May 2017 Southeastern Edition

Southeastern Sou utheastern Edition E d i t i on Ed Alabama Florida Georgia Mississippi N. Carolina

S. Carolina Tennessee Virginia West Virginia

35

YEARS

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WMABA Opposes West Virginia Parts Bill, Neighboring States’ Efforts Will Be Affected In reaction to Senate Bill 544, proposed in West Virginia and reducing the consumer protections related to collision repair parts, the Washington Metropolitan Auto Body Association (WMABA) strongly urges representatives to vote “NO.”

After years of efforts to push forward similar protections in both Maryland and Virginia, the WMABA has

utilized the neighboring state of West Virginia as an upstanding example of how a state can protect consumers when it comes to the collision repair parts used during the collision repair process. Having the majority, if not all, of the warranty period covered, those consumers with newer vehicles do not have to argue with insurers about what is best for their car and can get the Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) parts without any out of pocket expense. This is something not afforded their neighbors, who applaud this type of protection and disclosure.

See WV Parts Bill, Page 6

FCA US Marks Opening of New Mopar Parts Distribution Center in Virginia

President and Director of the Chrysler Department; Mark Bosanac, Director – NAFTA Supply Chain Management and Global Parts Supply Chain Management and Operations; Kevin Farrish, President, Farrish Chrysler Dodge Jeep® Ram; Urooj Mughal, representative for U.S. Senator Tim Kaine; Dave Stegmaier, Director of Community Outreach for U.S. Representative Barbara Comstock; and Hayes Framme, Virginia Deputy Secretary of Commerce and Trade.

“We are celebrating our 80th anniversary in 2017, and throughout the years customer satisfaction has been See FCA US Center, Page 8

Change Service Requested

P.O. BOX 1516, CARLSBAD, CA 92018

FCA US celebrated the official opening today of a new Mopar Parts Distribution Center (PDC) in Winchester, Virginia. The 400,000-plus squarefoot facility represents a $12.2 million investment by FCA US and more than 70 jobs over two shifts. It is also the first of two new Mopar PDCs scheduled to open in the U.S. this year.

FCA US and UAW leadership were joined by federal and state government dignitaries and dealership representatives in marking the Winchester PDC grand opening. Ceremony attendees included Pietro Gorlier, Head of Parts and Service (Mopar), FCA – Global; Norwood Jewell, UAW Vice

VOL. 8 ISSUE 3 MAY 2017

Collision Shop Owners Share the (Mostly) Pros and (Few) Cons of Getting OEM Certified

Are automaker shop certifications a of pretty much everyone else because of us getting certified, but it’s really potential substitute for collision repair only been to my benefit. An insurer can shops seeking less dependence on intake any [agreement] I have [with surer direct repair programs? them] away, but they can’t take my cerThat was among the questions addressed by a panel of shop owners at tification. The DRPs helped us get to the recent NORTHEAST Automotive the point where we had the money to spend on OEM certification.

Services Show held in SecauBut you get to the point where cus, N.J. James Carvino of you say, ‘Listen, I don’t need RoJo Collision in Brooklyn, you. So if you don’t want to NY, whose shop holds certifipay my rate or do this, you cations from about 10 aucan take the program and go tomakers, said he’s eliminated because now I’m certified. I most of the shop’s DRP reladon’t really need you. You tionships other than two with James Carvino can’t cripple my business.’” insurance companies “that are very understanding.”

Tom Elder of Kompact Cars, “I basically have no issue [with Inc. in Clarksburg, NJ agreed, saying them], and I think they are happy to the 11 DRPs he previously had have someone who, even though my “helped us become better financed estimates may be 400 lines, they can and better equipped,” but that Mersee the car and know I’m doing the cedes-Benz and other OEM certificawork,” Carvino said. “I had to get rid See OEM Certification, Page 22

Six of 10 U.S. Drivers Think Self-Driving Cars Will Eliminate Problem of Distracted Driving: Poll Nearly six out of 10 drivers in the United States think that self-driving cars will eliminate the problem of distracted driving, according to a new poll conducted on behalf of Pennsylvania-based Erie Insurance.

The online survey by Harris Poll, released on March 27, involved 2,932 U.S. licensed drivers aged 18 and older. Because it was not based on a probability sample, no estimate of theoretical sampling error could be calculated, Erie Insurance noted in a press release.

The survey found that 59% of those polled think that self-driving cars will eliminate the problem of distracted driving; two-thirds of men believe this, compared to just over half of women (66% to 52%, respectively).

Licensed drivers also weighed in on the topic of impaired driving, with 13% believing that a person wouldn’t

get cited for driving under the influence while operating a self-driving car.

As well, one-third (33%) believed that one of the biggest advantages of selfdriving cars would be the ability to get home safely if under the influence of drugs or alcohol. A much smaller percentage of those 21 and over (5%) said they would drink alcoholic beverages while operating a self-driving car, the release said.

With regard to activities, roughly half of polled drivers (51%) said that one of the biggest advantages of selfdriving cars would be the ability to go longer distances without worrying about being drowsy while driving. About onefifth of licensed drivers (19%) said they would sleep or nap while operating a self-driving car.

Other activities licensed drivers plan to do while operating a self-driSee Distracted Driving, Page 9

Presorted Standard US Postage PAID San Bernardino, CA Permit #2244

2 MAY 2017 AUTOBODY NEWS | www.autobodynews.com

Contents

NATIONAL 2017 SEMA Board Candidates, Election Details Available. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67 ABRA Auto Body & Glass Hosts Surprise Reveal for U.S. Navy Veteran and Recycled Rides Recipient on St. Patrick’s Day . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 AkzoNobel Rejects Another Unsolicited Proposal from PPG . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67 AkzoNobel Signs on as Platinum Sponsor for Women’s Industry Network. . . . . . . 59 American Honda Releases New ProFirst Logo for Better Brand Recognition . . . . 59 AMi Offers Online Enterprise Rent-A-Car ARMS® Automotive Suite Training . . . . 64 Apple Applies for and is Granted Driverless Car Testing Permit, But What it’s Testing May Not be a Car. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 Apply for Auto Care Internship Scholarships

by May 1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54 ASA Promotes National Car Care Month . . 60 Automotive Management Institute Honors Class of 2017 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 64 Axalta Launches Imron 8460S Clearcoat for Commercial Transportation Market . 60

for the NASCAR Sprint Cup. Hundreds of students from the Midwest and beyond are anticipated to attend.

They will have the opportunity to meet industry employers, view product demonstrations, hold initial/mock interviews, and possibly meet race car drivers. There is no charge for high school and college automotive repair and collision students, instructors, and administrators to attend; however, preregistration is required. Companies interested should contact Brandon Eckenrode at Brandon.Eckenrode @ed-foundation.org or (847) 4635244.

Publisher & Editor: Jeremy Hayhurst General Manager: Barbara Davies Online Editor and Copywriter: Deana Cacus Contributing Writers: Tom Franklin, John Yoswick, Janet Chaney, Toby Chess, David Brown, Rich Evans, 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 Digital Marketing Manager: Cass Heckel Art Director: Rodolfo Garcia Graphic Designer: Michelle Lucas

Serving Florida, Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, Virginia, West Virginia, Tennessee, North Carolina, South Carolina 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.

Aircat Pneumatic. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13

Jim Cogdill Chrysler-Dodge-Jeep-

Audi Wholesale Parts Dealers . . 38-39

Jon Hall Chevrolet . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52

AIRCOM USA, Inc . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12

Axalta Coating Services . . . . . . . . . . 5

BMW Wholesale Parts Dealers . . . . 63

Southeast

COLUMNISTS Attanasio - Do You Have the Next Great Body Shop Invention? . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40 Attanasio - Everything’s Algood at Mike’s Auto Body in Antioch, CA. . . . . . . . . . . 46 Attanasio - Zenia Amezquita Is Just Starting to Rev Her Engine . . . . . . . . . . 36 Phillips - Owner of Swope Family of Dealerships Receives Prestigious Honor & Attributes Success to Highly-Engaged Employees . . . . . . . . . 48 Sisk - American Honda Hosts Two ProFirst Training Seminars at NORTHEAST 2017. 12 Sisk - An Introduction to WIN’s 2017 MIW Honorees. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44 Sisk - Mike Anderson Debuts Seminar on 100% Disassembly and Parts Mirror Matching . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26 Yoswick - Could that 180-line estimate you just wrote be 179 lines too long?. . 42

By 2030, 25% of Miles Driven in US Could Be in Shared Self-Driving Electric Cars. . 50 Caliber Collision Sets Challenge to Collect 5 Million Meals for Children This Summer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63 Chief® University Introduces Industry’s First Joining Technologies Class. . . . . . 58 Collision Shop Owners Share the (Mostly) Pros and (Few) Cons of Getting OEM Certified . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 Collision Shops Across CT Flock to ABAC March Meeting for Second Mike Anderson Presentation . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24 Congress Overturns OSHA Injury/Illness Recordkeeping Rule . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62 CREF & ASE Team on Cars, Careers, Celebrities Expo . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 Driverless Wreck Video . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 Enterprise Holdings Increases Support of SCRS; Established New Corporate Membership . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60 Full Schedule Posted for ABPA 2017 Annual Convention in GA . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 Global Finishing Solutions Adds to the Refinish Team . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37 GYS Wins Tesla Approval . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58 I-CAR® Honors Chuck Sulkala With Lifetime Contribution Award . . . . . . . . . 63 I-CAR® Offers New Online Cycle Time Course for Appraisers . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58 Learn How to Crush It in the Collision Repair Industry With Newly-Released Book . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 MA Automotive Tech Programs Restoring 1926 Model T Ford . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21 Midwest Lawmakers Consider Proposed Collision Repair Legislation . . . . . . . . . 15 NABC Opens Nominations for Awards to Recognize Professionalism and Integrity in the Collision Industry . . . . . . . . . . . . 64 News From Collision Repair Education Foundation. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52 Northeast Lawmakers Consider Proposed Collision Repair Legislation . . . . . . . . . 14 PARTS Act Reintroduced in Congress, Claims Motoring Consumers will Choose Quality, Affordable Crash Parts . . 63 Pennsylvania Lawmakers Propose Recall Notification Law. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 Registration Opens for AAPEX 2017 in Las Vegas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62 Six of 10 U.S. Drivers Think Self-Driving Cars Will Eliminate Problem of Distracted Driving: Poll. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 SkillsUSA Nebraska Receives Donated Custom Mobile Work Station® for Use at Leadership and Skills Conferences . . 28 Take Me Out To The Ballgame! Join ASA-Midwest at the Ballpark in June. . . 27 TechnaGlass Purchases Ohio and Utah FranchisesTitle. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67 Texas Bill Demands Independent Survey of Auto Body Labor Rates, Cracks Down on Steering . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30 The Pre- and Post-Scan Revolution . . . . . 32 Uber Briefly Puts The Brakes on its Self-Driving Fleet After Arizona Car Crash . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 Uber Continues Growing Pains, Loses a Top Self-Driving Executive, Legal Battle with Google. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 YANG Announces Next Step Program Scholarship Winners . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62

Index of Advertisers

REGIONAL 23-Year Old Shop Owner Runs the Show at Chesapeake, VA, Maaco . . . . . . . . . 20 ABPA Supports West Virginia Legislation to Allow Freedom of Choice in Repair Parts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 FCA US Marks Opening of New Mopar Parts Distribution Center in Virginia . . . . 1 Gerber Collision & Glass Opens Repair Location in Georgia . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 IGONC’s Triangle Chapter Met in March . . . 8 Lake Technical College Student Receives WIN Scholarship . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 Lindsay Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram Donates to Nova-Manassas Automotive Program . 10 Miami Auto Body Shop Catches Fire . . . . . 9 North Carolina SkillsUSA State Conference April 27th . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 State Lawmakers Consider Proposed Collision Repair Legislation . . . . . . . . . 14 TN Body Shop Worker Faces Embezzlement, Theft Charges . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 WMABA Opposes West Virginia Parts Bill, Neighboring States’ Efforts Will Be Affected. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 WMABA to Host Annual Golf Outing May 17 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

CREF & ASE Team on Cars, Careers, Celebrities Expo

The Collision Repair Education Foundation (CREF) is partnering with the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) on the Cars, Careers & Celebrities event being held on September 15, 2017. This is CREF’s third year hosting the event, which last year brought together over 400 high school and college collision students from 10 states. CREF will work with ASE to open the event up to both collision and automotive repair students.

Cars, Careers & Celebrities will take place at Chicagoland Speedway (Joliet, IL) on Friday, September 15th in conjunction with the first race in The Chase

Autobody News Box 1516, Carlsbad, CA 92018; (800) 699-8251 (760) 603-3229 Fax www.autobodynews.com Email: news@autobodynews.com

Ram . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18

Kernersville Chrysler-Dodge-Jeep-

Ram . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31

CarcoonAmerica Airflow

Kia Motors Wholesale Parts

Certified Automotive Parts

Killer Tools & Equipment. . . . . . . . . 53

ChemSpec USA, LLC . . . . . . . . . . . 16

Lexus Wholesale Parts Dealers . . . 62

Systems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36 Association (CAPA). . . . . . . . . . . 29

Chief Automotive. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19

Classifieds. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 66

Dealers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55

Lancer Insurance Company . . . . . . 15

Lusid Technologies . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17 Malco. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

Coggin Deland Honda . . . . . . . . . . 28

Mercedes-Benz Wholesale Parts

Diamond Standard Parts, LLC.. . . . 43

MINI Wholesale Parts Dealers . . . . 62

Eckler’s Automotive . . . . . . . . . . . . 49

Nissan of Richmond . . . . . . . . . . . . 56

Dent Magic Tools . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

DJS Fabrications. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22 Eco Repair Systems of North

America, LLC. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47

ECS Automotive Concepts . . . . . . . 24 Equalizer Industries, Inc . . . . . . . . . 37 Ford Wholesale Parts Dealers . . . . 57 GM Wholesale Parts Dealers . . . . . 61

Dealers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60

MOPAR Wholesale Parts Dealers . . 41 O’Brien Hyundai-Subaru-Mazda . . 51

Porsche Wholesale Parts Dealers . . 64 PPG . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

Radley Chevrolet. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58 Rick Hendrick Chevrolet Naples. . . 42 Rick Hill Imports . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14

Gus Machado Ford . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46

Riverside Ford-Lincoln . . . . . . . . . . 54

Hendrick Automotive Group . . . . . . 25

Southside Kia . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50

GYS Welding USA. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30

Hendrick Automotive Group of

Charleston. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 68

Hendrick BMW/MINI . . . . . . . . . . . . 45

Hendrick Dodge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 Hendrick Kia Cary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44

SATA Dan-Am Company . . . . . . . . 11

Spanesi Americas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27

Subaru Wholesale Parts Dealers . . 65

Tameron Hyundai . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40

UniCure Spraybooths . . . . . . . . . . . 20

Valspar Automotive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

Hendrick Kia Concord . . . . . . . . . . 44

Volkswagen Wholesale Parts

Honda-Acura Wholesale Parts

Wesch Tools . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

Hyundai Wholesale Parts Dealers. . 59

Wizards Products . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21

Herkules Equipment Corporation. . 32 Dealers. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33, 34-35

Insta Finish Car Care . . . . . . . . . . . 23

Dealers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 64

West Broad Hyundai. . . . . . . . . . . . 48 Yellow Jacket . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26

www.autobodynews.com | MAY 2017 AUTOBODY NEWS 3

Apple Applies for and is Granted Driverless Car Testing Permit, But What it’s Testing May Not be a Car Apple has formally thrown its name into the driverless car ring. The iPhone manufacturer’s name is plainly listed on the California Department of Motor Vehicles website as an approved autonomous vehicle tester within the state’s borders. Apple stands out on the list, which otherwise constitutes recognizable car companies and tech startups; Nissan, Subaru, Tesla, and Udacity are among them.

That Apple is doing something with autonomous vehicles is one of the worst-kept secrets in Silicon Valley according to Chris Mills, writing in BGR News. Rumors have circulated for years that Apple is planning some kind of car, and now we know for sure that a research group is testing something.

The California DMV awarded Apple a permit to test autonomous vehicles in the state. Apple has not commented on the application for a permit, but a spokesperson instead referred to a previous statement that said Apple continues to invest in autonomous technology, AI, and machine learning.

The obvious point is that you don’t apply for a permit to test au-

tonomous vehicles unless you actually want to test autonomous vehicles. This doesn’t mean that Apple is building an Apple Car, just that it’s working on some kind of driverless technology.

The majority of the companies that are permitted to test in California aren’t trying to build their own vehicle platform. Instead, most companies take an off-the-shelf car and attach some kind of sensor package, which is most likely what Apple’s doing currently.

This is not the first confirmed interest that Apple has had in vehicles.

The company attempted a takeover of McLaren, a British racing car company, late last year. Reports suggested that Apple initially considered making its own fully-electric car to rival Tesla, codenamed Project Titan. It sounds like that project ended, and Apple decided instead to focus on the technology side of car-making.

Uber briefly took its self-driving cars off the streets following a crash involving one of the vehicles on March 24. Tempe police confirmed to CNNTech the selfdriving Uber vehicle involved in the rollover accident was not at fault, and there were no life-threatening injuries.

The self-driving car tests resumed in both cities March 27, after a temporary halt to investigate the accident.

Photos of the accident scene in Tempe, Arizona, showed one of Uber’s Volvo SUVs on its side, while another car nearby appeared pretty beat up.

There were no reports of serious injuries.

Uber’s car, which had engineers in the front two seats and no one in the back, was in self-driving mode at the time of the collision, local cop Josie Montenegro told reporters. She added that the accident occurred when the other car apparently failed to yield to Uber’s vehicle at a left turn.The company’s fleet of 16 self-driving cars had been on the streets of Tempe for just over a month as part of a pilot program.

It confirmed over the weekend that it’s also suspended testing at its two other sites in San Francisco and Pittsburgh

while it continues with investigations into what caused the smash-up.

Uber customers had been able to take rides in the self-driving cars, but anyone nervous about doing so could use the app to opt out of the opportunity. While Uber’s technology doesn’t appear to have been at fault in Saturday’s accident, it’s possible the publicity surrounding the incident will prompt some riders to think twice about hopping into one of Uber’s driverless cars when they return to the streets.

The San Francisco-based ridehailing giant started testing its driverless car technology in Pittsburgh last year before expanding the pilot program to its home city. However, a runin with regulators at the end of 2016 prompted the company to shift testing from San Francisco to Tempe, Arizona.

Uber recently received permission to relaunch testing in the California city.

The Tempe crash certainly isn’t a first for self-driving car companies, with, for example, Google’s own project—now operated by Waymo— having experienced a few incidents up to now.

www.autobodynews.com

Uber Briefly Puts The Brakes on its Self-Driving Fleet After Arizona Car Crash

4 MAY 2017 AUTOBODY NEWS | www.autobodynews.com

Driverless Wreck Video

PreFab Ads has just launched “Driverless Wreck,” the latest in a line of humorous TV/Internet collision repair commercials. It is currently available for licensing on an exclusive-by-territory basis for just a fraction of the cost of production.

The spot depicts an autonomous taxi cab tangling with an impatient man driving a Mercedes followed by the line, “Need a body shop?” and the featured body shop’s tag.

The impatient man was played by actor Jeffrey Weissman who has starred in a number of movies including “Back To The Future” II & III where he played George McFly, father of Michael J. Fox’s character.

“Driverless Wreck” has already been licensed by 15 collision repair centers across the US, including Joe Hudson’s Collision Center, AL; North Haven Auto Body, CT; Collision Specialist, TN; Auto Tech, NY; and Fountain Valley Auto Body, CA; Olson Autobody, Casper, WY; Peter’s Body Shop, Fort Wayne, IN; Car Center Collision, Big Rapids, MI; Lefler Collision & Glass, Evansville, IN; AutoTech, NYC; Branson Collision, Branson, MO; Jeffrey’s Auto Body, North Syracuse, NY; and The Professional Touch, Scotts Valley, CA. It marks the 20th collision repair commercial produced by Chuck Jessen of Jessen Productions & PreFab ads over the years. All commercials can be viewed at www.prefabads.com.

To view video, go to: http://prefabads.com/myportfolio/driverless-wreck/

Uber Continues Growing Pains, Loses a Top Self-Driving Executive, Legal Battle with Google Uber has lost yet another executive after its vice president of the self-driving car division resigned. Uber is also is currently fighting a high-profile lawsuit with Google about the autonomous technology.

Sherif Markaby resigned from his position as Uber’s vice president of global vehicle programs a year after he joined the company from Ford, where he had spent 25 years and was director of global electronics and engineering.

Markaby’s departure is the fifth high-profile exit from Uber in recent months, creating doubts about the firm’s ability to bounce back. Markaby’s resignation is one of a number of significant departures among senior Uber figures, including the resignation of its president, two other vice presidents, a well-known security researcher and an engineering executive.

Uber is currently fighting allegations that it stole driverless car technology from Google, while trying to recover from claims of sexual harassment and lack of diversity in its offices. In the UK it is also appealing an employment tribunal’s ruling that its

drivers should be classed as employees, which could undermine its business model there.

Uber said Markaby’s departure is not related to any lawsuit.

“Self-driving is one of the most interesting challenges I’ve worked on in my career, and I’m grateful to have contributed to what will soon be a safer future for everyone,” said Markaby.

A spokesman for Uber said: “[Markaby’s] deep experience and knowledge of the automotive industry that have helped us tremendously in working to make self-driving cars a reality.”

Former president Jeff Jones quit just six months after he was hired to alter the ride-hailing app’s public image over an irreconcilable culture clash.

“The beliefs and approach to leadership that have guided my career are inconsistent with what I saw and experienced at Uber,” said Mr. Jones when he left last month.

Uber’s difficulties in recent weeks have led to suggestions that it would be better off if its chief executive Travis Kalanick were next to go.

www.autobodynews.com | MAY 2017 AUTOBODY NEWS 5

Full Schedule Posted for ABPA 2017 Annual Convention in GA The full schedule of events, speakers and breakout sessions for the 2017 ABPA (Automotive Body Parts Asso-

ciation) Annual Meeting & Convention, being held in Atlanta, Georgia on April 25-28, has been finalized.

The Association has organized four days of events and speakers from across the aftermarket industry, including a return their popular Educational Breakout Sessions on Thursday afternoon.

2017 Annual Meeting Schedule Tuesday, April 25 9AM: Board of Directors Meeting (Woodruff) 5-8PM: Registration Opens 6-9PM: Welcoming Reception (Rooftop 866) Wednesday, April 26 7:30AM: Golfers depart (Lobby) 12-5PM: Exhibitors Tabletop Setup (Ballroom) 6PM: Registration re-opens

Continued from Cover

WV Parts Bill

Finding outright fault in the argument that this proposed legislation reduces the deductible charge in any way, the association also urges legislators to check the facts and the other consequences of this bill. The deductible is set by the policy and would not be changed.

Customers will not always know what kind of parts they are getting unless they ask. The “fine print” parts disclosure required at the end of each repair estimate or repair order that explains the use of aftermarket parts is also a necessary consumer protection, so that they know what parts are being used in their repair. There is nothing else that would mandate a repairer or insurer educate the customer on the parts types written into the charges.

Knowing what kinds of parts are used is a right-to-know that should not be altered.

