2016, he was approached by a lawyer about a client’s vehicle that was in two accidents while at a dealership. “I took the vehicle in and we did

John Hayduk, owner and president of Collision Safety Consultants of Pennsylvania

a disassembly,” said Hayduk. He found that the front cover was replaced; however, they did not replace the bumper reinforcement that was also damaged.

The right side doors also needed to be replaced because the intrusion beams were bent. It cost $16,500 to make the corrected repairs.

“The dealer has never said who fixed the car for them. In doing this, they put the client and her children and

anyone else riding in that vehicle in danger,” said Hayduk. “This was the catalyst for me to do something for the consumer.”

Since opening his business, he has primarily focused on total loss valuations. In the first 14 days, they also dealt with some poor repairs and started to get referrals for diminished value claims. Prior to starting the Pennsylvania business, Hayduk was a retired policeman who worked as an estimator in a body shop as well as managed several shops. He has also been a manager of business development for an auto paint supplier. He has been a licensed appraiser since 1995.

Hayduk tells body shops that he isn’t out to find a tape line or a dirt nib. Instead, his goal is to protect motorists from unsafe repairs.

“The industry really needs to remember that our customer is the vehicle owner,” said Hayduk. “They are the ones who are counting on us to make sure their vehicles are repaired properly.”

Contact Billy at Billy.collisionsafety@ gmail.com, or visit www.collisionsafety consultants.us www.collisionsafety consultants.com.

New Global Warranty Program for Architectural Powder Coatings

Axalta Coating Systems has introduced a Global Warranty program for its premium line of Alesta® architectural powder coatings.

Alesta powder coatings are designed to meet the rigorous architectural specifications set forth by the American Architectural Manufacturers Association (AAMA), Qualicoat and GSB standards. These are available in a wide selection of colors and gloss levels, and contain virtually no VOCs and no targeted HAPs. The Global Warranty provides a unique and consistent program to specifiers and façade fabricators through Axalta’s approved applicators.

The fluoropolymer-based Alesta AR500 UD series powder coatings based on fluorocarbon technology will come with a warranty of up to 30 years, offering superior mechanical properties compared to traditional liquid technologies. Alesta AR400 SD super durable polyesterbased powder coatings will come with a warranty up to 25 years.

Alesta AR300 AP standard durable polyester-based powder coatings will come with a warranty up to 15 years.

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www.autobodynews.com | MARCH 2017 AUTOBODY NEWS 37

Shop Strategies

Stacey Phillips is a freelance writer and editor for the automotive industry.

She has 20 years of experience writing for a variety of publications.

She can be reached at sphillips.autobodynews@gmail.com.

with Stacey Phillips

Successful Female Shop Owner in OR Encourages Shops to Keep an Open Mind, Have No Fear and Dive in Camille Eber began working at her My parents were ahead of their parent’s Oregon body shop, Roth & time in many ways; they were foundMiller Autobody, in 1986. Just three ing members of our state association, years later, her dad decided he was Autobody Craftsman Association, and ready to sell the business and Camille dad helped shape an estimator training became the new owner. Since and certification program then, she has added a minorwithin the association. They ity partner, become affiliated were one of the first shops in with the Fix Auto Network Portland to have the equipand grown the collision rement needed to repair unibody pair facility, which includes vehicles. They also attended a two locations, Fix Auto Portlot of training and the first few land East and Fix Auto Gladyears of NACE. Camille Eber, stone.

I worked only a year with owner of Fix Auto Portland East and mom before she passed away, Autobody News spoke to Camille about her experiences Fix Auto Gladstone and after that dad lost his in Oregon over the years as a woman focus and initiative with work. shop owner in a male-dominated field It was a few very difficult years. as well as the challenges of working in My nephew, William Bray, stara family business, and why she decided ted hanging out with me as a youngto become part of a network of shops. ster and would come with me to the shop on Saturdays while I caught up What are some of the challenges on supplements. He would do all kinds you have encountered being part of odd jobs to earn a buck—entering of a family business and how have you labor control cards (for job costing), dealt with them? cleaning in the shop, cutting the grass and weeding. When he graduated high Our business, Roth & Miller Au- school, we had been experiencing tobody, was started in 1946 by growth in volume so I taught him estiChet Roth & C.E. Miller. My folks, mating and how to negotiate with inJim and Doris Eber, purchased it in surers (which he did much better than 1963.

I ever have). He’s a very goal-focused When I joined the business with guy and wanted to spread his wings. my folks, I was untainted by the ways We often found ourselves butting of insurer/shop relations. I was optiheads and arguing. He even gave his mistic about being paid for what we notice once to go work for our largest did when we did it, and I believed I competitor and I made a promise to could eliminate the friction of getting make him a partner to keep him from paid, even though my folks told me leaving. Due to many, many things, it how it was. I only needed to educate took me much too long to fulfil that myself and approach it in a different promise. I credit my involvement in a way. This was not always the case, and DuPont (now Axalta) Business Council in many ways not much has changed group facilitated by Mike Anderson, between shops and insurers since that and Mike being my accountability parttime. ner within that group, as the fuel that I also saw an opportunity to im- prompted me to finally execute that prove our accounting (my college promise to make my nephew William a focus had been business and account- minority partner in 2012. ing) and our system was archaic when The relationship with my nephew I got there. Mom was the business has not been easy and this is wellbookkeeper and she had continued the known by many of our colleagues and system the previous bookkeeper had friends. We are polar opposites. He is set up. She was very resistant to mak- an extrovert and I am introvert; he is ing any changes to the system. In goal-focused and I have an overarchhindsight, mom was already very sick ing idea of how I want things to go. He and we just didn’t know that her tired- wants autonomy and I want control. ness and sometimes feeling exhausted The tension in our relationship has frewas an illness. quently gotten in the way—until re-

Q: A:

38 MARCH 2017 AUTOBODY NEWS | www.autobodynews.com

cently. We contracted with a husband and wife coaching team and their ideas and methods mesh well with our Discover Leadership training and my individual work with a personal coach.

Trying to work together has cost a ton of money over the years, but working with this couple since June of 2016 has parted the “Red Sea” for us. I was on my last straw with our working relationship (which made our family relationship awful, too). If this round of coaching didn’t yield different results than all the other stuff I’d paid for and saw as a panacea at the time, something very different and likely unpleasant would need to happen.

I am very happy I gave it one more go—like my heart told me to do—despite the majority of people familiar with the situation encouraging me to cut ties.

What is it like to be a successful Q: woman shop owner in a male-

dominated field?

Growing up, I was always a bit A: of a tomboy with an interest in cars, and playing with my younger brother in the dirt with cars and trucks was the norm. I even recall a time when I was about 15, he would have been 11, and we had a grand time one fall afternoon outside in the dirt building Tonka truck-sized roads and maneuvering our cars and trucks along them. I think my interest in cars was also a way to connect with my dad.

I started working full time for my folks in 1986 and a year later my mom, who was my dad’s business partner and the glue of the business, passed away unexpectedly. I was tossed into a role that I had to step up to and fulfil, and do so expeditiously, in terms of education and action. My mom was my dad’s support system and he rather crumbled after she died and although he was physically See Have No Fear, Page 40

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Continued from Page 38

Have No Fear

at work for an additional three years, he was not always mentally at work. Often times he would leave for several hours, which left me holding down the office, answering the phone, preparing estimates and negotiating with insurers at a moment’s notice while also juggling the management of production and employees in the shop.

When dad asked me at the beginning of 1989 if I wanted to buy the shop, I recall having no fear and no thoughts about it seeming odd or being an unusual challenge because I was female in a male-dominated industry. It was not until recently that I even brought into my awareness the innate mental differences between men and women. Once in a while, I would ask myself if X is happening because I’m female or if that adjuster treats me the way he does because I’m female. But generally speaking, I have not and do not play a card that has said, “It’s because I’m female.”

I have always had male friendships, with some of my most treasured and dearest being male friends. I have

no problem being the only woman at the table, which happens less often today than it did 20+ years ago; it seems normal.

Friends and colleagues know me, I believe, for my passion (which if you don’t know me can look like anger or hostility), willingness and ability to say some hard things in front of others. I’m called to and counted upon to

other over there.

What advice can you share with Q: other women (and men) in a similar situation or those who are thinking about becoming part of the industry?

If you are female and you have A: interest in our industry—dive

Roth & Miller Autobody joined the Fix Auto Network of body shops in late 2008

review complex documents or concepts because I am extremely detail oriented and have an innate ability to see how one thing here can impact an-

40 MARCH 2017 AUTOBODY NEWS | www.autobodynews.com

in, head or feet first, it doesn’t matter.

What matters is that you learn what you need to learn to be successful— that’s no different, male or female, in

my opinion. For me, that was to seek out mentors (male or female), learn from others, keep an open mind and acknowledge “I don’t know what I don’t know.” Also, be willing to be vulnerable and admit when you don’t know (because you can always learn it or find it, etc.).

I always thought that I could learn from the experience and vision of others. Learn to trust what your body tells you about situations. I could have learned this much sooner, but as I mentioned, you don’t know what you don’t know. I was an excellent estimator and a mediocre negotiator. Those are different skill sets and as an industry we often latch those together with a padlock and throw away the key. I believe this can be detrimental to our business and our people, but sometimes it’s all we have to work with, or we think it’s all we have available. I have the mentality that I can best my best every day—some days progress is better than others, but I choose to rise and shine versus to lie down and fail.

I have a strong sense of duty to give back to the industry, to seek continuous improvement in operations and the resources we use to help us, such as See Have No Fear, Page 44

www.autobodynews.com | MARCH 2017 AUTOBODY NEWS 41

H ONDA C ONN ECT I CUT

Lia Honda of Enfield E n fie l d

800-221-3131 860-741-3401 Dept. Hours: M-F 7:30-5:30; Sat 8-4 jdoucette@liacars.com

Schaller Honda N ew Br i tai n

800-382-4525 860-826-2080 Dept. Hours: M-F 7:30-5; Sat 8-1 jkiniry@schallerauto.com M AI NE

Berlin City Honda So u th P or tl a nd

800-640-6685 207-774-6685 Dept. Hours: M-F 7:30-5:30 mmmparts@berlincity.com

Prime Honda Saco

207-391-7910 207-282-0900 Dept. Hours: M-F 7:30-6; Th. 7:30-7; Sat 7:30-4 klavalle@driveprime.com M ARY L AND

Criswell Honda Ge r m a n town

866-738-2886 Dept. Hours: M-Thu 7-9; Fri 7-7:30; Sat 8-6 hondaparts@criswellauto.com

AC URA M ARY L AND

Tischer Acura Lau rel

800-288-6983 301-498-3322 Dept. Hours: M-F 7-6; Sat 8-4 wholesaleparts@tischerauto.com M ASSA CHU SETT S

Acura of Boston Brig ht on

800-254-1169 617-254-5400 Dept. Hours: M-F 8-5:30; Sat 8-5 bruce.fisher@acuraofboston.com N EW J ERS EY

Acura Turnersville Tu r ners v ille

888-883-2884 856-516-6060 Dept. Hours: M-F 8-5; Sat 8-4 kristen.powell@penskeautomotive.com 42 MARCH 2017 AUTOBODY NEWS | www.autobodynews.com

Please contact these dealers for your Honda or Acura Genuine parts needs.

