October 2017 Southeastern Edition by Autobody News

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VOL. 8 ISSUE 8 OCTOBER 2017

Eleventh Circuit Reinstates Body Shops’ Lawsuit Against Insurers, Attorney “Extremely Excited”

Hurricane Harvey Wreaks Havoc on Houston, Affected Body Shops Report on Damage

Five auto body shops, who claimed several insurance companies fixed repair prices, have had their case reinstated by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit. The shops, which are located in different states throughout the country, originally had their case dismissed by a federal judge in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida based on insufficient evidence proving the insurers have an agreement to fix prices. However, on September 7, the Eleventh Circuit reversed the dismissal.

When Hurricane Harvey hit the Southeast part of Texas during the weekend of August 25–27, many small towns along the coast were utterly devastated and destroyed.

by Katherine Coig, GlassBytes

The repair shops allege State Farm, as well as nine other insurers, “depress the shops’ rate for automobile repair,” by setting a market rate which would only benefit the insurance provider. The shops also claim the insurers steer consumers away from noncompliant auto shops, violating federal antitrust and state tort laws. According to court documents, the Eleventh Circuit elected to move the lawsuit forward, stating the shops supplied reasonable allegations to support their claim of an agreement among insurers to set a market rate for See Suit Reinstated, Page 3

Damage from Hurricane IRMA was still being assessed at our press time and will be included in our November issue. Your stories are welcome. More Harvey coverage throughout; SEMA Preview Coverage p. 16, 20, 21, 34

ABRA Auto Body Didn’t Properly Collect Employee, Customer Fingerprints Says Plaintiff in Class Action Suit

See ABRA Class Action, Page 48

P.O. BOX 1516, CARLSBAD, CA 92018

Two more business groups—a chain of auto body repair shops and a group of fitness clubs—have been added to the growing list of shops being sued under an Illinois law governing how businesses are supposed to handle the collection and use of employees’ and customers’ fingerprints and other socalled biometric information.

On Sept. 8, attorneys with two Chicago law firms introduced class action lawsuits in Cook County Circuit Court, accusing both ABRA Auto Body & Glass and the operators of the Crunch Fitness group of gyms, of violating the Illinois Biometric Information Privacy Act. Lawyers for the firm of Stephan Zouras LLP, of Chicago, filed suit on

Change Service Requested

by Jonathan Bilyk, Cook County Record

by Chasidy Rae Sisk

Credit: Patch.com

However, the most damage was sustained in Houston due to the city’s large size and denser population. Homes, vehicles and businesses were

flooded, and at least 45 Houston lives were lost as Harvey unleashed its fury on the Lone Star State. Harvey hit the Texas coast on the evening of Aug. 25 as a Category 4 hurricane, with winds as high as 130 mph, ravaging the coastline. Houston residents awoke on Sunday to flooding that turned roads into rivers. John Kopriva, President of the Houston Auto Body Association (HABA), reported, “We normally get about 50 inches of rain annually in Houston, but during Harvey, we got 53 inches in just a few days.” Kopriva’s shop had 3 feet of water in the back of the building, but fortunately, he had moved all his customers’ vehicles to the front of the building, and neither his nor his children’s homes sustained damage. Others were not so lucky. Several See Shops Affected, Page 18

Hurricane Harvey Ravaged Cars and Trucks — Bad for Drivers, Good for Automakers by James F. Peltz and David Montero, McRee Ford, Dickinson, Texas Los Angeles Times

with his insurance carrier yet; he’s been busy helping his parents clean out their wind-damaged house along the coast. He said he doubts he’ll get much anyway and is instead hoping

Perry Smith tried to race Hurricane Harvey. He lost. Now his white Toyota Corolla sits with a broken axle in the parking lot of a Strips convenience store in Rockport, Texas. It is, he admits, probably the end of the road for his trusty car with almost 190,000 miles on it. “The hurricane was right Harvey created epic flooding throughout Houston and on my tail,” Smith said. “It southeast Texas. Credit: Robert Gauthier, Los Angeles Times caught me. It lifted the back of the car up and I was looking down for some assistance from the Federal at the road through my windshield. Emergency Management Agency. Still, Texans already have filed Then—bam—it slammed back down more than 100,000 storm-related and that was it.” See Harvey Ravage, Page 24 Smith, 56, hasn’t filed a claim

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COLUMNISTS Antonelli - High School Student Shares Plans for Future Amidst Hurricane Harvey Recovery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 Attanasio - Veteran Shop Owner Energized by Son and Daughter at Panel Craft . . . . . 30 Attanasio - Young Painter Creates “Girls Behind the Gun” to Support Women in Collision Repair . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40 Phillips - How Being a ‘Values-Driven Company’ Has Set New Mexico Shop Apart from Competition . . . . . . . . . . 56 Phillips - How to Improve Body Shop Profit Using Sensible Goals: The ‘Power of One’ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46 Phillips - Riding Wave of Change: Hawaii Shop Shares Initiatives That Will Take Family Business Into the Future. . . . . . . . . 54 Yoswick - CCC Defends Shift to Secure Share, Faces Tough Questions from CIC Task Force . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26 Yoswick - Talk of Other Insurers Requiring Use of PartsTrader Goes Back Five Years . . . 32

NATIONAL 180BIZ Webinar Focuses on ABCs of Employee Retention . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29 3M PPS World Cup Features 10 of the World’s Best Car Painters . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44 A Half-Million Flooded Cars and Trucks Could be Scrapped after Hurricane Harvey . . . . . 12 AACF Helps Aftermarket Victims of Hurricanes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49 ABRA Auto Body Didn’t Properly Collect Employee, Customer Fingerprints Says Plaintiff in Class Action Suit . . . . . . . . 1 All New SEM Website Delivers ‘Best in Class’ Experience . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 70 Apollo’s TrueHVLP™ Maxi-Miser® 1000 & 2000 Mobile Spray Systems Offer Dramatically Less Overspray . . . . . . . . . . 70 Auto Care Association Donates $10,000 to Hurricane Harvey Victims . . . . . . . . . . . 36 BASF Glasurit Paint on Winning Porsche at Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance . . . . . 68 Caliber Collision Announces Changing Lanes Program. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48 Cambridge Automotive Group Opens New Maaco Location in Henderson, NV . . . . . . 53 CAPA Releases New Online Complaint Form . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 73 CCC Introduces the CCC ONE™ Platform for OEMs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 73 Charley Hutton’s Color Studio Recommends Innovative Tools & Technologies, Inc. . . . . 68 Checklist for Vehicles with Water Damage . . . 28 CHEMSPEC USA Releases NextGen Color Selector . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 Chip Foose Demonstrates the 3M™ Accuspray™ Spray Gun System . . . . . . . . 62 CIF Extends Assistance to Irma Victims . . . . 57 CIF Rallying to Support Industry Flood Victims of Hurricane Harvey . . . . . . . . . . . 72 Collision Student of the Year Nominations due Sept. 22 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72 Color Compass Partners with AMi on

University. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 69 Consumer Watchdog : New Federal Robot Car Guidelines Threaten Highway Safety . . . . 4 CREF Fundraiser Co-Hosted by PPG Raises $120,000 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 66 Darin Smith Discusses His SEMA Battle of the Builders Project . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21 Diamond Standard Parts Releases New Custom Dodge Ram Cowl Hood . . . . . . . . 33 Don’t Settle An Insurance Claim Without All the Facts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72 Driven Brands Raises Money for Hurricane Relief . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45 Eleventh Circuit Reinstates Body Shops’ Lawsuit Against Insurers, Attorney “Extremely Excited” . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 Estify Adds Industry Veteran Toan Nguyen to Executive Team . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 66 Fourth Annual SEMA Battle of the Builders to Feature Top Customizers in Three Categories . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21 GFS Releases Booth Shield Peelable Booth Protection. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 75 HDDA Developing Product Data Standards for Heavy Duty Market . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 79 Here’s the Auto Dealer that Clogged a Florida Parking Garage during Hurricane Irma . . . . 15 Hiring 300 Veterans — Service King’s Mission 2 Hire Milestone . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 House OKs Bill to Allow Thousands of Self-Driving Cars . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 I-CAR® Launces New Art and Science of Estimator Interactions Course . . . . . . . . 53 Industry Invited to Sponsor Work Uniforms for Local High School and College Collision School Programs . . . . . . . . . . . . 68 Magna Unveils MAX4 Autonomous Driving Platform . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 69 Martin Senour Paints Announces 2017 Fourth Quarter Training Schedule . . . . . . . 62 Mitchell 1 Announces the Return of the “Fabulous Las Vegas Sweepstakes” . . . . . 14 More than Half of Vehicle Owners Think Self-Driving Cars Are a “Good Idea” . . . . . 70 MyPriceLink Providing Dynamic, Real-Time Pricing, Receives Patent . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 79 New SEMA Program Supports Automotive Education. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 New Types of Claims Management ‘Insurtech’ Could Disrupt Auto Body Industry. . . . . . . 64 Project Underdog Heads to Auction, Actor’s Project to Benefit SEMA Scholarships . . . . 60 Remy Donates to AACF to Help Industry Members Rebuild from Major Hurricanes . . . 72 Repairify, Inc., Parent Company of asTech™, Acquires Mobile Diagnostics, LLC . . . . . . 10 Richard Rawlings of “Fast N’ Loud” has New TV Series . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29 San Rafael, CA, Businesswoman Trades Garage for Ganja . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36 SCRS and March Taylor Memorial Fund Award SkillsUSA Gold Medalists Tool Scholarships . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49 SCRS Announces Details on OEM Summit Sessions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 SEMA Show New Products Showcase Features Expanded hours, Buyer Happy Hour . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34 SEMA Student Career Day Focuses on Job Opportunities and Industry Growth . . . . . . 20 Seminars Give Hawaii Body Shops Opportunity to Learn Advanced Techniques and Procedures . . . . . . . . . . . 50 Sherwin-Williams Adds HP Single Stage Topcoat Line to Popular ATX™ System . . . . 62 Special Events Provide SEMA Showgoers With Education, Networking . . . . . . . . . . . 34 The 6700-DCE Series Electric Palm Sander/Polisher . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65 TV Personality Jessi Combs Credits WyoTech for her Success . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 U.S. DOT Releases Revisions to Self-Driving Cars Guidance. . . . . . . . . . . . 65 WWCC Auto Programs Nurture Car Whisperers in WA. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52 Young Auto Care Network Group Announces Program at AAPEX 2017. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45

repairs. The market rate—allegedly devised by State Farm—is determined by the market labor rate and market material costs, both of which are set by the insurance companies, the document states. “The insurance companies use the market labor rate that one company, State Farm, determines by using a method that is unverified and the results of which State Farm manipulates,” the documents reads. “Also, the insurance companies depress the market material costs by pressuring body shops into using inferior parts and into offering discounts and concessions.” The document says State Farm uses a “half plus one” method to dePublisher & Editor: Jeremy Hayhurst General Manager: Barbara Davies Contributing Writers: John Yoswick, Janet Chaney, Toby Chess, Ed Attanasio, Chasidy Sisk, David Luehr, Stacey Phillips, Victoria Antonelli Advertising Sales: Joe Momber, Sean Hartman, Bill Doyle, Norman Morano (800) 699-8251 Office Manager: Louise Tedesco Digital Marketing Manager: Bill Pierce Art Director: Rodolfo Garcia Graphic Designer: Michelle Lucas Online and Web Content Editor: Rochelle Beckel Accounting Manager: Heather Priddy Sales Assistant: Randi Scholtes

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.

Accuvision-3D . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 AIRCAT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 AMH Canada, Ltd. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 Audi Wholesale Parts Dealers . . 42-43 Axalta Coating Services . . . . . . . . . . 2 BASF Corporation. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 BMW Wholesale Parts Dealers . . . . 73 CarcoonAmerica Airflow Systems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49 Certified Automotive Parts Association (CAPA). . . . . . . . . . . 19 ChemSpec USA, LLC . . . . . . . . . . . 22 Classifieds. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 74 Coggin Deland Honda . . . . . . . . . . 52 Crashmax Equipment . . . . . . . . . . . 20 Darrell Waltrip Automotive Group. . 23 Dent Magic Tools . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 Dominion Sure Seal . . . . . . . . . . . . 40 Eckler’s Automotive . . . . . . . . . . . . 59 ECS Automotive Concepts . . . . . . . 36 Equalizer Industries, Inc . . . . . . . . . 41 Eurovac, Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34 Ford Wholesale Parts Dealers . . . . 69 GM Wholesale Parts Dealers . . . . . 67 Gus Machado Ford . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56 Hendrick Automotive Group . . . . . . 31 Hendrick Automotive Group of Charleston. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 76 Hendrick BMW/MINI . . . . . . . . . . . . 65 Hendrick Dodge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 Hendrick Kia Cary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53 Hendrick Kia Concord . . . . . . . . . . 53 Herkules Equipment Corporation. . . 6 Honda-Acura Wholesale Parts Dealers. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37, 38-39 Hyundai Motor America . . . . . . . . . 10 Hyundai Wholesale Parts Dealers. . 68 Insta Finish Car Care . . . . . . . . . . . 35 Jim Cogdill Chrysler-Dodge-JeepRam . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16

Jon Hall Chevrolet . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46 Jon Hiester Automotive . . . . . . . . . 24 Kernersville Chrysler-Dodge-JeepRam . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51 Kia Motors Wholesale Parts Dealers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63 Lancer Insurance Company . . . . . . 45 Lexus Wholesale Parts Dealers . . . 75 Malco. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21 Mercedes-Benz Wholesale Parts Dealers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 64 MINI Wholesale Parts Dealers . . . . 73 Mirka USA, Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25 MOPAR Wholesale Parts Dealers . . 47 Motor Guard . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 MWMtools.com . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55 Polyvance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27 Porsche Wholesale Parts Dealers . . 73 ProLine Tool & Supply, LLC. . . . . . . 15 Radley Chevrolet. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54 Reliable Automotive Equipment . . . 33 Rick Hendrick Chevrolet Naples. . . 60 Rick Hill Imports . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57 Riverside Ford-Lincoln . . . . . . . . . . 48 SATA Dan-Am Company . . . . . . . . 17 Serra Chevrolet-Buick-GMC of Nashville . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26 Sorbothane . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30 Southside Kia . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61 Spanesi Americas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32 Stateline Chrysler-Jeep-DodgeRam . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 Subaru Wholesale Parts Dealers . . 71 Tameron Hyundai . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50 UniCure Spraybooths . . . . . . . . . . . 28 Valspar Refinish . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 Volkswagen Wholesale Parts Dealers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72 West Broad Hyundai. . . . . . . . . . . . 44 Wizards Products . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29

Index of Advertisers

REGIONAL CARSTAR Lexington Collision Center Opens in South Carolina . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 CARSTAR Names Top Shops at Annual Conference in Charlotte, NC . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 Georgia Man Holds Cookout for Florida Evacuees Near Highway: ‘It Was Beautiful’ . . . 8 Georgia Northwestern Technical College to Host Industrial Career Day on the Floyd County Campus . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 Hurricane Harvey Ravaged Cars and Trucks — Bad for Drivers, Good for Automakers . . . 1 Hurricane Harvey Wreaks Havoc on Houston, Affected Shops Report on Damage . . . . . . . 1 Preston High’s Career & Technical Ed Program among the Top in West Virginia . . . 22 Tesla’s Autopilot Played Key Role in Deadly Florida Crash . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 THS Collision Repair Students Transforming Discarded Bicycles into Christmas Presents. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

Suit Reinstated

termine market labor prices. This method calculates the total number of employees or work bays (whichever is fewer) in a market area and lists the shops from fewest employees or bays to the shop with the highest. After the list is totaled, the half number, plus one, is chosen to set the market rate. Therefore, if there are 10 auto repair shops in a market area, the shop listed at number six would determine the market labor price. However, the document states it is unclear how the method determines a market area. The shops that filed the lawsuit operate in various states, including Kentucky, Virginia, New Jersey and Missouri. Other insurers included in the lawsuit are 21st Century, Allstate Insurance Co., Geico, Hanover Insurance Group, Liberty Mutual Insurance, Mutual Insurance Co., Nationwide, Progressive, Travelers and USAA.

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Southeast

Contents

Continued from Cover

www.autobodynews.com | OCTOBER 2017 AUTOBODY NEWS 3

House OKs Bill to Allow Thousands of Self-Driving Cars Automakers would each be allowed to operate up to 100,000 self-driving cars per year on U.S. roads, and states would be prevented from passing laws to prevent them from doing so under a bill that was approved Sept. 6 by the U.S. House of Representatives. The measure, approved on a voice vote, would allow the Secretary of Transportation to grant exemptions to federal motor vehicle rules that require cars to have human operators. Initially, 25,000 cars per automaker could be operated if companies can prove they meet existing safety standards for traditional cars. After a 12-month period, the number of exemptions per manufacturer would increase to 50,000, and it would go up to 100,000 in the third and fourth years. The current limit for such exemptions to federal auto standards is 2,500 cars for two years at a time. Under the bill approved Sept. 6, exemptions to federal auto standards would be limited to three years at a time. The measure, which goes now to the U.S. Senate, was approved after weeks of backroom negotiations between Republicans and Democrats on the panel over issues involving the number of test vehicles that would be exempt from federal safety standards requiring a human to be in control of the car and the length of time for which those exemptions would be valid. Lawmakers on both sides of the aisle said the compromised legislation will boost safety of U.S. roads, and also represented a rare bipartisan con-

U.S. Rep. Debbie Dingell, DDearborn, added, “This wasn’t something that was thrown together at the last minute. A lot of time has been spent addressing everybody’s concerns.” The bill passed Sept. 6 requires the U.S. Secretary of Transportation to issue a rule requiring automakers to submit a safety assessment certification for their self-driving cars within two years of passage of the measure. In the interim, the legislation directs carmakers to submit letters to the National Highway Traffic Safety Ad-

ministration that mirror a set of 15 guidelines that were recommended by the Obama administration in 2016. The guidelines called for automakers and technology companies to voluntarily report on testing and safety to federal regulators before autonomous cars are sold to the public. Under Obama’s proposal, automakers would have been required to report how they were tested, how the systems work and what happens if those systems fail before self-driving cars are allowed to roll on U.S. roads. Democrats in the House had sought to greatly reduce the number of exemptions that would allow automakers to put thousands of self-driving cars on the road in the immediate future, but they said they could live with the compromise that calls for gradually increasing the number over several years. “Self-driving cars have the potential in the future to reduce deaths and injuries from car crashes, particularly those that result from driver distraction,” Rep. Frank Pallone, D-N.J., said. “This bill allows for testing and deployment of self-driving cars to help the United States reach that potential sooner.” Automakers praised lawmakers for moving the bill to increase the number of self-driving cars that can be operated on U.S. roads. General Motors Co. said in a statement that the measure “represents good progress toward a law that will facilitate realization of the safety, mobility, and environmental benefits of self-driving vehicles.” The company added a caveat that “more work is needed” before the bill is signed into law, how-

The new Federal autonomous vehicle policy released today poses a threat to highway safety, Consumer Watchdog warned and the nonpartisan nonprofit group called for the enactment of enforceable Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards specifically covering self-driving cars. Dubbed a “Vision for Safety 2.0” and released by Secretary of Transportation Elaine Chao, the new policy emphasizes the voluntary nature of the new federal guidelines. “This isn’t a vision for safety,” said John M. Simpson, Consumer Watchdog’s Privacy Project Director. “It’s a roadmap that allows manufacturers to

do whatever they want, wherever and whenever they want, turning our roads into private laboratories for robot cars with no regard for our safety.” The new Department of Transportation and National Highway Traffic Safety Administration policy focuses only on voluntary guidance for Level 3, Level 4 and Level 5 selfdriving cars, not Level 2 technology where only some driving technology is automated, Consumer Watchdog noted. “This a serious short-coming and ignores the fact that Level 2 technology, like Tesla’s Autopilot, has killed people,” said Simpson. “How the

human driver monitors and interacts with Level 2 technologies is potentially life threatening and requires Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards.” The DOT claims the revised voluntary policy “incorporates feedback received through public comments.” “This simply isn’t true,” Simpson said. “There hasn’t been a NHTSA public hearing on autonomous vehicle policy since President Trump was inaugurated and the highly touted DOT Advisory Committee on Automation in Transportation (ACAT) has not even met and has been completely ignored by Trump’s appointees.” The new robot car guidelines raise

by Keith Laing, Detroit News Washington Bureau

sensus in a typically bitterly divided Washington. “This legislation on autonomous vehicles ...will go a long way to taking the human error out of driving and making roads safer for all Americans,” said U.S. Rep. Fred Upton, R-St. Joseph. “Forget about the Jetsons, it’s over. The future of the autonomous industry is here, and this bill will give the automotive industry the tools to revolutionize how we’re going to get around for generations to come.”