It appears that Senator Maynard, who proposed the bill, also would take personal interest in this cause, as his own business deals in aftermarket parts for cars. Without doubt, WMABA

6-9PM: Tradeshow and Reception Dinner (Ballroom) Thursday, April 27 7:30AM: Registration re-opens 7:30-9:30AM: Breakfast Buffet (Ballroom) 9:00AM-12:30PM: First Business Session w/ keynote speakers (Ballroom) 9-9:10AM: Kim Hicks, opening comments and anti-trust statement 9:10-9:20AM: Jim Smith, President’s speech 9:20-9:30AM: Ed Salamy, Executive Director, state of the association message 9:30-9:45AM: Kim Hicks, Association Board of Directors departing members, introduction of nominees 9:45-10AM: Brandon Eckenrode, Collision Repair Education Foundation 10-10:20AM: Ray Colas, Legislative and Regulatory Issues 10:20-11AM: Dave Smith, Caliber Collision 11-11:15AM: Break 11:20-12:00PM: Jack Gillis, CAPA Update 12:30-1:30PM: Awards Luncheon 1:30-4:30PM: Educational

knows that insurers, aftermarket parts companies, and others will take benefits to this bill through the course of their business. Insurers believe that this will save on claims amounts, but also push or shift the cost onto the policyholder or claimant by making them pay out of pocket to get what the law already provides. Aftermarket parts suppliers benefit through the additional usage of their parts, which are not covered by the vehicle’s existing warranty, something that consumers often find subpar to their “pre-accident condition” where the warranty is fully intact.

They are not made whole to the point of value or condition they were when the accident occurred.

WMABA again urges all West Virginia legislators to carefully review the consequences of these language changes and to vote against changing a consumer protection that needs to stay.

For more information, please call (804) 789-9649 or email jordanhendler@ wmaba.com.

www.autobodynews.com CHECK IT OUT!

6 MAY 2017 AUTOBODY NEWS | www.autobodynews.com

Breakout Sessions (Rialto A, Rialto B, Chastain A) 5-5:30PM: ABPA Vehicle Giveaway with NABC (front of hotel) 6-9PM: Dinner (Ballroom) 9-11PM: After party sponsored

by CCC Friday, April 28 Breakfast 7:30-9AM: (Ballroom) 9AM–12PM: Second Business Session (Ballroom) 9-9:30AM: Bob Frayer, NSF 9:30-9:40AM: Jim Smith, ABPA Lawsuit Update 9:40-10AM: Gerry Poirier, Farmers Insurance 10-11AM: Brad Mewes, Supplement, Consolidation in the automotive aftermarket industry 11-12:00PM: Open Mic for members to address the general audience and Board of Directors 12PM: Adjournment The Automotive Body Parts Association (ABPA) is a coalition dedicated to serving the collision repair industry with quality replacement parts, backed by dependable service and fair prices. Each Member subscribes to a code of ethics which encompasses high standards of business practice on behalf of its customers and the motoring public.

North Carolina SkillsUSA State Conference April 27th

The SkillsUSA North Carolina State Leadership and Skills Conference will be held in Greensboro, NC at the Greensboro Coliseum and Koury Convention Center. More than 2,500 students, instructors, industry members, and volunteers will be on hand for the largest showcase of Career

and Technical Education in the state.

Nearly 1,800 high school and postsecondary students will be competing in over 106 different skills and leadership contests.

The public is invited to view our day of championships on April 27th free of charge, starting with the Ribbon Cutting Ceremony at 9:00 am at the Greensboro Coliseum.

Admission is free. Anyone interested in becoming a judge, donor, or sponsor can contact collision contest chairperson Jim Brown at (336)334-4822 Ext. 50061. http://www.skillsusanc.org/stateconference

www.autobodynews.com | MAY 2017 AUTOBODY NEWS 7

IGONC’s Triangle Chapter Met in March

by Chasidy Rae Sisk

On March 14, the Independent Garage Owners of North Carolina (IGONC) held a meeting for its Triangle Chapter to provide an overview of what has been going on with the association. The meeting, sponsored by Black’s Tire who provided a presentation on their services, attracted nearly 30 collision repair industry professionals.

According to Bob Pulverenti, Executive Director of IGONC, “Everyone had a great time learning and socializing. We hold monthly meetings for local folks to come together and learn from one another. It is important to stay up-to-date with our vendors and changes in the industry, including local regulations.”

IGONC’s next meeting will be held on April 11th. The Triangle Chapter will meet at CTI in Raleigh for Chris Chesney’s presentation entitled “What about New Employees,” sponsored by Carquest.

Dinner will be served at 6PM with the presentation beginning at 7PM.

www.autobodynews.com

Continued from Cover

FCA US Center

and continues to be the Mopar brand’s No. 1 priority,” said Pietro Gorlier, Head of Parts and Service (Mopar), FCA - Global. “This new Parts Distribution Center builds upon our mission, allowing us to more quickly and efficiently serve our dealers and customers, delivering the parts they need, when they need them. This is our 22nd PDC in North America and we’ll continue to expand our distribution network as the parts and accessories business keeps growing.”

“Today’s opening adds more than 70 jobs to the Virginia economy and makes the Mopar brand’s delivery of parts to dealers and consumers more efficient. FCA continues to grow, which is a constant reminder that the auto loans were a great investment,” said Jewell.

A framed Congressional Record statement issued by Congresswoman Comstock was presented in honor of the official opening of the PDC. A special Mopar logo, featuring a commemorative plaque and signed by all event attendees, was also presented to Winchester PDC employees and man-

8 MAY 2017 AUTOBODY NEWS | www.autobodynews.com

agement during the ceremony.

The new facility will handle more than 50,000 total part numbers distributed to over 200 FCA US dealerships, located primarily in the Mid-Atlantic region. It will ship approximately 9.2 million pieces annually.

FCA US invested $12.2 million in equipment for the Winchester facility. In addition to the more than 70 jobs created, FCA US is also utilizing local resources for assistance in areas such as janitorial services, facilities management and exterior building maintenance.

The Winchester operation expands the brand’s current distribution network to 22 facilities in North America, with more than 50 PDCs (including joint ventures) in operation worldwide.

The Winchester PDC was launched under FCA World Class Logistics methodology, which establishes a synchronized supply chain that progressively eliminates waste through the contribution of all employees and the rigorous use of methods and standards that promote an approach of continuous improvement.

The facility will be LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certified. LEED, administered

by the United States Green Building Council, is a comprehensive system to define, measure and validate green buildings.

Certification in the national recognition program is based on strict standards in five key areas: site planning, water management, energy, material use and indoor environmental quality.

As part of the LEED initiative, the PDC design incorporates more than 80 skylights, filtering in natural light to the workplace.

In addition to the Winchester PDC, FCA US has also announced a $10.4 million investment in a new Mopar PDC located in Romulus, Michigan.

That facility will encompass 500,000 square feet and more than 100 workers.

Construction is currently in progress on the Metro Detroit facility, with a projected opening in 2017 fourth quarter.

Your leading source for SOUTHEASTERN Collision Repair News! southeastern.autobodynews.com

Miami Auto Body Shop Catches Fire

Continued from Cover

An auto body shop and warehouse in Miami with several vehicles inside caught fire on the morning of March 22.

ving car include texting (34%); checking and sending emails (34%); reading (27%) and playing video games (11 %) and 10% said they’d meditate, including 18% of men aged 18 to 34.

Cody Cook, vice president and product manager of Erie Insurance’s auto department, pointed to 2015 statistics from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, which estimated that human error was a factor in 94% of car crashes.

“While we believe that fully autonomous vehicles will greatly reduce that number, it’s hard to predict how

by Paul Scicchitano, Miami Patch

“The warehouse structure had several vehicles inside,” Erika Benitez of Miami-Dade Fire Rescue told Patch. “When firefighters arrived, they saw heavy black smoke billowing from the building. They quickly began an attack and shortly after they were able to put the fire under control.”

Credit: Miami-Dade Fire Rescue

Credit: Miami-Dade Fire Rescue

Miami-Dade Fire Rescue responded to the two-alarm blaze at 5:22 a.m. The business is located at 5357 NW 35 Ct.

Benitez said gasoline in the vehicles is always a concern for firefighters in such fires.

“These types of fires are a safety challenge for firefighters,” Benitez added. “Thanks to the quick and skilled actions of the fire crews, the structure was saved and there were no injuries reported.”

We thank Miami Patch for reprint permission.

Distracted Driving

soon they will be widely available,” Cook said.

“Current technology is going a long way to keep us safer on the road, but the last thing we want is for people to become over-confident as this technology continues to evolve. Unfortunately, our survey finds that many people are getting ahead of themselves—making plans for what they’ll do in the car instead of paying attention to the road. We hope people will remember that despite technological advances, it’s still critical—for now, anyway—to keep your eyes on the road, your hands on the wheel, and your mind on what you are doing.”

Originally published by Canadian Underwriter.ca.

Pennsylvania Lawmakers Propose Recall Notification Law Pennsylvania House Bill (HB) 1182, introduced by State Rep. Madeleine Dean, D-153, would require inspection agents to perform a Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) recall search as a part of the vehicle safety inspection process. If there is an outstanding recall on a particular vehicle, the inspection agent would be required to notify the owner of the vehicle. Under HB 1182, the presence of a recall notice would

not necessitate failure of a vehicle to pass inspection. Pennsylvania currently requires an annual vehicle safety inspection. Dean’s bill exists along with a larger package of automotive consumer protection bills, including HB 1119, introduced by Rep. Brian Sims, D-182, that requires dealerships that sell used vehicles to inform customers of unperformed manufacturer recall work.

www.autobodynews.com | MAY 2017 AUTOBODY NEWS 9

Lindsay Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram Donates to NovaManassas Automotive Program

Lindsay Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram in Manassas, VA recently donated nearly $31,000 worth of components to the Automotive Program at the Manassas Campus of Northern Virginia Community College.

Mike Wang was instrumental in organizing the donation. Wang is the service director at Lindsay Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram and a member of the Manassas Campus Automotive Advisory Committee.

“This generous gift is a real windfall and we can’t express our appreciation enough,” said Manassas Provost Molly Lynch. “Donations like this supplement our resources and help us do more for our students. We also want to thank Mike Wang for his service on our

Automotive Advisory Committee, which ensures our Automotive Program stays current with changes in the industry.”

Automotive instructor Gary Phares said the donation will give NOVA students experience with the type of parts they would find on the job.

“These new components will allow our students to see, test and use new model automotive and truck parts,” Phares said. “Since some are body parts, we will make them available to NOVA’s Alexandria Campus to use in their auto body collision repair classes.”

Registration is underway for summer classes at NOVA, including automotive courses. To learn more about the Automotive Program, visit www.nvcc.edu /manassas/divisions/programs/auto.html.

TN Body Shop Worker Faces Embezzlement, Theft Charges On April 5, officers of the Johnson City Police Department arrested 32-year-old Takeitha Morley, charging her with embezzlement/theft over $10,000. The arrest stems from an investigation into reports of forged checks taken from A&E Frame and Body, where Morley was employed as an administrative assistant. The investigation revealed Morley wrote several unauthorized checks to herself and cashed

them beginning in January.

Morley was located at her residence by Elizabethton Police Department and transported to the Johnson City Police Department to be interviewed.

Morley was then transported to the Washington County Detention Center and is being held in lieu of a $10,000 bond.

ABPA Supports West Virginia Legislation to Allow Freedom of Choice in Repair Parts

The Automotive Body Parts Association (ABPA) is publicly supporting auto body repair legislation recently introduced in West Virginia (SB 544) that would eliminate OE requirement on newer vehicles and change notification language.

West Virginia’s Senate Bill 544 seeks to revise a current state law that requires written consumer consent for the use of aftermarket parts to repair a vehicle that is still under a manufacturer’s warranty. The current law requires collision repair shops to use OEM parts for a period of three years, the year a vehicle

was made and the two succeeding years thereafter, and requires vehicle owners to sign a consent form before aftermarket parts can be used in repairs.

“The Automotive Body Parts Association favors freedom of choice in vehicle repairs, and this West Virginia bill will return that choice to the consumer,” said the ABPA’s Executive Director, Edward Salamy.

“If enacted, this bill would put aftermarket parts on an equal footing with OEM parts, and would give owners in West Virginia the power to make their own decisions when it comes to repairing their vehicles.”

“We urge legislators in West Virginia to take steps to return consumer choice to their constituents,” continued Salamy.

For more information, visit www.autobpa.com.

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WMABA to Host Annual Golf Outing May 17 WMABA (Washington Metropolitan Auto Body Association) is gearing up for its 2017 Annual Golf Outing, which also raises funds for the local Jerry Dalton Memorial Education Fund. Being held on May 17, 2017 with a 1:30pm shotgun start, the longtime industry event will be a great spring break.

“We are happy to announce our popular golf outing’s date for Spring 2017,” said Jordan Hendler, WMABA Executive Director. “It’s new for us to be [hosting] in the springtime, which is exciting, and we hope everyone will again join us to celebrate our industry’s education initiatives. More now than ever, our local industry is fighting to get good techs, and this directly benefits those

programs. This outing is a great day for a great cause, and I am so happy to be a part of it!”

The WMABA Golf Outing will be held at Heritage Hunt Golf & Country Club in Gainesville, Virginia. There will be many prizes and a reception dinner during a fun-filled day of camaraderie for collision repairers and industry constituents.

If you are interested in participating in the event, the details for entry, sponsorship and course information are all available on the WMABA website at www.wmaba .com.

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Gerber Collision & Glass Opens Repair Location in Georgia

Gerber Collision & Glass announced the March 31, 2017 opening of a collision repair location in Hinesville, Georgia. Hinesville is located on the Atlantic coast about 40 miles southwest of Savannah, Georgia.

“We are pleased to add this location which adds to our presence in the coastal region of Georgia, be-

tween our locations in Savannah and Brunswick, Georgia,” said Tim O’Day, President and COO of Gerber Collision & Glass. “We look forward to becoming part of the Hinesville community and are excited to introduce the Gerber brand of professional and friendly service.”

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Northeast News

Chasidy Rae Sisk is a freelance technical writer from Wilmington, Delaware, who writes on a variety of fields and subjects, and grew up in a family of NASCAR fans. She can be contacted at crsisk@chasidyraesisk.com.

American Honda Hosts Two ProFirst Training Seminars at NORTHEAST 2017 with Chasidy Rae Sisk

During AASP/NJ’s 40th Annual NORTHEAST Conference and Tradeshow, American Honda held two unique educational opportunities for the shops on their ProFirst certification program. The first, held Saturday from 810AM, was “Honda Technology and Emerging Industry Trends,” presented

by American Honda’s Chris Tobie and Susanna Gotsch of CCC Information

Susanna Gotsch of CCC Information Services

Services. Sunday morning’s Honda OEM panel discussion, “Information for Innovation,” was co-hosted by Axalta Coating Systems and was mediated by Axalta’s Livia Guarneri. The panel included Gotsch, Collision Advice’s Mike Anderson, Andy MacDonald from VeriFacts, Caliber Collision’s Jeff Brewer, and from American Honda: Leigh Guarnieri and Gary Ledoux.

On Saturday morning, the room filled with ProFirst shops who indulged in the breakfast burritos provided by American Honda as Gary Ledoux, ProFirst Administrator, welcomed attendees. Noting American Honda’s goal to bring value to their certified shops, Ledoux announced that the OE is in the process of revamping its ProFirst logo to assist with brand recognition and that they will also be providing a short advertisement that certified shops can personalize and use as a marketing tool. He stated, “We have 975 certified shops, and our goal is 1200. About 50% of the shops that apply for certification don’t make it, so you all are the elite!”

American Honda’s Chris Tobie then began the “Honda Technology” session with a Honda and Acura body repair update. Mentioning that Honda vehicles’ body structures have seen some minor model changes and alterations in the locations of the ultra highstrength steel used, he warned, “Looks can be deceiving. You need to look at

the OEM specifications for the specific model you are repairing, or you may unknowingly repair the vehicle unsafely.

You always have to go to the information to know what you’re working with because it’s not possible to memorize all of this.”

Looking at the 2017 CR-V, Tobie noted it’s a completely different car as it has a front floor center tunnel with 1500 MPa rear frame rails. While shops have to follow manual procedures, specific areas of the rear frame can be sectioned.

Tobie then turned to the 2017 Clarity fuel cell which has all bolt-on exterior panels and front bumper beams constructed of aluminum which was driven by safety regulations and fuel efficiency requirements. The 980 MPa front frame rails and center floor tunnel permit no sectioning, and the laser brazed roof panel is serviced by boltedon brackets and a panel bond adhesive.

It also comes with Honda’s standard sensing suite of advanced driver assistance technology. Tobie hinted, “These are things you’re likely to see more in the future, so you should start thinking about the tools you’ll need if you aren’t already prepared.”

Tobie informed attendees that 95% of Honda and Acura questions can be answered with published information and encouraged shops to call Honda’s

Chris Tobie of American Honda

technology line whenever they need support. He pointed out, “Every improper repair begins with the best intentions and a lack of information. You don’t know what you don’t know.”

Honda’s new diagnostic scanning and calibration position statement applies to all Honda and Acura models. It requires pre and post repair diagnostic scans and provides the background, rea-

12 MAY 2017 AUTOBODY NEWS | www.autobodynews.com

sons and guidelines for these requirements to explain how to do it, why and how to get paid. The OE’s Warranty Paint Refinish Requirements Service Bulletin announced the need to use approved paint vendors and specific lines

Gary Ledoux of American Honda

with many requiring hardener in the basecoat to meet Honda’s standards.

Tobie encouraged the audience to utilize their Body Repair News Publications for free industry support: “They don’t replace the manual, but they highlight things that can trip you up. Use them for repair planning - it all starts at the estimate.”

After mentioning I-CAR’s Hands

on Mig Brazing Course (BRZ02), Tobie demonstrated how to access the Service Express information from the ProFirst website, and he discussed some of the diagnostic tools that are useful for repairing Honda vehicles. He closed with “Even if you can’t be a ProFirst shop, this information is available to aid safe repairs. There aren’t enough ProFirst shops to repair all our vehicles, but Honda provides the resources, and it’s up to the shop to market itself as ProFirst.”

Moving on to the “Industry Trends” portion of the morning, Susanna Gotsch, Industry Analyst for CCC Information Services, began by noting that miles driven, collision frequency, and collision severity (average cost) have all increased over the past few quarters. Data compiled by the National Safety Council indicates that more people are driving during peak time and in congested areas, and as a result, an inSee American Honda, Page 18

www.autobodynews.com | MAY 2017 AUTOBODY NEWS 13

Northeast Lawmakers Consider Proposed Collision Repair Legislation A number of bills impacting collision repairers have been introduced in state legislatures throughout the Northeast this year.

A Maryland bill (SB 1007), for example, would have required insurers in that state to use either OEM parts or nonOEM crash parts certified by an organization meeting specific requirements; those requirements appeared to allow the use of parts certified by the Certified Automotive Parts Association (CAPA) but not NSF-certified non-OEM parts. A March hearing scheduled on the bill, however, was canceled after the bill received an unfavorable report from a Senate committee and was withdrawn.

A half-dozen industry-related bills have been introduced in New York.

One (AB 1678) would limit the sale of automotive refinish materials labeled “for professional use only” to only those with a valid state tax and federal EPA identification number, and who meet all local ordinances for the application of such materials.

Two of the New York bills are parts-related bills. The first (AB 6617) would require that vehicle owners provide a written signature consenting to

the parts that will be used in the repair of their vehicle; that disclosure form would be required to define each of the types of parts used. The bill also would require the use of only new OEM parts on vehicles two years old or newer, or for the duration of the manufacturer’s sheet metal warranty on the vehicle, whichever is longer. The bill also would make clear that the insurer is responsible for additional costs for labor or materials if non-OEM parts stipulated for use are found to be “ill-fitting.”

The other New York parts-related bill (AB 6861) would prohibit an insurer from requiring a repair facility to “use a specific vendor or process for the procurement of parts or other materials.”

Another New York bill (AB 414) would prohibit an insurer from limiting payment based on pricing caps for labor, parts, paint or materials; it also would require that if an insurer-recommended repair facility fails to return a vehicle to pre-accident condition, the insurer will, at no additional cost to the vehicle owner, return the vehicle to pre-accident condition at a repair facility of the vehicle owner’s choice.

Bills (SB 2959, AB 2612) introduced in both the New Jersey Senate and General Assembly would require dealers to give new-car buyers a written statement noting that federal legislation makes it illegal for automakers or dealers to “void a motor vehicle warranty or deny coverage under the motor vehicle warranty simply because an aftermarket or recycled part was installed on the vehicle, or simply because someone other than the dealer performed service on the vehicle.”

Lawmakers in Massachusetts are considering a bill (HB 479) that would allow shops to demand arbitration in the event an agreement cannot be reached as to the amount of a loss; current law requires that such a request come from the insured.

Three other Massachusetts bills (HB 494, SB 599, HB 546), similar to those introduced in previous years, would require that a minimum labor rate be established by the Massachusetts Insurance Commissioner based on the average rates paid by insurers in surrounding states (Connecticut, New York, New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Vermont).

A bill (HB 5896) introduced in Rhode Island in March would add two new requirements to the state’s existing law requiring insurers to survey shops in order to determine prevailing labor rates. The first change would require an insurer’s labor rate survey report to the state be signed by “an authorized representative executed under the penalty of perjury.”

The second change would prevent smaller insurers (which are exempted from conducting the surveys based on their market share) from simply adopting the labor rates of another insurer. Those smaller insurers, the bill proposes, would either have to negotiate with each individual shop, or voluntarily conduct a labor rate survey of their own.

The Automotive Service Association is opposing two proposed bills in Maine that would either require vehicle safety inspections only every other year rather than annually (HB 439), or scrap the program entirely (HB 567).

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Lake Technical College Student Receives WIN Scholarship Lake Technical College in Eustis, FL is proud to announce that Auto Collision Repair & Refinishing student Vicky Lambert is the well-deserving recipient of a 2017 Women’s Industry Network (WIN) Scholarship. As a high

and is scheduled to complete the program by the end of 2017.

The Women’s Industry Network is a “not-for-profit organization dedicated to encouraging, developing, and cultivating opportunities to attract

Vicky Lambert, recipient of a 2017 Women’s Industry Network (WIN) Scholarship

school student, Vicky was dual-enrolled in the Drafting program at Lake Tech. After high school, she chose to go into the military, where she served in the Air Force for over six years in their Security Forces. She returned to Lake Tech in October 2016 for the Auto Collision Repair & Refinishing program

women to collision repair while recognizing excellence, promoting leadership, and fostering a network among the women who are shaping the industry,” according to the WIN website.

The WIN Scholarship is awarded each year to only five recipients from across the nation who are chosen by a com-

mittee consisting of women in the industry. Recipients of the WIN scholarships demonstrate their desire to excel in the field of collision repair. Each scholarship recipient will receive a $1,000 scholarship to continue her post-secondary education in collision repair, a one-year WIN Membership plus registration fees and travel expenses to attend the 2017 WIN Educational Conference in Denver, Colorado May 8-10.

“I was so surprised when I learned that I was one out of five women in the entire nation to win,” Lambert said.

“That’s not my luck usually! I was shocked.” Upon graduation, she hopes to do body work at a reputable shop and eventually, she would like to move into management or possibly own her own shop.