MA R Y LAND

NE W J ERSE Y

N EW YOR K

P EN N SY LVA NI A

O’Donnell Honda

Hudson Honda

Brewster Honda

El li cott Ci ty

We s t New Yo r k

B rew st e r

Yo rk

410-461-5000 410-461-9654

866-483-6917 201-868-9500

845-278-4177

800-960-9041 717-848-2600

Dept. Hours: M-F 8-6; Sat 8-5 bshortt@odonnellhonda.com

Dept. Hours: M-F 7-7; Sat 7:30-5; Sun 8-3 anthony.perrone@hudsonhonda.com

Ourisman Honda of Laurel

Madison Honda

R o che st e r

Baierl Honda

La ure l

Ma dis on

800-462-0056 (N.Y.) 585-586-4919

724-940-2006

Dept. Hours: M-Thur 8-8; Fri 8-5:30; Sat 8-5 parts@dickide.com

Dept. Hours: M-F 8-5; Sat 8-4 johnryan@baierl.com

Lamacchia Honda

J.L. Freed Honda

Dick Ide Honda

800-288-6985 301-498-6050

800-648-0293 973-822-1710

Dept. Hours: M-F 7:30-7; Sat 7-4 julio.cruz@ourismanautomotive.com

Dept. Hours: M-Thu 7-8; Fri 7-6; Sat 8-6; mschumer@madisonhonda.com

MA S SAC H U S ET TS

Dept. Hours: M-F 8-5; Sat 8-4 kbennett@liacars.com

Rossi Honda

S y ra cu se

Apple Honda

Dept. Hours: M-F 7-6; Sat 7-4; Sun 10-4 applehondaparts@appleauto1.com

Wex ford

M o ntg o m e r yv il l e

215-855-3587

LIA Honda Northampton

Vin elan d

315-471-7278

Nor tha mpto n

800-893-3030 856-692-4449

Dept. Hours: M-F 7:30-5:30; Sat 9-1 parts@lamacchiahonda.com

Dept. Hours: M-Thur 8-6; Fri 8-5; Sat 8-4 joseph.sciacca@jlfreed.com

Dept. Hours: M-F 6:30-5; Sat 7:30-3 dave@rossihonda.com

Lia Honda of Albany

Shadyside Honda

800-369-7889 413-586-6043 Dept. Hours: M-F 7:30-5:30; Sat 8-4 dstanisewski@liacars.com NE W J E R S E Y

Clinton Honda Ann a ndal e

908-735-0900 Dept. Hours: M,Tue, F 7-6; W, Thu 7-7; Sat 7-4 chrish@clintonhonda.com

Honda of Turnersville Tur ne rs vill e

800-883-0002 856-649-1584 Dept. Hours: M-F 8-6; Sat 8-4 sbaptist@penskeautomotive.com

NE W J E R S E Y

Route 22 Honda Hi lls id e

973-705-9100

A l ba n y

800-272-6741 518-482-2598

Dept. Hours: M-F 7-7:30; Sat 8-5 rt22hondaparts@route22honda.com

Dept. Hours: M, T, W, F 7:30-5:30; Thur 7:30-8; Sat 8-5 apersaud@liacars.com

VIP Honda

Lia Honda of Williamsville

Nor t h P lain f i el d

908-753-1680 Dept. Hours: M-F 7:30-6; Sat 8-3 kevinh@viphonda.com NE W YO RK

Babylon Honda We s t Ba by lo n

W i ll ia m sv il l e/ B u ff a l o

877-659-2672 716-632-3800 Dept. Hours: M-Thu 7:30-8; Fri 7:30-5; Sat 8-5:30 liaparts@liacars.com

Ray Laks Honda

Pi ttsb u rg h

800-468-2090 412-390-2908 Dept. Hours: M-F 7:30-5 shadysidehondaparts@hotmail.com

Sussman Honda Ro sl yn

800-682-2914 215-657-3301 Dept. Hours: M-F 8-5; Sat 8-1 rendrick@sussmanauto.com VER MO NT

802 Honda Be rl i n

631-669-5800

We st S e ne ca

716-824-7852

802-223-9700

Dept. Hours: M-F 7-7; Sat 7:30-3:30 babylonparts@aol.com

Dept. Hours: M-F 7:30-8; Sat 7:30-5:30 ekuznicki@raylaks.com

Dept. Hours: M-F 7:30-5; Sat 8-Noon hondaparts@802cars.com

NE W YO RK

PEN NS YLVANIA

PEN NSY LVAN IA

Elite Acura

Curry Acura

Baierl Acura

Ma p le Sh ad e

S c ar s da l e

Wexfo rd

Jen kint own

856-722-9600

800-725-2877 914-472-7406

800-246-7457 724-935-0800

800-826-4078 215-884-6285

Dept. Hours: M-F 8-6; Sat 8-5 parts@curryacura.com

Dept. Hours: M-F 8-5; Sat 8-1 johnsabella@baierl.com

Dept. Hours: M-F 8-5; Sat 8-1 rendrick@sussmanauto.com

Paragon Acura

Davis Acura

Dept. Hours: M-F 8-5; Sat 8-4 bmartinsen@group1auto.com

Park Ave Acura Ma ywoo d

888-690-7621 201-587-0028 Dept. Hours: M-F 8-6; Sat 8-3 jon.tangen@parkaveacura.com NE W Y O R K

Acura of Westchester We st ch est er

914-834-8887 Dept. Hours: M-F 7:30-8; Sat 8-4; Sun 9-4 acura.parts@yahoo.com

Woo d s i d e

L a ngho r ne

718-507-3990

866-50-ACURA 215-943-7000

Dept. Hours: M-F 8-6; Sat 8-5; Sun 9-4 johnp@paragonacura.com

Smithtown Acura St. James

888-832-8220 631-366-4114 Dept. Hours: M-F 7:30-5:30; Sat 8-4 parts@smithtownacura.com

Sussman Acura

Dept. Hours: M-F 7-7; Sat 8-4 markh@davisacura.com

Lehigh Valley Acura Emma us

877-860-3954 610-967-6500 Dept. Hours: M-F 7-5; Sat 8-5 mustafa@vinart.com

www.autobodynews.com | MARCH 2017 AUTOBODY NEWS 43

Members-Only Registration Opens: “Be Extraordinary” WIN 2017 Educational Conference

Registration for the 2017 WIN (Women’s Industry Network) Educational Conference in Denver, Colorado is now open for members only. Event organizers promise a dynamic, edu-

cation-filled program to increase understanding of balance and purpose in order to achieve extraordinary results.

To register at the early-bird Conference rate of $425, visit https: //t.e2ma.net/click/xa35z/h6sakbb/5w 1xcf. Early-bird registration will be available through Wednesday, March 15th. After that date, registration will increase to the standard member rate of $475.

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Autobody News

Continued from Page 40

Have No Fear

software. I enjoy serving and have done so through voluntary committee work such as I-CAR focus committees, software advisory boards, local college advisory board, Fix Auto Market Leaders board and subcommittees, being active in local and national associations and holding board positions there, proofreading and offering expertise input to an industry journalist and an industry consultant. I say all of this because I recommend to any one in any industry: be involved in shaping your future. Regardless of your industry role, there is a place for you to serve— just do it, or start it! Sometimes, time adjustments and stepping back will be necessary as we have to keep our own ship afloat to help others.

Q:

Why did you decide to become part of the Fix Auto Network and what are some recommendations for Independent shops in this industry that are looking to grow? joined the Fix Auto Network A: ofWebody shops in late 2008, after

44 MARCH 2017 AUTOBODY NEWS | www.autobodynews.com

a five-year stint with CARSTAR. We had a chance crossing of paths with another of the Fix Auto Network shop owners, and franchised as a charter franchisee in December 2011. Although we are affiliated with Fix Auto, we still operate as an independent shop.

Being part of the Fix Auto Network has provided us with business connections we struggled maintaining as a single shop owner, provides networking opportunities with performance-based forward-thinking shop owners I have found to be some of the best-of-the-best operators in the US and beyond, and allows for broad and rich joint marketing and advertising campaigns.

For me, aligning with Fix Auto has provided opportunities that I would not have had without their brand and the other owners in the network. This industry has phenomenal human beings that make for phenomenal operators and operations. I feel honored to be in the room with many of the best-of-thebest men and women. If I’m struggling with something, there is always someone a phone call away that will take time to listen and give me their opinion or advice—this can be priceless.

My advice is to align yourself with

people that challenge you professionally and personally, give back to your industry and community and treat your teammates with respect. Never ever give up on your passions, your education, your business and your industry, and learn to understand yourself— what motivates you, deflates you, lifts you up and feed you what you need to get up and forge ahead every day.

One of the best things I’ve ever done is investing in the development of ME, and especially working with a personal coach the past four plus years that challenges everything about me.

I highly recommend it!

Camille Eber is featured in the upcoming book The Secrets of America’s Greatest Body Shops, written by Dave Luehr with Stacey Phillips. It is scheduled to be released in early 2017.

For more information, visit www .bodyshopsecrets.com or email dluehr @bodyshopsecrets.com/sphillips@ bodyshopsecrets.com.

www.autobodynews.com | MARCH 2017 AUTOBODY NEWS 45

Continued from Page 30

NADA 100th

said Annette Sykora, chairman of the NADA Foundation. “Through it all, NADA has been there to help.”

“NADA was formed to make sure that entrepreneurs could open local dealerships and provide affordable cars and transportation to farmers, factory workers and people from all walks of life,” said 2017 NADA Chairman Mark Scarpelli. Scarpelli, who officially became chairman of NADA during the convention, is the president of Raymond Chevrolet and Raymond Kia in Antioch and co-owner of Ray Chevrolet and Ray Chrysler-JeepDodge-Ram in Fox Lake, IL. During the convention, Scarpelli unveiled a new initiative designed to help local dealerships showcase the benefits they bring to their millions of customers, the 1.1 million dealership employees in the U.S., and communities across the nation.

The initiative—MyDealership.org —utilizes videos, social media platforms and public service announcements to communicate the significant benefits of a strong and vibrant fran-

chised dealership network.

“There are five hallmarks of any local dealership in America today: We are local; We are modern; We are diverse; We save people money; And we create great jobs,” Scarpelli told the audience at the convention.

Carl Swope, TIME Dealer of the Year

Scarpelli’s top priorities for 2017 include advocating on legislative and regulatory issues in Washington, D.C., promoting the consumer benefits of local dealerships, meeting with auto manufacturer executives, and getting the next generation of dealers involved in their trade associations and on Capitol Hill.

“We’re advocating for clarity with the new administration and Congress, whether it’s related to auto financing, new tax proposals, vehicle recall pol-

46 MARCH 2017 AUTOBODY NEWS | www.autobodynews.com

icy or fuel economy rules,” Scarpelli said. “We’re concerned about vehicle affordability for consumers, period. We have to make sure we keep our customers top of mind when dealing with all of these issues.”

Also during the convention, Carl Swope, president of Swope Toyota in Elizabethtown, Kentucky, was named the 2017 TIME Dealer of the Year. It is often considered the most prestigious honor a new-car dealer can receive.

Swope was selected from a group of 49 nominees from across the country.

Those who are nominated perform heroic community service and are strong advocates for improving the world around them. (Autobody News will feature Carl Swope in the April issue of the magazine.)

Sidney DeBoer, the executive chairman of Lithia Motors, Ashland, OR, and Amy Purdy, who overcame a partial leg amputation to become an award-winning adaptive snowboarder, brought the final general session of the NADA Convention to a rousing close.

DeBoer, who is also dealer principal of Lithia Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, worked in many positions at the dealership starting as the office manager.

His dad’s death in the late 1960s thrust

him into the role of running the dealership.

“I made 35 sales that first month,” he said, noting his dad had served as the chief salesperson prior to his death.

“Those sales made me strong. They gave me the strength I needed to go on.”

It was soon after that turbulent time that DeBoer spearheaded the drive to take the dealership public. Today the

Chief Executive Officer of Ford, Mark Fields, gave a rich, data-filled presentation on the future of OEMs

company—now led by his son Bryan DeBoer—sells 30 brands in 153 stores located across 17 states.

“People can do a lot more than they think they can,” he said. His company’s success “came about due to a decision I made one day after a tragedy.

You can do anything anyone else can if you put your mind to it.”

www.autobodynews.com | MARCH 2017 AUTOBODY NEWS 47

Media and Publicity for Shops

Ed Attanasio is an automotive journalist based in San Francisco, California. He can be reached at era39@aol.com.

Do 3 Things Right With Your Shop Marketing, Stick to Them and Thrive with Ed Attanasio

I had a baseball coach in high school who used to say, “Do three things right!” His theory was that the human brain was adept at handling three things simultaneously, but more than that and it would struggle.

So for a hitter, he would say, think about these three things: 1) Keep your eye on the ball 2) Don’t move your head and 3) Finish your swing. But if you add in a lot of other things to think about while at the plate—not moving your feet; keeping your knees bent, etc.—it will only confuse you and keep you from doing the first three things right. Or at least that’s what my coach thought.

Unfortunately, I couldn’t hit a slider (or a curveball), but his advice stuck with me, and today, I often put his three-point plan into practice in my

these be examples of major corporations that tried to do too much all at once? Maybe or maybe not—but at this point I’m rolling, so I’m going to stick to my theory of doing things threefold for maximum results.

The first thing you need to do— whether you’re a one-man shop with one bay or an MSO with 300-plus locations—is determine your path and goals with your marketing efforts.