The measure, approved on a voice vote, would allow the Secretary of Transportation to grant exemptions to federal motor vehicle rules that require cars to have human operators. Credit: Gene J. Puskar, AP

ever. Safety groups complained the exemptions give automakers too much freedom to test self-driving cars on roads with other drivers. “This bill leaves a Wild West frontier by pre-empting the states’ ability to do anything to protect consumer safety, while there is nothing yet at the federal level,” said John Simpson, Consumer Watchdog privacy project director. The legislation prohibits states and other local jurisdictions from adopting regulations related to cars’ design, construction, software or communication. States still would be allowed to regulate registration, licensing, liability, education and training, insurance or traffic laws. Michigan had already taken steps to position itself as a haven for selfdriving car testing: last year, the state legislature passed into law a measure that allows robotic cars to be operated on any Michigan road without a driver behind the wheel. Supporters of the measure moving now in Congress anticipate the U.S. Senate will take up a similar version of the self-driving measure this fall. Lawmakers in the upper chamber have said they also are working on a bipartisan bill to regulate self-driving cars. They have released a set of principles that call for prioritizing safety, promoting innovation and strengthening cybersecurity, but have not agreed on specific language.

questions for state regulators, Consumer Watchdog said. For example, proposed self-driving rules in California mandate that manufacturers would have to file a federal safety assessment with NHTSA. The new guidance, however, says states should not codify any portion of the voluntary guidance in their regulations. “The DOT and NHTSA ‘Vision for Safety 2.0’ tells auto manufacturers to think about a few things involving robot cars and then do whatever they want,” said Simpson.

We thank the Detroit News for reprint permission.

Consumer Watchdog: New Federal Robot Car Guidelines Threaten Highway Safety

4 OCTOBER 2017 AUTOBODY NEWS | www.autobodynews.com

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www.autobodynews.com | OCTOBER 2017 AUTOBODY NEWS 5

CARSTAR Names Top Shops at Annual Conference in Charlotte, NC

For the first time at its annual conference, CARSTAR North America recognized both United States and Canadian CARSTAR owners and business groups throughout its network for their leadership and performance. In the categories for top system award winners, Michael Macaluso, President, CARSTAR North America, and Dean Fisher, Chief Operations Officer, CARSTAR Auto Body Repair Experts, presented three awards to CARSTAR stores for their achievements. The winners included:

Franchisee of the Year Franchisee of the Year is the highest award given in the CARSTAR system, and represents the best of the best that is CARSTAR. These two winners were chosen on criteria such as using all vendors possible, attending the annual conference, committing to the EDGE program, being image compliant, submitting reports on time online, and delivering consistently high CSI for the month and quarterly periods. For Canada, the 2017 Franchisee of the Year is Jeff Labanovich, owner of CARSTAR Oshawa Drake Street. He is a longtime franchisee with two locations, chair of the CARSTAR

Canada advisory board, has delivered double-digit growth over the past several years, is very engaged in the community and has an excellent brand presence in the marketplace.

In the U.S., the 2017 Franchisee of the Year is Sheila Samuels and her brother Jeff Samuels of CARSTAR Ideal and CARSTAR Arvada. They are a leader in the market on systems and processes and an integral part of the Denver business group. They have one of the most beautiful facilities in CARSTAR’s system, they have embraced a scheduling program, they have engaged in the advanced EDGE process and they are getting ready for eco-lean. They have created a great shop culture with long-term employees, and are always a leader in the market on charitable donations. Rookie of the Year The Rookie of the Year award is given in recognition to a new CARSTAR

CARSTAR Lexington Collision Center Opens in South Carolina

CARSTAR Auto Body Repair Experts, North America’s largest Multi-Shop Operator Network of independently owned collision repair facilities, announced the

opening of CARSTAR Lexington Collision Center at 1840 Augusta Highway in Lexington, SC. The shop is owned by Ryan Ouvry and is the first CARSTAR location in the state of South Carolina. CARSTAR Lexington Collision Center provides comprehensive services from full auto collision repair, small dent and ding fixes, storm damage repair and paint jobs. CARSTAR features state-of-the-art

unibody and frame repair equipment, expert color matching, towing assistance, vehicle pick-up and delivery, a nationwide warranty for most repairs, and takes pride in offering a clean, inviting environment. CARSTAR’s certified technicians are trained to work on all makes and models and participate in ongoing education programs on the latest vehicle technologies and materials. The location is open Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. “We’re excited to bring the CARSTAR brand and the collision industry’s highest quality repairs to South Carolina residents,” said Michael Macaluso, president, CARSTAR North America. “Ryan and his team are excellent leaders for CARSTAR as we continue our expansion in the south.”

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6 OCTOBER 2017 AUTOBODY NEWS | www.autobodynews.com

franchisee as it gets “up and running” with CARSTAR. To qualify for the award, a franchisee must be in its first year with CARSTAR, have completed CARSTAR immersion and enthusiastically embraced the CARSTAR culture with active participation. For Canada, the 2017 Rookie of the Year is Ron Alberts / CARSTAR St. Stephen, New Brunswick. He has proven to be a very progressive thinker. He is a best-in-class location, is a true ambassador of the CARSTAR Brand, and is very integrated in the community. In the U.S., the 2017 Rookie of the Year is Kevin Raines, with CARSTAR Centre City and CARSTAR West Chester. Kevin opened two stores in the Cincinnati area late last year, becoming our 500th location, and is on track to open two more this year.

Next Generation Award The Next Generation Award honors a second or third-generation CARSTAR owner who excels at leading a family business, continues to meet high performance standards, participates in key CARSTAR programs like the EDGE Performance platform, attends conferences and is image compliant.

The 2017 Next Generation Award for Canada is presented to Joe and Paul Saputo, owners of CARSTAR Ancaster. These recipients were one of the first CARSTAR Franchise locations in Canada. They have been very successful in transitioning the business from their father and mother and have grown sales by 25 percent since taking over the business. They have just recently opened their second location in Ancaster, Ontario. For the U.S., the 2017 Next Generation Award is presented to Jamie White, owner of CARSTAR Ken’s North and CARSTAR Dalton South. Jamie purchased both locations from his uncle, Ken White, in January 2017, and is now staged for additional growth. “It is an incredible honor to be able to recognize the achievements of these great shops, owners, and executives,” said Macaluso. “Our North American award recipients not only set a great example for other shops to follow, they also spread their knowledge experience throughout the entire CARSTAR network to help each and every one of our shops grow.”

For more information on CARSTAR, visit: www.carstar.com.

www.autobodynews.com | OCTOBER 2017 AUTOBODY NEWS 7

Georgia Man Holds Cookout for Florida Evacuees Near Highway: ‘It Was Beautiful’

by Maya Chung, Inside Edition

A Georgia man and several volunteers held a large cookout for Florida evacuees on Saturday, Sept. 9. Chad Harrison, who lives in Valdosta, GA, said he was watching a lot of negative news about Florida residents being stuck on the main highway, I-75, while trying to flee the state ahead of Hurricane Irma, and he wanted to do something to help. He decided to ask a couple of co-workers at the auto body shop where he works to chip in and help, but once word spread of their efforts, donations began to pour in. “It’s a huge storm,” Harrison told InsideEdition.com. “Being from the south, it’s something that we felt like we needed to do. We just take care of our neighbors.” Harrison and other volunteers gathered by the highway and began grilling for anyone who wanted to stop by and eat. With signs that read, “Free Food for Evacuees,” Harrison and the community were able to feed about 2,000 people. They also filled up several

evacuees’ gas tanks. “It was beautiful,” Harrison said. “I cooked meals. I filled up gas. I filled in where it needed to be— everyone did.” He said the response to the community’s gesture has been great and people were really thankful. “People had tears of joy,” Harrison said. “It’s just hard to describe when you see a child who has nothing and all of a sudden, they have to get on the road and run from a Category 5 hurricane. You can imagine the stress level of the parents. They were blessed.” After Irma’s forecasted path shifted Sunday, a hurricane warning was in effect for Valdosta, which is located right on the Georgia-Florida border. We thank Inside Edition for reprint permission.

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8 OCTOBER 2017 AUTOBODY NEWS | www.autobodynews.com

THS Collision Repair Students Transforming Discarded Bicycles into Christmas Presents

by Allie Martin, WCBI

Christmas may be a few months away, but students in one vo tech class at Tupelo High School are working hard to make sure the holiday is extra special for some area children. While some students in the collision repair class were preparing a car’s fender for paint, others were removing paint and decals from a bicycle frame, or adjusting a rear bike tire. At the start of this school year, teacher Derek Bradley put the call out for used bicycles, in any condition. “It’s called ‘Sharing at Christmas,’” Bradley said. This community service project involves all 56 students in Bradley’s collision repair class. “They’re going to take the bikes, repair all the bikes, all the damage, seats, brakes, rusted out or whatever— they’re going to tear the bikes all the way down, then they will rebuild them, sand them , paint them, put new decals on them, put their own custom touch to it and everything,” he said. The refurbished bicycles will be Christmas gifts for kids throughout the area.

“What I want my students to learn is [that] it’s not all about having money. If you have a special talent or skill, and time, you can give that, and it’s better than giving money,” Bradley said. Without a doubt, the students are learning some valuable skills, and they are also being taught an important life lesson—the value of helping others. “We want to give back to the community, and so give to people who can’t afford a bike, can’t afford a Christmas present,” said THS sophomore Rico Smith. “We’re trying to give them something new, like you just bought them out of the store and something they will actually love,” said THS sophomore Seaoena Spritt. The collision repair class will transform at least 24 bicycles, with room for more. Class members are asking for names of families who could use a bicycle from the “Sharing At Christmas” community service project. For more information, send Mr. Bradley an email at: dobradley @tupeloschools.com or you can call the school at 662-841-8970. We thank WCBI for reprint permission.

Georgia Northwestern Technical College to Host Industrial Career Day on the Floyd County Campus by Staff Reports, Coosa Valley News

Northwest Georgia high school students and members of the community will get a chance to explore various industrial careers and skilled trades when Georgia Northwestern Technical College (GNTC) holds Industrial Career Day on Thursday, Sept. 21. The activities will take place from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at Industrial Alley on GNTC’s Floyd County Campus. The alley is located adjacent to Buildings B, C, D and F which contain a majority of the college’s industrial programs. This will provide a centralized location with access to most of the industrial labs on the Rome campus. Visitors should report to the front desk in the A Building on Industrial Career Day. The event is free and open to the public. Industrial program directors will be on-hand to discuss their programs and provide tours of their labs. There will be demonstrations, simulators, and hands-on learning activities for the industrial programs offered by GNTC. Local employers and former students also will be present to speak with participants about the benefits of learning a skilled trade. “We are also going to have em-

ployers here that can talk about job placement, career possibilities, even potential salaries individuals can make with a skilled trade,” said Scott Carter, director of Electrical System Controls at GNTC. Some of the industrial activities will include a small car show hosted by the Auto Collision program, a Dynamometer (DYNO) demonstration with a hot rod presented by the Automotive Technology program, a bulldozer simulator presented by the Construction Management program, a welding simulator provided by the Welding and Joining Technology program, and the Machine Tool Technology program will provide a Computer Numerical Control (CNC) demonstration by creating fidget spinners out of raw material. The machine that GNTC’s SkillsUSA Career Pathways team created, that won the gold medal at the SkillsUSA Georgia competition and the bronze medal at the national SkillsUSA competition, will be demonstrated at the labs for the Industrial Systems Technology and Instrumentation and Controls programs. T-shirts will be distributed, while supplies last, and snacks will be provided.

Featured GNTC industrial programs will include Air Conditioning Technology, Auto Collision Repair, Automotive Technology, Aviation Maintenance Technology, Commercial Truck Driving, Construction Management, Cosmetology, Electrical Systems Technology, Horticulture, Industrial Systems Technology, Instrumentation and Controls, Machine Tool Technology, and Welding and Joining Technology. As part of the day’s activities, one of the qualifying rounds for the 2017 IDEAL National Championship will take place in the electrical lab in Building C. The competition is a way to showcase the skills of electrical professionals, students, and apprentices. Winners with the fastest times from each of the 63 territories holding qualifying events are awarded tool kits and the opportunity to compete in the 2017 IDEAL National Championship. The national competition will be held Nov. 10-11 at Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort in Florida and over $500,000 in cash and prizes will be awarded. In the qualifying competitions, electricians will use IDEAL tools to complete a timed challenge that involves problem-solving skills across five categories: pulling wire, cutting,

stripping, termination, and testing. Contestants will be evaluated on speed and accuracy. “When you learn a skilled trade, that’s one of the things that can’t be taken away from you,” said Carter, who is serving as coordinator for the IDEAL Qualifying Round at GNTC. “It’s something you can learn here, or at any of our other campuses, and if you want to live somewhere like Los Angeles, you take it with you and are not limited as to where you can find employment.” Industrial Career Day is sponsored by Georgia Northwestern, City Electric Supply, Cahaba Sales Group, and the 2017 IDEAL National Championship. To learn more about the 2017 IDEAL National Championship, go to www.IDEALnationals.com. We thank Coosa Valley News for reprint permission.

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www.autobodynews.com | OCTOBER 2017 AUTOBODY NEWS 9

Techs of Tomorrow

Victoria Antonelli is a freelance writer and model, based in Los Angeles. She has been writing for the collision industry since 2013. She can be reached at vantonelli.autobodynews@gmail.com.

High School Student Shares Plans for Future Amidst Hurricane Harvey Recovery with Victoria Antonelli

Kingwood Park, TX, native Cameren May discovered his love for “anything with a motor” when his dad brought home a 1981 Firebird for them to work on just two years ago. Now 17 years old, May is enrolled in the auto collision program at Kingwood Park High School, located in greater Houston. “Jeff Wilson, an instructor at my high school, came to me my freshman year after he found out about me rebuilding the Firebird with my dad,” May explained. “He knew my family through the Kingwood Park FFA program, and he talked to me during my AG class one day about his auto collision program.” According to Wilson, May holds I-CAR certifications in both nonstructural and refinishing. He is also OSHA and 6-H trained and certified. “Cameren is an outstanding young man both in and out of school,” said Wilson. “He is a student with impeccable ability and talent, and his collision and refinishing skills are truly a sight to see.” May said his favorite project so far has been refinishing the Harley Davidson tin set during his spring semester in 2017.

“I found metal forming and laying Bondo [to be] the most challenging,” he added.

Cameren May in Happier times

In addition to his involvement with the Kingwood Park FFA program, May also helps his parents with their horse boarding facility. “I’m also very involved in my youth group at our church,” May said.

Repairify, Inc., Parent Company of asTech™, Acquires Mobile Diagnostics, LLC

Repairify, Inc., owners of asTech™, completed its acquisition of Mann’s Mobile Automotive Services, LLC.

Mann’s Mobile provides mobile electrical automotive diagnostic services and programming in the Cleveland area, and will continue operating under the asTech™ brand. The addition of Mann’s Mobile will complement the company’s current staff of field technicians already operating in the Cleveland market, as well as in Arizona, D.C., Georgia, Florida, Illinois, Maryland, New Mexico, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Ohio, Texas and Virginia.

Brian Mann, owner of Mann’s Mobile, said, “We built a good business in Cleveland and experienced strong growth over the years. By joining team asTech and tapping into the resources they offer, we expect to significantly expand our business in the coming years in Cleveland and the surrounding areas.” Mann will be assuming the role of Cleveland market manager, overseeing the company’s expansion in the Cleveland and Akron markets. Doug Kelly, CEO said, “The addition of Mann’s Mobile in Cleveland is another example of asTech’s commitment to providing mobile services in the top 100 metro markets throughout the US. We are on track to having greater than 50 percent of the top 100 markets served in the next 12 to 18 months.”

10 OCTOBER 2017 AUTOBODY NEWS | www.autobodynews.com

However, May and his family’s lives were turned upside down when Hurricane Harvey, the wettest and one of the most destructive tropical hurricanes on record in U.S. history, made landfall in Houston just three weeks ago. “Hurricane Harvey affected my family considerably. We lost pretty much everything on the first floor of my house,” he said. “We also lost my Mom’s 2015 GMC 3500, my Dad’s 2015 Chrysler 300 and my 1982 Chevy Silverado C-10.” May added that his home retained a total of 18 inches of water, while lower areas of his family’s 22-acre property were 10 feet under water. “We lost our tractors, a zero-turn mower, a Swisher weed eater and much more,” he said. May said that the Monday morning when the hurricane hit was when their property received the bulk of the damage.