When asked how she has adapted in what’s traditionally seen as a man’s job, Lambert replied, “I never really thought there was anything to prove. I just get my job done and do it the best that I can! Being a woman has never really even crossed my mind as something that should hold me back.”

More information about WIN and their scholarship opportunities can be found on their website, http://thewomens industrynetwork.ning.com/.

Midwest Lawmakers Consider Proposed Collision Repair Legislation

A number of bills impacting collision repairers have been introduced in state legislatures throughout the Midwest this year. A bill (SF 74) in Minnesota would clarify the state’s list of unfair claims settlement practices to include failure of an insurer to assume all costs for loss of use of a vehicle, including rental car reimbursement. In Indiana, proposed legislation (HB 1559) would have extended to third-party claimants the same right “to approve the type of body parts used to repair a motor vehicle” currently spelled out in state law for first-party insureds. But the bill failed to make it out of committee by a legislative deadline. An Illinois Senate committee in March gave a “do pass” recommendation to a bill (SB 1694) (opposed by the Alliance of Automotive Service Providers of Illinois) that would require a company imposing vehicle storage fees to provide the fee schedule to not only the owner of the vehicle but any lienholder on the vehicle as well. In Michigan in March, Sen. Joe Hune introduced a bill (SB 291) prohibiting an insurer from requiring a shop “to use a specific vendor or process for the procurement of parts or other materials.”

www.autobodynews.com | MAY 2017 AUTOBODY NEWS 15

ABRA Auto Body & Glass Hosts Surprise Reveal for U.S. Navy Veteran and Recycled Rides Recipient on St. Patrick’s Day

by Lindsay Moscarello, North Fulton Neighbor

Anetra Christian will remember this St. Patrick’s Day at ABRA Auto Body & Glass in Roswell, GA, every time she gets behind the wheel of her 2014 Ford Focus.

Christian, a United States Navy Veteran, thought she was going to ABRA to speak about her experiences as veteran who struggled to re-acclimate after being discharged from service.

When she arrived, Christian was greeted by members of the ABRA, Esurance and Recycled Rides teams.

Roswell Mayor Jere Wood, Councilmen Donald J. Horton and Jerry Orlans were in attendance.

Christian, unbeknownst to her, was selected by the Veterans Empowerment Organization (VEO) of Georgia as the recipient of the vehicle, but had no idea until the car pulled up in front of her.

At that point, she was overwhelmed with tears of joy, shock and disbelief, having to be supported by VEO Director of Development Larion Williams.

“Someone pinch me,” said Christian after receiving the surprise of the vehicle, which was packed full of everything a family could need: food, dishes, pots and pans, cleaning sup-

there with her to witness such a joyous occasion.

Her mother passed away from diabetes only three weeks ago.

Christian, who is originally from the U.S. Virgin Islands, is from a military-oriented family, so it was “very easy for me to take that track.”

U.S. Navy Veteran Anetra Christian and her son, Masiyah, 2, with their new car at ABRA Body & Glass in Roswell on St. Patrick’s Day

“My dad, mom, cousins and grandfather were in the armed forces,” she said.

Christian served in the United States Navy for eight years as an Aviation Ordinanceman and received the following accolades: Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal and Overseas Service Ribbon.

While she loved to serve, she found it hard to deploy and be away from her children and family.

After leaving the military, Christian pursued college, but it became challenging for her.

“I became pregnant, which made everything more challenging. I stayed with my cousin, which took a toll on her because I couldn’t help out as much as I wanted being pregnant,” she said.

U.S. Navy Veteran Anetra Christian was in tears when she The stress of the situation realized the Ford Fusion that drove up was hers to keep at impacted everyone and ChrisABRA Body & Glass in Roswell on St. Patrick’s Day. (l to r) Roswell Councilman Donald J. Horton, Veteran Empowertian ended up homeless. ment Organization (VEO) Director of Development Larion “I felt alone, was stressed Williams, Mayor Jere Wood, Christian, Councilman out, and I lost my baby,” she Jerry Orlans and Kimberlyn Dixon, also of VEO said. plies, toys for her children, gift cards An opportunity arose to go to Fort and more.

McPherson, where she attended a class While sitting in her new vehicle, about available veteran programs, which Christian remained in a state of shock. is when she learned about Veteran Em“I’ve only ever seen something powerment Organization (VEO) and like this, where a person is surprised by met Sean, a VEO case worker. a big group of people, on television,” Veteran Empowerment Organizashe said. tion aims “to enhance the quality of life “I can’t believe this is happening for all veterans on their road to self-sufto me,” she said happily. ficiency,” as stated on their website.

At one point, Christian mentioned The Atlanta based organization ofhow she wished her mother could be fers housing and supportive services,

16 MAY 2017 AUTOBODY NEWS | www.autobodynews.com

assistance in self-sufficiency and employment readiness to homeless veterans.

“I met Mr. Frantz, the owner of the VEO program and they helped me find a job within a month, a home within two weeks,” Christian recollected.

“I am so grateful and thankful to Mr. Frantz and this program for helping people of different caliber. As a civilian, he feels so strongly about helping veterans.”

For Christian, the emphasis on VEO’s efforts to help Veterans and their families is what brought her to become involved in the program.

“The VEO program helps Veterans with their families and to keep them together. I have children and my mom was there with me; I wanted to make sure wherever I went, my family went too, not us being separated or have them in a civilian area and I’m in a veteran area, they were with me all the time,” she said.

Christian’s younger son, Masiyah, 2, was at ABRA with her.

In between many hugs and tears of joy, Christian mentioned her original plan was to try and have her own

car by the end of this year.

Her plans for how the car will be of significant assistance to her accelerated from a “maybe in the near future” to a reality as of that morning.

ABRA Auto Body & Glass partnered with Esurance Insurance Company and the National Auto Body Council’s Recycled Rides program for the donation.

National Auto Body Council’s Recycled Rides program is a collaborative effort by auto body shops, insurers, parts suppliers and others in the collision industry to repair and donate vehicles to deserving families and community service organizations throughout the United States.

Anetra Christian works for Sheraton Hotels, and with guidance and supportive services, she has worked diligently to overcome her barriers and transition out of homelessness.

“She has never stopped striving for a better life for herself and her family,” as stated in a news release.

ABRA Auto Body & Glass is at 740 Holcomb Bridge Road in Roswell.

We thank North Fulton Neighbor for reprint permission.

www.autobodynews.com | MAY 2017 AUTOBODY NEWS 17

Continued from Page 12

American Honda

creasing number of vehicles are being equipped with safety features.

Each year since 2013, the population of vehicles in the US has grown by an average of 2% so more people are driving, and there are more cars on the road. Additionally, higher speed limits have resulted in an 8% increase in fatality rates on interstates and highways for every 5mph increase. People are also distracted with 40-50% of surveyed drivers admitting to texting while behind the wheel.

Vehicle sales show continued growth which is setting records, though growth has begun to stabilize. The average age of vehicles in the US is 11 years old with more owners of each vehicle and an increasing demand for used cars.

This means insurance companies have to pay the value of the vehicle more often as repair costs are more likely to exceed the value. Historically, 15% of vehicles were totaled, and this number has increased to closer to 20% for non-comprehensive claims. Gotsch noted, “More older vehicles mean more total losses, and this translates to fewer repairs.”

Gotsch explained how estimates are uploaded to CCC and how this information is disseminated to insurance companies as well as the difference between how CCC and insurers use this data and apply it to scorecards. She predicted, “The industry is shifting towards a more holistic view of performance.”

Claim costs are rising steadily with repair costs for newer vehicles increasing the fastest; the average repair cost rose 4.5% last year. Assuming similar shifts, Gotsch anticipates a 2.6% increase in 2017. She discussed the distribution of repair costs, noting an increase in labor hours, labor rates and calibration costs. Technological advances have led to repair complexities and newer ve-

hicles require more replacement parts than in the past.

“Due to complexity, cycle time has also increased by nearly half a day industrywide for the actual repair, but pre and post repair days remain stable,” Gotsch said. Noting OEs’ increase in safety components, Gotsch predicted, “Frequency will begin to taper due to safety features, and we anticipate a 12% reduction with 80% penetration by 2033.

With vehicles becoming more complex and more miles being driven, we can expect an increase in repair costs and total loss frequency to remain elevated.”

At Sunday morning’s “Information for Innovation” OEM panel, co-hosted

by American Honda and Axalta Coating Systems, Ledoux introduced the event moderator, Livia Guarnieri from Axalta, and the panel of experts which included Gotsch, Collision Advice’s Mike Anderson, Andy MacDonald of VeriFacts and Caliber Collision’s Jeff Brewer, while Leigh Guarnieri and Ledoux represented Honda.

The discussion began with an exploration of how autonomous cars will impact collision repair. The panel agreed that autonomous technology is exciting and should be embraced by the industry, but they also noted that it’s not an immediate concern since they need to work out details such as improving GPS accuracy and determining when the driver needs to take control of the vehicle.

Mentioning the rising number of fatalities, Anderson informed attendees that OEMs’ current focus is on collision avoidance systems. In regard to avoidance systems, it will be necessary for shops to acquire the training and equipment needed. Leigh predicted, “Shops will need to become more mechanical.

All of these vehicles can’t be taken to the dealers, so shops will need to learn how to use repair information as it’s made available.”

Discussions about the future of vehicle ownership turned to ride sharing

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are regular contributors to Autobody News magazine.

Luehr and Phillips encourage shops to join the Body Shop Secrets community, where they will receive ongoing resources, helpful tips and other information specifically designed to keep collision repair businesses highly successful. More information is available on the Body Shop Secrets website: www.bodyshopsecrets .com.

18 MAY 2017 AUTOBODY NEWS | www.autobodynews.com

and the importance of shops managing online reviews. Brewer observed, “Technological changes make repairs more challenging, and the universal repair approach is in its dying days. Shops need to focus on technology and the customer. First and foremost for the OEs is protecting the customer experience, and we are likely to see a lot of segmentation in the near future. The primary reason for certification is access to information to ensure we’re repairing these cars correctly, the car has to go to the right place for the right reasons, and certification helps define that.”

Livia added, “The way the vehicle is repaired, based on the information available to the shops, is ultimately what drives lifetime customer loyalty.”

Returning to the topic of collision mitigation systems, the panel was asked if the vehicle owner is responsible for insuring the car or if it’s the manufacturer’s responsibility to insure the technology. Gotsch noted that there is still a lot to be determined about who owns the digital copyrights to the electronic control modules data and anticipates a lot more discussion around personal and product liability. MacDonald quipped, “The attorneys will benefit the most until this all gets figured out.”

Talking about recalls, the panel emphasized the shops’ role in helping inform customers of recalled parts and the difficulty for OEMs to locate vehicles with recalled parts given the frequency with which cars are resold.

When the audience was invited to ask the panel questions, topics ranged from the value of OE certification to how certification is managed by MSOs, and the necessity of technicians’ involvement in the process.

OEMs are now holding regular roundtables to discuss the direction the industry is taking and to better serve their customers, and all members of the panel agreed that communication is key.

Anderson predicted that OEMs will monitor KPIs more closely to ensure certified shops are performing to their standard, but he insisted that there is a lot of value in OE certification.

Brewer contributed, “You have to have the right training and equipment to safely repair today’s vehicles. Training is the most critical component of certification, and certification is the cornerstone of the relationship between you and the dealer.” MacDonald agreed, adding “Program involvement brings more value and helps improve your shop and your employees’ skills.”

www.autobodynews.com | MAY 2017 AUTOBODY NEWS 19

23-Year-Old Female Shop Owner Runs the Show at Chesapeake, VA, Maaco

by Chasidy Rae Sisk

The collision repair industry is known for being a male-dominated industry, and with the increasing need for young professionals to enter the industry, it’s refreshing to meet Katie Inge, a 23-year-old shop owner in

Katie Inge with her father

Chesapeake, VA. Inge’s passion for cars transcends any question of her place in this industry and proves that women have an important perspective to bring and role to play as we move into the future; it’s not just a man’s world anymore!

Inge grew up in her father’s

Maaco Collision and Repair Center, spending weekends in the shop where she learned about the entire process, from painting to sanding to finishing the vehicle. Inge recalls, “My dad, A.J. Inge, owned the shop for over 30 years, and I was always very interested in how the vehicles changed from entry to completion. I felt amazed by the process and couldn’t help but appreciate how much work goes into repairing the vehicles.”

In high school, Inge participated in a work-study program which allowed her to spend her afternoons working in the shop, and following a brief stint in community college, she returned to her father’s shop full-time as a result of her love for the business and her desire to follow in her father’s footsteps to become a Maaco shop owner.

In 2015, Inge bought a portion of her father’s business, realizing her dream of becoming a shop owner at only 22 years old. Inge states, “Since then, my dad has stepped back and given me more responsibilities as a co-

20 MAY 2017 AUTOBODY NEWS | www.autobodynews.com

owner. He deserves a break after working so hard for such a long time, but he’s always there to guide me when I need him.”

The multi-generational ownership provides additional benefits as well, with Katie adding a millennial focus on

Katie Inge with shop employees

social media and customer service which helps the shop appeal to a wider customer base. “My focus is more on new technology while Dad’s focus is more old-school repair,” Inge explains, “but we still want the same results. It’s a win-win situation that allows us to combine his decades of knowledge

with my comprehension of new technology.”

Inge’s service experience has been very helpful in furthering her success as well. “It helps to know what you’re talking about so I can explain it to the customers and walk them through the shop. They really like feeling certain that they’re talking to someone who understands the process fully, and a lot of our female customers really like dealing with me because it makes them more comfortable.”

Of course, being a young female shop owner does not come without its challenges, and although Inge admits that she encountered some difficulties with her employees at first, she says, “It got a lot better after they saw me dive in and get dirty. My strength is that I started in the back and can do anything the group can do and show them how to do it too. I’m very strong-minded, so my age and gender just isn’t a big deal.”

One valuable lesson that Katie learned from her father is to do what

you promise when dealing with customers. “You have to do what you say and follow through with your promises to build rapport,” Inge emphasizes. “We like to sell low and deliver high; the finish product should exceed the client’s expectations.”

When asked why she decided to pursue a career in the collision repair industry, Inge explains, “It’s a passion – I love what I do, and enjoying your work makes it easy because it doesn’t feel like work. I’ve always been around cars, and I love the body shop industry.”

To other young ladies interested in pursuing a career in the automotive industry, Inge offers this advice: “Definitely learn as much as you can.

You don’t want to learn just the front or back end – you want to know all sides of the business so people can’t take advantage of you. At the end of the day, you really have to love what you do, and I definitely do!”

www.autobodynews.com

MA Automotive Tech Programs Restoring 1926 Model T Ford

by Rich Harbert

Students in the technical studies program at Plymouth South High School in MA are punching their way back in time, rivet by rusty rivet.

Nick Torrey, 14 and Joshua Meleski, 14, work together using a socket wrench and other tools to remove rusted bolts from the cowl of the 1926 Model T Ford. [Wicked Local Staff Photo/Alyssa Stone]

With a ball-peen hammer, a center punch and plenty of 1/8-inch drill bits, the students in the automotive collision and repair program are slowly disassembling a Model T Ford that came off the assembly line 91 years ago.

“Think about it,” collision and repair instructor Chris Baker said as freshman Dan Hadfield went to work on an impossibly rusted bolt from the

car’s deteriorating cab. “The last time anyone put a tool on that was 91 years ago. It’s kind of like archaeology, isn’t it?”

Students in the collision and repair program have been working on the 1926 Model T since last year, when upperclassmen took apart the chassis of the old car and then painstakingly sanded and buffed the rust and patched the dimples brought on by nearly a century of wear and tear.

A local resident donated the old car to the program a couple of years ago in hopes it might provide some worthy lessons in restoration. It has become a long-term project, but one the tech program is willing to invest in as it thins its stock of donations in anticipation of a move this summer to a new Plymouth South High School.

The chassis is ready to roll.

Juniors in Peter Gellar’s class sanded, epoxied and repainted the wooden-spoke wheels last year. Baker plans to push it over to the new school once that opens in July.

The frame rails for the cab and the cowl that separates the cab from the engine will likely be re-attached to

the chassis before the end of school as well, but the actual progress is still anyone’s guess. A lot will depend on how the existing cab cleans up. Much of the back is disintegrating. The top of the seating compartment can probably be salvaged. But the lower half is an irregular piece of rusty flakes.

Joshua Meleski, 14, uses a socket wrench on an old bolt on the cowl of the Model T. [Wicked Local Staff Photo/Alyssa Stone]

Students are in the process of breaking it all down into individual pieces that will be sanded and repainted.

The freshmen expect to fabricate the rusted-out sections, but they will have to learn the art first.

We thank Wicked Local for reprint permission.

www.autobodynews.com | MAY 2017 AUTOBODY NEWS 21

shops, such as what specific equipment is mandatory.

“It’s different than from a pricing matrix, but make no mistake about it: tions have allowed him to drop all but A lot of the OEM certification requirements are very similar to a DRP,” Dorn a couple. said. “It’s different, but still, they want “I use the adage: If you let me fix this, that want that. There’s no grey the car to manufacturers standards, use all OEM parts and charge you a area.”

Certified shops, he said, still fair rate and get the car done find themselves in a position quickly for the customer, I’ll of needing to explain the do business with you,” Elder necessary costs involved in said. “Other than that, forget proper repairs to adjustors it. I’m not going to be dicand insurers. They may untated to by an insurer that derstand the costs involved comes in looking for secondfor the equipment, for examrate work that would reduce Tom Elder ple, but generally don’t grasp our reputation or injure our the costs involved for training beyond customers. It’s worked well. I’ve seen the fees and travel expenses. some drop-off in volume. But the “It’s the number of people we have drop-off has been filled in by all those gone in a given month, training somegive-aways that [are part of] direct rewhere,” Dorn said. “These are not your pair, like storage, administrative fees lower-end folks. These are your higherand other things.” end folks who aren’t producing labor Rick Starbard of Rick’s Auto [while they are away at training]. Your Collision in Revere, MA was the only painters aren’t producing one of the speakers on the paint labor because they’re panel who has never had renot getting those cars that [the ferral or contract agreements body technicians away at with insurers. He said he training)] would be producthinks it’s easier to build up ing. So it’s not just that techthe financing for the training nician; it’s everyone else he’s and equipment OEM certifiassociated with and what he cations require “by not havRick Starbard generates for every other deing those relationships.” He partment. That’s gone. That is sales said automakers’ increasing ability [revenue] that you cannot get back.” through vehicle telematics to know That said, the panelists agreed about collisions in real-time and be that customers can be strongly influable to influence customers’ shop choice at the accident scene will make enced by dealer or automaker referrals and the concept of a shop being certiOEM shop certifications increasingly fied to repair their particular vehicle valuable. make or model.

“I think that gives us an idea of “When you have a customer where the industry is going and how come to you because you’re a Merthe OEMs are going to start driving cedes-Benz certified shop, in our ex[business],” Starbard said. perience, they don’t want to hear what But Barry Dorn of Dorn’s Body & Paint in Mechanicsville, VA, a shop an insurance company has to say [about other shops],” Carvino said. that has earned shop certifications “They want to take their vehicle to a from Porsche, Audi, Tesla and JaguarLand Rover, cautioned that although certified shop.”

Elder agreed that such referrals OEM certification programs are different from DRPs, they similarly place are “a done deal, a sold ticket.”

“It does a great job for us,” he said. non-negotiable requirements on Continued from Cover

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The panel was asked how OEM certifications have led to changes in how they prepare estimate or “blueprint” jobs.

“I don’t think you write an estimate on this monitor without having vehicle information up on this [other] monitor [next to it],” Starbard said.

“They go hand-in-hand now.”

Carvino said automakers have good reason for emphasizing the need to print-out the OEM procedures every time, even if the shop has previously done a similar repair on a particular make and model of vehicle, and it’s not just because automakers check for those print-outs in certified shops’ files when conducting audits.

He said when one particular Mercedes-Benz model first came out, the OEM procedure for replacing the quarter panel required replacing the roof as well.

“Maybe a month or two later, we did the same car, and found there’s now a sectioning procedure, you don’t have to lose the roof,” he said. “So the first thing is to always pull the OEM procedures.”

Does OEM certification influence shops’ choice of parts? They all agreed they use little in the way of

used or non-OEM parts.

“If you want to be a certified shop, I don’t see why you’d even want to consider alternative parts,” Carvino said. “Other than maybe if you have a 2016 car with the door ripped off and missing, you might want a [used] door from another 2016 or 2017 car so you don’t have to build that whole door completely.”

Elder said increasing vehicle technology is doing as much to make new OEM parts the best choice for any shop, certified or not. Mercedes headlamps, for example, must be synched with the vehicle’s computer system.

“We had one example where a major insurer wrote ‘opt-OE’ headlights for a new Mercedes,” Elder said.

“I got the car after another shop repaired the car, because the car went nuts. Nothing worked. I saw the Mercedes star on the headlight, and I didn’t understand it. The car was totally confused. So I gave the part number to the parts department, and found out the headlight was...for a Canadian [version of the] car that had some sort of different circuitry in it. It cost Allstate Insurance $7,500 to figure that out and put two real headlights back in the car.”

www.autobodynews.com | MAY 2017 AUTOBODY NEWS 23

Northeast Associations with Chasidy Rae Sisk

Chasidy Rae Sisk is a freelance technical writer from Wilmington, Delaware, who writes on a variety of fields and subjects, and grew up in a family of NASCAR fans. She can be contacted at crsisk@chasidyraesisk.com.

Collision Shops Across CT Flock to ABAC March Meeting for Second Mike Anderson Presentation Over 130 CT collision repair professionals gathered at the Country House Restaurant in Foxon, CT, for the Auto Body Association of Connecticut’s (ABAC) Member Meeting on March 7th. The meeting featured, for the second month in a row, a presentation from industry favorite Mike Anderson of Collision Advice. Additional guest speakers at the meeting included Tony Lombardozzi, President of the Coalition of Collision Repair Excellence (CCRE) and co-founder of Superare Marketing, and ABAC Legal Counsel John Parese.

According to ABAC President Tony Ferraiolo, “Our guest speakers deliver training and information to keep association members moving forward in this ever-changing collision industry, and everyone left the event armed with more knowledge and information to help them keep this momentum. The value of attending these ABAC meetings cannot be measured.

There is a lot of information that is discussed during our meetings that you won’t see in the ABAC News, but it’s information that you need to be successful!”

After welcoming attendees and announcing the evening’s agenda, Ferraiolo thanked meeting sponsors Axalta, Albert Kemperle, Enterprise, and Forrest Law. He recognized the Hoffman Auto Group for their ongoing yearly Diamond Sponsorship, and he also expressed gratitude to new supporting advertisers for the ABAC News: County Line Nissan, Premiere Kia, Sherwin-Williams, and Auto Data Labels.

Ferraiolo then acknowledged Don Cushing from Bald Hill Auto Group for his role in designing, formatting and producing the ABAC News. He also thanked Dave Fogerty from the Lorensen Auto Group for leading sales with the ABAC News Advertisers Directory and for his help with the consumer bulletin which was placed on a foam-backed board and is available for all shops to place in their waiting areas, at no cost, for customers to see.

The evening’s first guest speaker, Matt Forrest of Forrest Law, presented on “Short Pay,” detailing the benefits his firm can offer ABAC

members. ABAC Board of Director Tony Cavallaro has used Forrest’s firm for a short pay claim, and he provided a testimonial. More information on Forrest’s presentation and services is available at http://matthewforrestlaw.com.