Concentrate on the audience you want to cater to—either the insurance companies or consumers. Once you can make this decision, the subsequent ones should follow more easily.

The average shop in the U.S. is more than 80% dependant on DRPs for their revenues, so if you determine that the three things you want to do right might fit into that cate-

business and writing.

I strongly believe that many people in this industry are skilled at multitasking, but sometimes they “pile on,” and that’s when the problems begin. A body shop has thousands of moving parts, and a lot of things have to happen in perfect order for a repair to go right.

If you’re not dealing with a deluge of paperwork (which is increasing all the time), communicating with customers, DRPs, vendors and, of course, employees—on top of fixing a car without affecting your cycle time—it can be overwhelming to say the least.

If you’re most concerned about getting the cars out, marketing isn’t going to be a priority, and I understand that.

But by doing it in small increments and concentrating on just three things, you’re more likely to thrive rather than just survive via your marketing.

It makes sense to do three things right, as opposed to doing a dozen things ineffectively. Very few companies can do it all, and that’s why they stumble sometimes. Remember HP’s TouchPad, New Coke, the Ford Edsel and McDonald’s Arch Deluxe? Could

gory, there are a wide range of options. To retain its DRPs and interact regularly with the insurance agents that they work with, shops often produce and disseminate e-mail newsletters to keep them in the loop; set up social media platforms that are just for them; hold regular classes and other events for the agents and create special sections of their websites to accommodate and communicate with their DRPs. If you are a shop that is more concerned about catering to the consumer, then there is an entirely different approach with many more options. Social media, e-mail marketing, broadcast advertising, community outreach, online advertising, outdoor advertising, blogging—there are literally hundreds of things you can do.

So pick three and work them for a while. After you see some real progress, maybe change the plan a little bit and alter your marketing goals? Things change quickly in the marketing game, so always be open to new marketing methods and approaches. Many successful shops beat the other guys down the street by embracing things such as

“It makes sense to do three things right, as opposed to doing a dozen things ineffectively.”

48 MARCH 2017 AUTOBODY NEWS | www.autobodynews.com

online advertising and blogging before they become another flavor of the moment.

For a shop that hasn’t done any significant marketing in the past, it’s a big and exciting world out there. My first piece of advice is to take baby steps initially and don’t take on too much at first. Pick three things and put some resources behind them and commit to them for the duration.

How long should you stick with these three things before evaluating and re-shuffling them or abandoning them altogether?

Too many shops have unrealistic expectations about the results of their marketing. They will do a blog, for example, to boost their rankings on Google, but after 1–2 months, they aren’t happy with the results, so they bail. All of the work they’ve done up to that point has disappeared and now the blog sits there dormant and without any new content. They don’t realize that an

out of date blog can actually hurt their Search Engine Optimization (SEO) due to inactivity.

Pare down your marketing efforts and concentrate on three things to achieve your goals and create new business. Stick with all three (one year at least) and you will see the benefits gradually and organically. Don’t try to do it all when it comes to marketing, but make the three things your priorities.

There are a lot of shops out there that do incredible work and garner top reviews from their customers and insurance partners, but unless they are marketing continually, no one will likely know. You can’t rely on the old “word of mouth” anymore, so focus and specialize with your marketing endeavors and thrive in a highly competitive market.

By working on three things and making sure you do them effectively, you will succeed and watch the numbers grow over time.

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www.autobodynews.com | MARCH 2017 AUTOBODY NEWS 49

Hey Toby!

Kool Tools 2016

with Toby Chess

Four years ago, Kye Yeung, owner of European Motor Car Works, and I walked the floors of SEMA again looking for new products that most of us never get a chance to see. When we made a presentation at the Collision Industry Conference, the presentation became an instant hit among the audience. So for the fourth year in a row, we walked the floor at SEMA looking for things that were unique and would make life in the body a little easier. It should be noted that we are not endorsing these products and there other manufactures that make similar items and you should take some time to search them out. Moreover, we purchased all but one of the items and we checked them out before we presented at the SCRS open board meeting and the Collision Industry Conference. I might add that there will be a video presentation and it can be accessed at SCRS.com. Let’s look at an out first item:

Toby Chess is an I-CAR program instructor, Training specialist, and former salvage yard operator.

Toby is universally known in the collision industry for his work with first responders and advocacy for body shops and consumers. He can be reached at tcspeedster@gmail.com

that you want to check to see if an intrusion beam inside a damaged door needs replacing. Punch a hole and cut out a section for inspection. Available from Amazon.

This will save a lot to sanding time on the repaired tab. Available from Amazon.

The next item is a hand seamer.

The next item I found was a steel cutoff wheel from Alpha Professional Tools (800-648-7229).

Hand Seamer

Steel Cut-off Wheel

Portable Nibbler

A Portable Nibbler by Malco. This part fits on any battery operated electric drill. It will cut sheet metal up to and including 18 gauge steel. Let say

50 MARCH 2017 AUTOBODY NEWS | www.autobodynews.com

The tool is ideal for forming a tab on a broken bumper. You can use adhesives or plastic weld the broken tab, followed by the hand seamer to “squish” down the tab to the proper thickness.

Alpha® Ultracut ABM Series is designed for use on most popular pneumatic cut-off tools which are widely used in automotive body shops. Unlike regular abrasive cut-off wheels,

the Alpha® Ultracut doesn’t change diameter during the cutting operation.

It will maintain maximum cutting depth throughout its life. The Ultracut was made with the highest quality diamond grits allowing you to cut multiple layers of different materials while assuring a fast, clean cutting experience. The company states that the blade will outlast an abrasive cutoff wheel ten to one. Both Kye and I have used it and it does last a lot longer than a conventional cutoff wheel.

Comes in 3 and 4 inch diameters.

Moving on, the next item is a leatherlead shot dolly bag from S & H Industries (800-253-9726).

Shot Loaded Dolly Bag

The shot loaded dolly bag is one of the best tools for replacing a door skin.

Steel dollies are too rigid and will

cause some damage, even in skilled hands. If you don’t want to end up repairing hem flange damage, don’t damage the flange edge. Use a shot loaded dolly bag – a leather bag filled with lead shot. This dolly is heavy, but conforms to the shape of the outer door skin, whatever that shape. It absorbs the energy and does not rebound on the door skin. If your tech is placing bondo on the outside of the edge of the new door skin, switch to this dooly and the need for bondo will be eliminated. This dolly is also an excellent tool for repairing aluminum.

Another item that helps eliminate repair/removal damage is a laser weld cutter. From Reliable Automotive Equipment (800-328-7855)

Laser Weld Cutter

What is a laser weld?”

A laser weld is a narrow high in-

tool box from Camel Grinding Wheel Inc or CGW.

tense heat source that is used in welding steel and aluminum The main advantages to be gained through the use of laser welding include low distortion, single sided access, high torsional stiffness of components, and cost savings through elimination of other manufacturing operations. Most of the applications to date have focused on welding of steels but there is a growth in confidence in laser welding of aluminum alloys. In the past these welds were ground off using a cutoff wheel or a grinding disc, which could lead to damage of the underneath metal layer.

Laser weld cutter have a depth of cut, guide rods, and multiple width cutters, that allow the tech to remove only the laser weld and not the underneath metal. I recently used one on a roof of a Ford Aluminum Body F150 and the tool really made the removal operation clean and quick. I found another item that should be part of your aluminum

Flap Disc for Aluminum

Traditionally, to remove excess aluminum weld material, you would use either a high aluma burr or 50 grit grinding discs. These two products will cause collateral damage to adjacent surfaces if you get off the weld. It is recommended that you remove excess weld, but stop grinding so that the weld is slightly above the surface of the surrounding aluminum. New switch over to 80 grid DA sandpaper at low speeds to finish the operation. The CGW for aluminum is completely different.

The CGW 4.5” x 7/8” T29 A3 Flap Disc for Aluminum keeps work material cool and prevents loading See Kool Tools 2016, Page 58

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Historical Snapshot with John Yoswick

—John Yoswick is a freelance writer based in Portland, Oregon, who has a body shop in the family and has been writing about the automotive industry since 1988.

He is the editor of the weekly CRASH Network (for a free 4-week trial subscription, visit www.CrashNetwork.com). Contact him by email at jyoswick@SpiritOne.com.

Industry History Includes Concern About Refinish Materials Calculation, “Underwritten” Estimates 20 years ago in the collision repair industry (March 1997) The estimating system providers agreed that the formulas they offer for calculating blending time (painting a portion of an adjacent panel for color matching) are not designed to be used when estimating spot painting (blending within a repaired panel).

The panelists were also asked whether shop compensation for paint materials would be calculated differently in the future.

Sherwin-Williams’ Bruce Cooley said there is nothing logical about the current system, in which materials compensation is based on the number of refinish hours.

“If someone was painting a room in your home on an insurance claim, I’m sure the materials required to paint that room would be basically based on the size of that room,” Cooley said.

“Boy, I wish we could catch up with that in the automotive trade business.”

– As reported in The Auto Rebuilder. Twenty years later, the majority of the industry continues to use the refinish hours as the multiplier of the refinish materials rate. A 2016 “Who

In 2007, Ohio attorney Erica Eversman argued that insurers could be in breach of the insurance contract if they make a practice of deliberately not including on an estimate all of the repairs necessary to restore the vehicle

Pays for What?” survey (www.crash network.com/collisionadvice) found that only about 19 percent of shops use a materials calculator/invoicing system; more than 60 percent who do, however,

reported they are paid “always” or “most of the time” based on that materials invoice from the top eight largest insurers.

15 years ago in the collision repair industry (March 2002) Principle has influence only when the public is watching. Otherwise, money rules. The insurance lobby knows this and applies it expertly. What other explanation would there be for bills that would limit the use of non-OEM parts on late-model vehicles languishing in one state legislature after another over the last six years? The insurance lobby would have us believe that instead of enhancing consumer choices, the bills ensured a monopoly for the car companies.

Hogwash.

The insurance lobby seems to have forgotten that the customer is the care owner, not the insurance company, and without these bills becoming laws, owners have no choice about what goes on

their recently-purchased cars. They get what the insurance company dictates.

– from a column by industry writer Tom Slear published in Autobody News.

10 years ago in the collision repair industry (March 2007) The causes and concerns about “underwritten” initial estimates were the focus of a recent panel discussion including shops, insurers and attorneys.

“It could be a breach of the insurance contract with the insured if an insurance company is making a practice of deliberately not including (on an estimate) all of the repairs necessary to restore the vehicle,” Ohio attorney Erica Eversman of Vehicle Information Services, Inc., said in her opening statement at the discussion, held in Phoenix.

“I don’t see any value to the (insurance) company that would be the motivation for doing that,” George See Industry History, Page 54

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Continued from Page 52

Industry History

Avery, national claims consultant with State Farm, responded, pointing out the risk any such an insurer would be taking.

The panel discussion was prompted by a report by the Collision Industry Conference (CIC) “Anti-Fraud Committee” last year. In what the committee acknowledged was a non-scientific study, 266 claims submitted by collision repair shops showed an average supplement of nearly $2,400 on initial insurer-prepared estimates that averaged $1,640. The committee subsequently received documentation on more than 700 claims, with the average difference between initial insurer estimate and final repair still remaining above $2,400.

The panel discussion in Phoenix was not CIC-organized but was prompted by those who wanted to see more analysis of the subject following the CIC committee’s work. Some of the main points raised by those participating on the panel.

• Attorney Eversman said that in addition to breach of contract, insurers could potentially be engaging in consumer fraud if they are training ad-

justers to not include on initial estimates “items that would be obvious to an experienced collision repairer as necessary.” She believes the problem stems not from policies set in place by top executives at insurance companies but more at a local level where adjusters and appraisers may be rewarded for keeping severity down.

• Bill Graden, a State Farm attorney, agreed that any insurer deliberately underwriting estimates would be risking not only accusations of consumer fraud but also charges of bad faith which can lead to significant punitive damages. These risks provide ample disincentive to underwrite initial estimates, he said.

• State Farm’s Avery said insurers are aware of the risk they would be taking if they were to engage in the types of practices Eversman describes. He said that underwriting initial estimates also raises an insurer’s costs because of the resulting supplements. “We try to get everything we can on the estimate because the next time you have to go out (because of supplements) means extra steps, extra time, extra man-power to get those things done,” he said.