“Around 4 a.m., the water had risen 3 feet overnight and was already in our barn. By 7 a.m. that morning it was up to my calf, and at 1 p.m. it was up to my waist,” he explained. “By that night, our house had water and the barn had 4 feet in it.” May and his family are still in the recovery process, and expect a long road ahead before their property is back to normal. Luckily, May’s high school, Kingwood Park, received minimal damage, but is still in need of supplies (please see the related cover article on Jeff Wilson for more information). As for future career plans, May said he wants to join the U.S. Coast Guard or the Texas National Guard sometime in the fall semester after he graduates high school. “My dream job is to own my auto collision / mechanic and custom paint shop someday,” he added.

www.autobodynews.com | OCTOBER 2017 AUTOBODY NEWS 11

A Half-Million Flooded Cars and Trucks Could be Scrapped after Hurricane Harvey by Justin Kavanagh, Car History Check Experts, MyVehicle.ie

Car dealers stateside are expecting a huge surge in business once Houston gets back on its feet. Used-car values are already at a record high, and prices could climb even higher over the next couple of weeks due to the tighter supply. Thousands of cars and trucks have been totaled, with water up to their windows and in some cases, over the roof.

The flooding is so extensive that it is estimated that a half-million vehicles may wind up being scrapped. Jonathan Smoke, the chief economist for Cox Automotive, said, “This is worse than Hurricane Sandy. Sandy was bad, but the flooding with Hurricane Harvey could impact far more vehicles.”

After Hurricane Sandy hit New York and New Jersey in October 2012, there were an estimated 250,000 vehicles that had to be written off and scrapped. The New York metropolitan area may have a bigger population than Houston, TX, but the number of vehicles per household is much higher in Houston, hence double the number of cars written off. With so many vehicles in the flood zone, insurance companies will be busy handling claims and sorting out insurance payouts for flood victims so they can buy new vehicles. Car prices could climb even higher over the next couple of weeks due to the tighter supply in the Houston area, but not all of the flooded vehicles will wind up being scrapped. Many will be cleaned up and resold, often without the new buyer realizing they are buying a salvaged car or truck. Frank Scafidi with the National Insurance Crime Bureau said, “It’s going to happen, that’s inevitable. Look at all those vehicles floating around. There are people who will try to take advantage of the situation.” The resale of repaired flooded

Tesla’s Autopilot Played Key Role in Deadly Florida Crash

The National Transportation Safety Board’s finding that Tesla’s Autopilot shares the blame for a fatal crash with a truck in Florida last year underscores the need for Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards covering automated driver assistance technologies, Consumer Watchdog said Sept. 12. The NTSB’s findings came an hour before the Department of Transportation and National Highway Traffic Safety Administration released new autonomous vehicle guidance, “A Vision for Safety 2.0,” which explicitly ignored socalled Level 2 technologies such as Autopilot. At the DOT-NHTSA news conference in Ann Arbor, MI, announcing the new federal voluntary self-driving guidelines, an NHTSA spokesman said the agency hadn’t yet reviewed the NTSB findings. “NHTSA should have been a partner with the NTSB in this investigation, but they were not,” said John M. Simpson, Consumer Watchdog’s Privacy Project Director. “Instead they’re asleep at the

wheel and didn’t even bother to address Level 2 technologies in their new voluntary guidance.” NTSB chair Robert Sumwalt said the Tesla’s “operational limitations played a major role in this collision.” The board unanimously recommended that automakers be required to limit the use of partially self-driving technology by ensuring that drivers are actively engaged in driving at all times. The board concluded that Tesla’s method of making sure the driver’s hands are periodically on the wheel is not enough. A possible solution could be a camera that tracks eye movement. “Tesla CEO Elon Musk played an active role in leading drivers to believe Autopilot was more capable of self-driving than was the case,” said Simpson. “There were widely viewed videos of both him and his wife behind the wheel and waving their arms, clearly leaving the impression the car did everything. He should be held accountable for his deadly hype.”

12 OCTOBER 2017 AUTOBODY NEWS | www.autobodynews.com

cars is not illegal in the US, as long as the flood damage is disclosed on the title to buyers. After Hurricane Katrina, thousands of rebuilt flood vehicles were sold to unsuspecting buyers

with titles that had been washed or reissued in a different state. “We didn’t see this on a huge scale until Hurricane Katrina,” said Scafidi. “Since then, the public awareness of the problem is greater, but with thousands of flooded vehicles it’s hard to prevent this from happening.” We thank Car History Check Experts, MyVehicle.ie for reprint permission.

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CHEMSPEC USA Releases NextGen Color Selector

ChemSpec USA, LLC., is proud to announce the release of its 2nd generation Professional Color Selector. The redesign of the PCS system is a direct result of the company’s dedication to color excellence and efficiencies in improving the lives of their customers in the USA and worldwide. The Professional Color Selector™ system consists of over 5,600 color chips for solid and metallic color refinishing. Included within are 265 color updates for 2017. The swatches are arranged in color chromatic sequence to easily compare the color swatch to the color directly on the vehicles surface. This allows for the painter to make a correct color choice quickly and accurately for improved efficiency. Each swatch is manufactured with our original paint and applied with a spray gun to get a truer to life, accurate match. The chips feature a newly laminated coating for improved durability and prevention of solvent ingress. For more information on ChemSpec USA, call 800-328-4892, email us at sales@chemspecpaint. com, or visit our website chemspecpaint.com. Stop by our SEMA Booth # 10677.

www.autobodynews.com | OCTOBER 2017 AUTOBODY NEWS 13

Mitchell 1 Announces the Return of the “Fabulous Las Vegas Sweepstakes”

Mitchell 1 announced the return of its “Fabulous Las Vegas Sweepstakes,” running now through Sept. 22. One lucky winner will receive an all-expense paid trip for two to attend this year’s Automotive Aftermarket Industry Week (AAIW) events, including the Automotive Aftermarket Products Expo (AAPEX) and Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) show in Las Vegas, NV. To enter, visit the Mitchell 1 Facebook page and submit the online form. “We received a great response from our Facebook fans last year, so we decided to bring back our ‘Fabulous Las Vegas Sweepstakes’ to give another lucky winner the opportunity to join us in Las Vegas for four exciting days at AAPEX and SEMA,” said Nick DiVerde, senior marketing director for Mitchell 1. “Not only will the winner get to see Mitchell 1 repair information solutions in action at our booth, but they will also be able to walk the show floors and attend educational seminars, product demonstrations, special events and more.” One grand-prize winner will receive round-trip airfare for two

people to Las Vegas, four days/three nights in double occupancy hotel accommodations, two attendee badges for AAPEX and the SEMA Show and one $500 Visa prepaid card. While in Las Vegas, the sweepstakes winner will have the opportunity to see firsthand how Mitchell 1 is the one source for every step of the repair process with its complete line of integrated software and services. Mitchell 1’s industry-leading family of products for the automotive and trucking industries includes ProDemand®—the most complete source for OEM and real-world diagnostic and repair information; Manager™ SE—the industry standard for mechanical estimating and shop management; SocialCRM— shop marketing services that help shop owners engage customers and improve their bottom line profits; and TruckSeries—comprehensive repair information for Class 4-8 trucks. Mitchell 1 will be demonstrating its full line of products in Booth 3274 during the AAPEX show at the Sands Expo & Convention Center.

14 OCTOBER 2017 AUTOBODY NEWS | www.autobodynews.com

TV Personality Jessi Combs Credits WyoTech for her Success

WyoTech graduate Jessi Combs is a television personality and car customizer who was co-host of the Spike TV show “Xtreme 4x4” from 2005 to 2009. She also appeared on the automotive TV shows “Overhaulin’” (with Chip Foose), “The List: 1,001 Car Things To Do Before You Die” and “All Girls Garage.” In 2004, she graduated from WyoTech (Wyoming Technical Institute) at the top of her class in the Collision & Refinishing Core Program, as well as the Street Rod Fabrication and Custom Fabrication and High Performance Powertrain programs. While a student at WyoTech, she appeared on one episode of “Overhaulin’.” The WyoTech marketing department hired her to build a car from the ground up in six months to debut at the Specialty Equipment Marketing Association’s (SEMA) show. This was her first professional job. On Sept. 8, Jessi Combs posted the following on her Instagram account: “@wyotech_edu is definitely still open and better than ever. Quality over quantity and education over $$. Lots of good things happening!” As a professional driver, Combs

also races in several events and has experienced many accomplishments. She drove the North American Eagle (NaE) Supersonic Speed Challenger at the Alvord desert, claiming the women’s 4-wheel land speed record with an official run of 398.954 mph and a top speed of 440.709 mph in 2013. In 2007, a large piece of machinery fell on Jessi and fractured her spine while in her studio. Doctors predicted her life to be wheelchair-bound, but thankfully she made a full recovery. One of her latest projects is offering welding demonstrations. She appeared at Mayfair Park in Lakewood, CA, as part of the Stampede Car Show in August. The event was part of her Real Deal Workshoppes, a program she founded that supports women seeking to learn the automotive welding trade. Wyoming Technical Institute, (Wyotech), was founded in 1966 as an automotivethemed school, offering programs in automotive repair. WyoTech is nationally accredited and has locations in Wyoming, Pennsylvania and Florida. Programs in Marine Technology, and Motorcycle Technology are also offered as well as automotive.

Here’s the Auto Dealer that Clogged a Florida Parking Garage during Hurricane Irma by Linda Trischitta, Sun Sentinel

We now know which car dealer filled up public parking spaces intended to help Hollywood, FL, residents protect their cars from Hurricane Irma. The city says it’s a Miami dealer who operates Autoline LLC car sales in two Broward County locations. People who had sheltered their cars in a Hollywood municipal garage or couldn’t find room to park there had a lot to say about the dealer accused of taking a block of spaces during the storm. City officials say approximately 47 cars without license plates were cited for not having a current tag, a $30 fine. Seven of the cars bore an orange boot on rear tires, briefly making them immobile. On Sept. 11, dealer Keijo Kiilo of Miami arrived at the garage at Van Buren Street and South 20th Avenue and began removing 24 vehicles, city spokeswoman Raelin Storey said. A code compliance and a police officer met Kiilo and issued him 24 notices to appear in court for using public ways for private business, a city ordinance and a misdemeanor offense, Storey said. The remaining cars had been re-

moved earlier in the day before police could write citations for the second offense, she said. The penalty for each violation is a $500 fine and a possible two-month jail term. No one answered phone calls made Sept. 11 to the Autoline locations, at 600 N. Federal Highway in Hallandale Beach and 520 S. Dixie Highway in Hollywood. As Broward County’s 10 a.m. curfew ended Sept. 11, residents who had taken advantage of the city’s free offer to park there during the storm were arriving to pick up their cars. They were not happy that someone took advantage of the city’s offer, and said it inconvenienced them and endangered their property. “If you own a dealership, you should have a place to put your car,” said Eddie Muriel, who lives in the Regent Park condominiums next door. “Don’t take my spot. I live here, pay for parking here, and I couldn’t get a spot.” William Brown, who lives nearby on Jackson Street, was astride a Harley-Davidson motorcycle and leaving the garage when he stopped to talk about the situation. “I come here to the Hollywood garage to park my vehicle and I find

all the spaces were taken,” Brown said about his efforts to shelter his car before Hurricane Irma struck. “Then later on, I hear a story about a dealership having cars in here without tags, and I was pretty annoyed by that. I left my car at home and protected my Harley in here, and I’m happy that it’s all right.” During Hurricane Matthew last October, Brown said he was able to park his bike and car side-by-side in the city garage. “It was a great deal,” Brown said. “But this year was a little bit different. A few more people found out the secret about Hollywood’s garages.” He supports enforcement against any dealership that used a city garage during the storm. “There should be some type of priority,” Brown said. “Residents don’t have anywhere else to go.” Marcy Roban was at the garage too, and said, “We are very grateful to the city of Hollywood for having opened the garage to residents of the city.” When asked whether a dealer who does business in the city and may pay taxes there should be entitled to the same opportunity, Roban said, “His business is covered by insurance.”

Robert Dominguez said being squeezed out of a protected parking space “was not fair for the people in the neighborhood that work hard for their cars. This guy just pulls in and takes all the spots?” Driver Carolyn Boyer, who also lives nearby, said, “What they are showing is their priority is their cars, not the community.” Storey, the city spokeswoman, said public reaction to situation was understandable. “I think at the end of the day, people were upset because everyone needed to safeguard their property,” Storey said. “And for one person to take advantage of it when they should have come up with another solution for their business left people out in the storm, and that wasn’t the right thing to do. “This is definitely not an example of human nature at its best. This is an example of someone taking advantage.” Sun Sentinel Columnist Michael Mayo contributed to this report. We thank Sun Sentinel for reprint permission.

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989-315-8946 www.autobodynews.com | OCTOBER 2017 AUTOBODY NEWS 15

SCRS Announces Details on OEM Summit Sessions The Society of Collision Repair Specialists (SCRS) announces session details outlining the content of the upcoming OEM Collision Repair Technology Summit (Summit) at the 2017 SEMA Show (Show.) The Summit, held on Thursday, Nov. 2, was first launched by SCRS four years ago to put Show attendees in a room with innovators in automo-

tive structural design and technology that can create context around sophisticated advancements in vehicles and emerging technology, and the impact it will have specifically on collision repair businesses. This year’s three sessions will address the impact that automotive research has on vehicle construction and functionality, the impact that construction and functionality has on performing once-commonplace repair procedures, and the impact that those OEM procedures—or failure to implement them—have on liability and safety. The sessions will include:

9:00 a.m. - 10:30 a.m. OEM1 | N241 | OEM Session I: How Automotive Research is Driving Change in Vehicle Design, Technology and Function The automotive industry has proven to be a ripe landscape for revolutionary technology intended to address everything from autonomy and connectivity to structural developments for advanced vehicle light weighting. These technological advancements rely heavily on innovative research for developing and testing complex solutions to be deployed to the motoring public. This research

often stems from collaborations between automakers, in the aftermarket, and through educational institutions; all looking to advance safe, efficient and groundbreaking transportation solutions. Moderated by John Waraniak, Vice President Vehicle Technology for SEMA, this distinguished panel will share insight into the research going on today that has the potential to reshape how you repair vehicles tomorrow.

11:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. OEM2 | N241 | OEM Session II: The Impact of Advanced Vehicle Systems on Routine Repair Process and Procedure New technology is rapidly advancing in vehicles today, and Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) are becoming increasingly more popular in new vehicles. They can have significant effect on how you perform previously routine services in your collision repair facility. While those on the road benefit from ADAS, the repair industry must change how they approach traditional services, as many OEMs require additional procedures, calibrations and tools to ensure restoration of vehicle functionality. Kaleb Silver, Senior Product Manager for Hunter Engineering, will present on challenges facing the industry and the impact of advanced systems on routine services such as wheel alignments. After the presentation he will welcome the following panel to discuss the growing complexities facing the repair marketplaces.

3:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. OEM3 | N241 | OEM Session III: The Hidden Dangers of Vehicle Technology, Improper Repair Methodology and Your Liabilities Those operating within the collision repair industry find themselves in

Hiring 300 Veterans — Service King’s Mission 2 Hire Milestone

As part of the organizations ongoing support of U.S. Armed Forces veterans and families, Service King Collision Repair Centers announced the company surpassed another milestone in its Mission 2 Hire program on Sept. 12. Since launching in May 2015, Service King has recruited and hired more than 300 military veterans and spouses exclusively through Mission 2 Hire. With the announcement, the program remains ahead of its goal of providing ca-

reers to 500 veterans and spouses in five years. “The Mission 2 Hire program continues to be a proud symbol of Service Kings pledged commitment to serving military veterans and families across the country,” said Jeff McFadden, Service King President. “Surpassing another milestone is a proud moment in that mission as we march onward towards our goal of welcoming 500 veterans and military spouses to the Service King family.”

16 OCTOBER 2017 AUTOBODY NEWS | www.autobodynews.com

tumultuous times. While the functional and structural technologies in modern-day vehicles are evolving at a neck-breaking pace (and expected to evolve even faster on our way to autonomous vehicles), the collision repair industry faces a growing gap in skilled workers, and continual downward pressure to mitigate repair expenses and operations performed. In an industry culture that seemingly rewards those who charge the least, rather than those who perform the best, it is an increasing challenge for businesses committed to repairs that are fully compliant with OEM methodologies. In 2017, the Society of Collision Repair Specialists (SCRS) reaffirmed its longstanding position that “if an OEM documents a repair procedure as required, recommended or otherwise necessary as a result of damage or repair, that those published procedures would be the standard of repair until such time the documentation changes. Disregarding a documented procedure that is made available to the industry creates undue and avoidable liability on the repair facility performing the repair.” This panel, moderated by John

Ellis, Managing Director of Ellis & Associates, will address an industry grappling to reconcile how to move forward for the consumer when certain automotive manufacturer requirements are expected to be performed on every occasion, but insurance claims positioning leans towards “case-by-case” approval. The participants will feature litigators, technology experts, and those with experience in facing liability and safety implications with performing repairs in today’s environment. As current litigation exposes flaws in the rationale for deviating from OEM repair procedures, there isn’t a more critical discussion in which to participate for today’s collision repair operator. Panelists will be announced in a forthcoming release, but registration for these sessions is open. Space will be limited and early registration is encouraged. Sessions can be selected individually at www.scrs.com/rde or as part of the RDE Full Series Pass. For more information about SCRS, or to join as a member, please visit www.scrs.com, call toll free 1877-841-0660 or email us at info@scrs .com.

www.autobodynews.com | OCTOBER 2017 AUTOBODY NEWS 17

Continued from Cover

Shops Affected

Houston area dealerships were completely flooded with all inventory lost; however, no casualties have been reported in the automotive community. Many shop and dealership employees, as well as the general Houston population, have experienced major property losses, with homes and vehicles suffering severe damages or being completely destroyed. Greg Luther, one of HABA’s Directors, noted, “A few guys in our shop had personal damage, and none have flood insurance, but employers are being as helpful and understanding as possible. Also, the National Automobile Dealers Association stepped in with some donations to help them. “Harvey damaged 140,000 homes and at least 280,000 vehicles in Harris County alone, plus half a dozen other counties were impacted by the floods, and over 80 percent of the flooded homes don’t have flood insurance. Still, it’s amazing how fast the city is recovering.” Jill Tuggle, Executive Director of the Auto Body Association of Texas (ABAT), said, “In the days immediately following the hurricane, many people were unable to get to work due to flooded roads and highways. Some of the water has since receded, and some people are able to return to work, but we haven’t gotten word on specific shops and how much damage was sustained. I can’t imagine the emotional toll this has taken on business owners and team members alike. Many are still trying to assess the damage done to their homes, remove debris and water from damaged surfaces, and determine what type of insurance coverages they have—or don’t have—all while trying to make sure they can continue to earn a paycheck to replace basic necessities and feed their families. That’s a large burden to bear.” Fortunately, most ABAT shops are located in areas that received minimal impact from the storm, but the association has decided to donate all proceeds from raffle sales during August’s Texas Auto Body Trade Show to Harvey Relief and will be organizing a campaign to help in the upcoming weeks alongside HABA and CIF. HABA’s Legislative Advisor Larry Cernosek estimated that around 500,000 vehicles were flooded in the Houston Metropolitan area, but “the

biggest problem is insurance companies are writing $900 estimates that barely cover towing and require supplements, arguments and complaints to fix these cars people bring in to be repaired. The insurance companies should work with the shops that do the repairs, but it’s just getting worse every day.”