Next Tony Lombardozzi, cofounder of Superare Marketing and CCRE President, announced that Superare Marketing will be holding two short pay seminars in CT in the upcoming months, and he also encouraged meeting attendees to participate in AASP/NJ’s 40th Annual NORTHEAST Tradeshow scheduled for March 17-19.

The final presentation before dinner was given by John Parese, Legal Counsel for the association, who offered a legal analysis on “What is an insurance estimate and what is its value.”

Ferraiolo notes, “Once again, this was great information for members who attend our meetings. You learn, you apply, you move forward in your business.”

Following dinner, Ferraiolo introduced Collision Advice’s Mike Anderson, featured guest speaker for the second consecutive ABAC meeting.

During his brief bio and description of the services offered by Collision Advice, Anderson explained, “I travel around the country, I do classes on behalf of Axalta Coatings System such as estimating, sales and marketing, CSI classes, etc. I also facilitate 20 groups for Axalta Coating Systems which is where shop owners who are not competitors get together on a quarterly basis, and I’m like a business coach for them to help them improve their business. I also have a team of several young people that work with me, and we travel around the country and work with shops to help them improve their

24 MAY 2017 AUTOBODY NEWS | www.autobodynews.com

processes.”

Stressing that “In order for a business to THRIVE, not just SURVIVE, you need to focus on the three major areas of the three-legged stool: sales & marketing, production, and finance & HR,” Anderson proceeded with his presentation to discuss who we serve and what they want. Consumers are looking for trust, empathy and direction, and insurers seek service, speed and accuracy, while OEMs desire safety, brand and OEM parts.

Referencing a recent consumer survey conducted by the Assured Performance Network in which consumers identified OEM certification as the most important aspect they consider when choosing a collision repair shop (vs. insurance companies recommendation, family/friend recommendation and geographic convenience), Anderson states, “This was an ‘ah-ha’ moment for me. Why do the OEMs care?

One of the things I’ve been doing the

past year is I’m now working directly with seven OEM manufacturers, and I can tell you absolutely, unequivocally, without a shadow of a doubt, that the OE manufacturers are going to be more involved in this repair industry than you’ve ever seen since you’ve been alive.”

Suggesting his audience write the following statistic down, Anderson continued, “60% of all consumers who have a problem in a body shop - either their car is not fixed right, the lights don’t work, the paint doesn’t match, whatever the case may be—60% of those consumers who have a problem with that body shop will trade or sell their car within one year. And 63% of that 60% will change vehicle brands.

They may go from a Toyota to a Honda, or a GM to a Chrysler, or a BMW to an Audi, which means these vehicle brand manufacturers lose out on all those potential mechanical repairs to that car.

See CT Anderson Talk, Page 28

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Northeast News

Chasidy Rae Sisk is a freelance technical writer from Wilmington, Delaware, who writes on a variety of fields and subjects, and grew up in a family of NASCAR fans. She can be contacted at crsisk@chasidyraesisk.com.

Mike Anderson Debuts Seminar on 100% Disassembly and Parts Mirror Matching with Chasidy Rae Sisk

During AASP/NJ’s 2017 NORTHEAST Conference and Tradeshow, Mike Anderson of Collision Advice presented a seminar on “100% Disassembly and Parts Mirror Matching” for the first time ever. Designed as a four-hour class, Anderson’s brand new session was condensed to just over an hour. Despite it being the last session of the day, the presenter began with the energy and enthusiasm that have come to be synonymous with the name “Mike Anderson.”

Noting that “shops say they are doing 100% disassembly, but they really only do about 80%,” Anderson dove into the benefits of 100% disassembly.

Locating all damage and parts in the beginning means one estimate and one parts order, thus minimizing the stress and chaos caused by repeatedly starting and stopping the repair process.

In addition to reducing last minute rush orders and accompanying fees, the benefits of 100% disassembly include

minimizing supplements, improving CSI, ensuring on-time delivery, and enhancing the efficiency of the mirror matching process. Anderson pointed out, “It costs $100 in manpower each time you have to order parts. It’s cheaper to do it right the first time.”

By performing 100% disassembly at the beginning of the repair process, shops can identify all critical parts and ensure they arrive before the repair begins. This eliminates the stop and start process which makes technicians inefficient, and it can also improve a shop’s sales per technician. It’s also a great way to get paid easier because the part has already been removed when the insurance adjuster comes out, showing the validity of your R&I item on the estimate.

Sharing some tips for implementing 100% disassembly, Anderson stressed that it begins by working with your technicians to determine why they would R&I something. He stressed the

26 MAY 2017 AUTOBODY NEWS | www.autobodynews.com

need to be respectful during this conversation and to create mutual understanding.

Next, shop owners should make a list and check it twice to ensure they’ve R&I’d everything for access to control points for measuring, to restore corrosion protection, to set up and measure, and to perform the repair. Anderson confirmed that shops who’ve implemented 100% disassembly have seen improved performance and reduced cycle time. “We made the difference by evoking a thought process, developing a culture they could buy into, and starting a discussion with shop employees. That discussion was valuable because it created an ‘a-ha moment.’ My goal today is to create an ‘a-ha moment’ for each of you that you can share with your teams.”

Defining the need to R&I for access to repair a vehicle, Anderson noted, “It is not uncommon to have to remove a vehicle component to gain access to perform a repair on a damaged panel.”

Some of the examples provided included R&I a door to repair the door when the door post is damaged, R&I a wheel to gain access to remove the splash shield, and R&I the trunk trim to perform a repair from inside the quarter panel.

Anderson continued to identify the R&Is needed for access to install jigs and fixtures, to anchor a vehicle for measuring and structural pulls, for access to control points and reference points for the structural diagnosis/measuring process, to inspect for hidden damage, and for discovery of nonreusable and/or broken parts, also describing the symbols each manufacturer uses to identify non-reusable parts that must be replaced during the repair process.

Looking at R&I for safety, Anderson pointed out, “There are several components that may need to be removed during the repair process as they are safety related components.

Most, if not all, OEMs state that you should not perform any welding, grinding, heating, vibrating, hammering or any task that may cause an impact in the vicinity of safety parts.” He discussed why technicians can’t weld near electrical components and why seatbelts may need to be removed. He also noted that it may be necessary to remove speakers to avoid attracting metal shavings since speakers have magnetic components.

Anderson emphasized, “Make sure your estimate reflects what you are actually doing to the vehicle and list everything you R&I on your estimate, adding notes to explain the reason. If you don’t do 100% disassembly, you’re leaving things off the estimate.”

As he concluded the portion of the seminar focused on disassembly, Anderson identified reasons for R&I’ing components for external paint and refinish purposes, for internal paint and refinish, for access to dress welds, for protection during the repair process, and for access to reset/reprogram electronic components. It may also be necessary to R&I a part to gain access to another part, to access the battery, or for cleaning and removal of prior molding and decal adhesive.

Moving on to Parts Mirror Matching, Anderson observed, “It has been proven that the best time to determine if an incorrect part has been received or if the new part has been damaged is when that part actually arrives on-site and is received. Too often, a technician will be ready to perform the repairs only to discover that the part is incorrect or damaged. Thus, repair delays are incurred. Therefore, it is important that all parts are mirror matched (comparing the old part to the new part) immediately upon arrival and receipt of the part. In order for the parts department to do this in a timely and efficient manner, it is critical to have all of the damaged parts in ONE common place.

Technicians cannot mirror match unless you do 100% disassembly. It’s not rocket science — it’s setting your technicians up to win!”

Shops should set up a receiving area with a parts mirror matching table with damaged parts sitting on rolling racks by repair order. Non-damaged parts can be separately stored on a cart or in a tub, and when critical parts are received, they should be compared to the original damaged parts.

Assuming $50,000 per month in sales per technician and a gross profit of

43% results in $21,500 per month in gross profit per technician. If a technician works 180 hours in a month, the gross profit per technician is $119.44 per hour. Anderson urged shop owners to include line notes on their estimate as to why R&I was performed, taking and labeling photos to match each line. He also stressed the importance of using correct terminology to avoid being told “work billed, not performed.”

In his call to action, Anderson urged attendees to do this WITH their teams, not TO their teams. Work with technicians to ensure that they R&I for everything, and audit them to ensure it is being done correctly. It takes 30 days to create a habit, but creating as habit takes up to 80 days if employees don’t work weekends. Anderson also emphasized how critical it is for shops to research OEM procedures in every repair.

In closing, Anderson noted, “There are times when you can’t R&I, but that should be the exception, not the rule.

This system works, regardless of shop size - I’ve never found a shop that wasn’t more successful with 100% disassembly and parts mirror matching.”

For more information about Mike Anderson and his informational seminars, visit www.collisionadvice.com.

Take Me Out To The Ballgame!

Join ASA-Midwest at the Ballpark in June

Come enjoy an afternoon of great company and baseball as the Kansas City Royals take on the Cleveland Indians on Saturday, June 3.

Don’t miss this opportunity to network with your fellow industry professionals as you cheer on the Royals. The tailgate will begin at 11:00 am with burgers, hot dogs, brats and more.

A limited number of tickets are available. Seats are located in section 208 (through Gate A) just down the third base line!

Look for us before the game under the Advance Auto Parts/CARQUEST tents on the east side of Lot G, or call a staff member for directions.

www.autobodynews.com CHECK IT OUT!

www.autobodynews.com | MAY 2017 AUTOBODY NEWS 27

Continued from Page 24

CT Anderson Talk

So, the single most important reason you will see OE manufacturers get more involved in our industry is because they want to protect their brand.”

Continuing, Anderson discussed the many OEMs that now have vehicle technology and apps that immediately interact with the driver and occupant after a collision to determine if they need assistance and to ascertain the damage to the vehicle using onboard diagnostics. These systems will also ask if the customer has a collision shop in mind and, if not, will recommend the closest OEM-certified collision repair facility.

After sharing updates on the 2016 Who Pays for What survey, Anderson fielded attendees’ questions and provided tools to use to be more prof-

itable. He also encouraged attendees to visit CollisionAdvice.com to “get all the information that you need to be successful in your business. Read it, research it, apply it – it will work!”

Ferraiolo is proud that ABAC’s March meeting was another success for the association, and he notes, “The ABAC continues to bring in guest speakers and industry professionals from throughout the country who are willing to share their knowledge, expertise and processes with ABAC members to help make their businesses more profitable. The association continues to make their mark nationally in the automotive industry by offering this type of knowledge and education to their membership. Be a part of the Auto Body Association of Connecticut… It will forever change the way you think about your collision industry!”

For more information about the ABAC, visit www.abaconn.com.

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State Lawmakers Consider Proposed Collision Repair Legislation

Crash parts-related bills have been introduced in two Southeastern state legislatures this year.

In Tennessee, both Senate Bill 768 and House Bill 1098 would require any estimate calling for the use of non-OEM parts to include specific language notifying the customer that crash parts supplied and warranted by a source other than the vehicle manufacturer will be used.

A Senate bill (SB 544) introduced in West Virginia in March would eliminate the current state requirement that shops must use new or used OEM parts on vehicles three years old or newer unless the owner consents in writing at the time of the repair to the use of non-OEM parts.

The bill would instead allow for the use of non-OEM parts if they carry a warranty equal to those being replaced, and if they result in the vehicle “being repaired to its condition prior to the loss.” A shop would be required to provide documentation of any non-OEM parts not meeting these requirements if requested by the insurer.

The West Virginia bill also would change the required written

disclosure to the consumer when non-OEM parts will be used, eliminating the notice that “the use of an aftermarket crash part may invalidate any remaining warranties of the original manufacturer on that crash part.” Instead the required disclosure would have to say that the warranty on the non-OEM parts is provided by the part manufacturer or distributor, not the vehicle manufacturer.

The bill’s lead sponsor is Sen. Mark Maynard, a Republican who owns Maynard’s Auto World, which offers automotive sales, parts and service in Genoa, W.V. The Automotive Service Association (ASA) and the Washington (D.C.) Metropolitan Auto Body Association (WMABA) are each urging West Virginia lawmakers to reject the proposed legislation.

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SkillsUSA Nebraska Receives Donated Custom Mobile Work Station® for Use at Leadership and Skills Conferences

SkillsUSA Nebraska received a Mobile Work Station® with a custom flat black finish which it will use at State Competitions.

Director Greg Stahr noted that it will be put to use right away at this year’s Leadership and Skills Conference in Grand Island for the Collision Repair Painting Competition.

“Providing a paint booth at the exposition sites we hold the competitions at has been a problem,” stated Stahr. “We used the Mobile Work Station® from Shop-Pro Equipment at a competition in the past and it worked out great. Not only does it capture the paint overspray and odor, but the spectators and judges are able to watch without being in the booth. Having our own Mobile Work Station® is great because it’s portable and we can take it wherever

the competition is held.”

SkillsUSA is a partnership of students, teachers and industry representatives working together to ensure America has a skilled workforce. SkillsUSA Nebraska is the state chapter of a national organization serving teachers and high school and college students who are preparing for careers in technical, skilled and service occupations. More than 300,000 students and advisors join SkillsUSA annually, organized into more than 18,000 sections and 52 state and territorial associations.

The Mobile Work Station® is made by Shop-Pro Equipment. For more information, visit www.shoppro.com.

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Texas Bill Demands Independent Survey of Auto Body Labor Rates, Cracks Down on Steering

by Houston Auto Body Association

The latest version of a Texas House bill would determine the state’s prevailing rate through a “transparent and unbiased” third-party labor rate survey.

It also would prevent carriers from using coercion or most incentives—including a guarantee of no out-of-pocket costs—designed to bring customers to the carrier’s network of direct repair shops agreeing to repair the vehicle under certain rates and/or terms.

Labor rates Shops in several states have criticized the practice of a carrier insisting that the “prevailing rate” for a particular market is a certain dollar amount - but refusing to reveal the data demonstrating how this value was calculated or basing the calcuations on questionable methodology. Lawsuits also have suggested carriers which do not conduct surveys simply base their view of a “prevailing rate” on whatever State Farm’s black box of a survey produces.

The California Department of Insurance recently cited allegations of flawed surveys in mandating that any carrier conducting a survey had to follow a certain standardized template and continue to provide the results to the state. The agency also defined the geographic scope of a market for which a prevailing rate applies.

House Bill 3840, sponsored by Rep. Travis Clardy, R-Nacogdoches, removes the insurers out of the surveying game altogether and states: “Prevailing rate” means the rate identified by a rate survey that is conducted by a third party that is designed to be transparent and unbiased and that is based on the posted retail labor rates and not direct repair program shop rates that operate under a contract with an insurer.

Larry Cernosek, legislative board member of the Houston Auto Body Association and owner of Deer Park Paint & Body, told the House Insurance Committee on Tuesday that the only carrier in Texas that seems to survey labor rates was State Farm.

“They won’t give us the information of how they got that information,” he said.

In an interview April 14, Auto Body Association of Texas President Burl Richards said his ideal third-

party surveyor would be National Auto Body Research, which conducts the Variable Rate Surveys of various states’ labor rates.

“That’s who we would love to be able to do the survey,” Richards said.

But Richards said he was open to other neutral parties and said he’s contacted “multiple insurance companies” on the issue.

“Nobody wants to talk about it,” he said.

He said he’d like to have representatives from major Texas auto body groups and carrier representatives come together and determine an equitable survey system.

“That’s the fair way to do it,” he said.

On a broader philosophical level, there’s the issue of if the notion of a “prevailing rate” is irrelevant. Given that a carrier can just total a car if the repair bill gets too high—thereby keeping labor rates in check—is another state-sanctioned price control even needed? Does this monkey with a customer’s right to choose their own shop?

However, an insurer policy might already require a customer to pay more than the prevailing rate out-ofpocket. That means both customers and shops have an interest in the state producing a fair, transparent and standardized means of determining a prevailing rate rather than letting a carrier declare “The prevailing rate is $X. We’re not going to show you how we came up with that number, but trust us, it’s right.”

Steering A large part of the House Insurance Committee hearing dealt with the bill’s anti-steering provisions, which include a ban on “limiting the beneficiary of the policy from selecting a repair person or facility to repair damage to the vehicle to the vehicle ‘s condition before the damage occurred in order for the beneficiary to obtain the repair without owing any out-of-pocket cost other than the deductible.”

It also nixes any “incentive or inducement, other than a warranty issued by a repair person or facility, for the beneficiary to use a particular repair person or facility” and changes a ban on forcing claimants to travel “an unreasonable” distance for a repair to a ban on travel “considered inconvenient” by the claimant.

30 MAY 2017 AUTOBODY NEWS | www.autobodynews.com

Cernosek said carriers will even try to convince a customer to move their vehicle after it’s been brought to his shop, and he criticized suggestions by carriers that only direct repair network shop repairs will receive a lifetime warranty.

“We all give the same warranty,” he said.

Paul Martin, National Association of Mutual Insurance Commissioners Southwest state affairs director, said carriers see shops as “partners” in resolving a claim.

“We all have the same goal in mind,” he said.

Referring to an initial draft of the bill, Martin said that under Texas Insurance Code Chapter 542 and Texas Administrative Code 28§21.203, “many of the behaviors that are referenced in the bill are already prohibited.”

“If you’re already supposed to do it, then there shouldn’t be a problem codifying it,” said Committee Chairman Larry Phillips, R-Sherman.

Martin said that the current laws should be used instead. He argued that the bill was really a debate over direct repair programs, and when carriers offer

the benefits of a DRP, “that’s somehow steering.”

“We would submit that the current statute is the better way to regulate that,” he said.

“The challenge of this is, how do you define steering?” Martin later said, though the bill doesn’t try to define it.

Rather, it attacks the issue from another angle, setting a level playing field between DRP and non-DRP shops in terms of incentives. It essentially says that while a carrier can recommend shops, it can’t offer a customer perks for using them, other than a warranty provided by the DRP shop itself. (Which, as Cernosek noted, many non-DRP shops have as well.)

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Ph: 888.314.7278 Direct: 336.564.0259 Fax: 336.996.0742 www.autobodynews.com | MAY 2017 AUTOBODY NEWS 31

The Pre- and Post-Scan Revolution

by Gene Bilobram

Last year, a number of major automakers issued position statements on diagnostic scanning in the collision repair of their respective nameplates.

With officials from both Honda and Nissan pounding the table recently with terms like “mandatory” and “100% mandatory,” this is a revolution. Only instead of taking back a country, this revolution is about collision repair shops taking back the customer. Collision repairers must protect the interest and safety of the customer by meeting the requirements promulgated by the vehicle manufacturers.

Post-collision diagnostic scanning is now a matter of compliance. What is better than a compliance matter that a shop can actually get paid for and turn a profit?

In the never ending struggle between shops and insurers over new and non-included procedures, many shops have become battle fatigued. These mandated scan procedures by automakers are being shrugged off by some as just the latest allowance shops will ask for only to be quickly denied.

Not so; this time it really is different.

This isn’t fighting over things like color tint or prime and block that are often viewed as overkill or procedures which are included in the labor times despite what the P-pages say. Even if the shop is not properly reimbursed, those ancillary procedures are likely being done anyway.

For instance, if tint color is disallowed, a shop would not purposely mismatch the paint and damage the customer relationship along with the shop’s reputation. That would be cutting off one’s own nose to spite their face. Although some brave shops out there will bill the customer on these additional costs over the deductible, most will suck it up as the alternative, asking the customer for more money, is about as desirable as scheduling a colonoscopy.

Many of the previous struggles with certain insurers relate to differences of opinion on what is necessary to restore the appearance of the vehicle. This time it is about safety. A collision shop is tasked with not only restoring the appearance of a vehicle following a collision but the repairer is responsible for restoring the vehicle’s functionality. Automakers recognize this and so do insurers.

Insurers are providing allowances to meet or exceed the recent automaker scan positions. The trick is, you have to ask! And if the responsible insurance company refuses to make the proper allowance, the collision repairer

scanning or calibrations would be clearly on the shoulders of the shop that chooses not to perform these operations. Following some unforeseen event, an insurer would likely say, “We would have paid for it, but the shop never asked.”

The shops already leading the charge may have faced some early resistance as the local field appraiser had no prior knowledge of this situation. Appropriate communication with the insurer and customer is crucial in overcoming objections. Proper documentation of the procedural work performed can also overcome insurer resistance.

Some shops feel entitled (l to r) Dalila Martinez and Gene Bilobram at Collision to payment by virtue of the Diagnostic Service’s booth at the 40th Annual AASP/NJ OBDII cable pins making NORTHEAST® Automotive Services Show in March contact with the OBDII port is duty bound to ask the vehicle owner. in the vehicle. However, scanning and The automaker mandates apply to non- clearing codes is only a portion of insurance, customer pay repairs as what is required. There is real techniwell. They are not somehow negated cian work involved on the pre- and in these instances even though some post-scans and requisite safety sysrepairers have convinced themselves tems inspections and calibrations not of that. The repairer has an implied obligation to inform the consumer regardless of the source or method of payment.

Automakers have confirmed that the dashboard light is an insufficient diagnostic tool and numerous trouble codes plus potentially compromised vehicle systems may exist with no outward warnings on the instrument panel.

A small number of insurers may be resistant by only paying for diagnostic scanning in the presence of a dashboard indicator or air bag deployment.

Any shop that accepts the “no light = no scan” policy without informing the vehicle owner with the option to pay is setting themselves up for trouble.

Worse is the shop that perhaps unwittingly conspires with an insurer with the mantra of “what the customer doesn’t know won’t hurt them.” With no warning light on the dash, the average consumer believes all is well as did many in the collision and insurance industry until recently.

The unwitting participation in concealing these important procedures from the consumer works the other way as well. Until a shop asks, the insurer is not denying payment. Any ramifications of a vehicle leaving a body shop without proper diagnostic

32 MAY 2017 AUTOBODY NEWS | www.autobodynews.com

always identified by a trouble code.

Repairers cannot afford to meet these automaker safety protocols only half way as some shops are doing. If a collision repair shop wishes to reduce their liability and be properly compensated, the value of complete compliance with the automaker position should be delivered to the consumer.

Ignoring the post-repair scan is not without its consequences. One shop I’ve worked with had a vehicle they worked on find its way to the OEM dealership once the owner had it back. The dealership service department diagnosed an issue with the Blind Spot Monitor (BSM) and discovered an unplugged connector. Not only that, the dealer inspected the collision repair and cited welding and workmanship issues that were put in the written narrative of the invoice.