• Roger Wright, manager of material damage and direct repair pro-

54 MARCH 2017 AUTOBODY NEWS | www.autobodynews.com

grams for AIG, said his company believes in giving appraisers adequate estimating training because a poorlytrained adjuster is as likely to “overwrite” as “under-write” an estimate.

He used an analogy of a light bulb that is broken inside a paper bag, however, to explain that initial estimates may not include damage that can’t be seen; you may be pretty sure the bulb is broken, he said, but if you can’t see it, you don’t know whether it’s a 60-watt bulb or 100-watt bulb so how can you accurately include it on an estimate?

• Darrell Amberson, president of Lehman’s Garage, a six-shop collision repair business in Bloomington, Minn., and national director of the Collision Division of the Automotive Service Association (ASA), said that not all insurers act the same, but that he believes some deliberately underwrite initial estimates. He cited an example of an insurer not including refinish labor time on salvage parts because the part might already be the right color.

– As reported in Collision Expert.

5 years ago in the collision repair industry (March 2012) Preliminary data from the National Association of Insurance Commissioners

indicates the Top 10 auto insurers continued to gain market share as a group in 2011. The Top 10 insurers accounted for close to 70 percent of the market last year, compared to 68.1 percent in 2010 (and up from about 59 percent in 2000).

In terms of market share growth, GEICO (No. 3) was the big winner with just over 9 percent market share, up from 8.5 in 2010, continuing to fuel speculation that it could pass Allstate (at 10.3 percent last year) as early as 2013 to become the second-largest auto insurer.

Progressive (No. 4) and USAA (No. 6) also gained one-fourth of a point of market share last year. Nationwide (No. 8) and American Family (No. 10) saw the largest decline in market share among the Top 10.

As reported in CRASH Network (www.CrashNetwork.com), March 26, 2012. GEICO indeed passed Allstate in 2013 to become the second-largest auto insurer, having outpaced even fast-growing Progressive (No. 4, still trailing Allstate) over the past decade.

USAA most recently passed Farmers (No. 6) and Liberty Mutual (No. 7) to become the fifth-largest auto insurer.

Nationwide (No. 8), which was the sixth-largest auto insurer in 2005, has continued to lose marketshare.

www.autobodynews.com | MARCH 2017 AUTOBODY NEWS 55

Shop Showcase

Ed Attanasio is an automotive journalist based in San Francisco, California. He can be reached at era39@aol.com.

Supporting Orphans is Not Just a Cause, But a Way of Life for Lefler Collision Family with Ed Attanasio

The collision repair industry gives were like, and we were terrified by what back in a big way, and certain body we saw,” Lefler said. “So we decided to shops are well-known for their philansponsor three orphans, but when we thropy and kindness. give cars started getting letters from them and withThey Ed Attanasio away and sponsor things like food learning their stories, we knew we had drives, car washes and other fundraisto do more.” ers for local charities and more. Many One day, Jimmy’s wife Stephanie of these shops have been doing these came into his office and announced that types of things for so many years that God was calling them to go to Myanmar. it’s practically in their DNA, just like “So I looked at my cell phone and there fixing cars. were no messages from Him there,” he with Ed Attanasio said. “I jokingly asked my wife, ‘Are you sure?’”

When most husbands get a “honey do list,” it says things like clean up the garage or wash the car, but this particuwith Ed Attanasio lar request was going to involve a 30 hour+ travel period, including one 16-hour flight to reach their destination, and Jimmy wasn’t enamored with the idea initially.

Jimmy Lefler with Yin Yin Khin and Sophia during his “First off, I had to look at a recent and 11th trip to Myanmar map to find Myanmar,” Lefler with Stacey Phillips While most shops reach out to help said. “I am not a really adventurous their respective communities, there is person in general. I hate camping and one third-generation MSO that is I can’t stand living out of suitcases, so changing the world with its generosity I figured I would go the first time and and commitment to making a change. that would be it.”

But after seeing the orphans and Jimmy Lefler, the owner of Lefler ColStacey lision and Glass, with with three locationsPhillips in victims of human trafficking firsthand Indiana and one in Kentucky, embarked in Myanmar, Lefler realized that this eight years ago on an amazing journey was going to be a little more than just to help people in Myanmar (formerly a two-week vacation. “Like Michael Burma).

Anderson from Collision Advice alLefler, his family and some of his ways says, ‘We didn’t know what we crew work closelywith with an organization didn’t know,’” Lefler said. “These Stacey Phillips called Uncharted International that has people were so wonderful and so 12 orphanages with more than 600 orgrateful [that] it just melted my heart. phans in Myanmar; a home for elderly widows; a human trafficking recovery center; and The Loom House, which provides jobs forwith the children Stacey Phillips that grow up in the orphanages and for women who, without a job, would end up in horrible situations to provide for themselves and their families.

Josh Lefler manages the company’s Evansville Maxwell For his 11th time, Lefler location. He has been to Myanmar five times to volunteer Loom House traveled to Myanmar right at The with Victoria Antonelli after Christmas last year for two weeks. They were embarrassed to receive our It has become his annual pilgrimage, help, but we were right in there doing but how did it all begin? manual labor with them and I think “At my church in 2008, they show- they respected that. What they give ed us what the conditions in Myanmar back to us in immeasurable. They

Social Media for Shops

have become our family.”

During his first trip, Lefler was helping people with things he knew nothing about, but it did not dissuade him for a second, he explained. “They wanted to raise pigs and chickens, but they didn’t know about the business

SEMA Show Goes On

side. Planning, rotating, feeding, selling—I had to teach them all of that and I knew nothing about pigs or chickens!

So I did my research, and then when we returned, I was more prepared. One of the villagers wanted to raise fish, so I researched the process and advised him to dig a pond. When I returned the 6 months later, I was amazed at the two ponds he had dug by hand. They were 20 ft. long, 30 ft. wide and three feet deep and I was shocked that he did it all by himself. So now he’s raising fish.”

Lefler focuses much of his attention on The Loom House, which enables orphans who age out of the orphanage to have careers in which they can (l to r) Jimmy Lefler, Assistant Production Manager flourish and have pride. It has Max Carnahan and (front) Megan Williams, Director of also provided employment to Marketing at Lefler Collision and Glass, who utilize their women who otherwise would marketing skills to help Jimmy with the branding and

Media and Publicity for Shops Shop Strategies

progression of the Loom House goods

See Not Just a Cause, Page 62

Finish it like a Masterpiece

Body Shops Giving Back THESE DEALERS ARE MERCEDES-BENZ GENUINE PARTS SPECIALISTS.

Tips for Busy Body Shops My SEMA

Shop Strategies

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Continued from Page 51

Kool Tools 2016

making it the ideal option for softer material jobs. This flapper disc is constructed on heat treated polyester backing and features Blue-Fired premium aluminum oxide grains with a calcium stearate coating. This unique combination of A3 Material with calcium stearate coating can become liquefied under the heat of friction, lowering the materials temperature and preventing loading. In addition the T29 flap disc for aluminum oxide is constructed with the flaps at an 8 degree angle providing greater surface contact and aggressive use.

The picture is a practice weld from the I-CAR Aluminum Certification test. It took less than 30 seconds to remove the weld. Notice that the adjacent metal is smooth and not gouged up if a 50 grit grinder was used. I used a scotch brite flat disc next and I will explain about the tool in the next paragraph. Available online from a number of outlets.

Moving on to the next tool, a scotch brite flap disc from Sait.

V Fine-Blue-Aluminum

Stainless Steel, High tensile steel, NonFerrous Metals—Available On-line. I switch to the V fine flap disc and finished dressing the weld. It took less than a minute and the results were fantastic.

Medium-Gray-Steel

SAIT Sand-Light Flap Discs, Durable Material, Suitable for Surface Preparation/Cleaning/Finishing applications.

Longer Lasting Layered Flaps create a cushioned design which provides a better finish. Use for Ferrous Metals,

ness. The machine would make adjustments for voltage and wire speed. At SEMA 2016, ProSpot International demoed their multi voltage MIG WelderPR-205 MV.

Let’s shift gears now and look at welding.

Up until recently, Miller Electric had a multi volt welder. The Millermatic 211 could be plugged into 220 single phase or 110 volts. The machine would read the input volts and make the necessary adjustments. On the auto set mode, you set the wire diameter and metal thick-

Multi Voltage Mig Welder

Th The Carcoon A iiica W kk ti Features Features: ttture The C The Th Carcoon Ca C arcoon America arco A Amer Am Ame errica ca Workstation Wor Workstation Wo W ork kstttat kst ati tiion nF Fe F ea e eat atures: a tu es: tures: es:

• A massive 179 square feet of filtration area.

• Two huge input filters (over 36sf ) clean the air going through the Workstation.

• Four Paint Arrest Filters (140+ square feet) and two Activated • Charcoal Filters ensure the air going back into the environment is clean and EPA compliant.

Different Diff fferent ffe erren nt Sizes Sizes Size S es Available—Including: Availab A Ava vaillabl ble—Incl ble IIncludin nclud din ng: g:

• 13’x11’—Parts, pieces and motorcycles.

• 30’x14’—Any full size vehicle.

• 35’x16’x12’5” tall—As above but also Sprinter vans, small boats, and smaller RVs.

• 60’x16’x12’5” tall—Full size RVs, boats, large trucks, etc.

Lighting: LLighting: Ligh ghti ting g:

• Four large clear windows provide ample lighting.

• Additional stand lights can be placed outside the booth.

58 MARCH 2017 AUTOBODY NEWS | www.autobodynews.com

A Smart Solution.

The The Carcoon Carc C arco coo oon on America Am A meerica r Workstation Wo orks ksta atio on works work wo orks ks the the he same same sa am me and an nd just ju ust as as effectively eff ffecctiv ivelly as as a cross-flow cros cr rosss--flo flow fl w paint pa aint iint booth. oot oth The Th T he Carcoon Carrco C oon America oo Am me erricca Workstation Work W Wo ork kstation ksta atiion n is is EPA E A Certified.

Cer fi C fie ed d. Ideal Ide deal al for fo or the the busy b sy body b dy bod dy shop-mobile sshop-m mob obile le technician/smaller techn tech t chn nician nici cian/smaller n/sm sma alle er shop sh hop ho op with w th limited llim mite ted d facilities. fac facil acili litie ities. es..

866.910.0899 www.carcoonworkstation.com

Like the Millermatic 211, the machine comes with a pigtail that allows you to go from 220 volt plug to 110 volt plug.

It also has stick weld option. You set the thickness in MM and you are off to the races. Remember; always do test welds prior to welding on a vehicle. Another nice feature about this machine it has an Adjustable Slope & Burn Back Time: The Slope adjusts the response of the motor at start-up ensuring a clean start to the weld. Burn Back Time maintains power to the torch after the motor stops ensuring a clean end to the weld. I have used this welder and it is a really nice piece of equipment. Now you have two choices for a multi volt machine, Miller or ProSpot.

The Nebo 250 is two lights in one.

A flash light and a work light.

An additional feature is the base of the light has a magnet.

Magnetic Flasher Light Holder

stand does not come with a flash light.

The next small tool is a magnetic flasher light holder from Killer Tools (800-369-4262).

Available from Amazon.Com. Here is another lighting solution from Car-OLiner.

Here is another option for close up lighting from Nebo.

This holder has a magnetic base with a scratch protection surface on the bottom along with a “goose neck�. I use these when I conduct the I-CAR MIG Certification test. Having light on the weld prior to striking an arch, give the tech better control when he/she is welding especially in an overhead position. It should be noted that the

Lighted Plastic Curtain

Flash Light and Work Light

Car-O-Liner has made a lighted plastic curtain. Adds addition LED light to the side of a vehicle for better

repair visibility. It is also has a rheostat so that you can vary the intensity of the light. Curtains are great way to controlling cross contamination (steel and aluminum particles) as well as dust from sand. A better way of controlling bondo dust is with a vacuum system, but you need to understand the health hazards of bondo dust.

The application of filler material can expose you to some hazardous materials if you do not take appropriate precautions. Most body fillers contain a solvent called styrene. As the filler dries, styrene is released to the air and you can breathe it. It has a characteristic sweet smell at low concentrations and a sharp disagreeable odor at high concentrations.

Exposure to styrene can cause respiratory irritation. It may also damage your liver and possibly cause cancer at very high levels of exposures not usually found in autobody shops.

Styrene can also be absorbed directly through the skin if you come in direct contact with the uncured filler. In some people, direct contact with the filler may cause skin rashes and repeated exposure may increase your sensitivity.