ricane Harvey hit Texas, Kopriva added, “Here we are, 23 days after the initial storm coming on shore, and Houston is still dealing with the aftereffects of Harvey. In some areas of the city, it is projected that there is a possibility that it will take 10 months or longer before things finally get back to normal. In downtown Houston,

A dumpsite in Houston for residents to discard property damaged during Harvey’s assault on the city

Debris broke the windows of Cernosek’s shop, allowing 6 inches of rain to get in, but he easily pumped it out. He also lost some personal property, a boat and jet skis, during the storm, but knows that others had it much worse with up to 6 feet of water being reported in some homes. Because of the sheer volume of damaged vehicles and the subsequent number of rental cars needed, the repair process has been slowed down while rental cars are being transported to Texas in an attempt to meet demands. Although 18-wheelers are bringing more supply hourly, the list of customers waiting for rental car availability keeps growing. Kopriva said, “The number of damaged and flooded vehicles continues to rise. As flood waters recede, more cars are being discovered, straining the availability of rental cars. Repairers have back logs of customers waiting to drop off their vehicle for repair, but not until a rental is made available.” Traffic is also horrendous, according to Kopriva, who says roads are overloaded, but no one seems to know why. Due to the increased traffic, there have been more accidents, but the lack of available rental cars continues to be an inconvenience for consumers. Also, due to Harvey’s destructive path, several large oil refineries have been closed, causing a gas shortage felt across the state, as well as increased prices. More than three weeks after Hur-

18 OCTOBER 2017 AUTOBODY NEWS | www.autobodynews.com

many parking garage basements still hold flood water and are slowly being pumped dry and aerated to prevent mold. Bayous are just now starting to recede back to normal levels. Numerous subdivisions that never had a history of flooding were covered due to

emergency release of water from area reservoirs to prevent potential breach in levies and spillways. Around Houston in rural outlying areas, the city is using military C-130 aircraft to spray for the control and to combat mass mosquito infestation, which is a growing problem.” Still, amidst all the chaos and heartbreak, Harvey resulted in one positive thing. “It pulled everyone together,” Kopriva shared. “I have a number of friends who took their boats out to help others evacuate, and it seems everyone reached out to help one another, even at risk of their own lives. Despite all the loss and tragedy, everyone came together to help one another and show that not even this massive storm can divide us.” Among the many organizations collecting donations for victims of Hurricane Harvey, CIF is offering disaster relief, and information is available for those who need assistance or anyone interested in contributing at: collisionindustryfoundation.org/disaster -relief/. See story this issue.

www.autobodynews.com

www.autobodynews.com | OCTOBER 2017 AUTOBODY NEWS 19

SEMA Student Career Day Focuses on Job Opportunities and Industry Growth

As the automotive aftermarket industry continues to grow and business demand for qualified employees rises, the second annual Student Career Day will bring SEMA Show exhibitors and

students passionate about the automotive aftermarket industry together during the world’s premier automotive trade show. Held on Monday, Oct. 30, from 1 to 3 p.m. at the Westgate Resort & Casino in Las Vegas, the Student Career Day will include hundreds of high school and college students from across the country and more than 60 SEMA Show exhibitors. “Student Career Day is unique in that we focus solely on the automotive industry and bring students who are passionate about the automotive aftermarket,” said SEMA Senior Director of Education Zane Clark. “Many times, career fairs are limited to local opportunities and represent a number of industries. At

the SEMA Student Career Day, all participating companies are specific to the automotive aftermarket and represent a national footprint. Further, it is held against the backdrop of the SEMA Show, where students get the opportunity to learn more about our industry and experience it firsthand.” The 2016 program included more than 40 companies and 650 students, many of whom were offered jobs from the event. “It was exciting to meet the next generation of our industry and see their enthusiasm for what we do. They were all well-prepared, confident, and educated about our companies,” said ididit’s Kimberly Johnson, who participated in last year’s inaugural event. “I highly recommend that all SEMA member companies participate in SEMA Career Day.” Companies that sign up for Student Career Day to meet the future generation of the automotive aftermarket industry are provided a table, chairs, and basic signage. To register or for more information, email Clark at zanec@sema.org.

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SEMA has launched a new program designed to support and engage highschool students in the automotive hobby. As part of the pilot program, high-school students will oversee and execute the build of an entire project vehicle, including tracking time, expenses and associated resources, using a pre-owned vehicle purchased and donated by SEMA. The project will create a self-sustaining program with the completed vehicle sold to raise money for the purchase of another vehicle that can be used for a similar project the following school year. “Our hope is that the one-time purchase and vehicle donation will initiate an ongoing program at the school and allow hundreds of students to participate over the years,” said SEMA Board of Directors Chairman Wade Kawasaki. “We are optimistic and excited about this program, and look forward to seeing what the students accomplish.” The pilot program began last month with the delivery of a ’15 4WD Jeep Wrangler Unlimited to students at the Santa Fe Early College Opportunities (ECO) Auto Shop Program in Santa Fe, New Mexico. Students have begun identifying priorities and creating a plan for the

project, which will be sold by the end of the school year in May 2018. “The Santa Fe ECO program is dedicated to training and preparing students for careers in the automotive industry,” said Auto Collision Technology Instructor Chris Coriz. “Having an actual vehicle to work on is incredibly valuable. We’re excited and appreciative to SEMA for supporting our program.” SEMA continues to support the project, and is helping to secure parts donations and volunteers to serve as mentors to the students. Those interested in supporting the project, or wanting more details should contact SEMA Senior Director of Education Zane Clark. As one of several SEMA programs designed to support and encourage youth in the automotive industry, SEMA hopes to be able to replicate the program at high schools throughout the country.

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Fourth Annual SEMA Battle of the Builders to Feature Top Customizers in Three Categories SEMA Show exhibitors enlist top vehicle builders to create custom cars and trucks that generate worldwide attention and stand out at the premier automotive trade show each year. More than 250 builders will compete in the fourth annual SEMA Battle of the Builders competition, with the finalists announced during the 2017 SEMA Show in Las Vegas, and the winner announced during the nationwide television filming at SEMA Ignited, Friday, November 3. “It’s great to see the amazing array of vehicle builds at the SEMA Show each year,” said Peter MacGillivray, SEMA vice president of communications and events. “It’s inspiring to watch the SEMA Battle of the Builders competition, as we meet the builders and learn about the products and stories behind the cars and trucks.” All SEMA Battle of the Builders competitors are recognized in SEMA Show publications and on signage at the event. Also during the Show, finalists are narrowed down in three categories (hot rod, truck and tuner), and the winner is announced Friday, Novem-

ber 3, at SEMA Ignited (www.semaignited.com), the official SEMA Show after-party where thousands of consumers join SEMA Showgoers. This year’s competition includes special recognition of builders 27 years or younger, named Young Guns, who enter the contest with a vehicle at the SEMA Show. The recognition serves to inspire and encourage young builders to pursue their passions and shine the light on up-and-coming customizers, including a select number of young vehicle builders who were awarded a Young Guns prize package from partnering consumer auto shows. The prize package includes an invitation to bring their vehicles to the SEMA Show and compete in the 2017 SEMA Battle of the Builders. The competition and its builders, vehicles and manufacturers are profiled in a one-hour television special that will air exclusively on the Velocity Network in 2018. Exclusive online footage is also posted at www.SEMA Show.com/botb, featuring additional behind-the-scenes stories and interviews.

Darin Smith Discusses His SEMA Battle of the Builders Project

Darin Smith has been building and restoring classic vehicles with DWS Classics for more than 20 years. He handles everything from nut-and-bolt restorations to custom-built vehicles. SEMA had a chance to preview the build he’s entering in the Battle of the Builders competition. Smith is

blending old school with new school in his custom-built ’64 Chevy pickup. The red-themed truck includes unique craftsmanship throughout and custom touches that will make the vehicle stand out in the competition. Smith says winning the SEMA Battle of the Builders competition would be an unimaginable honor. Open to all customizers with a car or truck on display at the SEMA

Show, the competition shines the spotlight on the amazing talents and craftsmanship of builders who have already proven themselves by being a part of the premier automotive trade event in the world. It allows enthusiasts and fans a chance to learn the stories behind the builds, get to know the builders and be inspired along the way. All builders with a feature or booth vehicle on display at the 2017 SEMA Show are invited and encouraged to participate. (Note that your vehicle must NOT be under embargo at the time of entry) Young, up-and-coming builders who are under the age of 27 (as of November 3, 2017) will receive special recognition as a ‘Young Gun’ in the competition, designed to spotlight and inspire future industry icons. Builders who meet the age requirements of a Young Gun but may not have a confirmed feature or booth vehicle for the 2017 SEMA Show may be awarded a ‘SEMA Prize Package’ from one of our regional partners and invited to compete in the competition in Las Vegas.

www.autobodynews.com | OCTOBER 2017 AUTOBODY NEWS 21

Preston High’s Career & Technical Ed Program Among the Top in West Virginia by Cynthia McCLoud, Preston County News & Journal

Preston High School’s Career & Technical Education program is the most impressive in West Virginia — for its variety of courses, student performance and how many students complete all the courses in an area of study.

Makayla Gank, a student in the Early Childhood Education program at Preston High School, explains an art activity to preschoolers enrolled in the class, which operates like a daycare to give students hands-on teaching experience. Credit: Cynthia McCloud

“Last year, the school had 228 CTE completers,” said Kristin Anderson, spokeswoman for the West Virginia Department of Education. “The school was No. 6 in the state in the number of CTE programs offered.” PHS Assistant Principal Pam Wilt explained that to be a completer, a student must complete all required courses in his or her program. `Principal Steve Plum said administrators haven’t counted how many students are taking CTE classes this year, but he expects more than 1,000 of the 1,231 Knights currently enrolled will spend at least part of their day in the vocational wings of the campus. They’ll be studying accounting, administrative support, agribusiness, animal processing, animal systems, automotive tech, building construction, certified nursing assistant, CISCO, collision repair, early childhood education, electrical tech, energy and power, JROTC, health sciences, horticulture, information management, natural resources management, plant systems, forestry, power structure and tech, pre-pharmacy, Prostart, and, new this year, welding. CTE prepares students for 30 mil-

lion jobs in the United States that pay an average of $55,000 and don’t require a bachelor’s degree, according to the Georgetown University Center on Education and the Workforce. The students take away real-world experience, service-learning, and, often, certifications that will help them get jobs. Health sciences instructor Joyce Anderson said some of her past completers are working as CNAs, phlebotomists, EKG techs and medical assistants in clinical settings in Ruby Memorial Hospital, Preston Memorial Hospital and Garrett Regional Medical Center. They get started in a real workplace doing clinical rotations while still attending classes, she said. “The CNA students do a mandatory 55 hours in an (Office of Health Facility Licensure and Certification) approved facility. This is the state and federal regulating agency for nursing homes,” Anderson said. “Upon completion, the CNA student can then apply for state certification testing.” Not all of the students go straight to work after graduation, she said. “Many find these classes as a stepping stone on their career path, helping them in their advanced career studies,” Anderson said. The programs collaborate and students perform work around the school or services for the community that earn them hands-on experience.

(l to r), Ashley Pritt, Stephanie Plum and Amanda Pack practice skills they will use as medical assistants while in class at Preston High School. Credit: Preston County Journal

“Carpentry is working on a new smokehouse expansion of the slaughterhouse,” Plum said. “The slaughterhouse is currently working on hogs for the Buckwheat Festival. They normally (process) 125 hogs for sausage ... The slaughterhouse is also open for retail sales of meat. Multiple programs are combining efforts to make reno-

22 OCTOBER 2017 AUTOBODY NEWS | www.autobodynews.com

vations on the new county reading bus and a new high-tunnel greenhouse.” And students excel outside the classroom as well. Many who have graduated John Cox’s classes with electrician licenses go straight into the workforce.

(l to r) Oriana Nutter and Cierra Jones, students in the ProStart food service program at Preston High School, prepare a basket to hold miniature pepperoni rolls for an event the class was catering. Credit: Theresa Marthey

“The International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 301 hired 11 of my seniors last year,” Cox said. Program completers are eligible to test for their journeyman’s licenses, which is the level between apprentice and master electrician. Cox had 80 percent of test-takers pass last year. He has had so many students taking the test at

one time—91 is the record—that the state fire marshal comes to Kingwood to give the exam. When PHS students enter competitions put on by SkillsUSA, a vocational club, they usually dominate. Cox had a student win back-to-back state championships a couple of years ago. More recently, he took 21 students to competition and brought back two gold awards, six silver and two bronze. Robin Thomas, who teaches early childhood education, took four students this summer to the Educators Rising national teaching competition in Arizona. One of them, Jalina Spiker, won sixth place in the nation for a job shadowing presentation. Teacher Janie Spahr took members of her Future Business Leaders of America club to compete in public speaking, accounting, career portfolio, journalism and more at the state level in April. They returned with the second-highest number of first-place awards and the second-highest number of overall winners — beat out only by John Marshall High School in Glen Dale. The students moved on to the See Technical Ed Program, Page 25

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www.autobodynews.com | OCTOBER 2017 AUTOBODY NEWS 23

Continued from Cover

Harvey Ravage

claims on their car- and truck-insurance policies, said Mark Hanna, a spokesman for the Insurance Council of Texas trade group, and some analysts estimate that figure will climb as high as 500,000. With hurricane season in full swing and the tally from Irma just beginning, Harvey has been projected to be one of the costliest disasters in U.S. history, with experts estimating damage could exceed $100 billion. Texas Gov. Greg Abbott has even suggested that damage could reach $150 billion to $180 billion. About 15% of Texas motorists don’t have vehicle insurance, even though liability insurance is mandatory in the state. Of the remaining 85% of motorists, three-quarters of them carry comprehensive coverage, which would include protection against flooding, on their policies, Hanna said. “That’s very good news,” he said, for getting Texans back on the road. There are just slightly less than 14 million total passenger vehicles and 6

million trucks in Texas, according to the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles. Of that total, 3.5 million vehicles were registered last year in Harris County, which includes Houston, according to the DMV. “We’ll see people wanting to replace their cars in a pretty quick fashion” because Houston, much like Los Angeles, is a sprawling city heavily

new vehicles on dealer lots in Texas were damaged by Harvey, including 150,000 to 200,000 new vehicles in the hardest-hit areas such as Houston and Corpus Christi. Many of those new vehicles are trucks; Texas is the top market for new-truck sales in the United States. One dealership, McRee Ford in Dickinson, southeast of Houston, had

dependent on the car for transportation, said Jessica Caldwell, director of industry analysis at Edmunds.com. “You will see auto sales higher in the affected areas, probably for the rest of the year, with people needing to replace their vehicles,” she said. “It’s hard to go without a car in a place like Houston.” The typical surge in vehicle sales after a natural disaster provides some economic boost to the affected area. A month after Superstorm Sandy slammed New Jersey and New York, New York City-area vehicle sales jumped 49%. Edmunds estimated that 366,000

temporarily closed because all of its 500 new and used vehicles were damaged by the storm. But the Houston Automobile Dealers Assn., which represents about 175 franchise dealers selling new cars and trucks, said 85% of its dealers in Houston were fully operational with zero or minimal damage. “All but a handful of dealers I spoke to this morning are all open today at full service and regular hours,” association spokeswoman RoShelle Salinas said Aug. 31, only the second day of sunshine for Houston after Harvey’s deluge. “This is a great position to be in to help Houstonians get back

Our entire inventory is no longer available for sale. — McRee Ford, Dickinson, Texas

into transportation and on to moving about the city.” She said some dealers “have multi-story parking garages, and a lot of them put their vehicles into those garages” before the storm hit “so they wouldn’t suffer damage if the water was to rise.” For those dealers who lost cars, replenishing their lots with new vehicles “is not an issue” because “there’s an overabundance of new cars” in the U.S. market, Michelle Krebs, executive analyst for Autotrader, said in an email. “All of this inventory can be shuttled around the country,” Krebs said. “In fact, AutoNation, which has numerous dealerships in the Houston area that were hit by Harvey, said it would do exactly that.” But it could be a tougher situation for Texans who can afford only a modestly priced used car that’s a few years old, Krebs said. “Shortages exist in the very affordable [market for] 4- to 8-year-old cars,” she said. “That could spell trouble for consumers with few resources or with resources stretched.” It’s also unclear how rapidly flood-weary Texans will jump into the

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market for another car. “The hard thing to figure out are the insurance claims, and how fast that process will work,” Caldwell said. “Most people can’t buy a new car while waiting for an insurance check for the old one.” Dealers also carry insurance to cover losses for the vehicles on their lots — notably for hail storms that are common in Texas—so the insurers would suffer the biggest financial hit from the storm, Hanna said. Dean Crutchfield, chief information officer at CDK Global, a provider of software and services to auto dealerships, said many Houston-area dealers removed or relocated their computers ahead of the storm “and now they’re coming back into their stores and trying to reestablish normal operations.” “One of the key themes we’ve seen is the dealers’ interest in maintaining their payroll operations” so that their employees don’t miss a paycheck even though car sales were disrupted by Harvey, Crutchfield said. And what of the flood-damaged cars? “Most of the vehicles are sold to parts companies who dismantle them and resell usable parts that were not damaged by the flooding,” the National

Insurance Crime Bureau, an insurance trade group, said in an advisory. But the bureau advised buyers to “be particularly careful in the coming weeks and months as thousands of Harvey-damaged vehicles may reappear for sale in their areas” across the nation, a problem that also occurred in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina in 2005. That disaster led the bureau to create the free VINCheck database, which lets vehicle shoppers check a vehicle identification number to see if the car or truck was deemed “salvage” by an insurance company because of flood or accident or if it was reported stolen. Uninsured vehicles, however, would escape the insurance industry’s scrutiny. “Unfortunately, some of the flooded vehicles may be purchased at bargain prices, cleaned up and then taken out of state where the VIN [vehicle identification number] is switched and the car is re-titled with no indication it has been damaged,” the bureau said. “Buyers should have a vehicle checked by a reputable mechanic or repair facility before handing over any cash,” the bureau said.