Had the shop followed the OEM scan mandate, they could have been paid to scan the vehicle and able to catch the BSM issue beforehand. Now the shop is paying the dealer bill of almost $300 as there is no way they will submit that invoice to the insurer showSee Scan Revolution, Page 56

www.autobodynews.com | MAY 2017 AUTOBODY NEWS 33

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

HO ND A AL AB A M A

FL O RIDA

FLOR ID A

GEO RG I A

Holman Honda of Ft. Lauderdale

Gwinnett Place Honda

F T. L A UDERDAL E

800-277-8836 678-957-5151

Freeway Honda

Classic Honda

B ir m in g h a m

O r l an do

800-987-0819 205-949-5460

888-893-4984 407-521-1115

Dept. Hours: M-F 7:30-5 greg_thomas@freewayhondaal.com

Dept. Hours: M-F 7-7; Sat 8-4 parts@classichonda.com

Jerry Damson Honda

Coggin Deland Honda

Hu n ts vi lle

D e l an d

800-264-1739 256-382-3759

800-758-0007 386-626-1811

Dept. Hours: M-F 7-5:30; Sat 8-4 Rkeel@damson.com

Dept. Hours: M-F 7:30-6; Sat 8-5 gbennett@cogginauto.com

Dept. Hours: M-F 7-7; Sat 7:30-4 robbutton@rickcase.com

Ed Morse Honda

South Motors Honda

FL O RI D A

AutoNation Honda Clearwater Cle a rwa t er

R i v i e ra Be a ch

800-232-1098 561-844-8089

888-792-7189 954-763-7157 Dept. Hours: M-F 8-5:30 rguido@holmanauto.com

Rick Case Honda Davie

877-544-2249

M ia mi

888-418-3513 305-256-2240 Dept. Hours: M-F 8-7 mfranceschi@southhonda.com

888-205-2564 727-530-1173

Dept. Hours: M-F 7:30-6; Sat 7:30-5 tonyrocha@edmorse.com

Dept. Hours: M-F 7-7; Sat 8-5; Sun 10-3 santosr1@autonation.com

Headquarter Honda C l e r mo nt

Carey Paul Honda

AutoNation Honda Hollywood

800-497-2294 407-395-7374

770-985-1444

Ho lly wo o d

800-542-8121 954-964-8300 Dept. Hours: M-F 7-7; Sat 7-5; Sun 9-5 hernandeze@autonation.com

Braman Honda of Palm Beach

S ne ll vi ll e Dept. Hours: M-F 7-7; Sat 7-6 gperkins@careypaul.com

Hendrick Honda Bradenton

Ed Voyles Honda

877-706-2021 941-752-2123

M ar i e tta

800-334-3719 770-933-5870 Direct

Dept. Hours: M-F 7:30-7; Sat 8-4 Kris.kitzman@hendrickauto.com

Dept. Hours: M-F 7-7; Sat 7-6 hondaparts@edvoyles.com

888-479-0695 561-966-5185

Hendrick Honda Daytona

Gerald Jones Honda

Dept. Hours: M-F 7:30-6; Sat 8-4:30 parts@bramanhondapb.com

800-953-4402 386-252-2301

G re en a c re s

D a y to n a Be ach

Dept. Hours: M-F 7:30-6; Sat 8-4 Hondadaytonaparts@hendrickauto.com

Dept. Hours: M-F 7:30-6; Sat 8-5 gphwholesaleparts@hendrickauto.com

Honda Mall of Georgia Bu f ord /G win net t

678-318-3155 Dept. Hours: M-F 7-7; Sat 7-5 cdunlap@penskeautomotive.com

Milton Martin Honda Gain esv ille

770-534-0086 678-989-5473 Dept. Hours: M-F 7:30-6 robertthomas@mmhonda.com

Nalley Honda

GEOR GIA

Dept. Hours: M-F 8-7; Sat 8-5 pepe.guevara@headquarterhonda.com

B ra de n to n

Du lu t h

A ugus ta

800-733-2210 706-228-7040 Dept. Hours: M-F 7:30-6; Sat 8-5 tdunn@geraldjoneshonda.com

Un ion City

866-362-8034 770-306-4646 Dept. Hours: M-F 7:30-7; Sat 8-5 hondawp@nalleycars.com

Southern Motors Honda Savann ah

888-785-8387 912-925-1444 Dept. Hours: M-F 8-6; Sat 8-5 angela@southern-motors.com MI SS IS SI P P I

Patty Peck Honda Rid g elan d

800-748-8676 601-957-3400 Dept. Hours: M-F 7:30-6; Sat 8-5 pmartin@pattypeckhonda.com

AC U R A AL AB A M A

FL O RIDA

GEOR GIA

GE OR G I A

Jerry Damson Acura

Duval Acura

Jackson Acura

Hu n t svil le

Ja ck s o nvi ll e

Ro swe l l

Savann ah

800-264-1739 256-533-1345

800-352-2872 904-725-1149

877-622-2871 678-259-9500

800-347-0596 912-232-3222

Dept. Hours: M-F 7-5:30; Sat 8-4 Rkeel@damson.com

Dept. Hours: M-F 7-7; Sat 8-5 Cecil.adams@duvalacura.com

Dept. Hours: M-F 7-6; Sat 7:30-6 kmcmillan@jacksonacura.com

Dept. Hours: M-F 7:30-6; Sat 8-5 travis.morrison@southernmotors.com

Rick Case Acura

Nalley Acura

F o rt La u de rda l e

M ar i e tta

800-876-1150 954-377-7688

800-899-7278 770-422-3138

Dept. Hours: M-F 7:30-6; Sat 8-5 rubenramos@rickcase.com

Dept. Hours: M-F 7-7; Sat 7-5 byoung@nalleycars.com

FL O RI D A

Acura of Orange Park J ack so n vi ll e

888-941-7278 904-777-1008 Dept. Hours: M-F 7-8; Sat 7-5; Sun 9-3 msweeney@acuraoforangepark.com

34 MAY 2017 AUTOBODY NEWS | www.autobodynews.com

Southern Motors Acura

N O . CA RO L IN A

Flow Acura Win st on -Salem

800-489-3534 336-761-3682 Dept. Hours: M-F 7:30-6; Sat 8-1 www.flowacura.com

NO . C AR O LI N A

NO . CAR OL INA

TEN NE SS EE

V IR GIN I A

Apple Tree Honda

Vann York Automall

Bill Gatton Honda

As he v ille

High Point

Br is to l

Stau n ton

800-476-9411 828-684-4400

336-841-6200

800-868-4118 423-652-9545

800-277-0598 540-213-9016

Dept. Hours: M-F 7:30-5:30; Sat 8-1 hondaparts@billgattonhonda.com

Dept. Hours: M-F 7:30-5:30; Sat 9-5 bwimer@myvalleyhonda.com

Wolfchase Honda

West Broad Honda

Dept. Hours: M-F 8-5; Sat 8-4 appletreeparts@hotmail.com

Crown Honda Southpoint Du r ha m

855-893-8866 919-425-4711 Dept. Hours: M-Thu 7-11; Fri 7-6 Sat 7-5; Sun 11-5 www.southpointhonda.com

Hendrick Honda Ch a r lo t t e

800-277-7271 704-552-1149 Dept. Hours: M-F 7-7; Sat 8-5 rob.thomas@hendrickauto.com

Leith Honda Ra le ig h

800-868-6970 919-790-8228 Dept. Hours: M-F 7-7; Sat 7:30-5 parts@leithhonda.com

McKenney-Salinas Honda G as t on ia

888-703-7109 704-824-8844 x 624 Dept. Hours: M-F 7:30-5:30 parts@mshonda.com

Metro Honda I nd ian Trail

866-882-9542 704-220-1522 Dept. Hours: M-F 6:30-6:30; Sat 7-4 www.copytk.com

N O . CAR OL IN A

Hendrick Acura

Dept. Hours: M-F 7:30-6; Sat 8-3 SO . CAR OL INA

Breakaway Honda G re e n vi l l e

800-849-5056 864-234-6481 Dept. Hours: M-F 8-6; Sat 8-5 fmarshall@breakawayhonda.com

Midlands Honda C o l u m bi a

877-273-4442 803-691-8585

Valley Honda

Ba r tle t t

Rich m on d

800-982-7290 901-255-3780

800-446-0160 804-672-8811

Dept. Hours: M-F 7-7 ekerr@wolfchasehonda.com

Dept. Hours: M-Thu 7:30-6:30; Fri 7:30-6; Sat 8-3; Sun 11-3 wbhonda@aol.com

VIRGINIA

Checkered Flag Honda No r fo l k

Dept. Hours: M-F 7-7; Sat 7-4 www.copytk.com

800-277-2122 757-687-3453

Piedmont Honda

Dept. Hours: M-Sat 7:30-6 honda.checkeredflag.com

A n de r so n

800-849-5057 864-375-2082 Dept. Hours: M-F 7:30-6; Sat 8-5 swhite@piedmontcars.com TE NNES SEE

Airport Honda Alcoa

800-264-4721 865-970-7792 Dept. Hours: M-F 7:30-6:30; Sat 7:30-5 parts@airporthonda.com

AutoNation Honda West Knoxville

Colonial Honda C he ste r

800-564-9836 804-414-1960 Dept. Hours: M-F 8-7; Sat 8-4 rreese@i95honda.com

Hall Honda Vi rgi ni a Bea ch

800-482-9606 757-431-4329 Dept. Hours: M-F 8-7; Sat 8-5 fox@hallauto.com

K n ox v i l l e

Hendrick Honda Woodbridge

800-824-1301 865-218-5461

703-690-7777

Dept. Hours: M-F 7:30-6 rossd1@autonation.com

Wo o db ri dge Dept. Hours: M-Fri 7-6 Sat 8-5; Sun 10-4

VI RG INIA

Karen Radley Acura

Ch a r lo t t e

Woo d br i dg e

800-768-6824 704-566-2288

800-355-2818 703-550-0205

Dept. Hours: M-F 7:30-6; Sat 8-5 justin.taylor@hendrickauto.com

Dept. Hours: M-F 7:30-5:30; Sat 8-3 coreythompson@radleyautogroup.com

Leith Acura

Radley Acura

Ca r y

F a l l s C hu rch

800-868-0082 919-657-0460

800-550-5035 703-824-5785

Dept. Hours: M-F 8-6; Sat 8-4:30 parts@leithacura.com

Dept. Hours: M-F 7:30-6; Sat 8-6; Sun 10-5 jimgraf@radleyauto.com www.autobodynews.com | MAY 2017 AUTOBODY NEWS 35

Day Job/Night Job Zenia Amezquita Is Just Starting to Rev Her Engine with Ed Attanasio

Five days a week and sometimes on Saturdays, Zenia Amezquita, 32, works at Cali Style Auto Body in Hemet, CA as the office manager. But when she isn’t processing claims and meeting with customers, she spends much of her free time pursuing her passion for car racing. She loves working on her family’s shop, but what really gets Zenia going is driving fast in a powerful car. She’s taken it from drift racing to road racing and is also a driving coach at The Porsche Experience in Carson, CA. Cali Style Auto Body was started

by Zenia’s father, Javier, in 1997, so the collision industry has been in her life as long as she can remember. “I tell people I was born in it,” Amezquita said. “I was helping my father doing side jobs when I was 10. I remember him handing me sand paper to keep me busy and entertained. I had my Quinceañera here at the shop and now I work here with my mother and father and my brother, so it’s nice.”

Zenia operates the front office at Cali Style Auto Body, but she isn’t afraid to jump in and get dirty if needed. “I have zero problems getting in there and if everyone else is busy, I will tear down a car,” she said. “My

Originally an amateur drifting racer, now Zenia Amezquita is all-in when it comes to road racing

mother even tears down cars, so we’re not afraid to do whatever it takes to get the job done. In a small shop, everyone has to contribute. We’ve realized after all these years that working together is the only way it’s going to work and it’s

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

really nice. Some people find it hard to believe that a family can work well together every day, but we love it. We have breakfast and lunch together every day and I value the time that I get to spend with my family here at the shop.”

Zenia couldn’t wait to start driving when the time came. “I got my driver’s license at age 15, before the California law changed to 16,” she said. “My first car was a 1997 Honda Civic that my father bought from an auction and we worked on it together.

It needed a new front end and we painted it and he sent me on my way.

I didn’t know how to drive stick shift, but he told me I’d figure it out.”

Zenia started racing as soon as she could, but it wasn’t exactly the legal kind. “My brother Francisco is two years older than me, so he was already street racing when I was 14, so I would tag along, “ she said. “So when I got my car, I thought, ‘Wow, I can street

race now.’ That’s how it started, racing with my brother and his friends.”

Zenia isn’t proud of that period in her life, but she wouldn’t change it for anything either. “I admit that we did some racing in some places where it was very illegal” she said. “I was a wild child back then and as a result, I did get a lot of tickets, but I haven’t gotten one in a long, long time. I’m a very safe driver now; I drive real slow.

Kids go speeding past my house now and I yell at them-’Slow down!’ So it’s funny how much my life has changed.”

To pursue a new rush (and avoid more tickets), Zenia found drift racing, or maybe it found her. “I had no idea what drifting was, but when I discovered it, I loved it,” she said. “I got my drifting vehicle back in 2003 and I still use it today. It’s a 1985 Toyota Corolla and perfect for drifting. It looks crazy and chaotic while I’m out there, but it’s actually very safe when you compare it to other types of racing. A drifter has

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never been killed during an event.”

If you’re not familiar with drifting, it’s a driving technique where the driver intentionally oversteers, loses traction in the rear wheels or all tires, and does it all while maintaining control and driving the car through the entirety of a corner. Drifting competitions were first popularized in the 1970s in Japan and today they are held worldwide and judged according to the speed, angle, showmanship and the line taken through a corner or set of corners, according to www.everything drift.com.

As an amateur drifter, Zenia kept busy competing in a lot of amateur

of Porsche Motorsport North America. “I am a driving coach, for people who want to try the newer Porsches and learn about what the car can do and how it handles—it’s pretty neat. The other day, one of my students was the actress By leveraging her racing experience, Zenia now coaches Lisa Kudrow (Friends) and it people how to drive Porsches at the Porsche Experience was pretty exciting. It’s a Center in Los Angeles, CA great gig!”

In addition, Zenia is events throughout California. “I have been doing this for 14 years, so I have working in the Ford Driving School probably been in 140 competitions at for Life program in southern Califorplaces like Thunder Hill and Angels nia, where she helps young drivers to Stadium in Anaheim,” she said. “My be safe and better drivers. “It’s funny best finish was 16th out of a field of 54, because I used to race illegally mybut for the last three years, I self and now I am showing these kids have been focusing more on how to be safe and make smart decisions on the road. Wow, my life has road racing rather than drifting. In every race I’m in, I am changed a lot, and it’s all for the betusually the only woman and ter.”

Still single, Zenia said she’s marsome people look twice when they see me out there, but ried to racing at least for now. She loves working with her family at the they’re always very nice.”

Most recently, Zenia has shop and hopes to become a profestaken her passion for race sional racer in road racing. “My father driving to another level by will probably be retiring at some point, landing a coveted job at the so my brother and I have discussed takZenia is the office manager at Cali Style Auto Body in ing it over,” she said. “And I want to The Porsche Experience CenHemet, CA where she works with her family every day. get a seat in professional road racing, ter, a 53-acre venue in Carson, (l to r) her brother, Francisco; her father, Javier; Zenia and her mother, Angelica CA that is also the new home because that is my ultimate goal.”

Global Finishing Solutions Adds to the Refinish Team

Global Finishing Solutions (GFS) is proud to welcome Chassis Liner Supply, Purified Air and Quality Finish Services to the GFS Auto and Truck Refinish distribution team.

These new distributors expand the company’s ability to provide service to automotive and truck refinish customers in Minnesota, southern Texas, western Pennsylvania and Maryland.

Chassis Liner Supply, Purified Air and Quality Finish Services come to GFS with great opportunities for building new customer relationships in their respective markets. Prior to joining the GFS Refinish team, these companies have built a strong customer base and are experienced at supplying and servicing a wide variety of automotive repair equipment.

“GFS is committed to providing the highest level of service and support to our customers through the finest distribution network in the world,” a statement from the company read.

“We are confident that customers in Minnesota, southern Texas, western Pennsylvania and Maryland will benefit greatly from increased access to technical support, parts, filters and a wide range of GFS products. Visit www.globalfinishing.com.

www.autobodynews.com | MAY 2017 AUTOBODY NEWS 37

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www.autobodynews.com | MAY 2017 AUTOBODY NEWS 39

Do You Have the Next Great Body Shop Invention?

by Ed Attanasio

A body shop owner invents some ingenious software that can make estimators’ lives easier. A former tech develops equipment that can help technicians to work more efficiently.

Brad Weschler, the owner of WeschTools, is the inventor of numerous collision tools, including four currently in development

The son of body shop owner develops an app that goes viral. We read stories like these all the time and they’re always inspiring. Collision professionals who think outside of the box and are willing to chase their dreams have created tools that many body shops use today.

But for every brilliant invention that comes out of the collision repair industry, how many other great ones are left sitting on desks or buried in filing cabinets? And if you think your idea is the “next best thing,” how can you patent it and get it to market without someone stealing it from you or wiping you out financially as you try to develop it?

To find out the ins and outs of patenting and manufacturing collision repair tools, we interviewed Brad Weschler, the founder of WeschTools of Baiting Hollow, NY. While the owner of a small body shop, Weschler’s ideas became sketches, drawings and eventually prototypes before taking each one through the arduous patenting process.

Today, Weschler’s line of auto body repair clamps, chains, hooks and other frame straightening equipment is sold online at CollisionClamps.com and used in over 18,000 body shops worldwide.

The inspiration for any invention can come around anytime or any-

where, Weschler explained. “My first product idea for WeschTools was the Quick Stick that came to me while I was in bed in 1996, so I got up immediately and wrote it down,” he said. “I knew when I woke up, it would be fresh in my mind, and it was. Over a period of time, I came up with new ideas to make the Quick Stick even better. I knew then that I had something special and felt it was important to protect the idea until I could figure out my next steps. But it took two years to develop it and test it and then another two years to get it patented.”

To immediately protect himself and his idea, Weschler did what is known as a “poor man’s patent.” “I knew I had to prove that I was the first with this idea, so I made copies and put the original drawing and notes into a self-addressed envelope, sealed it, and then sent it to myself,” he said.

“When I got it back, I left it sealed and put it away in a safe location. The postmark proves the date of my idea, like a time stamp.”

Now it was time for Weschler to find a good patent attorney, and luckily he found one with an engineering degree who had spent five years in Washington D.C. working as a patent examiner inside the department of patents and trademarks.

$15,000 for that first patent. Over time and with continued product development, I received an additional seven patents covering this single product which increased the cost by an additional $25,000.”

Once you get your official patent number (upper right) you can start making your product and changing the collision industry one tool at a time

After everything is submitted, it’s a long waiting game, Weschler ex-

plained. “Once my application has been filed at the patent and trademark office in Washington D.C., my product is declared “patent pending” and secured with a patent serial number.

Patent pending allowed me to move to immediate manufacturing, marketing and selling my first of many products.

In my case, I received some great advice and suggestions that I applied to the product which improved on my original idea. In my case, with no additional disputes or conflicts, I was granted my first of 13 patents.”

Now the successful inventor of numerous collision tools and with four more currently in development, was all of the hard work worth it, we asked Weschler? “Absolutely, because I have the satisfaction of knowing that I invented a patented product [that is] unique and unlike anything else out there,” he said. “I’m proud to know that this product will save my fellow body collision shop owners’ time and money while increasing profits. That first patent provided me the template that made future patent applications easier and less stressful, and that alSee Body Shop Invention?, Page 52

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“My attorney first sent me a full disclosure form to complete and return to him as soon as possible to protect me from potential theft of my idea,” Weschler said. “His initial fee was $1,200 to begin the search process to find out if other patented products that resembled mine in any way existed. In the end, it cost me

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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.

Could that 180-line Estimate You Just Wrote be 179 Lines Too Long?

20 years ago in the collision repair industry (May 1997) Rick Tuuri of [estimating system provider] ADP said the company has no plans to change its current system of allowing the user to options to use a clearcoat “cap.” He did say, however, that the wording of the disclaimer printed on estimates calculated using the user-defined maximum value will change.

“We’re changing the term to ‘threshold,’” Tuuri said. “We’re printing on the estimate that the estimate has been calculated using the threshold value, and that further approvals may be required.

In 1997, Rick Tuuri was with ADP, whose estimating system was later sold and evolved in the AudaExplore system today

– As reported in Autobody News.

ADP’s estimating system was later sold, eventually becoming the AudaExplore system used today. Tuuri retired from AudaExplore last year.

15 years ago in the collision repair industry (May 2002) Caliber Collision Center’s Costs Mesa, CA, location was closed for a week by the California Bureau of Automotive Repair (BAR) as part of a settlement agreement reached by Caliber following allegations by the BAR of fraud, gross negligence, faulty record-keeping, and failure to comply with the regulations of the Automotive Repair Act. Caliber, the nation’s largest collision repair consolidator, with 62 shops in California and Texas, has come under increased scrutiny lately since it accepted a financial investment from the Inter-Insurance Exchange, which operates Auto Club insurance in California and Texas. A bill was recently introduced in the California Senate that would make such investment unlawful.

The BAR’s complaint alleged numerous failures to comply with state regulations, including invoicing for parts not actually provided; the use unclear abbreviations on invoices; failure to states clearly if a part was new, used, rebuilt or reconditioned; failure to identify all crash parts used as OEM or non-OEM; failure to obtain a vehicle owner’s permission before repairing the vehicle; and failure to properly annotate a repair order when a change to the original estimate was authorized verbally by a customer.

To settle the complaint, Caliber admitted to the truth of all the charges except for the fraud allegations, which it denied. The company agreed to pay the BAR $8,000 as partial cost recovery for the investigation, close its Costa Mesa shop for five days, and prominently post a sign indicating the reason for suspension. The shop will remain on probation for three years, subject to random inspections by BAR personnel.

– As reported in Autobody News.

Caliber remains the largest U.S. consolidator, with more than 400 shops in 18 states. The California legislation to prohibit insurer-owned shops was not passed, but similar legislation was enacted in Texas, leading the Inter-Insurance Exchange to sell off its interest in Caliber.

10 years ago in the collision repair industry (May 2007) Could that 180-line estimate you just wrote be 179 lines too long?

During a recent Collision Industry Conference (CIC) held in Atlanta, one participant at the meeting posed this question to insurers: Could you accept an estimate that didn’t include the line-by-line breakdown but instead just the total repair cost?

Scott Biggs, CEO of the Assured Performance Network of collision repair shops, said decades ago, estimates were as simple as, “Fix car, $300.”

“Now you have 180 lines and insurers saying, ‘No, we don’t pay for that, and we need to cap this,’” Biggs said. “What if repairers stopped itemizing the estimate? Just think abut it for a minute. It doesn’t matter how you got to that number at the bottom. You

42 MAY 2017 AUTOBODY NEWS | www.autobodynews.com

can use whatever means. But how do you debate when there are no lines?

How do you argue about the door rate when there are no lines?”

George Avery, a claims consultant with State Farm, said there are several factors that can necessitate the need for more detail on estimates. Some states, most notably California, have strict guidelines for what must be specified on the estimate for the consumer.

But Avery said that given that nearly two-thirds of estimates for State Farm work are written by shops in the company’s Service First / Select Service programs, there could be potentially less need for a detailed estimate up-front if other such obligations could be met.

“It could be as simple as the repairer saying, ‘I just want to let you know I have this car here. There are no issues associated with appearance allowance, betterment or depreciation, and I don’t have any recycled or af-

termarket parts on this car,’” Avery said. “I could be in a position where I would say, go ahead. You’re going to have an obligation eventually in your final repair bill to explain what you did to the car. So I think this is one of those things that we could talk about.”

Roger Wright, manager of material damage and direct repair programs for AIG, said he had virtually such a program in place a dozen years ago when he was with another insurance company.

“I built a partnership with a collision repair shop group and I said, ‘Fix the car and send me a bill, and fix the car like you are fixing it for your mother using your money,’” Wright said. “I felt very comfortable with that, and it worked great. Now we had some arm’s length auditing to manage it. And we had some outliers who wouldn’t behave well. But I didn’t have to have 100 people on the street; I only had to have 12.”