See Kool Tools 2016, Page 60

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www.autobodynews.com | MARCH 2017 AUTOBODY NEWS 59

cleanly with water. Available from Kent Automotive.

Continued from Page 59

Kool Tools 2016

Sanding paint and filler material creates a lot of fine dust that is easily inhaled and can irritate your breathing tubes and eyes. The dust may contain hazardous substances as well, such as lead, chromium, and the abrasives from sanding disks. This dust can be harmful if inhaled or ingested. I am not suggesting that anyone eats the dust on purpose, but it can easily stick to your hands and face, and if not thoroughly washed off, will contaminate your food, drinks and cigarettes. At even very low levels of exposure, the toxic metals in this dust can cause serious health effects and body workers performing these tasks without precautions have exceeded the exposure limits for these hazardous materials.

The Kool Tool from SEMA 2016 is a Sanding work Station from Tool Shaver (714-974-2531)

This sprayer is from FBS Distributors (613-224-0685). The spray nozzle adjusts from a fan to stream is chemically resistant to all chemical used in the body shop environment.

High-Performance Scuffing Agent

Eurovac Vac. Hand Sanders. 800-265-3878

the bondo dust and having everything at your fingertips, will improve your repair cycle time.

Here are a couple of additional new and different sanders from R&H Products (360-687-978).

True Flex Sanders

Sanding Work Station

This sanding station has it all.

The cart comes with the tool box, twosided aluminum extruded wall and product holders. You add a vacuum unit, sand paper, chemical and sanders.

The sanders are on the other side of the cart. They (for demonstration purpose) include air operated vacuum DA sanders from Dynbrade and vacuum sanders from Eurovac. You will reduce

Dynabrade 6” DA Vac. Sander. 800-828-7333

6004 Series True Flex Sanders: Automatically conforms to curves.

Easy 1 handed operation Designed for exceptional final finish on body filler & primers Available with Plexiglass base or MORE durable Spring Stainless Steel Part# 6004 Plexiglass base Part# 6004S Spring Stainless base True Flex Foam Blocks: Rugged dense foam sanding block with “Tough” Dual texture surface for easy removal of sandpaper & added durability.

Easily flexes to follow even the most demanding curves. Flexes for concave & convex curves. Different textures on each side for fast & finish sanding. Again, available from R&H Products.

Kye is using this next product in his shop. I might add Kye tests out a product thoroughly before he will use it or endorse it. Presta Scuff Stuff is a prep that gives superior adhesion to

60 MARCH 2017 AUTOBODY NEWS | www.autobodynews.com

the paint. It’s a high-performance scuffing agent that enhances paint adhesion by ensuring cleanliness and consistent surface profiling.

As an industry trusted product for cleaning and abrading plastic bumpers as well as preparing blend and hard-to-reach areas, Scuff Stuff offers superior workability and rinses off easily and

Super Sprayer

The last item is an 8MM drill bit extender from Dent Fix Corp. (800-5231751).

8mm Drill Bit Extender

When access is limited or obstructed either by a structural member or other component, we have a solution. DF-1600K The Extender is a spot weld drill bit extension that adds 6_ inches of length, letting you get to those deep and hard to reach spot welds. The plastic sleeve protects any nearby structures from damage & cables from getting tangled. You can stabilize the drill point by holding here.

The drill bit is held in the holder with a set screw, which allows for a replacement bit.

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Continued from Page 56

Not Just a Cause

have ended up in very unfavorable situations.

“Unfortunately, without The Loom House opportunity, their chance of becoming victims to false promises from human trafficking scavengers are high,” Lefler explained. “They promise them work abroad and sell them into tragic and inescapable slavery, and it happens every day. So The Loom House takes them out of that life and gives them a chance to support themselves.”

The young ladies that work at The Loom House sew, knit and make blankets, jewelry, silk scarves, makeup bags and dresses for sale worldwide.

Of every dollar that comes in, 90 cents goes to the employees of The Loom House. When Lefler began to collaborate with and coordinate the processes within the The Loom House in 2009, the operation made around $8,000, but last year it brought in almost $100,000 thanks to the purchases of many in the collision community.

Now, the Leflers bring an entire group along with them to Myanmar.

“My twin 17-year-old girls made their fourth trip in December,” he said. It has changed their whole perspective on life. “My Axalta Jobber, Bill Payne, started going with me in 2010, and now he sponsors his own orphanage and has taught them how to fix and maintain all

my wife works with medical teams and teaches educational programs in the areas of health, hygiene and family planning.”

In addition to supporting and enabling these orphanages and setting up The Loom House for ongoing produc-

The Loom House in 2016, including all of the girls with (l to r) Max, Megan, and Jimmy

of their transportation vehicles including their van and motorbikes, allowing them to have consistent transportation.

I have taken three marketing staff members to assist in branding and marketing The Loom House products. My son, who manages our Maxwell shop in Evansville, has been three times, and

INSIST ON GENUINE GM PARTS

tion, the Leflers welcomed a young woman from Myanmar into their home in Indiana a while back.

“Elizabeth Thang is the daughter of Rebecca and Peter Thang, the founders and leaders over the Love Children Home Christian orphanage network,” Lefler said. “Elizabeth has

lived with my family for almost two years and is studying to get her bachelor’s degree from the University of Southern Indiana,” he said. “She is working on an International Business degree and looking forward to returning to Yangon, Myanmar to make a difference in the newly open democratic country. She is a 4.0 student on the Dean’s List and is deeply involved with the work at Uncharted local headquarters, the summer program for international students department for the school and she is a foreign exchange student ambassador for incoming freshmen from around the world.”

Lefler is already planning for his 12th trip to Myanmar at the end of 2017. “I am planning a trip for up to 12 people later this year,” he said. “My goal is to coordinate a team of people in the collision and related industries with an interest in making a difference in the lives of people looking for a ‘hand up’ not a ‘hand out.’ People think that one person can’t make a difference, but all they need to do is make one trip with me; I can show them that through love, knowledge and a little sweat, one person can change the futures of many. It’s a cumulative effect.”

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Powered by: www.nucarparts.com www.autobodynews.com | MARCH 2017 AUTOBODY NEWS 63

National Industry Goodwill Tour Kicks Off SkillsUSA Week To kick off SkillsUSA Week, celebrated during the second week of February each year, executive director Tim Lawrence and director of business partnerships and development Christa Floresca visited five of SkillsUSA’s finest partners to thank them for their support.

Their tour began at the headquarters of IAA in Chicago. President and CEO John Kett, along with executives Don Hermanek and Rita Figi, welcomed the SkillsUSA team.

They explained their business model and talent needs for their national operations. IAA employs over 2,000 people nationwide and exceeds $2 billion in annual revenue. IAA supports a number of SkillsUSA programs, and some new initiatives will be rolled out in the near future. SkillsUSA presented IAA with a recognition plaque.

Sam Bottum, chief marketing officer and vice president for Snap on Incorporated, then joined the SkillsUSA team in downtown Chicago to visit Campbell & Company, where they met with communications strategists Christina Black and Andy Bromwell. They are working with SkillsUSA on a national messaging strategy that is focused on fundraising as well as better

ways to describe our mission and programs. This work is being funded by a grant from Snap-on, and Sam serves on the SkillsUSA board of directors.

Their next visit was with Greg Palessour, vice president of marketing for Klein Tools in Lincolnshire, IL. Klein provides tool prizes for stu-

dents and teachers. They discussed a strategy to bring Klein to a higher level of support and ways to create a talent pipeline.

The SkillsUSA team then flew to Los Angeles for a meeting with Toyota Motor Sales, a loyal partner for 29 years. They were welcomed by Rick Lester and met with SkillsUSA Foundation member Dave Zellers, national technical training manager Greg Bryan and general manager Rose Bauss. They were introduced to

Toyota Foundation manager Michael Medalla and presented an overview of SkillsUSA’s mission and core programs. They discussed how Toyota and SkillsUSA might work together on skills gap issues and STEM education. A follow-up meeting will be scheduled to further discuss the partnership with the Toyota Foundation and Toyota Motor Sales. The team presented a SkillsUSA Champion award to Toyota for its longstanding support.

The final stop of the first Goodwill Tour of 2017 was at the offices of mikeroweWORKS in Santa Monica, CA. The team met with president Mary Sullivan and Jade Estrada, director of operations and business affairs. The mikeroweWORKS Foundation has pledged up to $100,000 in scholarships for 2017, the seventh year of the partnership. Mike and his team pledged to assist SkillsUSA with public relations as they address the critical need to educate parents, counselors and communities about the opportunities in the skilled and technical workforce. SkillsUSA presented an appreciation plaque with a photo of the 2016-17 national officer team to show the student connection that is created by our work together.

AMi Launches Online Course: “Management’s Guide to Scanning and New Technology”

The Automotive Management Institute (AMi) has announced the launch of its latest online course, Management’s Guide to Scanning and New Technology.

According to the Institute, the 108 minute online course covers essential information needed by collision repair managers to make decisions about scanning and other new technologies. Each module offers a management perspective on:

● What it means to scan

● Types of scans

● Types of scan tools

● OEM positions

● OEM vs. Aftermarket

The modules also identify resources and include printable content and ma-

terials.

AMi Vice Chairman and President of Operations for LaMettry’s Collision, Darrell Amberson, stated, “This course provides a wealth of information for those needing to make decisions for their repair businesses.

It organizes the information in a way that makes it understandable.”

The course is the result of industry collaboration from industry experts and shop owners from across the country. Available only in the AMi online format, it can be paused and revisited at the user’s convenience.

This course will provide two credit hours toward all AMi professional designations, including Accredited Automotive Office Manager (AAOM), Accredited Automotive Manager (AAM), Accredited Master Automotive Manager (AMAM) and upcoming Accredited Collision-Repair Estimator (ACE) and Accredited Master Collision-Repair Estimator (AMCE).

To learn more about this course and management perspectives on future hot topics, sign up at www.ami signup.org or visit the AMI website at www.AMionline.org.

64 MARCH 2017 AUTOBODY NEWS | www.autobodynews.com

Wreck Check Car Scan Opens 30th Location in Arizona Wreck Check Car Scan Centers recently announced that they have added Harold and Janet Heisey as their 30th licensee.

The Heiseys have purchased the Wreck Check Car Scan Centers’ rights to the entire state of Arizona.

According to the company, Wreck Check Car Scan Centers has a complete turn key program that offers several Value Added Services that enable their licensees to assist their clients with all of their post repair automobile related issues.

“Wreck Check Car Scan Centers utilizes the leading software in the United States for evaluating diminished value and is extremely successful in the recovery of the loss of market value for their clients,” a statement from the company read.

“I would like to welcome Harold and Janet to the Wreck Check Car Scan Centers family, and I am looking forward to working with them,” said founder Rocco J. Avellini.

For more information, visit www.wreckcheckcarscan.com.

www.autobodynews.com CHECK IT OUT!

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The Dealers Above Are Original MINI Parts Distributors ©2016 MINI, a division of BMW of North America, LLC. The MINI name, model names and logo are registered trademarks.

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www.autobodynews.com | MARCH 2017 AUTOBODY NEWS 65

Original BMW Parts

North County BMW

www.ncountybmw.com

bmwusa.com

(800) 564-8222

Original BMW Parts

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Original Thought #78

YOU ONLY GET ONE CHANCE AT THE FIRST REPAIR.