Mark Holstein decided he would bypass insurance and dealerships altogether. The Port Aransas resident left his white 1980 Camaro in the garage during the hurricane as he high-tailed it out of there and headed for drier land in San Antonio in his truck. The low-to-the-ground sports car had been a labor of love for him over the years as he had refurbished the black leather interior and was working on replacing the transmission to give it better performance. After Harvey, the car took in 3 feet of water. Mold was growing. The engine had drowned in the salty Gulf of Mexico water. The flared exhaust pipes along the running boards were already caked in rust. Holstein, 59, said he wouldn’t bother with insurance. Instead, he said he’d just consider it another project. “I guess I’ll start over,” he said. “Something to keep me busy.”

Peltz reported from Los Angeles, Montero from Houston. We thank the Los Angeles Times for reprint permission.

Continued from Page 22

Technical Ed Program

National FBLA Conference in June in Anaheim, CA. HOSA is a club for future health professionals. Anderson and fellow teacher Stephanie Martin had eight students win at the HOSA State Leadership Conference in Huntington this past March. The two first-place winners — Amber Sypolt in medical assisting, and Clarissa Carrico in medical spelling — went to HOSA’s 40th annual International Leadership Conference June 21-24 in Orlando, FL. “We have the cream of the crop,” Spahr said, explaining how the students are also involved in sports and band and applying for scholarships. “They are very well-rounded students.” Earlier this year, 88 percent of PHS students taking part in the school’s postsecondary readiness program were deemed ready for either higher education or a job after graduation. The state average is 54 percent. We thank Preston County News & Journal for reprint permission.

www.autobodynews.com | OCTOBER 2017 AUTOBODY NEWS 25

Industry Insight 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.

CCC Defends Shift to Secure Share, Faces Tough Questions from CIC Task Force This summer, CCC Information Services defended the dramatic changes that the shift to CCC’s “Secure Share” system will bring to the industry, calling it necessary for data security, a step forward for the industry, and reasonably priced. “We’re a software company that builds software as a business,” CCC’s Mark Fincher said at the Collision Industry Conference (CIC) in Chicago in July, when asked about CCC’s pro-

Mark Fincher of CCC discussed “Secure Share” at the first CIC meeting CCC attended since a task force was formed based on concerns about Secure Share

jected profit from the 50-cent-perwork file fee that management system providers and other vendors will pay CCC when they receive a shop’s estimate data through Secure Share. “We think the price is fair and equitable for all the participants.” Fincher’s presentation in Chicago was noteworthy because CCC wasn’t represented at two previous CIC meetings this year at which a task force was formed to address industry concerns about Secure Share. The new data-exchange system went live this past spring, and as of next April, CCC users will only be able to transfer estimate data to others through Secure Share. That’s a change from the longstanding current method under which a CCC ONE user can transfer the data from an estimate—to a shop management system, a CSI provider, a rental car company, etc.—using a standardized “Estimate Management Standard (EMS)” file. In many cases, those third-parties have—with a shop’s permission—placed a “data pump” on the shop’s server to automatically pull the

EMS files the shop has agreed to share. CCC’s “Secure Share” changes this arrangement in several key ways. First, it transfers the data using a “Business Message Suite (BMS)” file, largely viewed as a positive change. The industry-developed BMS standard gives users more control over which portions of an estimate are transferred. It can limit a parts vendor’s access, for example, to only the portions of the estimate needed to accurately fill the parts order, rather than also including (as the EMS file does) information about the vehicle owner as well. But the required use of Secure Share for the data transfer means that by next April, shops will need to ensure any vendors or systems (CCC refers to these as “apps”) with which they share estimate data has completed the CCC approval process to be part of the “Secure Share Network.” Those system providers will then pay the 50-cent toll per work file each time they receive data from the shop. Fincher acknowledged CCC will recoup its development costs and profit from this arrangement, but declined to provide any of the company’s projections for the revenue Secure Share will generate. He focused on why CCC sees Secure Share as a necessary improvement for data-sharing within the industry, saying that first and foremost it helps ensure the security of estimate information. “We know this information is sitting on thousands of shop servers or PCs, [in some cases] unencrypted and accessible to third parties,” Fincher said. “In many cases, as a repairer you had no idea who was accessing that information. You may have known there was a data pump or two data pumps on your system, but you had no visibility to that.” Instead, keeping this information encrypted “in the cloud” and under CCC’s control, he said, helps ensure only authorized parties have access to it, and the BMS file transfer “gives repair facilities the ability to send just the relevant information” to different apps. “That app provider does not have the ability to share that information with anyone that they want to,” Fincher

26 OCTOBER 2017 AUTOBODY NEWS | www.autobodynews.com

also noted. “You retain control of that information as a repairer, and know its only going to be used for the purpose for which you designated.” If a shop chooses to terminate a relationship with an app provider, Secure Share ensures that a third party will no longer have access to the shop’s estimate data, Fincher said. “I’ve heard these stories that there was a company you were working with five years ago, but you terminated the relationship and moved on to a different software solution, but meanwhile that [old] data pump is still residing on your server, tracking that data, and you might not have had any idea that it’s pulling it,” Fincher said. “Now you have complete transparency with Secure Share.” Fincher faced some tough questioning from the CIC task force established in the wake of CCC’s announced plans for Secure Share last fall. That task force developed a position state-

ment that is supportive of the shift to the BMS file transfer standard, but critical of other limits on a shop’s sharing of estimate data. “Any third party that restricts or prevents industry stakeholders from accessing or using the data generated and permitted by the collision repair facility and industry stakeholders will adversely impact the industry,” the task force position statement reads. “In addition, it will inhibit advancements in technology, restrict competition and adds cost into the marketplace. Technological advances should enable sophisticated, secure and more collaborative data usage, not impede industry progress.” It is the shop’s responsibility to protect the privacy and proper use of the data, the task force acknowledges, but “the repair facility is entitled to and must have the freedom and flexibility to utilize the data as they deem approSee CCC Defends Shift, Page 28

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Continued from Page 26

CCC Defends Shift

priate, [including] the ability to copy or export data to separate servers, trading partners or online data warehousing services, without approval from a third party.” Dan Risley of the Automotive Service Association, one of three chairs of the CIC task force, asked Fincher if data security really has been a problem within the industry during the decades in which the current data exchange system has been used. “There has not been a significant compromise from a security perspective,” Fincher acknowledged. “But we don’t want to be in a reactive mode. We are processing thousands of files per day, and there are thousands of collision repair facilities that are using this data that is sitting unencrypted. The last thing we want to do is be in a reactive mode.” Shouldn’t a shop have the right to share its estimate data as it chooses, Risley asked Fincher. “Unfortunately, it’s not just the shops that own that data,” Fincher said. “There are others who claim ownership

of that data, and we have a commitment to secure the data of all of our customers and other providers we work with who provide us that source data.” Risley said one alternative that he has heard is being worked on is a sys-

Dan Risley represented a CIC task force formed to address concerns related to CCC’s “Secure Share.”

tem in which the shop exports a PDF file of an estimate to a third party that then translates that file back into a data file the shop can share. “We agree there are other alternatives that could exist to share this information,” Fincher said. “As long as it’s within the guidelines of the contractual agreement that the repair fa-

28 OCTOBER 2017 AUTOBODY NEWS | www.autobodynews.com

cility has with CCC, then absolutely… [But] it’s also important to understand other contractual relationships that as a repair facility you might have with insurance companies, and look at those DRP agreements to see what your limitations are. There is specific language about what and who you can share information with.” Risley acknowledged CCC has been responding to some of the concerns raised by the industry about Secure Share, reviewing its contract language with app providers that some vendors found troubling, and potentially establishing an advisory board to allow for ongoing feedback. Still, following Fincher’s presentation, 70 percent of CIC attendees in Chicago voted to not disband the task force, believing “there is additional work to be done.” CIC Chairman Guy Bargnes praised the task force’s work. “Regardless of your position, your thinking on this issue, the work done by this task force…absolutely exemplifies…CIC’s mission: To discuss issues, to enhance understanding, to find common ground,” Bargnes said. “That’s the objective of CIC, to bring more information.”

Checklist for Vehicles with Water Damage

In the wake of Hurricane Harvey and Hurricane Irma, Florida, Houston and many other Gulf communities have been left with high water, overflowing rivers and water-logged damage. Here are signs that your vehicle has been damaged: ● Examine upholstery and carpeting closely; if it doesn't match the interior or fits loosely, it may have been replaced. Discolored, faded or stained materials could indicate water damage ● Smell for musty odors – this could mean mildew ● Check the trunk, glove compartment, the dashboard and below the seats for signs of water damage ● Turn the ignition key and make sure that accessory and warning lights and gauges come on and work properly. Make sure the airbag and ABS lights come on ● Test lights (interior and exterior), wipers, turn signals, radio, heater and air conditioner several times to make sure they work ● Flex the wires beneath the dashboard. Wet wires become brittle upon drying and may crack ● Look for rust in the wheel wells, under the hood and under the rear ● Go to a trusted collision repair for an inspection

180BIZ Webinar Focuses on ABCs of Employee Retention by Chasidy Rae Sisk

On August 30, 180BIZ’s Rick White taught a one-hour webinar on “The ABCs of Employee Retention,” during which 25 collision repair industry professionals learned some helpful tips on retaining good employees. White began, “A lot of attention is placed on finding and hiring the best employees, but the reason that’s necessary is because someone left. Good people leave because of managers, so we are going to look at ways to keep employees engaged and committed.” White defined the course’s objectives as identifying ways to keep the best employees, realizing the impact

owners and managers have on the work environment, and creating strategies that foster an environment of trust, engagement and respect. White then corrected himself and instead identified employees as team members, since the word “employee” introduces a hierarchy, and people want to work with others, not for them, and know they’re part of something that makes a difference. A company’s culture is determined by how team members are made to feel at work, and while all companies have a culture, most are created by circumstances and reactions, whereas White encouraged attendees to create a company culture intentionally. White warned that team members

Richard Rawlings of “Fast N’ Loud” Has New TV Series Gas Monkey Garage is an auto restoration service in Dallas, TX, owned by Richard Rawlings. Rawlings will help garage owners make their businesses more profitable with his new TV series, “Garage Rehab,” scheduled to premiere on August 30 at 9 p.m. on the Discovery Channel. The show will include Russell J. Holmes as project manager and Chris Stephens as garage designer.

The crew will take over a garage for a short time, making all the business decisions with the goal of increasing profits. Rawlings, a native of Fort Worth, TX, was a firefighter, police officer and paramedic. He eventually left those jobs to open Gas Monkey Garage, a world-renowned hot rod shop that has produced cars for people around the world. Richard is a veteran of transcontinental road

can smell a gimmick, which will make them feel undervalued and unappreciated. Instead, shop owners should strive to create an environment that fosters trust, inclusivity and respect. “People want to do work that matters for people who care about them,” White said. “Your staff members are internal customers who are there to help your external customers. Make your team your first priority, and you’ll create an environment where people come and never leave.” White worked his way through the alphabet, explaining how to create this type of culture. “Appreciating team members” was the first step to workplace im-

provements. White stressed the importance of development, goals, training and mentorship as well as balance with personal lives and having fun at work. Questions help managers understand their team members’ thoughts, and creating a dialogue makes them feel valuable. White concluded, “The biggest challenge is taking time to create a culture. You’ll be met with suspicion, so you have to be patient and show team members they really matter. What you want, you must first give. There are great people out there, and if you create the right culture where they want to come and stay, no one can lure them away!”

rallies, and won the Gumball 3000 and the Bullrun twice. He is the current world record holder in the Cannonball Run, having broken the record that stood since 1979. He covered the 2,811 miles from New York to Los Angeles in 31 hours and 59 minutes with an average speed of 87.6 miles per hour. FAST N’ LOUD had a very popular run on the Discovery Channel.

“Garage Rehab” is predicted to be another huge hit. Sign up to have your garage considered for the show visit: discovery.com/garage-rehab-casting For more information on Gas Monkey Garage visit: gasmonkeygarage.com/the-show For more information on Garage Rehab visit: discovery.com/tv-shows/garage-rehab

www.autobodynews.com | OCTOBER 2017 AUTOBODY NEWS 29

Shop Showcase

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

Veteran Shop Owner Energized by Son and Daughter at Panel Craft with Ed Attanasio

David Habu, 55, is the owner of Panel Craft, a 30-year-old shop in Berkeley, CA. He started as a high schooler with a one-piston compressor on wheels and by 18 years old, had a small shop with one employee. Four years later, he opened Panel Craft. By working hard and learning everything he could on his own, Habu was able to take his passion for classic cars and use it to fix vehicles for his customers throughout the East Bay.

(l to r) Brianna, David and Brenden Habu now run the show at Panel Craft in Berkeley, CA

He calls himself self-trained, but Habu’s work is well-known throughout the East Bay for being precise while focusing on the customer, rather than simply placating the insurance companies. One of his Yelp reviews said it best when Vijay R. wrote, “Dave isn’t a big city shyster, he’s just an honest guy who grew up in an honest town at an honest time. Talk to him and you get the feeling that he’s always been that way and doesn’t appear that he has any need or desire to change.” However, change is on the way, and Habu is prepared for it. Now, with seven employees and his two children, Brianna, 25, and Brenden, 22, on staff, Habu has undergone a Renaissance and is finding a new purpose for his business, he said. “To be honest, I was thinking about winding this business down and retiring, because I have been in this industry since I was 16,” he said. “But, when I saw that my children might want to get involved and eventually take over the shop, I found some new energy and decided to stay in it to work with my kids.” Brianna and Brenden are now an integral part of the business, but it was

not a path their father originally anticipated. “They started helping out around here when they turned 18, but I never wanted them to have careers in this industry, because it can be a roller coaster at times,” Habu said. “But, they seemed to like it and they want to learn, so I figure, why not?” With Brianna concentrating on the front office while Brenden manages the shop floor, Dad has served as a mentor for his kids, and now they have plans to open a second location in the nearby city of Oakland. “Brianna is very good at organizing, and she’s got the ability to work well with people,” Habu said. “Brenden has a knack for everything technical, and I think he was born with it. He never went to school for it, so it’s intuitive and it’s been great, because he is bringing all of this new technology to the shop.” Not exactly known as an early adopter to technology, David Habu is now being a little more open-minded about things such as computers and automotive diagnostics. “For many years, I fought it all— the computer, management systems, the Internet—I figured I knew it all anyway,” he said. “But, my kids have helped shed a different light on this business and it’s helped us. I still do write some things down once in a while, but I’m getting better!” To fast-track their growth and impending expansion, the Habu family decided to join the California Autobody Association (CAA) to become more involved in the industry and network with top shops all over the Bay Area, Brianna explained. “We want to be on top of everything, because we realize that eventually the smaller shops will be fading away if they don’t stay current,” she said. “By joining CAA and meeting these successful people, we are associating ourselves with the best shops in the area. We have attended several of their events since joining, and we love the idea that these other shop owners are willing to help us.” One valuable lesson Dad has taught his children is to do repairs the right way without being coerced by

30 OCTOBER 2017 AUTOBODY NEWS | www.autobodynews.com

the insurance companies. “We don’t have any DRPs here, and we’re making more money without them,” he said. “I am not afraid to tell them that if you want me to fix the car the way you want me to, then you can

The Habu family has plans to open a second location in Oakland, CA, before the end of the year

warranty the vehicle. But, then they tell me that they’re not repairing the car, we are. If I am going to warranty that vehicle, I am going to do it right and usually I get exactly what I want. I’ve lost money fixing cars correctly quite a few times, but we’re not ever going to skimp on quality to save a few bucks,

because it’s the only way I know.” By networking with other professionals in the collision repair industry throughout the East Bay, Habu is able to survive without DRPs. “I have relationships with the local car dealerships, service writers, mechanics and techs at other shops and other people attached to the industry, and they give us referrals,” he said. “When someone recommends us, that’s an obligation to the customer and to the person who referred us for the work. We take that very seriously.” David Habu is transitioning from a boss to a mentor and he couldn’t be happier, because his children are learning a trade he’s been doing his entire life. “I am seeing it all now through their eyes, and that is wonderful,” he said. “I am going to support them every step of the way and do everything I can to set them up for ongoing success.”

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www.autobodynews.com | OCTOBER 2017 AUTOBODY NEWS 31

Historical Snapshot

Talk of Other Insurers Requiring use of PartsTrader Goes Back Five Years with John Yoswick

20 Years ago in the Collision Repair Industry (October 1997) In a meeting with the Automotive Service Association (ASA) earlier this year, Certified Automotive Parts Association (CAPA) Executive Director Jack Gillis outlined CAPA’s new standards and additional testing that will help ensure the quality of CAPA-certified crash parts. Gillis reviewed the plans with ASA in response to ASA’s dissatisfaction with CAPA’s performance. Gillis said that CAPA’s new standards officially went into effect in May of 1997. “Parts produced after this date will meet the needs of today’s collision repairers,” Gillis said. “Furthermore, additional testing and inspections should result in more consistency in CAPAcertified crash parts. The downside is that the new standards are so tough that as many as 40 percent of the parts currently certified could become decerti-

fied. CAPA is committed to pursuing the new, more stringent standards in spite of the many parts to be decertified.” – As reported in Professional Auto News. See also the news item from October 2012, exactly 15 years after CAPA’s 1997 standards upgrade.

15 Years Ago in the Collision Repair Industry (October 2002) While insurers’ involvement in the collision repair industry may not be the cause of fraud within the industry, Doug Walsh says it does make it more difficult to eliminate fraudulent activity. “You’re not in a free enterprise system,” Walsh, an assistant attorney general for Washington state, told attendees at the Collision Industry Conference (CIC), held in Seattle in mid-October. “The purpose of the free enterprise system is to have the consumer’s dollar chase the highest qual-

32 OCTOBER 2017 AUTOBODY NEWS | www.autobodynews.com

ity goods at the lowest price; that has nothing to do with your industry. The third party payer perverts it. The normal market forces are not operating.

In 2007, Tom Fleming of Mitchell International said his company would participate in the Database Enhancement Gateway (DEG) project

And as regulators, we’re confused about your industry because you’re finger-pointing between the insurers and the auto body craftsmen.” Walsh’s comments came during a panel discussion on ethics and fraud

within the industry, a discussion that raised at least as many new questions as it answered. “If insurance companies and auto collision repairers can get together and recognize their responsibility to the insured and the customer, and work to fulfill that, that’s the only way your system can work,” Walsh said. “Because market forces are not going to get rid of businesses that aren’t doing that.” – As reported in Autobody News. 10 Years Ago in the Collision Repair Industry (October 2007) The architects of the Database Enhancement Gateway (DEG) project applauded Mitchell International’s decision to collaborate with the DEG to collect broad industry data to identify, monitor and analyze wider collision industry trends and issues. The DEG is a joint effort between the Alliance of Automotive Service Providers (AASP), the Automotive Service Association (ASA) and the

Society of Collision Repair Specialists (SCRS). It aims to create a single industry website to submit requests for reviews when technicians question the accuracy or a labor time or identify missing, incomplete or incorrect data within any one of the three information providers’ estimating products. It also would allow users to view responses from the database providers.