See 179 Lines Too Long?, Page 54

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An Introduction to WIN’s 2017 MIW Honorees

by Chasidy Rae Sisk

The Women’s Industry Network (WIN®) introduced its 2017 Most Influential Women (MIW) honorees on March 3. This award is designed to recognize women whose leadership, vision and commitment to excellence have enriched the collision repair industry. This year’s honorees, to be recognized at WIN’s MIW Gala and Awards ceremony during the association’s May conference in Denver, are Cristina Fronzaglia-Murray, Manager of Marketing Communications for PPG’s Automotive Refinish Division; Renee Ricciotti, Sales and Marketing Manager for 3M Automotive Aftermarket; and Elizabeth Stein, Vice President of Business Development and Marketing for the Assured Performance Network.

WIN Chair Petra Schroeder stated, “Having been with WIN since its inception in 2006, it is wonderful to see firsthand how the MIW program has evolved and grown and how perfectly it aligns with WIN’s mission to ‘enhance the role of women in the industry.’ Every year, I am truly amazed

by the diversity of every nominee’s talent and industry involvement. It is my honor to extend heartfelt congratulations to Cristina, Renee and Liz for winning this prestigious award.”

This year’s three honorees graciously agreed to take time from their hectic schedules to chat with Autobody News about some of their accomplish-

ments and what this award means to them. Words like “shocked,” “humbled,” and “respected” were reiterated throughout each interview.

Fronzaglia-Murray had no thoughts of the collision repair industry 23 years ago when, as a recent college graduate, she started working for PPG as a light industrial sales representative in a newly emerging segment for PPG. A decade later, she began working more directly in the automotive refinish division and ultimately took over the communications side of the business, becoming more di-

rectly involved with the collision repair 1994. Ricciotti confessed, “I knew industry. Fronzaglia-Murray observed, nothing about vehicles. The only thing “There are so many opportunities in this I knew was that I liked expensive cars.” industry – it’s been an awesome ride the Things have definitely changed whole time!” since then. Ricciotti is proud to have Feeling fortunate to work in difbeen the first female in many of her ferent roles at PPG, including being the roles within 3M, including marketing, Director of Communications and Marbusiness development, and sales leadketing, Fronzaglia-Murray has also ership positions. Being the first female been afforded the opportunity to host sales manager at the 100-year-old comPPG’s SEMA booth each pany is one great example of year, and she won a SEMA how Ricciotti has made hisaward for her groundbreaking tory within the organization. work—the Athena Champion She was also selected as 3M’s award—in 2014. FronzagliaBusiness Leader to Villanova, Murray also sits on PPG’s direpresenting the company as versity committee, and she they recruit positions and has assumed a mentorship role serving as a mentor. Ricciotti Cristina Fronzagliaat PPG. “I get to do the most was previously a board memMurray fun job at PPG every day,” she ber for the Collision Repair explained. “And it provides more opEducation Foundation (CREF), and she portunities to be seen and heard in this currently serves on the National Auto field.”

Body Council’s (NABC) board and exRicciotti had no intention of enterecutive committee. ing the automotive industry either. Her Like her peers, Stein ended up in father worked for 3M, but as she was the industry by accident. She began her interested in sales and marketing, she career as an entertainment publicist, but worked at the Four Seasons Hotel after finding that industry to be inauthentic, college until she interviewed for 3M’s she interviewed for a marketing manager automotive aftermarket department in position at Fix Auto in 2003. Stein re-

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called, “Something just clicked, and I fell businesses. The ability to help change in love with it. The people in the collian industry and see that change is just sion repair industry are some of the most awesome.” sincere, hard-working people there are.”

Stein has also served on the For nearly nine years, Stein worked NABC board for the past nine years, for Fix Auto, learning as she went and after being recruited at 8.5 months jumping in as needed until she earned the pregnant, and helped build the Recyposition of Director of Marketing and cled Rides guide shortly after they’d piMembership, and eventually, she helped loted the program with 25 vehicles. the company divide into two organizaThe organization just facilitated the tions. In 2011, Scott Biggs, CEO of the 1400th vehicle donation through RecyAssured Performance Netcled Rides, and Stein exwork, approached Stein and pressed admiration for how offered her a job as Executive far the program has come deDirector, promoting her to Vice spite being an all-volunteer President of Industry Relations organization. within two years.

Fronzaglia-Murray first beAccording to Stein, “I get came aware of WIN because to work with some of the same she was involved with paying Elizabeth Stein shops I’d come to know, and the sponsorship bill for a numit’s been great for my family. Our manber of PPG ladies who attended the conagement team is like family, allowing us ference. Curious about WIN, she to be candid with each other. It’s amazresearched the organization, and she deing how much we’ve grown through the termined, “WIN was a wonderful opteam approach, becoming the largest portunity for females to get more certification network in just five years. involved in this industry. I felt we needed Certification is based on criteria that to get invested in order to become more helps remove the politics; it’s about diverse, and it’s great for women to reproper requirements and ensuring the ceive support and be around people who consumer’s value and safety. I enjoy understand what we’re going through.” helping consumers find the right shop When she learned that she had and helping shop owners improve their been nominated as a MIW, Fronzaglia-

Murray was shocked. She had sugable to continue this award. I feel regested that PPG nominate someone spected by my peers honoring me and and was disappointed that they missed grateful for 3M’s support. I feel inthe deadline and an opportunity to exspired, unstoppable and fearless, and I pose a wonderful woman. She recalled, just can’t stop smiling.”

“I wasn’t looking internally, so I almost “I’ve worked hard, and this award died when WIN informed me that I is part of the legacy I can leave for othwas nominated. I was floored and feel ers in the industry and for my 13-yearso humbled to be placed in the same catold daughter,” Ricciotti shared. “It’s like egory as these women. I’m so proud that I’ve won the big one – this is a huge deal. my work has made a difference and is If I can win this, I can do anything!” being recognized. You don’t For Stein, involvement in really think about what you’re WIN is about personal develdoing and why until someone opment and becoming more points it out. We women tend knowledgeable about the colto hold ourselves to a differlision repair industry. She atent standard, but it just betended her first conference in comes a part of who you are.

2010 and left feeling enerIt’s great to see the number of gized and empowered. “I got Renee Ricciotti bold women coming into this so much from the conferindustry and taking charge!” ence,” she said. “WIN includes a great Ricciotti’s first WIN conference group of women who are there to prowas in 2007 after Stacee Royce recomvide kinship and advice. People don’t mended it as a growth opportunity, and remember what you say, but they reshe has attended every conference member how you made them feel, and since. Describing her feelings about I’ll never forget how great I felt after being honored as one of WIN’s 2017 that first conference.”

MIWs, Ricciotti said, “I truly feel like Stein was amazed when she learned a WINner! I’m humbled to be recogof her MIW nomination. “We all do nized with past and current MIW rethings where we don’t realize the posicipients and grateful that WIN, as an tive impact we’re making on people’s all-volunteer organization, has been See MIW Honorees, Page 57 Original BMW Parts

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Shop Showcase

Everything’s Algood at Mike’s Auto Body in Antioch, CA with Ed Attanasio

When Lorenzo Algood recently became the second member of his family to graduate from the Mike’s Auto Body Metal Tech Training Program, it made the celebration a family affair.

This is the second class to graduate from the intensive five-month course at Mike’s Auto Body’s training facility in Antioch, CA. With three generations of body technicians spanning a century in the collision repair industry, the Algood family is all-in when it comes to fix-

ing at the corporate Concord location for Mike’s and I began working with a few trainees there,” Lupe said. “Dave Wedding and Dane Dearlove approached me and asked me if I was interested in being an instructor for the company’s training program and I said yes. I was already an I-CAR instructor and I enjoy teaching, so it was an easy decision.”

Lupe’s father is a retired body technician and hopefully soon, Lupe Jr., age 16, might be entering the in-

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

ceive classroom instruction along with performing hands-on repairs of metal, plastic, panel removal and vehicle construction on salvaged vehicles at the company’s ADAC facility in Antioch, CA. Students are trained in vehicle disassembly, panel repair, plastic welding, frame and instructional analysis and welded panel removal. In addition, upon graduation, the students will have already achieved I-CAR Training Pro Level 1 and will be fully Car-OLiner certified.

David Wedding, a business development manager at Mike’s Auto Body, who oversees the training program and teaches classes as well, is happy to announce that the first program’s graduates are working at Mike’s Auto Body’s various locations under the tutelage of mentors that have been carefully selected.

“We can already see that this program is going to benefit the company in many ways, and Ronnie Algood is a

good example of that,” Wedding said.

“He is currently working at our Richmond location and getting better by learning new skills and working with several of our more veteran technicians. Now, Lupe’s other son Lorenzo is in our training program and [is] doing well.”

Currently, the second training class, including Lorenzo Algood, is progressing well and those students will be graduating early next year with the third class entering in the spring of 2017.

If you know someone or have a member of your family that might be interested in pursuing a career in collision repair either as a tech or an estimator for Mike’s Auto Body, contact the Program at internship@mikesauto body.com.

Further information about the training program and an online application is available at www.mikesautobody .com/metaltechnicianinternship.

THE LARGEST INVENTORY OF FORD • LINCOLN MERCURY PARTS IN MIAMI-DADE COUNTY Mike’s Auto Body’s second in-house graduating class produced four new collision professionals, including Lorenzo Algood, (third from right), whose father Lupe (second from right) is one of the program's instructors

ing cars. Lupe Algood, 40, has been a body technician at Mike’s Auto Body for the past five years and is also an instructor for the company’s in-house training program that kicked off in 2016 and is already considered a success.

In addition, Lupe’s two sons, Ronnie and Lorenzo, are now entering the collision repair industry and onboard with Mike’s Auto Body. Ronnie recently graduated from the company’s training program and Lorenzo is currently enrolled.

Lupe Algood is a proud father, a passionate teacher and a highlyskilled metal technician who still repairs vehicles when he isn’t teaching or mentoring the collision professionals of the future.

How did he become an instructor for Mike’s Auto Body? “I was work-

dustry as well. “I tell young people that if they learn their skills and are dedicated to this craft, they can have long, lucrative careers in collision repair. There is a huge demand for technicians right now, so get your training and the jobs will be there.”

Lupe’s son Ronnie is one of the program’s first graduates and is delighted to be working in the collision repair industry as a fledgling metal technician for Mike’s Auto Body. “It is a great opportunity for me and it’s an awesome time to be in this industry,” Ronnie said. “My goal is to become a journeyman within 18 months or so. I know I can do it, because I have a lot of support here at Mike’s Auto Body and they want me to succeed.”

In order to complete this comprehensive training program, students re-

46 MAY 2017 AUTOBODY NEWS | www.autobodynews.com

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Owner of Swope Family of Dealerships Receives Prestigious Honor & Attributes Success to Highly-Engaged Employees was on stage being recognized as one of the 49 nominees that I learned that Earlier this year, Carl Swope learned the University of Michigan School of he received the 2017 Time Dealer of the Business had selected me!

Year Award during the National AutoWe’ve regularly attended NADA mobile Dealers Association conventions throughout the (NADA) Convention in New years. Over my lifetime, I’ve Orleans. The owner of the had the privilege of watching Swope Family of Dealerships my father and uncle both being in Elizabethtown, Kentucky, recognized as nominees as said it was an honor and he atwell as my brother Dick, who tributes his success to the great is also an automobile dealer, people who work for him. recognized twice as a nominee.

Carl Swope, owner The 65-year-old com- of the Swope Fam- I was just glad that I got nomipany was started in 1952 by ily of Dealerships, nated. in Elizabethtown, Carl’s father, Bill, and his I have been honored many Kentucky uncle Sam. They opened a times and by many people Chrysler, Dodge, DeSoto dealership and they are all special but I have never in Elizabethtown and established a received an award like this. It’s woncollision center in the late 1950s. The derful to be nominated by your peers, family has a long history of operatin this case, the state of the Kentucky. ing dealerships across Kentucky and To me, that was as good as it gets.

Florida.

Then the unthinkable happened.

Autobody News spoke to Carl What do you attribute your sucabout the award and what makes his cess to? dealerships and independent collision center so successful.

I know several of the other nomWhat is the TIME Dealer of the inees and it could have been any Year Award? one of the other 48. They all have some things in common. First, they are all Some say it is the most presti- passionate dealers. I’ve told people my gious award a new-car dealer whole career that I just don’t love cars, can receive. The program honors new-car dealers in the United States who exhibit exceptional performance in their dealerships and perform distinguished community service.

Every year, 49 out of 50 states nominate a dealer. They are chosen by members of the Automotive Trade Association Executives (ATAE) and the winner is announced during the NADA convention.

The award provides $10,000 to a non-profit selected by our Carl Swope received the 2017 Time Dealer of the Year award during the National Automobile Dealers Association dealership and we chose the (NADA) Convention in New Orleans Community Health Clinic of I love the car business. I turned 60 reHardin & Larue Counties. cently and I was walking into a meeting How did you find out you re- thinking I’ve been doing this a long time and I can’t imagine doing anything else. ceived the award and what was The other thing that these dealers all your reaction? have in common without exception is I found out when I was stand- they have great people who work for ing on stage with the 48 other them and with them. These people are nominees at the NADA convention in not only professionals, but they are New Orleans. It was a huge surprise. I highly engaged at the dealership and the went to the convention thinking the community. The last thing I think is uniwinner probably already knew who he versally true about all of the nominees or she was but literally it wasn’t until I is they come from great communities,

by Stacey Phillips

Q: A:

Q: A:

Q: A:

48 MAY 2017 AUTOBODY NEWS | www.autobodynews.com

some of them from large cities. They are highly engaged in whatever part of that city they identify with. In my case,

some of our Swope dealerships, including Sam Swope Pontiac, Honda and BMW. Later, I ran Toyota of Louisville. I decided to move to Elizabethtown in 1986 and bought the stores from my dad and uncle.

I now own what we call the Swope Family of Dealerships in Elizabethtown, which includes six stores: Nissan, Hyundai, Ford, ToySwope Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, Ram is one of the six ota, and Chrysler, Dodge, dealerships Jeep and Ram are located on it’s a relatively small market, about Dixie Ave. in Elizabethtown and the 100,000, but all our dealerships are very Mitsubishi and Certified Pre-Owned engaged in the good things going on in dealerships are about 15 miles away the community. on Dixie Blvd. in Radcliff. We also have the Swope Freedom Plan dealCan you tell us how you be- ership in Elizabethtown.

In addition, we have an indecame involved in the industry? pendent collision center with 16 emAfter graduating from Eliza- ployees that is overseen by the general manager of the Chrysler dealership. bethtown High School in 1975, The 11,000-square-foot facility repairs I earned a B.S. in business adminisabout 100 wrecks a month. tration from the Indiana University Bloomington in 1978. I’ve worked in What are some of the commuall phases of the retail automobile nity projects your dealerships business at my family’s stores. The following year I began working at See Swope Family, Page 54

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By 2030, 25% of Miles Driven in US Could Be in Shared Self-Driving Electric Cars By 2030, around a quarter of all miles driven in the US could be in shared autonomous electric vehicles, which will offer consumers in large cities the lowest-cost, most convenient form of transportation, according to new research by The Boston Consulting Group (BCG).

BCG’s key insight is that the convergence of three trends—ride sharing (services such as Uber and Lyft), autonomous driving, and vehicle electrification—create a far more compelling economic case than any of these forces alone. Due to their ability to cut travel costs by 60%, shared autonomous electric vehicles (SAEVs) could shift about 25% of miles traveled from private automobiles, creating enormous benefits for consumers as well as causing major disruption to the automotive industry. While total vehicle demand will only be affected slightly, by 2030, more than five million conventional cars per year could be replaced by a combination of fully autonomous electric vehicles for urban fleets and partially autonomous cars for personal use. Cities will benefit from less congestion and cleaner air, but could be

disadvantaged by falling ridership on public transit, fear of which could result in some cities proactively trying to regulate the number of SAEVs on the road.

“Such an evolution in mobility is no longer a fantasy. The technology exists and our research shows that many consumers will embrace it,” said Brian Collie, a Chicago-based partner who leads BCG’s automotive practice

per mile to around 50 cents per mile.

Over the course of a year, that could put more than $7,000 in that driver’s pocket, effectively doubling consumer discretionary income.

Unlike most industry studies, which look at trends such as autonomous driving and powertrain electrification in isolation, BCG’s research aims to provide an integrated view of the future of mobility in the US. The

in North America. “Yet, few players are taking the bold steps needed to position themselves to thrive in this nottoo-distant future. The time to act is now.”

SAEV is an apt acronym for these vehicles, as fleets would save time, money, and lives. By using SAEVs, a typical Chicagoan who owns a car and drives 10,000 miles a year could cut the cost of travel from around $1.20

consultants combine insights from a variety of sources—including a proprietary survey of more than 6,000 US consumers; detailed modeling and analysis of traffic patterns and population density in over 100 cities of varying sizes; economic forecasting; past BCG studies; and interviews with a wide range of industry experts.

The results focus on implications for automobile and parts manufacturers,

“Such an evolution in mobility is no longer a fantasy. The technology exists and our research shows that many consumers will embrace it” — Brian Collie

car dealers, service providers, and city governments, as well as other key stakeholders, such as energy and insurance companies.

Radical Shift Will Be Concentrated in Large Cities BCG’s conservative estimate is that 23% to 26% of miles driven in the United States, or about 800 billion to 925 billion miles, could be traveled in SAEVs by 2030. The shift to SAEVs, which would be gradual and would begin by the early 2020s, would likely occur in cities with more than 1 million people, where there is sufficient demand to keep fleet utilization high and there are significant pain points associated with private vehicle ownership (expensive insurance, difficulty finding parking, and congestion).

Adoption could be even faster and more widespread if innovations in technology and pricing models reduce costs further for consumers. Innovations could include radically different vehicle designs (such as driverless pods), new tailored services (such as pooled ride sharing), and new revenue streams (such as in-vehicle advertis-

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ing). At a lower price point, SAEV service might be attractive in more mid-size cities (with populations of 500,000 to 1 million).

Nonetheless, significant hurdles remain. Major technical and infrastructure challenges must be solved. For example, BCG concludes that SAEVs are unlikely to be economically viable in small cities and rural areas. And even in larger cities, their survey findings suggest that many consumers remain skeptical of the technology or are unwilling to give up the many conveniences and benefits of private vehicle ownership.

Shift Will Have Massive Impact Moving up to a quarter of all miles driven would have massive impact, not only on household economics and lifestyles, but also on society as a whole, urban planning, the automotive industry, and key supporting industries such as energy, finance, and insurance. ● Automakers and parts suppliers would face the most profound challenge to their business models in a century. While total vehicle demand isn’t likely to change materially, the types of cars required will be vastly different. BCG estimates that in 2030,

a total of 4.7 million autonomous electric vehicles will replace 5.1 million conventional autos sold in the US. This shift undermines the current industry business model, with its focus on engine technology and its long product cycles, and opens the market to a range of new competitors. Hundreds of billions of dollars worth of industry assets could turn into liabilities. Dealers will be less relevant as fleets make up a much bigger portion of sales. Current aftermarket businesses will take a hit because SAEVs will require less maintenance and have fewer accidents. But at the same time, whole new businesses will develop to manage large urban fleets and service them daily. ● The new model would also have important implications for cities.

In addition to benefits such as less congestion, fewer traffic deaths, cleaner air, and reduced need for parking space, cities may also face financial hardship because of the impact on public transit.

The economics of shared autonomous electric vehicles makes them competitive with public transportation for short trips—and more convenient (no schedules, door-to-door service). According to BCG analysis of traffic patterns and “pain points” of mass transit riders in

Chicago, as many as 20% of public transit miles could shift to the new transportation mode. This could leave cities in the position of maintaining aging transit infrastructure with reduced ridership and fare income. However, cities can plan for the loss of transit income by finding other sources of tax revenue, such as fees on SAEV fleets and trips. They could even consider investing in publicly owned fleets. ● Additional effects would include a sharp drop in fuel demand— an impact looked at in depth in an upcoming comprehensive powertrain study by BCG. And the sharp reduction of traffic accidents and related injuries from autonomous and semiautonomous vehicles could reshape the auto insurance business. Tech companies, data providers, and electric utilities would benefit.

The Next Car You Own May Be Your Last “The age of shared autonomous electric vehicles is upon us and now is the time for automakers, suppliers, and cities to begin taking the bold steps necessary to thrive in this rapidly changing world,” said Justin Rose, a Chicago-based partner who leads

BCG’s digital efforts for industrial goods companies. “Companies need to deconstruct and rebuild business models, develop new capabilities, create new sources of sustainable advantage, and shift assets and talent to new purposes—or risk becoming irrelevant. As with any great disruption, this transition will be risky and extremely challenging, particularly in the face of near-term investor expectations of customer demands.”

To help navigate this turbulent period of transition and uncertainty, the authors have developed a roadmap to guide automakers, cities, and regulators in preparing for this profound change, with a set of recommended actions for each.

“The automotive industry is on the brink of a major transformation, and it’ll be here faster than people realize,” added Rose. “For millions of Americans living in large cities, the next vehicle they purchase may be the last car they ever own.”

A formal report with further details on the study—the first in a multipart series on the reinvention of the automotive industry—will be published in the coming weeks on www .bcg.com.

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News From Collision Repair Education Foundation Collision Students’ Tuition Debt Erased through CREF’s Lon Baudoux Legacy Scholarship Fund Destiny Potter, a 2016 Lon Baudoux Legacy $2,000 Scholarship recipient, attended the recent I-CAR Volunteer & Instructor Conference in San Diego to highlight how significantly financial support has assisted in her technical education. At the end of her presentation, Potter was surprised with the announcement that to recognize her continued efforts in gaining part-time industry employment while finishing her remaining year at Lincoln College of Technology in Indianapolis, her 2017 student debt would

be “erased” through the Baudoux Legacy fund. In total, over $10,000 in student debt will be paid for Potter, who is on track to graduate from Lincoln Tech this October.

Potter, currently employed parttime with ABRA Auto Body & Glass, noted, “Being on stage in front of hundreds of people and to talk about the Lon Baudox Scholarship I won in 2016 was tremendous enough. But then for the Collision Repair Education Foundation to announce that they were paying my tuition just left me incredibly speechless. This means ‘no debt’ and ‘no stress.’ On a personal note, this also means that I am noticed, I am supported, and I am believed in. Who knew that something like this would happen to me?”

“It’s incredible to see the real impact of the foundation in the lives of individual students,” said Peterson Santos, regional vice president at ABRA Auto Body & Glass. “We are Continued from Page 40

Body Shop Invention?

lowed me to take more of my ideas to fruition.”

For that technician, painter, estimator or body shop owner with a great idea for a tool that can change the industry, what last piece of advice would Weschler offer them? “Invest

honored to have Ms. Potter on our team and are especially grateful for the mentorship ABRA team member Rebecca Stultz has provided her throughout her journey. Ms. Potter’s future is bright and we are certain she will enjoy a long and successful career in the industry.”

Nationwide Insurance Awards $50,000 to Six Collision School Grants CREF has announced that Nationwide Insurance has made a $50,000 donation to assist the Education Foundation’s support of high school and college collision school programs across the country through school grants.