MARYLAND

BMW of Bel Air Bel Air 844-581-2752 443-640-1234 Fax parts@bmwbelair.com

BMW of Catonsville Catonsville 855-996-2906 410-818-2600 Fax M-F 8am-5pm

www.bmwofcatonsville.com

BMW of Rockville Rockville 844-588-0150 301-984-1710 Fax

parts@bmwrockville.com

BMW of Towson Towson 844-595-0290 410-296-4852 Fax parts@bmwtowson.com

MASSACHUSETTS BMW of Sudbury Sudbury 800-338-3198 508-881-7578 Fax M-F 7am-5pm

wholesaleparts@herbchambers.com www.bmwofsudbury.com

NEW HAMPSHIRE BMW of Stratham Stratham 800-989-5200 603-772-9436 Fax

jmaxwell@group1auto.com www.bmwofstratham.com

NEW JERSEY

BMW of Freehold Freehold 732-462-6286 732-577-0518 Fax M-F 8am-6pm Sat 8am-4pm

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66 MARCH 2017 AUTOBODY NEWS | www.autobodynews.com

BMW of Morristown Morristown 866-9-BMW PARTS 973-796-3146 Fax M-F 8am-6pm

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BMW of Newton Newton 973-579-6020 973-579-6702 Fax M-F 8am-5:30pm

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Circle BMW Eatontown 732-440-1238 732-440-1239 Fax M-F 7:30am-6pm Sat 8am-3pm

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Flemington BMW Flemington 800-782-4269 908-824-9913 Fax

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Park Ave. BMW South Hackensack 888-349-5168 201-291-2376 Fax M-F 8am-5pm Sat 8am-4pm al@parkavebmw.com www.parkavebmw.com

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BMW of Bayside Bayside 516-304-3733 516-570-4268 Fax M-Sat 8am-5pm

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• Original BMW Parts & Accessories BMW of South Albany Glenmont 518-465-1724 518-463-2422 Fax M-Th 7:30am-5:30pm Fri 7:30am-5pm Sat 8am-4pm

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Competition BMW St James 631-724-3322 631-265-0501 Fax M-F 8am-5pm Sat 8am-4pm

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Habberstad BMW Huntington Station 631-271-7488 631-271-7931 Fax M-F 7:30am-5:30pm Sat 8am-4pm

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PENNSYLVANIA Apple BMW York 717-849-6597 717-843-2948 Fax M-F 7am-5pm Sat 8am-4pm

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RHODE ISLAND

BMW of Newport Middletown 401-847-9600 401-841-0680 Fax M-F 7:30am-5:30pm

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When you repair a BMW, use the parts that are identical to those

used in Series production and just as reliable. Choose Original BMW Parts and Accessories. Because you can’t repair your reputation.

www.autobodynews.com | MARCH 2017 AUTOBODY NEWS 67

Snap-on Adds MODIS Edge to Diagnostic Calculator

Snap-on has added its MODIS™ Edge combination full-function scan tool and scope/graphing meter to its diagnostic calculator feature available on the Snap-on website at http:// diagnostics.snapon.com. This online tool helps automotive repair technicians and shop owners determine how much profit they could be making by using a Snap-on diagnostic

The MODIS™ Edge from Snap-on

platform. The diagnostic calculator is available for use in the United States, Canada, Ireland, Netherlands and the United Kingdom.

“With the addition of MODIS Edge to our diagnostic calculator, technicians and shop owners can easily see the value of investing in our latest integrated diagnostic system,” said Mark Schaefer, director of marketing, Snap-on Diagnostics.

“The diagnostic calculator will give users a thorough breakdown on how profitable MODIS Edge could be for their shop, based on how it would be used. Fast and easy-to-use, the diagnostic calculator is another great resource to help our customers grow their business.”

To find the user’s potential return on investment, the diagnostic calculator asks a few simple questions such as how many times a week does the shop connect to a vehicle, how many service/health checks does the shop perform each week and what the shop charges for these services. The user then indicates which diagnostic tool they either own or are looking to purchase. Lastly, the user enters their name and e-mail address to receive a customized message about their potential profit breakdown, based on the answers given. In addition to MODIS Edge, the diagnostic calculator also includes VERUS® Edge, SOLUS™ Edge and ETHOS® PRO. To learn more about Snap-on diagnostic solutions, talk to a Snapon Franchisee or other sales representative or visit www.diagnostics .snapon.com.

INFINITI OF NORWOOD

Next Step Program Offers Young Pros Scholarships

The Young Auto Care Network Group (YANG) and the Automotive Warehouse Distributors Association (AWDA) will offer young industry professionals the opportunity to experience up-close how the Auto Care

Association and various aspects of the industry work through participation in the Next Step Program.

The Next Step Program offers future leaders in the auto care industry the opportunity to become involved in the industry and trade association by receiving scholarships to attend the Auto Care Association’s Spring Leadership Days, held May 35, 2017 at the Grand Hyatt Regency in San Antonio, Texas.

“As young people become more connected and involved in the industry, they are more likely to build longlasting careers in auto care,” says Bill

Hanvey, president and CEO, Auto Care Association. “Future involvement and leadership are the ultimate goals of the Next Step Program.”

At the Auto Care Association Spring Leadership Days, Next Steppers will have the chance to participate in committee meetings and networking events with veteran industry leaders.

Ten Next Steppers will receive a scholarship of up to $1,100 to offset most expenses for travel and accommodations to, from and during the event.

Most meals are also included.

Interested applicants must be a member of YANG and employed by a member company of the Auto Care Association. The official application is available on the Auto Care Association website, www.autocare.org/What -We-Do/Professional-Development /YANG/the-next-step-program/ or by contacting Courtney Hammer at: courtney.hammer@autocare.org. The deadline to apply is March 1, 2017.

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PPG Announces Key Advances in Color Tools PPG has announced that it has developed several key advances in its array of color software and hardware tools.

The news was delivered by Denise Lu, PPG global marketing director.

While specifics are still under wraps, Lu indicated that dramatic enhancements to the company’s PAINTMANAGER® color management software, RAPIDMATCH™ X-5 spectrophotometer and TOUCHMIX® color retrieval system are clear expressions of PPG’s commitment to maintaining its leadership position in automotive refinish color technology.

“We have been working on critical initiatives that will elevate our color tools to a whole new level, all to the benefit of our customers,” said Lu. “Those individuals who attended the SEMA show and saw our video about color tools have an idea of what’s coming. Our color management, identification and retrieval products are already highly efficient and accurate; they’re in daily use in collision centers around the country. Now we’re giving these products advanced features and capabilities to make automotive refinishing even easier, more productive and more quality-focused.”

The advanced tools will be part of a new Color Solutions product line

branded XI. “XI means excellent, innovative, exciting, intuitive and exceptional, all key attributes for this line of tools,” Lu added. “We firmly believe that our customers will quickly see and embrace the value of XI products, and we are proud of bringing 25 years of consistent, reliable color matching technology to the refinish industry.”

The first of the three initiatives, the TouchMix XI computer, was released this month in the U.S. and Canada. Exclusive to PPG, this robust Windows OS computer provides a secure and compact solution for the most demanding environments.

Second is the PaintManager XI program software. It will be rolled out across the U.S. and Canada this spring and introduced to additional markets soon thereafter. This next-generation software features numerous process improvements and a more intuitive workflow to help managers oversee the productivity and profitability of their paint mixing operations more ef-

fectively. The new software also provides greater opportunities for collaboration.

Rounding out the trio of new tools is the RapidMatch XI spectrophotometer. This third-generation spectrophotometer was designed exclusively for PPG to significantly advance collision repair. The innovative spectrophotometer combines eleven color angles and five texture angles for a total of sixteen geometries powered with six blue-enhanced LEDs, making it the most advanced technology in the industry today. Technicians will be able to benefit from the five texture digital color images that provide real-time paint surface viewing. In addition, the intuitive touchscreen user interface captures vital job details with Wi-Fi connectivity directly to the PaintManager XI software. PPG’s extensive reflectance data and color image database will help provide the added confidence required in match rating and texture information.

Details about the new color products will be released in a few weeks.

For more information, call 800647-6050 or visit www.ppgrefinish .com.

SCRS Releases Video of Collision Repair Summit

During the OEM Collision Repair Technology Summit at the 2016 SEMA Show, the Society of Collision Repair Specialists (SCRS) led several sessions with a focus on emerging trends in vehicle technology. On February 2, SCRS launched a second video that captured discussion about scan tools and options, in a segment on Restoring Vehicle Functionality through Electronic Technology and Diagnostics. While the first segment featured representatives from leading automakers who discussed the positions they have released and the responsibilities expected of the collision repair providers, part 2 features tool and solutions providers discussing the options available to the industry. The conversations cover different mechanisms available to the collision repair community, and unique challenges and advantages associated with the process of documenting the restoration of the technological elements in the vehicle. After watching these videos, individuals interested in training on the topic can find more information in I-CAR’s recently released Introduction to Diagnostics and Scan Tools (VT210E01). To view the video, visit www.scrs.com.

UpdatePromise Unveils New Electronic Signatures Feature

UpdatePromise, a communication and information technology provider to insurers and repairers in auto-service related operations, recently re-

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The UpdatePromise IES solution adopts the spirit of the Electronic SigPromote your business with natures in Global and Naan exclusive articleAct featuring tional Commerce and adheres to the strictest requirements your products or services. for obtaining and storing electronic signatures, according to the company’s president, Curtis Nixon.

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AAPEX Announces 2017 Dates

CREF Announces Application for Ultimate Collision Education Makeover Grants The Collision Repair Education Foundation has announced that the application for their Ultimate Collision Education Makeover school grant is now available for high school and post-secondary collision school programs. The Makeover grant program is in its ninth year.

Instructors are advised to begin the application early and industry professionals are encouraged to get involved with the Makeover grant by working with their local school’s collision instructors to help them apply.

The winning schools will be announced during the SEMA show in Las Vegas, NV in October. Awards of up to $50,000 will be given.

The Ultimate Collision Education Makeover school grant application is available online and is due by Thursday, June 1, 2017. Industry members are encouraged to work with their local collision school programs to ensure they apply by the deadline.

“School collision programs are facing tremendous budgetary pressure,” said Melissa Marscin, Director of Grant Programs for the Foundation. “It is difficult for many to maintain their program at current capabilities, no less increase their abilities and improve the training they deliver to the industry’s fu-

ture workforce. The Makeover grant program is designed to help collision schools get the much needed tools, equipment and supplies they couldn’t get otherwise and increase their capabilities. Last year, every school that applied received some level of support through both grants and in-kind donations.”

The Makeover grant program incorporates the “Collision School Career Readiness Benchmark” that the Foundation launched last year. Under the new program developed by the Foundation, schools are classified into three tiers: ● Tier 1: Advanced, ● Tier 2: Proficient, or ● Tier 3: Developing

The designation will be determined by the Foundation based upon information provided by schools about the capabilities of their program detailed in the Collision Repair Education Makeover grant application. The criteria for each level includes the number of hours of instruction, curriculum in place, along with what tools, equipment, and supplies a school uses to prepare their students for employment in the collision industry.

If there is something that a school

needs to advance to the next level, the Education Foundation’s grant application will allow a school to request that particular item. The goal is to help every school acquire the resources to eventually achieve a Tier 1: Advanced school designation. Schools at Tier 1 status can request support for items that further advance their program.

The organization’s Board of Trustees Selection Committee will select the winners of the awards and determine what items off the wish lists each school will receive.

Since 2009, schools have been able to apply for the Ultimate Collision Education Makeover Grant to get much needed tools, equipment, and supplies for their school. Over $4 million in cash and in-kind donations have been given out to schools as a result of the grant, and over 25,000 collision students have been impacted by the program.

Industry members interested in getting involved with the Foundation and joining its efforts to support the future of the collision industry should contact Foundation Director of Development, Brandon Eckenrode at 847463-5244 or Brandon.Eckenrode@ed -foundation.org.

AAPEX 2017 will take place Tuesday, Oct. 31 through Thursday, Nov. 2 at the Sands Expo in Las Vegas.

Online registration will be available in May 2017. Buyers who would like to be notified when registration opens can sign up on the AAPEX website, www.aapexshow .com/reginq.

For hotel reservations, buyers and exhibitors are encouraged to use OnPeak, the event’s official hotel partner, for the lowest rates at conveniently located hotels in Las Vegas.

Reservations can be made now on the AAPEX website.

AAPEX 2017 is expected to feature more than 2,200 exhibitors and 45,000 targeted buyers. Approximately 160,000 automotive aftermarket professionals from more than 140 countries are projected to be in Las Vegas during AAPEX.

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www.autobodynews.com | MARCH 2017 AUTOBODY NEWS 73

ChemSpec USA Launches New Website ChemSpec USA, LLC. has announced the launch of its new website.

The company is encouraging its customers and guests to visit www.chemspecpaint.com. The site includes information about the company and its products and offers a user-friendly experience that is now faster and easier to navigate.

ChemSpec manufactures a wide array of collision repair products for the Automotive, Fleet, OEM and Industrial Markets. According to the company, as a manufacturer, it’s important to make the information about your company and its products easily accessible for customers and website visitors, providing a much more customer-centric experience.

“We wanted to provide a better way for both our customers and website visitors to get to know our company and its associates and to familiarize themselves with all the products that we have to offer,” said

Tammy Anderson, Marketing Communication Manager for ChemSpec USA. “The new website allows us to provide accurate information in a more, timely manner.”