In 2007, Darrell Amberson worked to help establish the Database Enhancement Gateway as a representative of the Automotive Service Association. He is currently president of operations for Minnesota-based LaMettry s Collision

“Mitchell welcomes the formation of the DEG project as a vehicle for the collision repair industry to voice concerns and issues about sourced data,” said Tom Fleming, vice president of

industry relations for Mitchell. “Mitchell’s announcement is very good news,” said Darrell Amberson, a member of the ASA database task force. “We met with all three information providers in June, and there was some hesitancy on their part because we are in effect critiquing their service tool.” CCC Information Services is also supporting the project, while Audatex appears to be taking more of a waitand-see attitude to be certain the project makes sense for its business. – As reported in Auto Body Repair News. All three estimating system providers were eventually onboard with the DEG, and today the DEG website (www.DEGweb.org) now has a database of more than 11,000 inquiries (to which the information providers have responded) about labor times and other elements of the estimating systems. Fleming retired from Mitchell in 2010 after 25 years with the company.

5 Years Ago in the Collision Repair Industry (October 2012) Florida shop owner Ray Gunder received affirmative responses this month to two complaints he filed about non-

OEM parts certified by the Certified Automotive Parts Association (CAPA). CAPA acknowledged that it found fit problems with a front bumper cover for the 2010 Chevrolet Impala and that it has notified the Taiwanese manufacturer, Y.C.C. Auto Parts, of the “nonconformances” and “will work with the manufacturer in order to verify that the deficiencies have been corrected.” CAPA said it similarly found fit problems with a TYG Products rear bumper cover for the 2002 Honda Accord, has decertified the lot of those parts, and will work with that manufacturer as well to ensure the problems are corrected. – As reported in CRASH Network (www.CrashNetwork.com), October 29, 2012. Gunder, who also was an outspoken critic of many insurance company practices, filing dozens of lawsuits against insurers over the past decade, sold his Lakeland, FL, business to Car Guys Collision Repair this summer.

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Special Events Provide SEMA Showgoers With Education, Networking As a four-day trade show, the SEMA Show has seen a trend in buyers attending the premier automotive event in Las Vegas, NV, for multiple days, with many participating the entire week of the SEMA Show. To accom-

modate the growing interest of buyers and provide the greatest return on investment, activities and special events are scheduled to take place each day of the 2017 SEMA Show, Oct. 31-Nov. 3. “We recognize that buyers have choices as to which industry events they attend, and we’re grateful that they are investing in the SEMA Show,” said Peter MacGillivray, SEMA VP of events and communications. “To ensure that attendees get the greatest value for their investment, the entire week of the SEMA Show is filled with multiple networking events, special activities and a comprehensive educational program.” The events and activities at the SEMA Show, beyond the business that

takes place on the trade show floor, are: Education Seminars: SEMA Showgoers have more than 60 sessions from which to choose, with the flexibility to select from a variety of days and times Monday–Friday, Oct. 30–Nov. 3. Topics focus on online marketing, customer service, staffing, and accounting, and the content focuses on the industry’s unique needs by targeting small businesses in the automotive aftermarket. This year, an increased number of seminars are available on Friday, Nov. 3. SEMA Reveal: New for 2017 is a media sneak peek of select vehicle builds. Held during the Exhibitor Appreciation Reception on Monday, Oct. 30, the SEMA Reveal will give media exclusive access to about 10 noteworthy vehicles debuting at the SEMA Show. New Products Breakfast: Open to all SEMA Showgoers on Tuesday, Oct. 31, 7:30 a.m., the breakfast is where winners of the Best New Products are announced. Buyers can get a jump on what’s hot in the marketplace and winning exhibitors can promote the honor. Tickets are free, but space is limited and must be reserved in advance. NHRA Breakfast: Hosted by the NHRA, the annual breakfast features

SEMA Show New Products Showcase Features Expanded hours, Buyer Happy Hour

As the No. 1 destination for attendees at the SEMA Show, the 2017 New Products Showcase will feature expanded operating hours, a Buyer Happy Hour and enhancements to make it easier than ever for buyers and media to visit. Located along the skybridge between Central and South Halls, the SEMA Show New Products Showcase will be open to Showgoers from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. each day of the event – one hour before opening and one hour after closing – and will include a New Products Happy Hour on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from 4 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. “The New Products Showcase is an essential part of the SEMA Show. Thousands of buyers and media visit the Showcase to discover leading trends, and participating exhibitors rely on it as a tool to generate awareness of their products and brand,” said Peter MacGillivray, SEMA VP of events and communications. “Even beyond the brand awareness, we’ve seen a direct correlation between buyer visits to a booth and exhibitors that have products in the Showcase.” Buyers and media will be able to visit the New Products Showcase when it opens at 8 a.m., then hit the

Show floor immediately when it opens at 9 a.m. each day of the Show. While at the New Products Showcase, buyers and media will also be able to utilize scanning devices to create a personalized list of products they see in the Showcase that are of particular interest. Details for the products scanned will be provided to attendees when they return the scanner, complete with company name, booth location and more. Another option for maximizing one’s visit to the New Products Showcase is to attend the New Products Happy Hour on Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday evening. Complimentary beer and popcorn will be available to buyers and media from 4 p.m. to 5:30 p.m., and visitors will also be able to use the scanning devices during this time. The New Products Showcase is expected to include nearly 2,000 product entries, and all exhibitors qualify to submit one entry at no cost. There is also a “featured products” category for exhibitors to enter products that may not meet the qualifications for a “new” product. Entry forms and details can be found at www.semashow.com or contact sales@sema.org, 909-396-0289.

34 OCTOBER 2017 AUTOBODY NEWS | www.autobodynews.com

iconic race car drivers in an informal setting. SEMA Showgoers can sign up for free tickets during registration, but space and tickets are limited for the event taking place Wednesday, Nov. 1. SEMA Industry Awards Banquet: Held annually on Thursday evening of the SEMA Show, the ban-

quet is where the industry’s most prestigious awards are presented. With 3,000 industry professionals and celebrities in attendance, winners are announced for the SEMA Person of the Year, Manufacturer of the Year, WD of the Year, Rep Agency of the Year, and Gen-III Innovator of the Year. The 2017 Hall of Fame inductees are also honored, and this year’s entertainers are legendary musicians Jimmie Vaughan, Billy F Gib-

bons, Jeff Beck and Michael Anthony. SEMA Cruise: When the SEMA Show closes on Friday evening, vehicles from the Show roll out of the Las Vegas Convention Center, creating the world’s most unique parade of cars and trucks. With bleachers set up, the public is invited to join Showgoers as nearly 1,500 customized vehicles emerge after being on display to the trade-only for the past four days. SEMA Ignited: In addition to serving as the destination for the SEMA Cruise vehicles, SEMA Ignited, also known as the official SEMA Show after-party, includes drifting demonstrations, the filming for a nationwide TV special, crowning of the SEMA Battle of the Builders winner, celebrity appearances, vendors, music and food. Showgoers are invited to celebrate and unwind for free using their SEMA Show badge, while consumers are invited to purchase tickets to this extravaganza. Additional details about these activities and all special events at the 2017 SEMA Show can be found at www.semashow.com/special-events.

www.autobodynews.com | OCTOBER 2017 AUTOBODY NEWS 35

San Rafael, CA, Businesswoman Trades Garage for Ganja by Stephanie Weldy, Marin Independent Journal

Twenty-one years ago, Laura Bertolli took over her father’s San Rafael, CA, auto body business, which he had started 19 years earlier after migrating from Italy. Last week, she watched as Bertolli’s Auto Body Shop signs were dismantled and replaced by those of GMP Cars. She sold the shop in the hopes of using her business background and passion for marijuana to join the growing cannabis industry. “Though I love cars, it’s more a family business I went into,” said Bertolli, 55, of San Rafael. “Now, it’s what I want to do. I want to promote healing properties ... that can change the world.”

San Rafael resident Laura Bertolli sold the longtime family business, Bertolli’s Auto Body Shop, and plans to join the marijuana industry. “It can just calm everyone down and bring peace,” she says. Credit: Robert Tong, Marin Independent Journal

Bertolli was a teen when she first experienced marijuana. With last year’s voter-approved legalization of recreational marijuana throughout California, Bertolli knew her days were num- bered at her auto garage. Following a short break, Bertolli plans to step into a role as a pioneer in the largely uncharted territory of marijuana sales. “A lead I have for executive director of a national cannabis organization, that attracts me,” she said, saying she should could not recall the group’s name. “I want to use my skills as a business owner and CEO in that industry. Whether it’s a multi-level organization that needs a controller, I can see myself on the business side of things.” Bertolli studied business at the University of California, Berkeley. She expected a career in accounting, but she eventually came to work with her father. “I quit my job and started working with him,” Bertolli said. “I’ve been around cars—I knew the busi-

ness side of things. I have a business degree. I didn’t work on cars, but I knew enough.”

Frank Bertolli opened the business in 1971, and his daughter bought it in 1996. Credit: Laura Bertolli

Frank Bertolli, Laura’s 77-yearold father, knew he wanted his daughter to take over the shop. In 1996, she purchased it. The transition was not easy for a woman in the male-dominated auto shop industry. Laura Bertolli recalls all six of her male employees refusing to work for a woman and quitting. She says she soldiered on and hired other employees. “She was tough, she was tough,” Frank Bertolli said. Jonathan Frieman, 64, a San Rafael resident who met Laura Bertolli through her volunteer work and later obtained services from her garage, said she ran an honest shop and maintained strong relationships with her employees. “They’re very open about their operations,” he said. “They didn’t hide anything.” He said he also liked that it was a woman-led business. Joanne Webster, president and CEO of the San Rafael Chamber of Commerce, said Bertolli was recognized as a business of the year in 2015 “for being a role model for other female business owners, but also for what she gives back to the community.” “Not only did she contribute and give to the chamber, but to other organizations and nonprofits,” Webster said. Frank Bertolli compared the sale of the family business to the death of a loved one. But he said he is proud of his daughter’s time overseeing the shop. “She’s been doing it all this time, she’s been doing good,” he said. “Now she’s tired of it and a couple of years ago she tried to sell it. I said if you want to get out, get out. If you do something you don’t want to do, it’s

36 OCTOBER 2017 AUTOBODY NEWS | www.autobodynews.com

not fun. It’s fun to work when you like it.” Frieman said he is surprised the former shop owner is venturing into an industry that is not fully supported in Marin. Earlier this year, the county rejected all proposals for medical cannabis dispensaries. “But knowing Laura, the integrity of her being a good businesswoman, and all that stuff, I think she’ll do just fine,” he said. Laura Bertolli said it is concerning that Marin is not fully embracing cannabis activity, especially with nearly 60 percent of voters statewide and almost 70 percent of Marin voters supporting legalization under Proposition 64. She said no matter what the future of the cannabis industry entails, she has good vibes as she enters the next step of life. “It can just calm everyone down and bring peace. It’s huge, lofty goals, but I think it’ll be possible. I don’t know if cannabis can do that alone— but it can help,” she said. We thank Marin Independent Journal for reprint permission.

Auto Care Association Donates $10,000 to Hurricane Harvey Victims

The Auto Care Association has made a $10,000 donation to the Automotive Aftermarket Charitable Foundation (AACF) to help auto care industry members affected by Hurricane Harvey. “Hundreds of auto care suppliers, retailers, distributors and service providers were in the path of the devastating Hurricane Harvey,” said Bill Hanvey, president and CEO, Auto Care Association. “Our thoughts and prayers are with those living the reality of this disaster, and we hope that our contribution can help make a difference and encourage others to help as well.” The AACF assists individuals and families of the automotive aftermarket affected by life-changing incidents. To also donate to the Automotive Aftermarket Charitable Foundation or to seek assistance for someone in need, visit https:// www.aacfi.org/donate-today.

www.autobodynews.com

www.autobodynews.com | OCTOBER 2017 AUTOBODY NEWS 37

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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 Bea ch

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 rad e nto 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 MA

FL OR IDA

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GEO RG I A

Jerry Damson Acura

Duval Acura

Jackson Acura

Hu n ts vi lle

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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

FL O RI D A

Acura of Orange Park J a cks on v ille

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

F o rt La u de rda l e

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800-876-1150 954-377-7688

800-899-7278 770-422-3138

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

38 OCTOBER 2017 AUTOBODY NEWS | www.autobodynews.com

Southern Motors Acura

N O. C AR O LI NA

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 . CA R O LI N A

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VIR GIN I A

Apple Tree Honda

Vann York Automall

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Ash ev ill e

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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 h am

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 R al ei gh

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

McKenney-Salinas Honda G as to n i a

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

Metro Honda I nd ia n Trai l

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

NO. C AR O L IN A

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

Breakaway Honda G ree n vi ll 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

Ba r tle t t

Rich m ond

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 Be ach

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

TE NNE SS EE

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

VIRGINIA

Hendrick Acura

Gary Force Acura

Ch ar lo tt e

B ren two od

F a ll s C hurch

800-768-6824 704-566-2288

800-653-6723 615-377-0500

800-550-5035 703-824-5785

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

Dept. Hours: M-F 7:30-6; Sat 8-2 jtrail@garyforceacura.com

Dept. Hours: M-F 7:30-6; Sat 8-6; Sun 10-5 jimgraf@radleyauto.com

Leith Acura Ca r y

800-868-0082 919-657-0460 Dept. Hours: M-F 8-6; Sat 8-4:30 parts@leithacura.com

Valley Honda

Radley Acura

VI RG INIA

Karen Radley Acura Woo d br i d ge

800-355-2818 703-550-0205 Dept. Hours: M-F 7:30-5:30; Sat 8-3 coreythompson@radleyautogroup.com www.autobodynews.com | OCTOBER 2017 AUTOBODY NEWS 39

Young Painter Creates “Girls Behind the Gun” to Support Women in Collision Repair Connie Manjavinos, 25, started her career as a detailer at a CarMax in her hometown of Virginia Beach, VA, seven years ago. Recently, she was honored as one of the world’s top painters at the 3M Automotive Aftermarket PPS World Cup in Detroit, MI. It has been an unexpected and wonderful journey for Manjavinos as she pursues her dreams

her a full-fledged painter. “I transferred out there to be a detailer, but with the idea that I would become a painter there,” she said. “After that first week I started going over to the paint department to learn as much as I possibly could. At that point, they really hadn’t figured out a role for me, so I was getting paid as a detailer, but I was in the paint department for 6–8 months. I learned everything from masking, unmasking, how

while providing a support network for female painters worldwide and gaining national attention for her work. Right out of high school, Manjavinos wanted to become a police officer, but she knew that in the interim, she would need to get what she called a “big girl job”. After exhibiting her ability to learn quickly along with a knack for painting, Manjavinos seized an opportunity to transfer to another CarMax location in Colorado, where they were seemingly willing to make

to buff fresh paint, primer, bodywork, PDR—and then into the booth. I became an unofficial part of their paint crew, but I was just waiting for a job. So, when the position as a painter finally opened up, I got it, because I was already doing it all anyway. After a while, I became the paint manager there.” With original plans of attending school to study Administration of Justice and riding along with the local police department, Manjavinos then

by Ed Attanasio

“I want to learn it all and play a role in this industry as it changes” — Connie Manjavinos

40 OCTOBER 2017 AUTOBODY NEWS | www.autobodynews.com

as well as planned, Manjavinos said. decided to pursue a new direction to“I was learning under a guy who ward collision repair—and she’s happy had no desire to teach me, so it was that she did. “I saw that I could do this, so I de- definitely very frustrating,” she said. cided to step up and give it a real try,” “But, I kept plugging away and after she said. “It makes me happy when about eight months I could see that people see my work and say, “Wow, a there was no chance of becoming the girl did that.’ I am only 5” 2’ and I number one painter there, even though weigh a little more than 100 lbs., but the head painter was retiring and they when people see me banging out these cars, they are kind of surprised, and I love that!” After leaving her job at CarMax, Manjavinos landed a job at a vehicle restoration shop called Emmel’s Enamels in Denver, CO, where she was allowed to learn how to paint cars the right way, she said. “I had to commute a couple hours every day and I definitely took a financial hit to work there, but I wanted to learn from these people, and I Connie Manjavinos was the only female painter featured did. After eight months there, I at the 3M Automotive Aftermarket PPS World Cup in Detroit, MI, in August decided that I was ready to jump into collision repair,” she said. had promised me the position. When I So, she got another job at a body asked them directly if I was going to shop in the area, but things did not go eventually move up, they said no.

One of the guys told me that he would never let his daughter become a painter, so I bailed and went back to work at Emmel’s Enamels for a short time.” Recently, Connie made another move from Colorado to Florida to work for Kiddy’s Classics Automotive Repair in Jensen Beach, FL. “It’s a great opportunity, and I am so excited,” she said. “I get to do everything here, [including] shadowing the owner who specializes in metal fabrication. I’ve learned a lot about heavy bodywork and restoration paint jobs here. They have a new painter there, and I have trained her to be my helper and become a painter so we can tagteam projects later. She is so happy to be learning, and I am delighted to help her after all of the things I had to go through.” To network with women who are either painters or work in some capacity within the collision repair industry, Manjavinos created an online group called “Girls Behind the Gun.” “I could see that the guys were getting major recognition for their work, but the women were not,” she said. “After a while, I started thinking, ‘Am I the only one out there?’ When I

started the group on Facebook and Instagram back in February of 2015, the ladies started flocking to it, and now we have 16,500 followers. It’s a place where women who work in this industry in any capacity can communicate, interact and share ideas.”