Six schools were supported through these Nationwide school grants. The schools applied for the Education Foundation’s 2016 Ultimate Collision Education Makeover school grant and these funds will help fulfill the schools collision program’s wish list of needed tools, equipment, and supplies. The Nationwide Insurance school grant recipients include: ■

■ ■

■

$25,000 - Eastfield College (Mesquite, TX)

$10,000 - Tidewater Community College (Chesapeake, VA)

(Wilmington, NC)

“Nationwide recognizes the growing need for highly trained repair technicians,” said Patrick Burnett, Associate Vice President of Claims at Nationwide.

“That’s why we’re proud to support organizations dedicated to training and developing tomorrow’s collision repair professionals.”

CREF Recognizes 121 Career Programs With Collision School Career Readiness Benchmark CREF announced it has recognized 121 schools with its new designation program called the “Collision School Career Readiness Benchmark,” which was launched in 2016.

Under the new program developed by the Foundation, schools were classified into three tiers: • Tier 1: Advanced, • Tier 2: Proficient, or • Tier 3: Developing.

The designation was determined by the Foundation based upon information provided by schools about the capabil-

ities of their program on the Collision Repair Education Makeover grant application.

Last year, due to expanded financial and in-kind support from the industry, every school that completed an application received a grant to help them move to the next Tier or increase their capabilities. The program is currently accepting applications for 2017.

In 2016, nine schools received a Tier 1 designation, 80 schools achieved Tier 2 and 31 schools achieved Tier 3.

Schools are recognized at different levels based upon criteria that focus around the number of hours of instruction and curriculum in place along with the tools, equipment, and supplies a school uses to prepare their students for employment in the collision industry.

Participation in the Makeover grant program provides schools with necessary items to help them advance to higher levels and expand their programs to best serve students and the industry.

The goal is to help every school acquire the resources to eventually achieve a Tier 1: Advanced school designation.

For more information, visit www .collisioneducationfoundation.org.

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$5,000 - Texas State Technical College (Waco, TX) North Idaho College (Coeur d’A lene, ID)

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your time to find the patent attorney that will represent you and your idea in the very best way possible and then trust him. Don’t expect your attorney or others to clearly know the features and benefits the way you do, so take the time to communicate and provide detailed explanations. And maybe most importantly, don’t wait. You never know when that next million dollar idea will present itself.”

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Continued from Page 42

179 Lines Too Long?

Others at CIC pointed out that the initial estimate is needed for the customer to know what will be done for the car, and to generate the work order that is given to the technicians.

In 2007, Scott Biggs of Assured Performance suggested that detailed estimates were not necessarily something insurers and shops needed to negotiate ahead of repairs

But Biggs countered that today’s estimates are so full of abbreviations and “gibberish” that the average consumer can’t read them anyway, nor are they always complete and accurate enough to give technicians all the information they need.

“The estimate is a negotiating item, and we’re lying to ourselves if we Continued from Page 48

Swope Family

take part in and what is the importance of getting involved?

A:

We take part in various programs that support our community and make it a better place. In the 1990s, we established a local affiliate for Habitat for Humanity and the statewide Kentucky Habitat, and our associates build houses with Habitat for Humanity. It’s so rewarding to have the team work together and help a family in need in our community.

We also participate in a wonderful program through the United Way that fills backpacks with nutritious food for children in need and prepares care packages for deployed soldiers.

Not only do we encourage our associates to get involved, but we facilitate programs that they are interested in.

What is the importance of getQ: ting involved for both the employees and the community?

say that (it) is an exact blueprint for repairs,” Biggs said. “And I’m not suggesting that you... replace the databases and arbitrarily pick $300 or $3,000 out of the air. But we could get there faster, easier and less expensively and then have less minutia to argue about and get to the job of fixing cars. You can’t say, ‘We don’t pay for that,’ if there isn’t ‘that’ on the estimate.”

– As reported in Autobody News.

Wright is now an independent consultant in the industry. Avery retired from State Farm last year.

5 years ago in the collision repair industry (May 2012) State Farm has rolled out mandatory use of its PartsTrader parts ordering system for its Select Service shops in four markets: Tucson, AZ; Grand Rapids, MI; Charlottesville, NC; and Birmingham, AL. Aaron Schulenburg of the Society of Collision Repair Specialists (SCRS) said the association’s board met with State Farm executives in late April and PartsTrader was clearly “an issue we’re not going to see eye-toeye on.” Schulenburg questioned State Farm’s contention that the system improves efficiency.

Obviously, we’re all in business A: to make a living and satisfy customers. If you can get your associ-

ates engaged in the community, they are going to be the kind of engaged employees that please and satisfy customers. That is the success at the end of the day—to please your customers.

I realized how powerful our dealerships can be if I encourage and support all our leadership and associates to get involved. Together, we are making Elizabethtown and the central Kentucky region a better place.

Q:

What sets your dealerships and collision center apart from others in the industry?

I’m blessed to have 290 employees working at the dealerA: ships and collision center, who are

doing the lion share of the work. My shortest tenure is about 18 years. The longest tenure is 28 years.

We don’t have a lot of turnover and these are not only satisfied employees, but they are also highly engaged employees. That’s true throughout our organization and I think it really sets See Swope Family, Page 57

54 MAY 2017 AUTOBODY NEWS | www.autobodynews.com

“Having an outside entity tell you what processes you’re required to do, and who you must do them through and how, is the furthest thing from ‘lean,’” Schulenburg said during the board meeting. “A process that requires you to review your vendors, especially ones you’ve built very strong relationships with and that provide excellent service, is far from lean as well.”

Schulenburg also questioned whether the system would be voluntarily adopted by the industry given that other electronic parts ordering systems are struggling to gain acceptance. He asked State Farm’s George Avery if the insurer would move forward with PartsTrader if shops, dealers and other parts vendors are resistant to it.

“At this point, we are moving forward,” Avery said. “We are moving through our test. We’re obviously gathering information, making adjustments along the way. But I can tell you that State Farm is moving forward with this. We think it is in the best interest of our customer.”

– As reported in CRASH Network (www.CrashNetwork.com), May 7, 2012. By late 2014, State Farm had rolled out mandatory use of PartsTrader nationwide.

Apply for Auto Care Internship Scholarships by May 1

Applications for the Auto Care Careers Internship Scholarship program are due by May 1, 2017. The scholarships provide financial support for students that have secured an internship in the auto care industry.

Auto Care Careers Internship Scholarships are valued up to $2,500 and are intended for those enrolled in internship programs with direct application to the auto care industry and working in fields such as engineering, supply chain management, information technology, finance, sales and marketing, and other business functions. The scholarships help ease the financial burden of temporary relocation for interns traveling more than 100 miles from their permanent address to the internship, including the costs of travel, lodging, utilities and meals during the internship period.

To apply for one of the 22 available Auto Care Careers Internship Scholarships, interns should visit the “Get Started” section of the AutoCareCareers.org website.

For information about careers and internships in the auto care industry, visit www.autocarecareers.org or contact Katy McQuiston at katy .mcquiston@autocare.org.

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Continued from Page 32

Scan Revolution

ing a disconnected sensor and harsh criticism on the workmanship. Additionally, the customer will be back to have them correct all of the shortcomings pointed out by the dealership.

I have been out in the field and on the phone with shops locally and in various areas of the country. Sadly, I have found an egregious lack of awareness about the procedures or lack of courage to broach the conversation with insurers, especially with DRP shops. What’s most surprising is some of the dealership shops and OEM certified shops are amongst this group of the unwilling or unaware.

It is time to sit down with the OEM scan position statements and have the necessary dialogue with insurers. Many insurers want to do the right thing by their customers. It is up to you to present the OEM documentation and be clear that the vehicle repairs are not complete until the completion scan, any necessary resets and calibrations and a road test are performed. The outcome of those discussions may pleasantly surprise you.

Resources Abound To assist shops and insurers in this important dialogue, I have created the “OEM Diagnostic Scanning Positions Quick Reference Chart” which is a fantastic tool for shops to use in educating the insurer and customer on the importance of Pre- and Post-Repair Scans in the collision restoration process. Auto body shops certainly would not want a mechanical shop or dealership notifying the customer and identifying trouble codes or procedures which the auto body shop left behind. The chart appeared in the March 2017 edition of Autobody News and is available FREE as a PDF file at the following site: www .oempositions.com “While the Quick Reference OEM Scan chart is no substitute for the complete OEM position statements, it provides a convenient overview with the basic essential information to assist the damage assessment and repair planning

process,” said Charles Bryant, Executive Director of AASP/NJ. “This chart may also prove to be a useful tool when negotiating with an insurer for the appropriate allowance of these operations which automakers have deemed an integral part of the collision repair process.”

For those shops that are just starting to implement the latest automaker pre- and post-scan protocols, I’d recommend Automotive Management Institute’s (AMI) latest online course, “Management’s Guide to Scanning and New Technology.” It is a terrific overview of why post-collision scanning is important and highly effective in getting the process started. The 108minute course is reasonably priced at under $50. AMI is a non-profit where the funds go back to creating more valuable content to help auto repair shops. Even shops with a diagnostic scanning program already in place would stand to benefit from the AMI content. Some insurance companies have taken the cue and are having their personnel take the course. Go to: www .amionline.org Jeff Peevy, president of AMI, recently made a brief appearance with me at asTech™ maker, Collision Diagnostic Service’s booth at the 40th Annual AASP/NJ NORTHEAST® Automotive Services Show in March.

Booth visitors were introduced to the AMI course and also learned how the asTech™ remote diagnostics solution offers numerous benefits to their collision repair business. The AMI course was awarded in hourly drawings, the conversation was lively and the interest in pre- and post-repair scanning seemed strong.

I-CAR® offers new courses on diagnostics, calibration and scan tools as part of its “Vehicle & Technology Specific Training.” Also, the newest edition of its “Vehicle Technology and Trends” course is available. Savings of 10-15% may be had when choosing from multiple course packages options. Go to: www.i-car.com/Vehicle Technology

Gene Bilobram has been an automobile physical damage appraiser for over 25 years. His company, Lacey Appraisal Service, Inc. is a physical damage appraisal, consultancy and manufacturers’ rep firm serving the collision repair and insurance industries. He may be reached at (609) 384-8093 or at laceyappraisal@ aol.com to discuss the latest shop tools and solutions in the pre- and post-repair scan revolution. His company is Manufacturer’s Representative for the leaders in post-collision remote vehicle diagnostics and systems calibrations. Gene will personally refund the purchase price of AMI’s scanning course to anyone who takes the course and later purchases any of the post-collision products or services he has to offer. Some restrictions apply. Contact him today for an updated OEM Scan Chart, email alerts, shop diagnostic program assistance and valuable insights into the often challenging process of insurance company reimbursement.

The opinions expressed are that of the author and not necessarily the opinion of any of the companies, individuals or organizations mentioned herein or of this publication.

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repair industry in a move that I anticipated in an article in the insurance press last May. The pre- and post-scan revolution is here. The first shot across the bow was fired by FCA Group, LLC. (formerly Chrysler Group, LLC.) with their position statement, one month after my article appeared, in June 2016. Since that time, a half dozen more automakers have joined the fray and issued their own statements.

Collision repairers still on the sidelines should know that this is not the equivalent of ‘bringing a knife to a gunfight.’ Quite the contrary. There are stockpiles of ammunition in the form of automaker position statements with a war chest of educational articles, learning courses and industry pundits to lend battlefield support.

In the midst of this diagnostic scanning revolution, collision repairers must decide whether they are going to take the customer back in the name of safe and proper repairs or take cover and wave the white flag.

Any liability-conscious shop owner out there knows there is only one correct choice to make. Be one of the smart ones and join the Pre- and PostScan Revolution today. Your customers deserve nothing less.

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56 MAY 2017 AUTOBODY NEWS | www.autobodynews.com

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Continued from Page 45

MIW Honorees

lives, and when they reach out in appreciation, it validates that you’re doing the right thing. I am so humbled by all the support I’ve received, and I am shocked because I didn’t expect this tremendous honor. I’ve always looked up to my WIN predecessors who’ve broken down barriers, and we continue to break them down for the next generation.”

Looking at the importance of females entering the collision repair industry, Fronzaglia-Murray recounted her mentor, David Chapman, thwarting her fears and excuses when she first began working for him. “I was scared to talk to the men in the industrial segment because they had more experience and knew so much more, but Dave told me, ‘It’ll make you tougher. I’m not asking you to know what they know – I’m looking for a different perspective because we need that to grow the business.’ He was right; we need different people to bring different mindsets because if we stick to the same opinions, none of us grow and flourish.

“I had so many excuses, but Dave wouldn’t let me fail. He was positive

and encouraging. You have to thank the people who have challenged you along the way. You may do things differently, but that doesn’t mean it’s wrong.”

Ricciotti and Stein both agree that diversity of perspective is the most important reason for women to join the automotive industry. Ricciotti observed, “Everyone is more productive when you have more than one kind of voice.

It’s good for businesses to have multiple perspectives, and it gives us a great advantage to bring something unique to the table. The collision repair industry is truly a great place to be if you want to be unique, but it takes a special individual who is comfortable with growth, rapid changes, and a challenging environment – it’s never boring! This is the industry for you if you’re inspired and challenged by change.”

Stein added, “It’s all about who’s qualified and who is best for the position. I never want a position I didn’t earn. Being a well-rounded business requires a holistic approach. Women get that, and we add a little something because we offer a different perspective.”

All three MIWs offer similar advice to young ladies who are interested in pursuing a career in the automotive industry. “Do it!” Fronzaglia-Murray

encouraged. “It’s a great industry with great opportunities and room for growth. Don’t try to be like anyone else – just be the best you and bring your different opinions and views to the table.

Don’t be afraid of failure, but learn from your mistakes. Be yourself.”

Stein’s advice is “Don’t be afraid to be a student. Ask questions, and instead of fearing failure, take on challenges outside the scope of what you know. I wouldn’t be in my current position if I didn’t take risks, and criticism has made me a better professional because results are what matter at the end of the day. Women set their own limitations, but there are so many options in this industry. We have a deficit of and a need for talented people, regardless of gender.”

Ricciotti added, “Invite yourself instead of waiting to be invited, and never give up. Seek companies that look at your capabilities, not your gender; it’s comforting to know that the way people treat you is due to your skills, not because you’re a woman.

There will always be challenges, so find a mentor and a great support system like WIN. I never thought I was any different, but I’ve always believed that achieving success is the only option.”

Continued from Page 54

Swope Family

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What advice can you offer to Q: other businesses in terms of retaining employees?

We call ourselves the Swope A: Family of Dealerships. The word family is very important to us.

We really think of each other as fellow associates. Certainly, we have hierarchy, but we buy into this idea that you manage processes and you lead people. Everybody in our organization is considered a leader. We appreciate what they do, we pay them well and we recognize what they do day in and day out.

I’m very fortunate to have a great organization. I have an office but I’m rarely there. Most of my time is spent in one of the stores with our associates. In addition to being active in the Kentucky Auto Dealers Association (KADA) as a director and officer, I serve on numerous boards of community associations and am a See Swope Family, Page 59

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www.autobodynews.com | MAY 2017 AUTOBODY NEWS 57

GYS Wins Tesla Approval

Chief® University Introduces Industry’s First Joining Technologies Class Chief University introduces the first all-encompassing, hands-on collision repair class focused on joining technologies. The one-day Chief University Joining Technologies class is designed to provide estimators and ap-

and provides the most hands-on classroom environment we have ever delivered.”

The Joining Technologies course is a combination of classroom and hands-on experiences in several new joining disciplines. Each student will have the opportunity to participate in the following exercises:

GYS has announced that their NEOPULSE 300-T2 Pulse MIG Welding machine has been approved

by TESLA for aluminium welding for structural repairs to the vehicle manufacturer’s Model S and Model X cars. The NEOPULSE 300-T2 is a MIG/MAG inverter, offering up to 270A and high duty cycle, pulse in pulse welding. According to the company, a key feature of the machine is that it offers 2 torch operation so can be simultaneously set up to weld 2 metal types. An advanced yet easy to use LCD control panel offers a user-friendly interface. Neil Pulsford, GYS UK Commercial Director commented, “We are delighted to win this approval from Tesla, a company that is moving forward very quickly and is building a body repair network to operate at the highest standards in repairing Aluminium.” The approval follows other recent endorsements for the Neopulse range from Mercedes as well as from Ford Motor Company and Volkswagen Group for other welders in the GYS range. GYS is French family-owned industrial group which manufactures three product families: industrial welding machines, battery maintenance equipment and auto body welding equipment.

Standards. The new Chief University Joining Technologies class is approved for I-CAR credit hours through the I-CAR Industry Training Alliance® program. Cost for the eight-hour class is $395.

■ Perform steel and aluminum welding and brazing, using Chief’s virtual welder.

praisers a thorough understanding of the current welding, riveting and adhesive bonding and removal technologies being used in today’s shops.

“We are constantly updating the training curriculum at Chief University to keep pace with the OEM changes in vehicle design, technology and materials,” said Ken Boylan, global training manager. “Chief is proud to be the first in the industry to offer the opportunity to study and understand the joining technologies OEMs are requiring and want to see implemented in vehicle repair. This class is designed for all skill levels, from first-timers to experienced appraisers and estimators,

■ Install and remove self-piercing rivets and flow-form screws.

■ Install blind rivets.

■ Perform structural weld bonding and debonding.

■ Perform spot welds with and without adhesive.

■ See a demonstration of carbon fiber repair.

Chief University training is certified by the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) for compliance with the Continuing Automotive Service Education (CASE)

I-CAR® Offers New Online Cycle Time Course for Appraisers

In today’s business environment, efficiency is essential to bottomline performance, and reducing cycle time is one of the most powerful ways to increase efficiency in a collision repair facility. I-CAR has launched a new online course

on the topic specifically focused for auto physical damage appraisers (APDAs).

The course, Understanding Cycle Time as an Appraiser (AP05-5E01), was designed specifically to provide APDAs with an understanding of cycle time as it relates to the collision damage repair process.

The development of this course is part of I-CAR’s new approach to place an even greater emphasis on the perspective of each course’s intended audiences. In this case, the course was created with an additional focus on the specific needs of

Chief University introduces the industry’s first Joining Technologies class, covering welding, brazing, riveting, weld bonding and more

APDAs. Conveniently offered in a onehour, online format, the course will help the APDA identify how to measure cycle time, identify waste in the repair process, and learn how standard operating procedures can be used to create a consistently high-quality repair process.

The course also presents APDAs with a basic understanding of repair blueprinting and 100 percent teardown, both of which can be beneficial for improving cycle time, as well as information on supplements and their impact on cycle time.

For more information on Understanding Cycle Time as an Appraiser (AP055E01), visit I-CAR.com or call (800) ICAR-USA.

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58 MAY 2017 AUTOBODY NEWS | www.autobodynews.com

The next Joining Technologies will be offered April 13 in Lewis Center, Ohio. Chief University class offerings are updated frequently. For the most up-to-date schedule, course descriptions and to register, visit www .vsgdover.com/training/ViewAvailable Classes.aspx?PL=2.

For more information, visit www.chief automotive.com.

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Continued from Page 57

Swope Family

member of a 20 group.

I feel it’s very important to get involved so you can be exposed to new things, innovative things that are happening. It doesn’t matter if it’s the collision center, sales area or service—if you don’t get yourself out of your box, your box is going to get pretty small.

Can you tell us about the Swope Q: Museum?

Swope’s Cars of Yesteryear A: Museum is located between the Chrysler dealership and the Nissan

dealership. It was started by my father after I purchased the stores from him.

He has been collecting vehicles and displaying them in the museum since his retirement 30 years ago. There are currently about 70 vehicles ranging from the early 1900s to the 1960s in a variety of makes and models. About 45-50 are on display at the museum at any given time. Some were restored in the collision center and others were purchased. I encourage anyone in the area to check it out!

AkzoNobel Signs on as Platinum Sponsor for Women’s Industry Network AkzoNobel, the global decorative paints, coatings and chemicals company, is celebrating Women’s History Month by announcing that it is the Platinum Sponsor for the non-profit Women’s Industry Network (WIN).

nent of our industry and the advancement of diversity within it,” said Holmberg. “Many of WIN’s founders and current leaders were first recognized by AkzoNobel through the Most Influential Women in the Collision Repair Industry program, began in 1999; and, today administered

WIN is dedicated to encouraging, developing and cultivating opportunities to attract women to vehicle collision repair. WIN recognizes excellence, promotes leadership, and fosters a network among women who are shaping the industry.

Doug Holmberg, Vehicle Refinishes Business Director for AkzoNobel in North America, says that he is extremely proud of AkzoNobel’s longstanding relationship with WIN. “AkzoNobel is a strong propo-

under the stewardship of WIN. As a result of this history, we were the first and primary corporate mentor for WIN as it aspired to be the only association in the North America collision repair industry specifically focused on the advancement of women at all strata. This sponsorship demonstrates our appreciation of their work.”

The WIN organization is currently in growth mode, as companies representing every segment of collision repair around the world are be-

www.autobodynews.com

American Honda Releases New ProFirst Logo for Better Brand Recognition

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coming members. Susanna Gotsch, chair of WIN’s Sponsorship Committee, says that their growth is made possible through the support of organizations like AkzoNobel.

“We are happy to support such a worthwhile organization,” said North American Marketing Manager for AkzoNobel Vehicle Refinishes Jennifer Solcz when announcing the $25,000 sponsorship. “In addition to providing financial support, AkzoNobel employees are actively involved with WIN. Past employees served on WIN’s founding Board of Directors and we have several current employees working to advance the association through their involvement on various committees.”

“The importance of WIN’s mission to our industry is reaffirmed by the tremendous support we have received from our sponsors,” said Gotsch. “At WIN, we provide a unique industry setting where women can connect with peers in the industry to share different perspectives, challenges and ideas to improve the industry.”

For more information, visit www .akzonobel.com.

American Honda released a refreshed logo for its ProFirst certified shops in mid-March to help promote brand recognition. The new design includes the Honda Automobile Division marque and the Acura Division marque on either side of the ProFirst logo. Honda decided to revamp their ProFirst logo after learning that many shops were

not advertising their certified status because consumers didn’t affiliate the design with the manufacturers; the new design will be more easily identifiable to Honda and Acura owners.

According to Leigh Guarnieri, Collision Marketing Manager for American Honda, “This is consistent with the logo design format used by other OEs. This is a positive step for everyone, making the ProFirst shop more recognizable to Honda and Acura owners.” ProFirst program administrator Gary Ledoux adds, “Honda and Acura owners are some of the most loyal followers of a car brand in the industry. They recognize the Honda and Acura marques and know they stand for quality - in the car they drive, the

Honda and Acura dealerships where they have their cars serviced and now at the dealers and independent shops where they have collision damage repaired. ProFirst shops displaying the new logo may have a better chance of attracting Honda and Acura owners needing collision repair work.” Since the new logo may present placement challenges since it is quite long and cannot be altered in any way, the existing logo may also be used to officially signify a ProFirst shop. Both versions of the logo are available in a variety of color combinations. ProFirst shops will have exclusive access to the new logo in digital form to use in marketing materials, and now ProFirst shops will begin receiving their plaques and signs with the new logo in May with current certified shops receiving the updated signage as they renew their certifications. As such, Honda anticipates it will take approximately a year to complete the changeover. The new logo will be available on the CRN website in the near future, but certified ProFirst shops who went to starting using the new logo right away can email profirst@ ahm.honda.com with subject line “logo” to receive the logo in JPG, PDF, EPS or Adobe Illustrator format.

www.autobodynews.com | MAY 2017 AUTOBODY NEWS 59

Enterprise Holdings Increases Support of SCRS; Established New Corporate Membership Enterprise Holdings Inc. has been announced as the newest Corporate Member of the Society of Collision Repair Specialists (SCRS), upgrading from a Company Membership which has been in place since 2013. Enter-

prise Holdings, through its regional subsidiaries, operates the Enterprise Rent-A-Car, National Car Rental and Alamo Rent A Car brands and delivers a comprehensive portfolio of transportation solutions, including car rental, car sharing, vanpooling, car sales, truck rental, online ride-matching and affiliated fleet management services.