A few website features include: ● Mobile Responsiveness

Chief® Offers Chassis Liner® Frame Rack in Custom Packages for Heavy-Duty Repairs

The Chassis Liner Heavy-Duty Trucker™ is available from Chief distributors to provide a cost-effective, versatile pulling package for repairing a wide range of heavy-duty vehicles,

● Convenient forms to request product information, as well as product demos, or assistance from various departments

● ChemSpec USA news and events including tradeshow, product features and announcements

● Employment portal accessing worldwide job opportunities within ChemSpec USA, LLC., and parent company Axalta Coating Systems, LLC ● Product Selector which allows customers and visitors to easily filter and locate products even if they are not familiar with the company’s branded products For more information, visit www .chemspecpaint.com.

The Chief Chassis Liner Heavy-Duty Trucker™

including trucks, trailers, buses and recreational vehicles. The pulling system is built on a multiuse platform so it can be customized to meet any heavyduty shop’s needs for less than the cost of a rail system. “The Heavy-Duty Trucker is built to repair everything from a half-ton pickup to a triple-rail cement truck, and everything in between,” said TJ Schultz, Chief northern division sales manager. “For shops that focus on any variety of repairs, including trailer roll-over work, axle corrections, trailer re-crowning, passenger buses, or other specialties, we can provide an enhanced, affordable pulling

MARYLAND

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The following dealerships are eager to serve your needs.

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74 MARCH 2017 AUTOBODY NEWS | www.autobodynews.com

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package to meet the need.” Available in 32-foot, 40-foot or custom bed lengths, the versatile Heavy-Duty Trucker frame rack can do it all with a fast and easy-to-use system. It features a drive-on deck that provides excellent access to the vehicle being repaired.

Removable drive on ramps and nonskid treadways allow for easy loading of the vehicle to be repaired. The bed is also plumbed for air in multiple locations to speed prep time. The modular design of the Heavy-Duty Trucker allows for precise holding, pulling and pushing anywhere around the bed, providing technicians with a wide variety of options to bring larger vehicle frames back into alignment. It is available with four, six or eight seven-foottall cab towers, providing 360-degrees of pulling with 25-tons of pulling power, and two pulls per tower. Lasercut tie-downs are located in the inner and outer portion of the treadways, and there are center hold pockets for additional tie-downs and anchoring. A jacking beam allows for pushing up on frames. For more information, visit www.chiefautomotive.com/ChiefHD/Heavy-Duty-Racks/Heavy-DutyTrucker.

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CREF Spring Career Fair Has Sprung

The Collision Repair Education Foundation kicked off their spring career fair schedule on February 3rd in Des Moines, IA. The event will soon be followed by at least 11 additional sched-

uled career fairs. To ensure the best student participation possible at these events, the Education Foundation will be partnering with ASE/NATEF, who will be inviting their collision and automotive school contacts as well.

Through this partnership, attendance is anticipated to double in some markets in 2017 due to the inclusion of automotive/mechanical students.

Spring 2017 Initial Collision Ca-

reer Fair: ● Des Moines, IA – February 3rd ● San Diego, CA – March 9th ● Houston, TX – March 22nd ● Dallas, TX – March 23rd ● Phoenix, AZ – April 15th ● Pittsburgh, PA – April 19th ● St. Louis, MO - April 21st ● Chicago, IL –May 2nd ● Madison, WI – May 3rd ● Denver, CO – May 8th ● Seattle, WA – Tentatively scheduled for week of May 8th ● Nashville, TN – May 17th Locations and dates for the Fall 2017 career fairs will be announced later this year. Companies interested in participating in these events should contact Education Foundation Director of Development Brandon Eckenrode at (847) 463-5244.

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Driven Brands Charitable Foundation Raises more than $650,000 in 2016

The Driven Brands Charitable Foundation (DBCF) raised more than $650,000 in 2016 and its fundraising efforts have now surpassed more than $1.5 million since it was established in 2012. The Foundation, working in conjunction with over 2,500 Driven Brand franchisees, vendor partners, customers and employees, looks to not only change the lives of children and families in need but to support local community initiatives in the neighborhoods its businesses serve across the U.S. and Canada.

“We continue to benefit from our vendor partners, franchisees and employees’ support, awareness and commitment,” said Noah Pollack, Executive Vice President and General Counsel for Driven Brands. “As we grow all of our brands, and expand into new markets and new segments, the Foundation remains a constant focus and source of cohesion and pride.”

DBCF supports several organizations like the Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals including the Levine Children’s Hospital, Children’s Hospital in New Orleans, Boston Children’s Hospital, Cystic Fibrosis Canada and other local char-

ities like Snug Hugs for Kids. In addition, DBCF believes in honoring our veterans and giving back to the brave men and women who fight for our freedoms through programs like NABC Recycles Rides, Wounded Warrior Project and Hope for Warriors.

Driven Brands family of automotive aftermarket brands including Take 5 Oil Change®, Maaco®, Meineke Car Care Centers®, Merlin 200,000 Mile Shops®, Econo Lube N’ Tune®, Pro Oil®, CARSTAR®, Drive N Style® and 1-800-Radiator & A/C®, raised the funds at National Conventions and during several events throughout the year including golf tournaments, collection drives, charitable walks, silent auctions and most importantly, in-store promotions.

The Foundation also receives a tremendous amount of support from its vendor partners and customers, including the Round It Forward program that rounds up customer purchases to the nearest dollar and in-shop collection boxes.

For more information, visit http://www.drivenbrandscharitable foundation.org.

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www.autobodynews.com | MARCH 2017 AUTOBODY NEWS 75

Gene Bilobram has been an automobile physical damage appraiser more than 25 years. His insights are useful tools in the often challenging process of reimbursement on new and non-included procedures. His company, Lacey Appraisal Service Inc. is a physical damage appraisal, consultancy and manufacturers’ rep firm serving the collision repair and insurance industries. He can be reached at 609-384-8093 or laceyappraisal@aol.com to discuss the latest in postcollision diagnostics and receive an updated PDF version of the CHART. You can meet Gene in person introducing the asTech™ remote diagnostic solution at Collision Diagnostic Services booth #446 on March 17-19, 2017 at the 40th annual AASP/NJ NORTHEAST 2017 show in Secaucus, NJ.

76 MARCH 2017 AUTOBODY NEWS | www.autobodynews.com

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lvazquez@baliseauto.com www.autobodynews.com | MARCH 2017 AUTOBODY NEWS 77

BASF Teams up With Driven to Cure

At its automotive refinish team meeting earlier this month, BASF presented Andrew Lee, president & CEO of Driven to Cure (DTC), and his father Bruce Lee, chairman, treasurer & secretary of DTC, with a check for $10,000. Immediately following, BASF announced its new DTC Promotion, “Paint with a Purpose.”

BASF presents a $10,000 check to Andrew Lee (second from right) for Driven to Cure.

With Andrew are (left to right) his father, Bruce Lee; BASF Refinish Vice President, Marvin Gillfillan and BASF Refinish Marketing Head, Dan Bihlmeyer

Andrew Lee was diagnosed with a rare form of kidney cancer, HLRCC, in 2015 at the age of 19. With the help of his father, Lee is living his dream as the owner of a 2015 Nissan GT-R, which they rebuilt and painted orange, the color representing kidney cancer. The color is a unique mix of

BASF Glasurit basecoats, now named Glasurit DTC Orange.

Through the “Paint with a Purpose” promotion, the Glasurit DTC Orange is now available to order through BASF. All proceeds of the paint sales will be donated to DTC. After painting cars with the unique mix, builders are asked to send photos to refinish_comm@basf.com to be posted on BASF social media.

“Driven to Cure’s mission is to raise awareness about rare kidney cancers like HLRCC. With our new amazing Glasurit orange color on the Driven to Cure Nissan GT-R, which is the color for kidney cancer, we are doing just that,” said Lee. “When starting Driven to Cure, I never thought we would have a relationship like this with such a great company. We are so proud of the BASF team for supporting Driven to Cure and for joining forces with many in the car community who already support us. We are all Driven to Cure!”

Since building the GT-R, Lee has been traveling to car shows spreading the word of kidney cancer and raising money. Thus far, more than $200,000 has been raised.

For more information, visit www .basfrefinish.com.

Service King Considering Sale, Bloomberg Says

The private equity owners of auto repair-center operator Service King Paint & Body LLC are considering a sale of the company, people with knowledge of the matter said. Service King’s owners, Blackstone Group LP and Carlyle Group LP, have had discussions with bankers about starting a sale process this year, said the people, who asked not to be identified because they weren’t authorized to speak publicly.

The company could fetch more than $2 billion, the people said. No final decision has been made and the firms may elect to keep the business, the people said. Spokesmen for Blackstone and Carlyle declined to comment. A representative for Service King didn’t immediately respond to e-mailed requests for comment. Blackstone agreed to buy a majority stake in Dallas-based Service King in 2014 for an undisclosed sum, estimated to be about $650M, as part of a recapitalization that saw Carlyle reinvest to take a minority stake, according to a statement at the time.

Service King traces its roots to 1976, when founder Eddie Lennox opened the first location. The company has 309 repair centers in 23 states, according to its website. That’s up from 177 centers when Blackstone struck the deal in 2014.

SEMA Scholarship Applications Due March 1

by SEMA Editors

The SEMA Memorial Scholarship offers dozens of awards ranging from $2,000 to $3,000, with a $5,000 award going to the top student. Scholarship applications for the 2017 SEMA Memorial Scholarship Fund are due March 1. The SEMA Memorial Scholarship program offers financial assistance of up to $5,000 to help foster the next generation of automotive aftermarket industry leaders and innovators.

Students can apply for the scholarship at www.sema.org/scholarships. Scholarships are available in a variety of categories, such as accounting, sales and marketing, and engineering. Dozens of awards ranging from $2,000 to $3,000 will be given out, with a $5,000 award going to the top student. The program also includes a loan forgiveness aspect that offers financial awards to employees of SEMA-member companies who have completed and are paying off a loan for a program of study at an accredited university, college or vocational/technical program within the United States. For more information about the program, please contact Juliet Marshall, SEMA manager of education projects, at 909-978-6655 or julietm@ sema.org.

Audi dealers strive to make you an Audi Genuine Parts fan • Your Audi customers expect quality and reliability from your repairs.

Help meet those expectations by installing Audi Genuine Parts.

• Audi dealers are supported by a nationwide network of parts distribution centers to help ensure that non-stocked parts are delivered the next day.

Installing Audi Genuine Parts from an Audi dealer is priceless to your reputation and your customers peace of mind. Order Genuine Audi Parts from these select dealers:

New York

Connecticut

New Jersey

Valenti Audi

DCH Millburn Audi

Paul Miller Audi

Watertown 860.274.9846 860.945.4987 Fax M-F 8am-5:30pm Sat 8am - 12pm

Maplewood 800.553.9250 973.762.2381 Fax M-F 7:30am-6pm Sat 7:30am - 4pm

Parsippany 800.356.4553 973.575.7793 973.575.5911 Fax M-F 8am-6pm; Sat 8am-5pm

AudiParts@valentiauto.com www.valentiaudi.com

ddipalma@dchusa.com www.dchmillburnaudi.com

www.paulmilleraudi.com Audiparts@paulmiller.com

Flemington Audi Flemington 877.NJPARTS 908.782.1795 Fax 78 MARCH 2017 AUTOBODY NEWS | www.autobodynews.com

Audi Brooklyn of Bram Wholesale Parts Network 866.770.5999 718.392.6570 Fax 7:30am-5:30pm parts@lexusofqueens.com

Audi Southampton Southampton 631.204.2565 Tue - Sat 8am - 5pm parts@audisouthampton.com www.audisouthampton.com

MASSACHUSETTS

PENNSYLVANIA

South Attleboro

Easton

Courtesy Kia

508-761-9300

(508) 761-0768 Fax

8am-8pm Mon, Wed; 8am-5pm Tue, Thu, Fri 8am-4pm Sat frank@courtesyma.com www.courtesyma.com

NEW JERSEY Liberty Kia Ramsey

201-818-8995

(201) 783-8848 Fax

8am-5pm Mon-Sat parts@libertyhyundai.com

NEW YORK

Kia of Middletown New Hampton

888-374-6575

(845) 374-4718 Fax

8am-5pm Mon-Fri 8am-3pm Sat nissankiaofmiddletownparts@yahoo.com www.kiaofmiddletown.com

Brown Daub Kia

610-829-3020

(484) 546-0292 Fax

Kia of Coatesville Coatesville

610-384-7700

(610) 384-2171 Fax

8am-5pm Mon-Fri 8am-12pm Sat Alan@kiaofcoatesville.com www.kiaofcoatesville.com

Kia of West Chester West Chester

610-429-3500

(610) 429-0164 Fax

8am-5pm Mon-Fri 8am-12pm Sat Alan@kiaofcoatesville.com www.kiaofwestchester.com

RHODE ISLAND Bald Hill Kia Warwick

800-822-3015

(401) 822-8135 Fax 8am-5pm Mon-Fri 8am-4pm Sat www.shopkiaparts.com

VERMONT

Berlin City Kia

Precise fit and finish, easy installation and a limited warranty direct

Williston

from Kia — all genuine

(303) 928-6905 Fax

advantages of Genuine

800-684-5779

6am-6pm Mon, Wed, Fri 6am-7pm Tue, Thu 7am-3pm Sat ableau@berlincity.com

Kia Parts. Your local Kia retailer has all the parts you need.