Manjavinos was going to be a police woman until she decided to become a car painter seven years ago

As Manjavinos connects with more and more female painters all over the world through her efforts on social media, her mission is quickly

gaining momentum. “Painting is our shared obsession, and now we’re communicating back and forth on a daily basis,” she said. “It’s become something that we can hopefully build upon because we all need friends in this business.” Manjavinos has bigger and better plans for “Girls Behind the Gun” and looks forward to meeting new female painters at SEMA and other networking events this year. “Now I am reaching out to young women who are going to be the future refinishers of this industry; to encourage them and mentor them,” she said. “We need to work together and create a community where we can share information and set ourselves up for success. If young girls can find this career early in their lives, they can achieve so many things and even though they might encounter setbacks, we’ve got their backs. I want to focus on the future of ‘Girls Behind the Gun’ now to inspire them.” With a long career ahead of her, Manjavinos is ready for whatever happens next, she said. “I want to learn it all and play a role in this industry as it changes,” Manjavinos said. “That’s why I am try-

ing to inspire women and help them as they take it to the next level. Right now, I am learning everything I possibly can to find out what I am really good at,

Manjavinos is using social media to connect with female painters and other women working in collision repair through “Girls Behind the Gun,” an online group she started back in 2015

and that includes metal work and every aspect of fixing or restoring a car. My passion for this business runs deep, and that’s why I love what I do every day!”

www.autobodynews.com

www.autobodynews.com | OCTOBER 2017 AUTOBODY NEWS 41

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42 OCTOBER 2017 AUTOBODY NEWS | www.autobodynews.com

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www.autobodynews.com | OCTOBER 2017 AUTOBODY NEWS 43

3M PPS World Cup Features 10 of the World’s Best Car Painters by Ed Attanasio

Ten of the world’s top painters from Australia, Germany, Canada and the USA displayed their unique automotive artwork at the inaugural 3M PPS

repair, paint preparation, vehicle painting, paint finishing and vehicle appearance during the Dream Cruise. The 10 leading painters who featured their amazing artwork on car hoods during the event included:

3M’s Automotive Aftermarket Division invited 10 leading painters from around the world to illustrate their vision of classic car culture on a hood, using the 3M™ PPS™ System and other 3M automotive products at the 2017 Woodward Dream Cruise

World Cup at the 2017 Woodward Dream Cruise on Saturday, August 19 in Detroit, MI. Invited by 3M to illustrate their artistic vision of classic car culture on a hood using the 3M™ PPS™ System and other 3M automotive products, the painters made themselves available to discuss their creations at the Dream Cruise, where the unique hoods were unveiled. In a celebration of classic car culture, the 3M Automotive Aftermarket Division stole the show at the Dream Cruise with special guest Chip Foose, legendary automotive designer, who signed autographs for fans and gave advice to the 10 painters featured in the event. The 3M Demonstration and Education Mobile Operations (D.E.M.O.) trailer showcased its latest 3M solutions for automotive repair and maintenance with hands-on demonstrations for body

Pablo Prado, KandynChrome, USA; Jacob Miles, Milestone Paint & Body, USA; Connie Manjavinos, PassionateInk, USA; Clay Hoberecht, Best

lision repair side of the business, while and Body in Mt. Juliet, TN, started out painting cars with his father, and today others were up and emerging, such as owns a top tier custom shop. He was Connie Manjavinos, who is only 25 honored to be one of the 10 painters years old, and Pablo Prado, who is known as one of the top upand-coming lowrider painters on the West Coast. All of the 10 painters had begun working on their hoods two days prior to the Dream Cruise at the PPG Training Center in Wixom, MI, where they sprayed together and shared stories. When a reporter asked Danny Schramm, one of the German painters, if the Pablo Prado (right) from KandynChrome Custom Paint painters were sharing ideas and Designs with one of his lowrider creations at 2017 Woodward Dream Cruise secrets, he replied, “Yes, all of these painters have learned much from selected for the event, and spent a lot of time meeting the other painters. me already!” “This is a great group, because we To open the weekend, 3M held a reception dinner at the Ford Piquette all come from different parts of the world and have different ways of paintAvenue Plant to welcome the painters ing cars,” Miles said. “The attitude here before the hard work began. Built in 1904, the Ford Piquette Avenue Plant is, ‘Let’s work together,’ and we’re alwas the second center of automobile ready making arrangements to stay conproduction for the Ford Motor Com- nected well after this weekend is over.” Carmine De Maria from C.A.D. pany. The Ford Model T was created Custom in Melbourne, Australia has and first produced there in 1908. See 3M PPS World Cup, Page 48 Jacob Miles from Milestone Paint

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Carmine De Maria from C.A.D. Custom in Melbourne, Australia created a hood featuring a boxing kangaroo with a green and gold background

Body Shop, USA; Justin Jimmo, Refinish Network, Canada; Carl-André Giroux, Canada; Danny Schramm, SchrammWerk, Germany; Christian Wilke, Germany; Carmine De Maria, C.A.D. Custom, Australia and Shane Wanjon, Exclusive Image Paint and Body, USA. With painters from all over the planet, the event offered Detroit a unique opportunity to learn the art of automotive from 10 different perspectives. Some of the participating world-class artists were Carl-Andre Giroux, a painter from Quebec, Canada with his custom hood seasoned veterans on the col-

44 OCTOBER 2017 AUTOBODY NEWS | www.autobodynews.com

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Young Auto Care Network Group Announces Program at AAPEX 2017 The Young Auto Care Network Group (YANG) of the Auto Care Association will be presenting YANG@AAPEX during the Automotive Aftermarket Products Expo (AAPEX), Wednesday, Nov. 1, 2017 in Las Vegas, NV. All professionals in the auto care industry under the age of 40 are encouraged to attend. The program will include the YANG Town Hall titled, “Get in the Driver’s Seat: The 3 Keys to a Successful Auto Care Career,” featuring an executive panel from all channels of the auto care industry moderated by YANG Advisory Council member Dave Shapiro, SRS Marketing Company, 3:45 p.m.-4:45 p.m. at The Venetian Hotel, Marco Polo Room 706. The panel topics include:  Willingness to Grow - How Continuing Education and Learning New Skills Drives Opportunity  You Are Who You Know - The Importance of Networking and Growing Your Inner Circle  Learning to Lead - How Getting to the Top Takes Sacrifice and Putting Others First Immediately after the panel, attendees are invited to attend the YANGsponsored happy hour, 5 p.m.-6:30 p.m., at LAVO in the Palazzo.

Panelists include: Corey Bartlett, MAAP, president, Automotive Parts Headquarters, Inc.; and Aaron Shaffer, business development manager, KYB Americas Corporation.

In addition to YANG @AAPEX, members of YANG have the opportunity to receive professional staged photographs free of charge on Wednesday, Nov. 1, 10:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m., in the Auto Care Association Member Center, Room 201-203 in the Sands Expo. New this year is the YANG Mentor Pin, designed to initiate conversations between young industry professionals and willing mentors. YANG Mentor Pin wearers will be recognized at AAPEX events by wearing the mentor pin. The pin pledges their willingness to support the industry’s future leaders and to indicate they are open to conversations with members. “Getting the perspective of professionals with prior experience is ex-

tremely valuable, and our hope is that the YANG Mentor Pin will help YANG members identify auto care industry leaders willing to share their experiences,” said Thurston Adams, Heri Automotive and YANG Council member. “Our goal is that mentorship relationships will be formed informally, based on mutual respect for the similar paths we are following throughout our careers in the auto care industry. When someone is wearing a YANG Mentor Pin, YANG members can simply say hello and introduce themselves, pick their brain and ask them about their career. In life and in business, simple introductions often lead to great relationships.” Those interested in sporting a YANG Mentor Pin can contact Courtney Hammer, the YANG staff liaison, at courtney.hammer@autocare.org or by picking up their pin at the Auto Care Association Fall Leadership Days registration desk in San Francisco, CA, Sept. 6-8, or at the Auto Care Association Member Center in the Sands Expo, Room 201 during AAPEX 2017. YANG membership is free and open to Auto Care Association members under the age of 40. For information, visit www.autocare.org/yang or email yang@autocare.org.

Driven Brands Raises Money for Hurricane Relief

The Driven Brands Charitable Foundation (DBCF) has partnered with parent company Driven Brands’ retail automotive brands to help raise funds for Hurricane Harvey and Hurricane Irma relief through the American Red Cross. Driven Brands’ participating companies include CARSTAR Auto Body Repair Experts, Maaco, Meineke Car Care Centers, Take 5 Oil Change and 1-800 Radiator & AC. Franchisees, employees, vendor partners and customers can visit the Driven Brands Charitable Foundation site or any of the participating brand websites to donate. Proceeds will benefit the American Red Cross relief efforts in both regions. “Hurricane Harvey continues to have a devastating impact on Texas and Louisiana, while we are just seeing the impact on Florida,” said Noah Pollack, executive vice president and general counsel for Driven Brands. “Our thoughts are with our franchisees, their staffs and families in the storm zones and the millions of people whose lives have been disrupted by rain, wind and floods and who are now facing a lengthy clean-up and restoration.”

www.autobodynews.com | OCTOBER 2017 AUTOBODY NEWS 45

Tips for Busy Body Shops

Stacey Phillips is a freelance writer and editor for the automotive industry. She has 20 years of experience writing for a variety of publications, and is co-author of “The Secrets of America’s Greatest Body Shops.” She can be reached at sphillips.autobodynews@gmail.com.

How to Improve Body Shop Profit Using Sensible Goals: The ‘Power of One’ with Stacey Phillips

When John Shoemaker asks collision repair shops across the country about their financial goals, he is often told, “I’m going to increase company sales 10 percent.” When he asks how, they instinctively say, “by doing more repairs.” The business development manager for BASF Automotive Refinish Coatings North America said if you look at an average shop with $2.4 million in annual sales, a 10 percent increase would equate to $240,000 annually, or $20,000 per month. “Using an average repair of $2,600 as an example, the goal would require around eight more repairs per month,” said Shoemaker. “That’s reasonable, but is it sensible?” Shoemaker said that what is sensible is making more money on the repairs the shop is already doing. During a recent interview with Autobody News, he shared tips on how a collision repair facility can increase profits sensibly by making small incremental improvements. Much of this centers around changing a sale or cost by about 1 percent, which he refers to as “The Power of One.” Although it’s a small number, he said it can make a big difference to a business in terms of profit. Six key performance indicators to help overall profitability:

Sales per RO (repair order) Shoemaker often recommends that shops consider raising each RO by 1 percent. “If an average RO is $2,600 and you increase that by 1 percent, it would raise the average to $2,626 or $26,” he explained. When you multiply $26 by an average of 20 repairs per week, it equates to $520 in weekly growth. Earning an extra $520 each week for 52 weeks will add up to an additional $27,040 in profit.

Effective labor rate A body shop’s hourly rate is not necessarily its effective labor rate. Shoemaker said the effective labor rate is what a shop is actually earning. Although body, frame and mechanical work generally all have different labor rates, Shoemaker said often times shops bill insurance companies the body labor rate and don’t charge frame

or mechanical labor. He advises shops to charge for the particular skill being used based on the education and training the particular individual has received. “You need to make sure that you are charging your frame rate for your frame work, your mechanical rate for your mechanical labor and not including everything in body; that’s how you increase your effective labor rate,” he said. In addition, he said by increasing your effective labor rate by just $1, a shop can improve its annual revenue by $31,200 based on an average of 30 hours billed on a $2,600 RO.

Effective Labor Cost The effective labor cost—the hourly rate paid to technicians—works handin-hand with a facility’s effective labor rate. Shoemaker encourages shops to bring in lower-cost technicians to focus on the less technical jobs—for example, bumper repair. “There is an opportunity to make more profit on those smaller jobs, which is about 45 percent of a shop’s business,” he said. “If they can make more money on 45 percent of their business by using a lower-level and lower-paid technician to do these smaller repairs, that’s where they change their effective labor cost.” Based on an average of 30 hours per RO, he said reducing the effective labor cost by $1 can increase annual profits by $31,200.

Paint Hours per RO In regard to paint hours, Shoemaker said shops can often miss little things on estimates such as blending a gas filler door when repairing a quarter panel, refinishing a tail lamp pocket when replacing a rear body panel or rocker panel flanges to correct frame clamp damage. He said that currently, the average paint hour per RO is 7.8. “If we raise that by one to 8.8, over the year you can bring in an annual sales increase of nearly $73,000,” he said.

Paint and Material Sales Per Paint Hour Shops that increase their paint materi-

46 OCTOBER 2017 AUTOBODY NEWS | www.autobodynews.com

als sales per paint hour by $1 can also make a significant difference in their annual profits. When insurance companies cap materials, Shoemaker said it can drive down the actual rate. Using a common industry average of $27.63, he said shops can boost their annual sales by $8,100 by raising their paint and material sales per paint hour by $1.

Paint and Material Cost per Paint Hour In terms of the amount of paint materials used to do a particular job, Shoemaker often recommends that shops use a little less product. He has found that typically, there is about an ounce of paint left over after finishing the job. “If you are mixing less product, your cost for that job is going to be reduced even though you are still getting paid the same amount because you are eliminating the waste,” he explained.

He said it’s understandable that painters don’t want to be short on materials and go into the paint booth with less paint than they need to do the job. Therefore, it’s important to take into account work habits, pilferage and waste. Based on a benchmark of $13 to $14, reducing the paint and material cost per paint hour by $1 would increase annual profits by $8,112. In addition to these six KPIs, Shoemaker said the same concept of “The Power of One” can be applied to a business’s gross profit numbers, including total labor, parts, paint and materials, and total gross profit. For example, using 62 percent as a benchmark for total labor gross profit, Shoemaker said it would equate to $812,448 in gross profit using $1,310,400 as an average shop’s labor sales. “Employing ‘The Power of One’ and increasing the percentage by 1 to See The ‘Power of One’, Page 48

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Continued from Cover

ABRA Class Action

Continued from Page 44

Continued from Page 46

been painting for 25 years. A decade ago, he came to the U.S. and met with other painters. It reignited his career and he began focusing on customs, hot rods and full restorations as a result. The hood De Maria created featured a boxing kangaroo with a green and gold background. “Coming here is truly a big deal for me and for my company, because it’s recognition that’s coming from 3M,” he said. “I am representing Australia, which means I have to do a good hood that people will like, but it also shows my style and creativity.” Pablo Prado from Los Angeles, CA, is one of the hottest painters of lowriders in the country right now. One of the younger painters invited to be in the 3M PPS World Cup, Prado brought some West Coast flavor to the event. “I’m self-taught pretty much, and it’s really an honor to be meeting all of these other painters,” Prado said. “I’ve been doing this for around 10 years now and I basically do lowriders, so I appreciate seeing other styles and techniques.”

63 would increase annual profits by $13,104,” he said. In terms of parts gross profit, using a benchmark of 25 percent would equate to $270,000 using $1,080,000 as an average for annual part sales. Shoemaker said that by increasing the percentage by 1 to 26 would bring an additional profit of $10,800. “I call it organic growth,” said Shoemaker. Rather than bringing in more cars to increase a shop’s sales numbers, he said shops can increase profits with the current work they have. “By looking at the small number rather than the big number, you can very steadily and sensibly grow your business,” he said. This article was based on a presentation by John Shoemaker, business development manager for BASF Automotive Refinish Coatings. For more information, email: john.a.shoemaker @basf.com.

3M PPS World Cup

behalf of named plaintiff Randy Fields against ABRA. The lawsuit marked the third such lawsuit filed by the Stephan Zouras firm under the Illinois BIPA law in September. On Sept. 5, the firm filed two similar lawsuits in Cook County court against both the Lettuce Entertain You restaurant group and the Speedway chain of gas stations and convenience stores. According to the most recent lawsuit, ABRA, like many other employers, requires employees to scan their fingerprints into the company’s employee database, and then use their fingerprints to punch in and out of their work shifts. However, the lawsuit says ABRA didn’t inform Fields and other employees of the company’s policies for collecting, storing and managing the fingerprints, including how long the prints would be stored in the company’s computers after an employee leaves the company. Fields alleges he was never provided a written form authorizing the

company to collect and store his fingerprints, as he asserts is required by Illinois law. According to the lawsuit, Fields worked at ABRA’s shop in south suburban Lynwood from 2013–2017. According to its website, ABRA operates 44 shops in Illinois, and more than 30 scattered throughout the Chicago area. The lawsuit seeks to expand the action to include all of ABRA’s Illinois employees who may have had their fingerprints scanned—a group that may number in the “hundreds or more,” the lawsuit said. We thank Cook County Record for reprint permission. To read the full article, go to http://cookcountyrecord. com/stories/511215829-class-actionsabra-auto-body-crunch-fitness-didn-tproperly-collect-employee-customerfingerprints

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SCRS and March Taylor Memorial Fund Award SkillsUSA Gold Medalists Tool Scholarships As the industry and mainstream media report on increasing challenges related to shortages of skilled tradespeople, the Society of Collision Repair Specialists (SCRS), the March Taylor Memorial Fund (MTMF) and Snap-on are working to make sure that those entering into the collision repair industry—and working hard to excel in it—are both recognized and rewarded for their efforts. For the third consecutive year, SCRS and MTMF have partnered to provide a $1,250 tool scholarship to each of the SkillsUSA National Championship Gold Medalists in the high school and post-secondary levels to help the recipients secure tools they can use as they enter the trade. Automotive Refinishing recipients awarded include: • Dylan Ahrndt of Ridgewater College Willmar in Minnesota

• Dylan Wertz of Vanguard Sentinal Career and Tech Center in Ohio

Collision Repair recipients awarded

include: • Joel Hartstack of Southwestern Community College in Iowa

• Second-time recipient Alan Zimmerman of Vanguard - Sentinel Career and Tech Center in Ohio.

“Snap-on is a longtime supporter of SkillsUSA,” stated Greg Rintala, National Sales Manager, Snap-on Industrial - Education Sales. “SkillsUSA, along with the technical training programs in high schools and colleges in the USA, are part of the solution to the skills gap. Teaming up with SCRS and the March Taylor Memorial Fund to give these winners the professional tools they need will ease their way to learning their craft and performing their job when they get out in the workplace. That should help them lead a successful life with a dignified career supporting themselves and their families.” “This is a way to fill a very critical gap in the future of our industry,” SCRS Chairman Kye Yeung said in a statement. “We need to get kids and their families to see trades

as a viable future, because the country needs talented, ambitious kids to fill the technical roles in working on the highly sophisticated vehicles we are presented with. We want to honor and encourage the ambition these competitors have demonstrated, and I want to see SCRS working to help students like these find really rewarding careers in our industry.” In 2016, SCRS announced the launch of the SCRS Career Center (scrs.com/jobs) intending to help students such as those awarded, to be able to post resumes and connect with employers in the industry. The SCRS Career Center was created as part of an extensive network that includes the Auto Care Association and the Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA).

For more information about SCRS, or to join as a member, please visit scrs.com, call toll free 1-877-8410660 or email us at info@scrs.com.

www.autobodynews.com

AACF Helps Aftermarket Victims of Hurricanes

The Automotive Aftermarket Charitable Foundation (AACF) is taking immediate action to expand urgent storm response efforts for aftermarket families in the wake of hurricanes Irma and Harvey. “We are actively working with SEMA, the Auto Care Association, and others to continue identifying aftermarket families in urgent need, and a number of families have already been provided with urgent funding,” said AACF President Bob Hirsch. “We understand that many are still without power and basic supplies, so we’ve also launched a simple application on our website to make it easier for families to apply and receive help using a mobile device.” AACF recently allocated $250,000 from its reserve funds to address the needs of families in storm-affected areas in addition to donations received, as historic hurricane events and flooding continue in many areas of the country. “Aftermarket families are going to need a lot of help,” said Joel Ayres, Executive Director of AACF. “With tens of thousands displaced, and more than 7 million people currently without power in Florida alone, it’s clear this is going to be a long road of recovery.”