“Our company was founded on a set of values, and one of those centers around the success we’ve experienced through listening to our customers and always looking for new ways to meet their needs,” said Dan Friedman, Assistant Vice President for Enterprise Holdings’ Insurance Replacement Division (Collision Industry) in North America. “I think collaborating with

a well-connected organization like SCRS provides an amazing opportunity to hear from a wide cross section of customers and, in turn, become a better informed and more valuable industry partner.”

Collaborative work in an effort to create a more informed industry isn’t a new objective for SCRS and Enterprise, but rather an ongoing approach that both groups have worked to cultivate.

“We’ve seen the benefits that come from bringing everyone’s strengths together,” added Friedman.

“We think the industry and our mu-

tual customers benefit even more with increased collaboration among all of the various stakeholders in our industry.”

“It’s always rewarding to have such respected entities within the industry both offer more support to the

ASA Promotes National Car Care Month

The Automotive Service Association (ASA) is celebrating April as National Car Care Month by supporting the national “Be Car Care Aware” public service campaign by

the Car Care Council. The monthlong campaign is a national effort by industry-leading organizations to draw attention to the importance of having consumers get their vehicles professionally checked and serviced in preparation for the summer travel season.

ASA’s support of the campaign includes distributing information in its publications and online media and encouraging its 16 affiliated organizations to promote the campaign in member-shops across the nation.

“National Car Care Month in April is a great opportunity for ASA members to take advantage of the national exposure and reach out to their customers to explain the importance of proper vehicle mainte-

nance,” said Tony Molla, ASA vice president. “The resources available through the Car Care Council can help set up an event providing free check lanes for consumers to have their vehicle inspected for common problems and provide an opportunity to demonstrate the value those businesses provide to their local communities.”

Additional information about the campaign and the Car Care Council is available at www.carcare.org, including in-depth vehicle service information and videos. By following the Car Care Council on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube, motorists will receive quick car care tips and reminders.

work we undertake on behalf of our members, as well as actively seek more opportunities to collectively put our unique resources to work,” offered Andy Dingman, SCRS Chairman. “As the challenges the industry faces evolve, having organizations like Enterprise as a highly participatory member opens up the types of constructive dialogue that can take place, and solutions we can explore.

This may present itself in a variety of ways, and we are interested in the potential.”

“Technology is only going to become more complex and more critical to our mutual success in both the near and long term,” added Friedman. “We believe collaborating with SCRS on a variety of fronts has the potential to produce significant upside for the industry, and we are excited at what can be.”

Through its direct members and 40 affiliate associations, SCRS is comprised of 6,000 collision repair businesses and 58,500 specialized professionals who work with consumers and insurance companies to repair collision-damaged vehicles.

Additional information about SCRS including other news releases is available at www.scrs.com.

800-699-8251

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60 MAY 2017 AUTOBODY NEWS | www.autobodynews.com

Continuing its tradition of developing next-generation high performance coatings, Axalta Coating Systems recently introduced Imron® Elite 8460S™ Clearcoat – its newest premium clearcoat for commercial vehicle customers in North America. Imron Elite 8460S is a two-component, low volatile organic compound (VOC), high solids polyurethane clearcoat.

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www.autobodynews.com | MAY 2017 AUTOBODY NEWS 61

Registration Opens for AAPEX 2017 in Las Vegas

Online attendee registration for AAPEX 2017 is now open at www .aapexshow.com/news. AAPEX represents the $740 billion global automotive aftermarket industry and will take place Tuesday, October 31 through Thursday, November 2 at the Sands Expo in Las Vegas.

AAPEX online registration is only $40 (US) through Friday, October 13. Registration includes the expo with more than 2,200 exhibitors displaying new products and technologies to diagnose, service and maintain the nearly 1.2 billion vehicles on the road today. Registration also includes New Product and New Packaging Showcases and awards, a General Session keynote address, Let’s Tech presentations, and AAPEXedu sessions, including a Service Professionals Program and a REMANedu Conference. With an AAPEX badge, buyers have the opportunity to network with 44,000 targeted buyers and visit the SEMA Show, a separate event taking place in Las Vegas

the same week as AAPEX. The fee for registering via fax or mail, instead of online, is $65 (US) through October 13. After that date, online and onsite registration will be $90 (US) and $115 (US) for fax or mail registrations.

Registration for approved and credentialed media is free and can be completed at www.aapexshow.com /media.

In addition to registering early for AAPEX, attendees also should reserve their hotel rooms now for discounted rates at www.aapexshow .com/rooms. Attendees are encouraged to use only onPeak, the official hotel partner of AAPEX, to ensure the lowest rates at conveniently located hotels in Las Vegas.

Approximately 158,000 automotive aftermarket professionals from more than 140 countries are projected to be in Las Vegas during AAPEX and the SEMA Show.

AAPEX is co-owned by the Auto Care Association and the Automotive Aftermarket Suppliers Association (AASA), the light vehicle aftermarket division of the Motor & Equipment Manufacturers Association (MEMA).

For more information, visit www .aapexshow.com.

YANG Announces Next Step Program Scholarship Winners

The Young Auto Care Network Group (YANG) has announced the 2017 Auto Care Association Next Step Program honorees. Eleven young industry professionals will receive $1,100 scholarships to attend Auto Care Association Spring Leadership Days, May 3-5 at the Grand Hyatt in San Antonio, Texas.

sociation and various aspects of the industry work. Scholarships are made possible by the support of the Automotive Warehouse Distributors Association (AWDA), the Manufacturers’ Representatives Council and YANG.

The 2017 recipients are:

Erin Anderson, BBB Industries Hunter Brack, Hirsig-Frazier Company Inc. Isabel Burton, The NPD Group Kyle Ryan Byrne, Arnold Motor Supply Chris Castillo, tascosalesreps Jonny Dykstra, Auto-Wares Group of Companies Mario Garza, XL Parts Angela Golden, NGK Spark Plugs Charlotte Grimmett, Aftermarket Auto Parts Alliance, Inc. Sam Pennington, Valvoline Nolan Sponseller, Best One Tire of Upland

The Next Step Program offers future leaders in the auto care industry opportunities to experience how the as-

“These young people are our industry’s future and it is important for them to witness in person how thought leaders come together to discuss strategy and the direction of the auto care industry,” said Bill Hanvey, president and CEO, Auto Care Association. “The Next Step Program allows participants the chance to see the value of volunteering their time and expertise to participate in their industry’s trade association.”

More information about the program can be found at www.autocare .org/yang.

Congress Overturns OSHA Injury/Illness Recordkeeping Rule

The U.S. House of Representatives and Senate passed a resolution to overturn a regulation which effectively allowed the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) to cite companies that failed to record work-related injuries and illnesses during the five-year retention period. In 2012, a U.S. Court of Appeals ruled in the so-called “Volks” lawsuit that OSHA could not issue citations beyond a six-month statute of limitations set out under law. To get around the court finding, OSHA issued a rule before the Trump Administration took office to “clarify” that an employer had a duty to make and maintain accurate injury/illness records for the entire retention pe-

riod, and that the duty did not end if the employer had failed to create the necessary records during the initial six-month citation period. Trump is expected to sign the resolution into law.

The Congressional Review Act gives Congress the authority to overturn a recently issued federal regulation if a resolution is passed by a simple majority and signed by the President. Congress is currently reviewing a number of regulations issued before President Obama left office. The law has only previously been used on one other occasion, in 2001 when Congress overturned the Clinton Administration’s ergonomic rule.

For more information, contact Stuart Gosswein at stuartg@sema.org.

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62 MAY 2017 AUTOBODY NEWS | www.autobodynews.com

I-CAR® Honors Chuck Sulkala With Lifetime Contribution Award Chuck Sulkala, past chairman of the I- Chairman, Collision Industry ConferCAR International Board of Directors, ence (CIC) and chairman of numerwas awarded the Lifetime ous CIC committees Contribution Award in recogFounder, President and curnition of his years of dedirent Executive Director, cated leadership and service National Auto Body Counto I-CAR, and his passion cil (NABC) and commitment to excelVice-Chairman, I-CAR Edlence in the collision indusucation Foundation, now try. This award was presented the Collision Repair Educaat the recent 2017 I-CAR Voltion Foundation, and curChuck Sulkala unteer and Instructor Conferrent Trustee Emeritus file photo ence held in La Jolla, CA. Collision Division Steering “Chuck is still active on several Committee, Automotive Service AssoBoard Committees for both I-CAR and ciation (ASA) the Collision Repair Education Founda- Board of Directors, Collision Industion,” said I-CAR International Board try Foundation of Directors Chairman Jim Roach.

“His knowledge of the industry, I-CAR As a speaker and consultant, Sulkala and overall governance makes him a has been featured at NACE on more tremendous asset.” than 10 different occasions, and has Since taking over his family- been an educational consultant and owned business 45 years ago, Sulkala speaker for companies as diverse as has held a number of industry leader- 3M, Dawn Enterprises, AKZO Coatship positions, including serving as: ings, CARSTAR Automotive, CCC Information Services, Body Shop Chairman, Inter-Industry Conference Video, DuPont Refinishes, Processon Auto Collision Repair (I-CAR) Claims, Sherwin-Williams AutomoChairman, I-CAR Canada tive, Injury Sciences, CompEst Inc., President, Massachusetts Auto Body Modine Manufacturing, Auto Watch, Association (MABA) Verifacts, Proliance Int., I-CAR, and Chairman, Society of Collision Re- Allstate Insurance. He has conducted pair Specialists (SCRS) over 150 three-day seminars across Original BMW Parts

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Sulkala has been honored as “Man of the Year” by the Massachusetts Auto Body Association and “Collision Executive of the Year” by BodyShop Business magazine, and received the “Industry Achievement Award” from SCRS. He was also named Honorary Life Member of NABC; a Hall of Eagles recipient; recognized with the ASA 2001 Humanitarian Award, and Automotive Body Repair Network (ABRN) recognized him as one of the Collision Industry’s 25 Movers and Shakers of the 20th Century. He was the first recipient of the Collision Industry Conference Chairman’s Award recognizing a lifetime of service to the collision industry.

In addition, he has also been recognized by both ABRN and SCRS for lifetime achievement awards.

“Chuck has always been willing to go the extra mile for our industry,” said I-CAR CEO & President John Van Alstyne. “He was very involved with our Professional Development Program transition a few years back; bridging the gap between I-CAR and repairers to ensure we got the program right. Chuck’s decades of support for I-CAR and the entire industry have had a tremendous and lasting impact.”

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In its ongoing commitment to fight childhood hunger, Caliber Collision is raising the bar with a goal to collect 5 million meals during its 6th Annual Restoration Food Drive, from April 17 to May 19, benefitting 49 food banks across the country.

As the largest collision repair company in the U.S, Caliber is partnering with its network of teammates, customers, business partners, schools and local communities to increase the number of meals collected in 2017 by 60%%. Caliber’s annual Food Drive is a grassroots effort driven by teammates nationwide who challenge each other in friendly competitions while hosting a wide variety of activities that engage and encourage their local communities to donate cash and food items. Collection centers are set up at each of Caliber’s 488 store locations across 17 states. Cash donations can also be made online at www.CaliberDonations.com.

Caliber Collision has committed to a corporate matching contribution for local food banks based on the amount of cash donations and food items collected by Caliber teammates across each local community.

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The bi-partisan, bi-cameral bills (H.R. 1879/S. 812) would expand consumer choice for automotive collision repair parts, cut costs paid by motoring consumers and insurance companies, and increase competition.

Senate sponsors are U.S. Senators Orrin Hatch (R-UT) and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), and lead sponsors U.S. Representatives Darrell Issa (RCA) and Zoe Lofgren (D-CA), with

original cosponsors Reps. Blake Farentold (R-TX), Steve Cohen (D-TN), Scott Perry (R-PA) and Jim Langevin (D-RI).

The PARTS Act would narrowly amend U.S. design patent law to reduce, from 14 years down to 2.5 years, a car manufacturer’s design patent on collision parts.

“According to a study by Microeconomic Consulting & Research Associates, consumers will realize a savings of $1.5 Billion a year by having the ability to purchase high quality, but less expensive, aftermarket collision parts when their vehicles have been involved in an accident,” said Ray Pohlman, president of the Coalition for Auto Repair Equality (CARE). “The automotive aftermarket wishes to thank the House and Senate sponsors for their leadership in doing what’s right for America’s motoring consumers.

“We hope that House Judiciary Chairman Bob Goodlette (R-VA) and Senate Judiciary Chairman Charles Grassley (R-IA) will hold hearings as soon as possible in order to progress the bills for consumers,” concluded Pohlman.

www.autobodynews.com | MAY 2017 AUTOBODY NEWS 63

NABC Opens Nominations for Awards to Recognize Professionalism and Integrity in the Collision Industry

The National Auto Body Council has announced that online nominations are now open for its Annual Awards Pro-

gram, which recognizes individuals and businesses that exemplify the professionalism and integrity of the collision industry.

“We have many heroes who work tirelessly and give generously of their time, talent and resources to promote the professionalism and integrity of our collision industry,” said Marie Peevy, Chair of NABC’s Awards Program.

“We want to hear more about these individuals, who they are, hear their stories, so that we can recognize and honor their efforts.”

Winners of the NABC awards will be announced at the Collision Industry Conference during the SEMA Show in November in Las Vegas.

Nominations are being accepted in three award categories: The Award of Distinction recognizes individuals for bravery, philan-

thropy, charity and selfless acts of kindness. It transcends the rigors of daily business to uncover those helping the world around them without a thought of recognition for themselves. Any individual, business organization, or group employed in a collision industry-related segment, such as collision repair facility, vehicle manufacturer, supplier/vendor, educator, insurer, independent appraiser or trade association is eligible to be nominated.

The Body Shop Image Award recognizes the most significant improvements made to a shop’s interior and exterior. Any body shop completing a remodeling during the calendar year 2016 is eligible to be nominated. One winner

AMi Offers Online Enterprise Rent-A-Car ARMS® Automotive Suite Training

The Automotive Management Institute (AMi) has announced a new online course, teaching the proper use of Enterprise Rent-A-Car’s ARMS® Automotive Suite. The new course, developed by Enterprise, is designed for collision repair specialists to teach them how to use the ARMS program or to improve their functional knowledge of it. “The new course is a result

of AMi’s ongoing collaboration commitment to bring relevant administrative training to the industry,” said AMi President Jeff Peevy. “We appreciate Enterprise for its support and interest in working closely with us.”

The new online course offers one AMi credit hour towards the achievement of the institute’s Customer Service Certificate, and professional designa-

tions: Accredited Automotive Office Manager (AAOM), Accredited Automotive Manager (AAM), Accredited Master Automotive Manager (AMAM) and soon to be released, Accredited Collision-Repair Estimator (ACE) and Accredited Master Collision-Repair Estimator (AMCE).

In 1994, Enterprise created the Automated Rental Management System

and three runners-up will be recognized.

The Excellence in Community Service Award celebrates outstanding charitable efforts and volunteerism by collision industry individuals and businesses. The award recognizes exceptional service initiatives that improve the quality of life for individuals or the community at large.

Online nominations and more information for all three awards are available at www.NationalAutoBodyCouncil .org.

For more information on NABC Awards program, contact Marie Peevy, Awards Program Chair, at marie.peevy @automotivetrainingcoordinators.com or 630-881-7945.

(ARMS®) to help insurance companies simplify the process of managing replacement rental cars for policyholders.

ARMS data helps collision repair centers increase operating efficiencies, enhance customer service and streamline communications with insurance companies and customers.

For more information, visit www .amionline.org.

Automotive Management Institute Honors Class of 2017

The Automotive Management Institute (AMi), the industry’s leading provider of management education for automotive service and collision repair professionals, held its annual graduation ceremony March 4 at the Overland Park Convention Center in Overland Park, Kan.

The ceremony honored the 23rd class of Accredited Automotive Managers (AAMs). The graduating class of 2017 includes 3 automotive service and collision repair professionals who earned the Institute’s prestigious AAM designation by successfully completing AMi courses and accumulating a minimum of 120 credits.

This year’s event also recognized 40 members of its second graduating class of Accredited Master Automotive Manager (AMAM) designation by successfully completing AMi courses and accumulating a minimum of 180 credits.

The Automotive Management Institute collaborates with training providers across the industry aligning training

courses into comprehensive educational curricula, that when completed, results in professional designations and certificates.

The education represented by these programs have proven to make positive impacts on business KPI scores and overall profitability. AMI courses concentrate on seven core areas of business management education: financial management, sales & marketing, operational management, HR and personnel development, IT management, risk management and leadership.

“After 25 years of offering AMiapproved classes at the VISION HiTech Training & Expo event each year, it was truly an honor to host this year’s AMi graduation during the VISION Awards Ceremony”, stated Sheri Hamilton, AMi Chairperson and VISION Conference Manager. “This year’s graduates join an elite group of automotive service professionals that have proven their dedication to improving their knowledge and skills within this industry.”

“It was honor to recognize and celebrate the accomplishments of these two groups of professionals during our graduation ceremony. It is also great to see the growth in the number of graduates again and we look forward to more achieving this level of professional recognition.” said AMi President, Jeff Peevy.

64 MAY 2017 AUTOBODY NEWS | www.autobodynews.com

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AkzoNobel Rejects Another Unsolicited Proposal from PPG AkzoNobel has announced that it has rejected a second unsolicited, non-binding and conditional proposal of 20 March from PPG Industries Inc. for all of the issued and outstanding ordinary shares in the capital of AkzoNobel.

The proposal not only fails to reflect the current and future value of AkzoNobel, it also neglects to address

the significant uncertainties and risks for shareholders and other stakeholders.

The Management Board and Supervisory Board of AkzoNobel, together with their financial and legal advisors, have thoroughly reviewed the second proposal taking into consideration the interests of AkzoNobel’s shareholders, customers, employees and other stakeholders.

The revised proposal represents a

value of €88.72 (adjusted for final dividend) consisting of €56.22 (adjusted for final dividend) in cash and 0.331 PPG shares, as at 20 March 2017, per AkzoNobel share.

The proposal does not address the concerns expressed by the Boards in their initial rejection of 9 March 2017.

The revised proposal:

1. Is not in the best interests of shareholders. It substantially undervalues AkzoNobel and fails to reflect the value creating opportunities of the new strategic direction and focus for both the Specialty Chemicals and the Paints and Coatings businesses, allowing them to build further on their respective leadership positions.

2. Contains significant risks related to the increased stock component and the high leverage of the proposed combined businesses.

3. Would result in a large number of substantial divestitures due to the major geographical and segment overlap of both companies across Decorative Paints and Performance Coatings, bringing into question value leakage.

It does not address the significant risk and uncertainty, including timing, of

TechnaGlass Purchases Ohio and Utah Franchises

TechnaGlass has reported that it has purchased the Cincinnati, Ohio and St. George, Utah franchises of TechnaGlass as part of its strategy to operate and develop company-owned units.

In Ohio, Joe Dills, the former TechnaGlass franchisee, will remain with the company and will oversee sales and marketing as Area Development Manager. The company will retain all employees and continue operations in Milford, Ohio. In St. George, Utah, TechnaGlass will also continue to operate at its current location and with existing staff.

These transactions are part of the company’s strategy to accelerate its growth through the acquisition of existing franchises in addition to rapid, regional corporate expansion.

“These deals allows us to accelerate our plans to open TechnaGlass retail locations throughout the country that are corporate-owned and operated,” said Troy Mason, CEO and Founder of TechnaGlass. “We anticipate opening new locations in Ohio and Kentucky in the near future.”

TechnaGlass provides high quality auto glass repair and replacement services in 11 states and 42 retail locations, along with its fleet of dis-

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Now in its 26th year, TechnaGlass has grown from a small familyowned auto glass company to become one of the largest regional auto glass repair and replacement companies in the United States. TechnaGlass is committed to pleasing its customers and providing a safe and high quality installation experience. TechnaGlass uses OEM materials and adheres to AGRSS (Auto Glass Repair Safety Standard), which is the accepted industry benchmark.

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deal completion due to extensive antitrust concerns. These anti-trust issues would have a significant negative impact on employees and customers which will affect the integrity of AkzoNobel.

4. Will lead to significant job cuts.

It includes synergies which can be expected to result in the restructuring of

the combined employee base, leading to job losses. PPG provides no substantive commitments to employees, creating potential uncertainty for thousands of jobs worldwide.

5. Does not address fundamental stakeholder concerns and uncertainties, nor does it substantiate any tangible solutions in relation to, among others, R&D, pensions and employees.

6. Does not meaningfully address our concerns regarding community

contribution and sustainability and the significant culture gap between both companies, including how any issues arising from this would be addressed.

The unsolicited proposal does not warrant AkzoNobel’s engagement with PPG. The Boards unanimously reject PPG’s revised proposal.

Ton Büchner, CEO, AkzoNobel:

“This proposal significantly fails to recognize the value of AkzoNobel. Our Boards do not believe it is in the best interest of AkzoNobel’s stakeholders, including our shareholders, customers and employees. That is why we have rejected it unanimously.

“We are convinced that AkzoNobel is best placed to unlock the value within our company ourselves. We are executing our plan, including the creation of two focused businesses and new cost structure, and believe this gives us a strong platform for continued profitability and long term value creation for all our stakeholders with substantially less execution risks.”

AkzoNobel will provide updated financial guidance and hold an upcoming investor event soon. Details of the event will be announced in due course.

2017 SEMA Board Candidates, Election Details Available

by SEMA Editors

The following is the slate of candidates vying for a seat on the SEMA Board of Directors: Chair-elect Category (one open seat) • Mitch Fogle, president and CEO, Lund International

• Dennis Weese, president, LINE-X

Voting will take place online May 10–24, 2017, and is open to current SEMA-member companies. Votes must be cast by each company’s primary contact. Details with ballots and

• Tim Martin, vice president, K&N Engineering Distributor/Retailer Category (one open seat) • Greg Adler, CEO, Transamerican Auto Parts

• Brian Lounsberry, CEO, Motovicity Distribution Manufacturers Category (one open seat) • James Lawrence, CEO, Power Automedia

• Shahriar “Nick” Niakan, president and CEO, Advanced Flow Engineering Inc. (aFe Power)

The current SEMA Board of Directors led

by Chairman Doug Evans (front center).

links will be sent to the member company’s designated primary contact beginning on April 28. Winners will be announced by May 30 and formally introduced at the SEMA Installation Gala July 28.

For more information about the 2017 SEMA Board of Directors election, contact Susan Alfonso at 909978-6671 or susana@sema.org.

www.autobodynews.com | MAY 2017 AUTOBODY NEWS 67

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