Outten Kia Hamburg

610-562-4166

(610) 562-9436 Fax

7:30am-5pm Mon-Fri 8am-12pm Sat jhenne@outtencars.com www.outtenkia.com www.autobodynews.com | MARCH 2017 AUTOBODY NEWS 79

AMi Launches New Online Courses

The Automotive Management Institute (AMi), the industry’s leading nonprofit provider and collaborator of administration and management education for automotive collision and mechanical service repair professionals, announced the addition of several

new online courses for the collision repair segment. These newly released courses provide credit toward the organization’s Collsion Repair Segment certificates and professional designations.

They include the following: ● Customer Service Certificate

● Accredited Automotive Office Manager (AAOM) professional designation

● Accredited Automotive Manager (AAM) professional designation

● Accredited Master Automotive Manager (AMAM) professional designation

● Soon to be released Accredited Collison-Repair Estimator (ACE) and Accredited Master Collision-Repair Estimator (AMCE) professional designations.

The new online courses include: ● Frank Terlep’s How to Market, Sell and Service Today’s “Connected Customer” ● Daren Fristoe’s Effective Interviewing Techniques

● Daren’s Fristoe’s Managing Conflict ● Steve Beck’s Time Management

These courses are part of a growing list of over 100 online courses hosted by the Automotive Management Institute’s “MyAMi” Learning Management System. The catalog of online courses include course content from other well-known industry professionals such as Mike Cassata, Mark Claypool and Frank LaViola. In addition to online courses, AMi recognizes over 250 live instructor-led courses being taught across North America for AMi credits.

Autologic Diagnostics Joins ASA as Corporate Member The Automotive Service Association (ASA) has announced one of its latest corporate members: Autologic Diagnostics.

Corporate membership provides an opportunity for companies to expand their relationships with ASA and its leaders in the collision repair and automotive service segments of the industry.

Autologic Diagnostics, based in the United Kingdom and the United States, is a worldwide provider of the first and only fully integrated, cloud-connected aftermarket automotive diagnostic system, Autologic Assist, which helps technicians and automotive service facilities quickly identify faults in vehicles and repair cars faster.

“The members of ASA are precisely the audience that stands to benefit the most from learning more about the many advances of our Assist solution and how it could change the way they do business and improve productivity and efficiency, while also increasing both profitability and annual revenue,” said Kevin Finn, di-

rector of strategic partnerships.

“While partnering with ASA allows Autologic to share its expertise with the industry, it also affords the company the ability to learn significantly more about the changing dynamics of the automotive repair marketplace and allows us to stay on top of the cutting edge of change and advancement occurring industrywide. This is very valuable to our growing global enterprise,” Finn commented.

Tony Molla, ASA vice president, welcomed the partnership with Autologic and said, “We are pleased to add Autologic to our growing list of corporate members and look forward to working with them to help our members stay abreast of the latest technology, as it relates to improving productivity, accuracy and diagnostic capabilities within their individual repair and collision shop enterprises.”

To learn more about ASA’s corporate membership program, visit www.ASAshop.org or contact Dan Risley, ASA president and executive director, at danr@asashop.org.

Parts You Need.

People You Trust.

Shift into Genuine Nissan and Infiniti OEM Parts

Genuine Nissan and Infiniti OEM Wholesale Parts are superbly crafted to strict quality standards.

The following dealers proudly stock genuine parts for your Nissan or Infiniti repairs.

Genuine Mitsubishi Replacement Crash Parts are close at hand from the following quality dealerships.

MASSACHUSETTS

Courtesy Mitsubishi SOUTH ATTLEBORO

508-761-9700

(508) 761-0768 Fax www.courtesy-mitsu.com

80 MARCH 2017 AUTOBODY NEWS | www.autobodynews.com

NEW JERSEY

ACTION NISSAN Flemington

908-782-8250 (908) 237-0036 Fax Mon-Sat 8am - 5pm

fmondello@actionautogroup.com

CONNECTICUT Valenti Volkswagen Watertown

860-274-9846 Fax: 860-945-4987 M-F 8am-5:30pm Sat 8am-12pm

VWParts@valentiauto.com www.valentivw.com

MARYLAND King Volkswagen Gaithersburg

240-403-2300 Fax: 240-403-2398 M-F 7am-6pm Sat 8am-4pm

dprunner@vwking.com www.vwking.com

Ourisman VW of Laurel Laurel

301-498-6050 Fax: 301-498-0157 M-F 7:30am-7pm Sat 7am-4pm

julio.cruz@ourismanautomotive.com Ourisman VW of Rockville Rockville

855-417-4511 Fax: 240-499-2488 M-F 8am-5:30pm Sat 8am-5pm rockvilleparts@ourismanautomotive.com www.rockvillevolkswagen.com

MASSACHUSETTS Volkswagen of North Attleboro North Attleboro

508-695-7131 Fax: 508-695-0321 M-F 8am-5pm Sat 8am-2pm

kenr@driveavw.com www.driveavw.com

Open Road Volkswagen of Bridgewater Bridgewater

908-685-1068 Fax: 908-685-1547 M-F 7:30am-5pm Sat 8am-3pm Matthew.schlossbert@openroad.com www.openroadvwparts.com

NEW JERSEY Atlantic Volkswagen Egg Harbor Township

609-641-1788 Fax: 609-646-2331 M-Sat 7:30am-5pm Tue 7:30am-9pm

vcornwall@atlanticautogroup.com www.atlanticautogroup.com

www.autobodynews.com | MARCH 2017 AUTOBODY NEWS 81

AUTOBODY MARKETPLACE

Technical Representative

Automotive, Fleet, OEM & Light Industrial Finishes

Due to our unprecedented growth in the industry Lusid Technologies, Inc. is looking for Technical Sales Representa!ves in all areas of the North American Market. Candidates should be able to demonstrate excellent communica!on and hands on technical skills.

Successful candidates will find themselves working in a progressive and highly mo!vated and well trained team of people. Travel is expected to be extensive and the package on offer very compe!!ve.

For full details and applica!on requirements contact HR@LUSID.BIZ in the strictest confidence.

When all you need to do is move a vehicle, use:

Repair System

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Stop wasting valuable time looking for cardboard or cleaning mixing boards!

Clean Sheets® Mixing Boards are used by thousands of repair shops to mix epoxies, body filler, fiberglass, plastics, gel, putty and touch-up paint.

• Prevents costly reworks • Bonded on 3 sides • Non-absorbing, heavy-duty paper with grip for mixing • Pays for itself the first week you use them!

Clean Sheets® “The Original Patented Mixing Pad

Since 1988”

Call your local Jobber or: 800-365-1308 www.cleansheetsmfg.com Turn-Key Operation Garage and Body Shop. High Visibility. Long Est. Business. 50+ Years. Building & Equipment/

Looking for Good Collision Personnel?

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82 MARCH 2017 AUTOBODY NEWS | www.autobodynews.com

Call or e-mail now for rates: 800-699-8251 or ltedesco@autobodynews.com

Ford Vehicle Owners Can Easily Upgrade 2010–2016 Vehicles with Connectivity Features According to Ford, millions of current customers stand to benefit from Ford SmartLink, a technology that enables connectivity features normally only available on new modem-equipped vehicles. Using a simple device that plugs into the OBD II port below the steering wheel, Ford SmartLink will give customers who own 2010 – 2016 model year Ford and Lincoln vehicles that are not equipped with a modem access to: ● Smartphone-based remote start, lock and unlock ● 4G Wi-Fi hotspot capable of accepting up to eight devices ● Vehicle health and security alerts ● Vehicle location assistance “Ford SmartLink will surprise and delight owners of recent modelyear vehicles by adding some of today’s most popular connectivity features,” said Stephen Odell, executive vice president, Global Marketing, Sales and Service. “Offering it through our dealerships is another way to keep us connected with our

customers and earn their loyalty.”

SmartLink can be obtained at Ford and Lincoln dealerships beginning this summer.

With more than two years of research and development invested, the Ford SmartLink team of engineers, in collaboration with Delphi Automotive and Verizon Telematics, have ensured the technology will work seamlessly with Ford and Lincoln vehicles.

“From security to performance, we’ve conducted extensive testing and made a number of improvements to ensure Ford SmartLink enhances the customer experience for our owners,” said Raj Nair, executive vice president, Global Product Development, and chief technical officer.

“We are thrilled to offer this level of convenience and connectivity to our existing customers, extending the value of their vehicles and giving them just one more reason to love their Ford and Lincoln vehicles,” Nair said.

Maryland

For auto body shop owners looking to boost their corrosion repair efficiency, RustProof M/D™ from the Martin Senour Company offers a powerful—yet easy to use—solution for combating rust.

“RustProof M/D’s UV resistant formula is designed for unrivaled durability and ongoing protection in most environments,” said Kyle Hauenstein, product manager, Martin Senour.

Upon application, RustProof M/D seals the surface of the substrate, stopping existing rust from spreading and new rust from forming. Its advanced technology en-

Massachusetts

ables users to apply it directly over rusted surfaces with minimal preparation. With a full cure time of only 24 hours, shop managers can rely on RustProof M/D to help shrink the waiting line – and boost the bottom line.

“RustProof M/D is positioned to become an essential tool in any shop,” said Hauenstein. “Between the ease of application and quick curing time, it’s a real cost saver.”

Specially formulated for direct to metal adhesion and maximum rust prevention, RustProof M/D is appropriate for a number of rust-prone surfaces auto body shops encounter regularly, including: ● Chassis ● Wheels ● Frames ● Truck beds ● Doors ● Floors ● Suspension RustProof M/D is available exclusively at NAPA AUTO PARTS stores in gloss black, light gray, white, and dark gray.

For more information, visit http:// www.martinsenour-autopaint.com /product-systems/rust proof-md.

New York

FITZGERALD LAKEFOREST HYUNDAI

ROUTE 2 HYUNDAI

ATLANTIC HYUNDAI

301-670-4881

888-240-3495 978-534-9933 Fax

631-587-1628

Gaithersburg 905 North Frederick Ave.

301-670-1595 Fax

Leominster 743 North Main St.

Mon-Fri 7:30am - 6pm Sat 8am - 4pm www.gaithersburghyundai.com

Mon-Thu 7:30am - 7:30pm Fri-Sat 7:30am - 6pm parts@rte2hyundai.com www.rte2hyundai.com

HERB CHAMBERS HYUNDAI

ACTION HYUNDAI

Massachusetts Auburn 107 Andover St.

800-767-1898 508-832-6026 Fax

THE RIGHT PARTS

Martin Senour Introduces Rustproof M/D™

Mon-Fri 7am - 6pm Sat 8am - 3pm pobrien@herbchambers.com www.herbchambershyundai.com

West Islip 193 Sunrise Hwy.

631-893-8491 Fax

Mon-Fri 8am - 5pm Sat 8am - 4pm www.AtlanticHyundai.com

New Jersey Flemington 180 Rte. US 202

908-782-8250 908-237-0036 Fax

Mon-Fri 8am - 5pm fmondello@actionautogroup.com www.actionhyundainj.com

For Your Collision Job Visit these Genuine Hyundai Parts Dealers www.autobodynews.com | MARCH 2017 AUTOBODY NEWS 83

84 MARCH 2017 AUTOBODY NEWS | www.autobodynews.com