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Seminars Give Hawaii Body Shops Opportunity to Learn

Larry Montanez instructed attendees at two seminars hosted by the Automotive Body & Painting Association of Hawaii

Seminars Give Hawaii Body Shops Opportunity to Learn Advanced Techniques and Procedures by Stacey Phillips

The Automotive Body & Painting Association of Hawaii hosted two seminars in September instructed by Larry Montanez from P&L Consultants. On September 7, body shop owners, managers, technicians and estimators across the Hawaiian Islands attended “Tech Night-Repairing Cosmetic Aluminum.” It was held at Island Fender in Honolulu, which is owned by Van Takemoto. During the evening event, Montanez gave an overview of proper aluminum repair procedures and techniques for outer panels with cosmetic damage, which was followed by a hands-on demonstration. Two days later, on September 8, Montanez led an estimating class at

the Pagoda Hotel in Honolulu focused on metallurgy, crash management and advanced damage report writing. Attendees had the opportunity to learn about the different strengths of steel and aluminum, including their functions and designs, different attachment methods, reparability and the specialized equipment required. Montanez also covered diagnosing damage and pre-measuring and prerepair diagnostic scanning as well as how vehicles absorb, transfer or manage applied collision energy forces. For more information about P&L Consultants, contact info@PnL Estimology.com. For details about The Automotive Body & Painting Association of Hawaii and upcoming events, contact ABPAH@hawaii .rr.com.

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WWCC Auto Programs Nurture Car Whisperers in WA by Abra Bennett, WWCC

When you first meet Oscar Morales, even though English is his native tongue, he immediately begins speaking the language he loves best, saying things such as “Japanese Arista right hand drive SC300 2JZDTE” and “R35 GRTR.” It’s the secret language of cars. Morales, owner of Valley Rollerz Garage in Walla Walla, WA, and a Walla Walla Community College graduate, is a car whisperer. “I can hear cars talk to me,” he confesses. “The thing that makes me a bit special is that I can do everything. There isn’t anything that I can’t do when it comes to cars. I can do body work, electrical, cut and weld, fabrication, order parts and identify them, cut out glass, do panel replacements, engine diagnostics, engine and transmission rebuilds, repair instrument clusters, everything.” Morales is a star graduate of Walla Walla Community College (WWCC), having earned AAS degrees in both Collision Repair Technology and Automotive Repair Technology. Ricky Aguilar is another rising star. He’s the current president of the Associated Student Body, has already received his degree in Automotive Repair Technology, and is studying for his Collision Repair Technology degree while working as a service writer at Bob’s Automotive in Kennewick, WA. He’d like to open his own shop when he graduates next year, offering full detail, automotive, auto body, collision, electrical, and painting services. Both of them trained in WWCC’s fully equipped repair facility, under the watchful eye of Collision Repair Instructor Dan Norton, who himself graduated from the WWCC Collision Repair Program in 1977 and has many years of experience in the industry under his belt. He became an instructor at WWCC in 1994, beginning at the North Campus at the Washington State Penitentiary, then moving to the main campus in 2000. As Norton explains it, the mission of WWCC’s Collision Repair program is to provide high-quality technical instruction in all aspects of auto body repair and painting, using the most current technologies. Students can obtain a one-year certificate, or they can graduate from the two-year program fully prepared to enter the collision re-

pair industry and meet current industry skill standards. If, like Morales and Aguilar, students choose to also earn degrees in Automotive Repair Technol-

However, “It’s a thinking person’s game,” according to Norton. “The student has to be able to decipher technical jargon, read technical manuals, search online to find the information they need to do repairs, and it requires a lot of critical thinking.”

for people,” says Norton. “Shops are very happy with the graduates of this program. Typical starting pay with a one-year certificate is $12-$13 per

Students Who Succeed Ricky Aguilar is an inspirational example of a successful student who didn’t graduate from high school. WWCC has a campus at the Coyote Ridge Corrections Center, where he was an inmate. There, he first enrolled in a course in graphic design. “Even though I loved graphic design, I didn’t think it was going to give me a marketable skill for when I got out,” he remembers. When WWCC started the automotive program at Coyote Ridge, he took the first year of Automotive Repair Technology while working as a teaching assistant in both the automotive and graphic design programs. He got out on work release in 2015 and found a job at Bob’s Automotive, then set up his financial aid and enrolled in WWCC for the winter

Students work in the collision repair facility at WWCC. Credit: wwccmedia

ogy, they are able to complete their second degree in just one additional year.

All In a Day’s Work The program does not specifically teach restoration work on classic cars, but for those who are interested in restoration, the skill set is essentially the same. In class, students work on cars, vans, and light trucks. And although many students are initially interested in the program because they like to paint, Norton emphasizes that painting is just a part of the collision repair process. “In this job you’re going to get dirty,” he says. “It’s going to be hot work, dirty work, and you need to like to work with your hands. But there’s a lot of gratification in it, because you can see your accomplishments—how you’ve made a huge difference in repairing damage. We’re the artists of the mechanical world. We shape things.”

A Wealth of Opportunities Although collision repair has traditionally been seen as “man’s work,” Norton emphasizes that “female grads have a lot of advantages. Women typically see color better than men do, and color-matching is a big part of what we do. And women tend to be more fastidious, plus they have a tendency to be more detail-oriented.” And there’s plenty of work to go around. “Collision repair shops are crying

52 OCTOBER 2017 AUTOBODY NEWS | www.autobodynews.com

hour, and $15-$18 with a degree.” While most students in the program are high school graduates, it’s possible to complete a degree without having finished high school.

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quarter of 2016. He went to school all day, drove to Kennewick mid-afternoon to work, got home at 8:00 or 9:00 p.m., did his homework, slept, and did it all again the next day. Both students credit their success to the quality of teaching the program provides. “Dan Norton is just incredible. He has so much to offer,” says Oscar Morales. “Even though I’ve been working on cars since I was a kid, I just consumed everything he taught us. WWCC gave me a lot of confidence. I learned a lot about mechanics, how to pull frames, do certain types of body work, how to skin doors, and then I jumped into the field of automotive repair.” After graduating from WWCC in 2011 and working stints at O’Reilly Auto Parts and Les Schwab in Walla Walla, Morales went to work at Checker’s Auto Body. From there, his career began a meteoric rise. “I started there as a tech and slowly moved into the office because they could see how well I was able to communicate with customers and talk with insurance companies,” he recalls. “I ended up being the shop manager, and I ran the shop for two and a half

years. When I told them at Checker’s that I wanted to leave to start my own business, they actually offered me part of the company so I would stay with them, but I just had to go. [It’s] coming up on two years ago that I opened up Valley Rollerz Garage, and I haven’t looked back ever since.” Currently, Morales is in the planning stages of moving his business to Vancouver, WA, “because I want to do my business on a bigger level, all up and down the West Coast. I just can’t stop. It’s definitely a lot of fun and I love it a lot.” Ambition, persistence, hard work, fun, and success are the hallmarks of the graduates of WWCC’s Collision Repair program. If you are interested in becoming a car whisperer yourself, or in hiring someone who can whisper to your customers’ cars, contact Dan Norton at 509-527-4569 or dan.norton @wwcc.edu.

We thank Walla Walla Community College for reprint permission.

www.autobodynews.com

I-CAR® Launces New Art and Science of Estimator Interactions Course

To better equip collision repairers with the knowledge and skills they need to develop and present quality repair estimates, I-CAR® has launched a new course designed to focus specifically on exploring the Estimator Professional Development Program™ (PDP) role. The course, The Art and Science of Estimator Interactions, will allow students to participate in activities that will sharpen their skills in communication, conflict resolution, estimating, and customer service. These traits are important in the repair process as the estimator ensures that customers fully understand the work that needs to be done, and they and the insurance company approve the estimate. The topics discussed will include how to properly communicate with the customer and the insurance company, complete the estimate, and obtain estimate approval. “Knowing how to give a proper and accurate estimate, all while maintaining excellent customer service, is a key part to gaining and maintaining business profitability,” said I-CAR Director of Curriculum and Product Development Josh McFarlin.

Cambridge Automotive Group Opens New Maaco Location in Henderson, NV

Cambridge Automotive Group (CAG) has opened a new Maaco location in Henderson, NV. Following this opening, CAG now owns more than 40 Maaco shops across the country and is Maaco’s largest multiple center owner.

Maaco Henderson plans on offering several specials throughout the year on customer auto body repair and paint needs. Maaco is currently offering a paint sale for its 45th Anniversary. CAG’s locations fix routine dents and dings and provide structural repairs by its expertly trained technicians. Plus, all structural repairs are backed by a lifetime warranty. The Maaco stores also provide superb painting services, offering several different packages with varying price points and warranties. Maaco Henderson is located at 1010 N. Stephanie St. Suite B, Henderson, NV 89014. The store’s hours are Monday-Friday, 8 a.m. – 6 p.m., and Saturday, 9 a.m. – 2 p.m.

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Shop Strategies with Stacey Phillips

Riding Wave of Change: Hawaii Shop Shares Initiatives That Will Take Family Business Into the Future In Waipahu, Hawaii, employees from Oka’s Autobody and their families recently met at the local bowling alley for the company’s summertime family fun event. “We hope it helps bring our employees together in a different setting other than work,” said Brandon Okahara, co-owner of the body shop. “We often joke that we spend more time with these guys than our own families. You have to find that balance between working hard and still having family time outside.” Brandon and his siblings, Marlo and Kyle, have a good understanding of what it takes balancing family and business while working together. Oka’s was established by their father Eddie, uncle Fred and uncle Henry Okahara in 1965. The brothers ran the business out of a small three-stall garage and eventually moved into a 7,000-square-foot location after building up their clientele. When Fred re-

his time as the lead estimator. Marlo’s husband, Carl, also takes an active role in the company, leading future development. Together, the Okaharas have grown the family-run business, which now employs 25 and operates out of a 19,000-square-foot facility. Autobody News talked to the owners of Oka’s to learn more about the initiatives they have taken to help their shop stay successful as well as some of the challenges they have dealt with running a facility in Hawaii.

Operating a family business can be challenging. What steps have you taken to work together effectively?

Brandon: Like anything else, A: whether we are a family or not, I think there are always situations that

are going to come up where there is a difference of opinion. That has to be expected. The benefit, of course, is knowing that the other parties involved genuinely have a vested interest in the company. We can trust the fact that the decisions being made are for the right reasons. In that sense, it’s great. There are not a lot of times that you can be in that situation where you have trust. Our team is very structured in the way we run our business and it has helped us accelerate our growth. We regularly sit down as a family and go over our mission and goals for the business. The industry is rapThe Okahara family at Oka’s Autobody (l to r): Brandon, idly changing so we need to Carl, Marlene, Eddie, Marlo and Kyle. The shop stay in touch with each other received the SBA Family-Owned Small Business of and stay on top of what is the Year Award going on. There are a lot of tired, Eddie decided to buy him out. moving parts running a body shop. Our Meanwhile, his three children, Marlo, meetings help keep us focused on our Kyle and Brandon, began taking an end goal. We are able to bounce ideas active interest in running and expand- off one another and come to a consening the family business. sus. After retiring three years ago, Eddie and his wife Marlene handed What sets your body shop apart over the day-to-day operations of the from others in Hawaii? shop to their children. Now, Marlo works as the office manager, Kyle is a Marlo: I believe that what sets repair planner, and Brandon spends us apart from other shops on

Q: A:

54 OCTOBER 2017 AUTOBODY NEWS | www.autobodynews.com

the island is our customer service.

Brandon: For us, the main focus is always our customers. Whether it’s a phone call, face-to-face interaction or delivering a vehicle, we always remember why we’re here—for our customers.

an accident and what they are looking for is somebody to help them. Fixing a car is just part of that process. You have to be empathetic to what’s going on and treat everybody as an individual. Put yourself into their position. What would you want to happen and how would you want the experience to roll out?

What methods have you found Q: to be most beneficial to operate the business? Brandon: Over the past couple A: of years, we have been going down the road of incorporating a lean

The photo voltaic system installed by Oka’s creates enough energy to run the shop

I always tell our employees that they need to remember this might be the first accident the customer has been in and it can be stressful. It’s emotionally and mentally draining to get into

and processed-centered environment at the body shop. The way we process cars is by using a team concept. We have multiple body teams and the paint department operates as their own team as well. With new technicians coming in, See Riding the Wave of Change, Page 58

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Shop Strategies

How Being a ‘Values-Driven Company’ Has Set New Mexico Shop Apart from Competition with Stacey Phillips

Just one year ago, Pamela Weese joined ReCARnation Total Automotive Solutions as the company’s COO. With extensive experience in organizational management and business development, Weese was named CEO this past April. Autobody News reached out to Weese to find out more about the Albuquerque, New Mexico body shop

The team at ReCARnation Total Automotive Solutions in Albuquerque, New Mexico

and how it sets itself apart from neighboring shops by being a “values-driven company.”

As a prior director of business Q: development, how did you get involved in the collision repair industry?

The business was established A: in 2009 by Marc Powell as a car dealership with in-house financ-

ing. A small garage was created the following year and the company has continued to grow. We now operate the mechanical, paint and body shop out of an 18,000-square-foot facility where our 15-person team provides electrical, mechanical and paint and body services. We offer a full range of services to both corporate fleets and retail clients, including 24-hour roadside assistance and towing. I joined the company in May of 2016 after working in venture capital. Marc asked me to come on as the COO to streamline operations, implement cutting-edge software, and improve process and procedure. I have no background in the world of cars so knew this would be a challenge, which is exactly what I needed for personal and professional development!

You often describe the business as a “values-driven company.”

What are some of the ways that you incorporate this into the business?

Our core values are simple and A: drive everything we do at RecCARnation.

We are a team united and driven by our commitment to a set of common values, which we have all agreed to: be transparent and truthful, serve compassionately, improve constantly, choose joy and laughter, and create success. We are transparent and truthful with our clients. Trust is the bedrock of a healthy relationship. We tell the truth as we understand it and are completely transparent about our products, processes and abilities. Serving others is our highest purpose. We respect all people, without judgment, and serve with humility, gratitude and heartfelt compassion. In terms of improving constantly, we are committed to continuous assessment and action to get better at everything that matters in our personal and professional lives. We also try to create joy and laughter. Happiness is not an accident. It is a decision. Each of us makes the conscious choice to bring joy and laughter every day to our clients, venvdors and each other. Success requires common effort and is meaningful only when shared. We do everything possible to participate in the success of every individual

LifeXtend is a full reconditioning A: process that can take a high mileage vehicle and make it safe, reliable

and beautiful for another 50,000 miles, depending on the vehicle. For most people, it makes more sense to give their existing car a makeover rather than sign up for seven years of car payments. We also offer short-term financing.

What are some of the ways shop puts customers first? Q: your My number one goal for ReA: CARnation is to continue and improve upon the exceptional cus-

tomer service that the staff provides to our customers. Every day, with every customer, we focus on providing highquality auto repair services coupled with top-notch customer service. When customers arrive at our shop, we adhere to a strict “no wait” policy. This means all customers are seen at their scheduled appointment

times, or at the moment they drive in for service. We value their time and their experience as our customer is our first priority! Working in the automotive industry, I have gained so much knowledge about the customers’ stress around having their cars in the “shop” and the invoice that awaits them. Very few people walk into an automotive shop happy. I want our clients to leave happy and satisfied with the quality service we deliver. With countless five-star reviews, we are proud of our reputation as one of the Albuquerque area’s most trustworthy auto repair shops.

You wrote an article about why data matters in the automotive Q: industry. What is the importance of data to a shop?

We make a priority to use the updated software in order A: most

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to serve customers in the manner they expect. Each one of our staff members has an iPad that is their constant companion all day long to use the software system, called AutoVitals, that ReCARnation has adopted. Every car that comes into our shop receives a Digital/Visual Inspection (DVI) that tells us what is going on with the car. Pictures are taken of all the places where service is performed on an automobile. The DVI with the photos is then emailed or texted to the customer so he or she can pick which services are the most important. The services are all indicated with a color: red for needs immediate attention, yellow for needs attention soon, and green for no services required. Customers are clear that we are not up-selling them on something that does not need to be fixed right away and therefore feels a sense of trust in our company. As the CEO, I go in to AutoVitals every day and check the most important, cost effective, and baseline work that is performed by all employees. We are able to find out about shop and technician effectiveness, technician efficiency and productivity, and other metrics.

How do you ensure the techniQ: cians stay up-to-date with new technology and procedures?

Our team receives ongoing A: training in automotive technology and auto repair services. All of

our technicians are ASE or I-CAR certified. We take pride in performing exceptional quality work in terms of mechanical precision, paint and body detail, thorough inspections and emissions compliance. We often tell our customers that we offer dealership quality knowledge and experience at an affordable price.

What is the importance of body shops giving back to the community and what are some of the events you have hosted in the past?

Our auto repair business is built A: around our clientele, our commitment to service and our community.

We like to say that we are “Communitarians” at ReCARnation. Giving back to the community that supports our business is the only way that we are ever going to better our society. In New Mexico, there are

so many nonprofits that need help, as we rank very low in education, food security and pay scale. I also feel that it brings morale to the crew here at ReCARnation. We work together to help those in need and to create change in our community. We have sponsored blood drives and events for a wide range of nonprofit organizations, including The Domestic Violence Resource Center, the Veterans Integration Centers, The NM Philharmonic, the Kirtland Partnership Committee, NM Dog, University of New Mexico, Paws & Stripes and many more.?

As an independent body shop, Q: how will you prepare for the changes ahead in the industry?

Our industry is in for proA: found change in the coming decades. The advent of electric cars

will reduce vehicle maintenance requirements? and autonomous vehicles will lower the accident rate. These two things will likely develop simultaneously. We don’t know who the winners will be, but scale and professional management are likely keys to navigating the new realities.

CIF Extends Assistance to Irma Victims

The Collision Industry Foundation (CIF) announced Sept. 13 that its current relief efforts to Hurricane Harvey victims would be extended to Hurricane Irma victims as well. The CIF’s mission is to deliver emergency relief directly to collision repair professionals. CIF is calling on all shops, trade groups, equipment companies, paint companies, insurance companies and all other industry organizations that can assist in this relief effort. One shop owner shared that his shop was buried in more than 10 feet of debris and still had 6–7 feet of water inside. He lost everything, had no flood insurance, and more importantly, 30 of his employees are out of work with no income for themselves or their families. Another manager at a dealership body shop shared that his painter and his family were air-lifted off the roof of their home with nothing more than the clothes on their backs. CIF encourages everyone within the industry to support its efforts, and says EVERY dollar counts and will help your fellow industry professionals in need.

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Continued from Page 54

Riding the Wave of Change

it’s next to impossible to be just one person and have a trainee with you all day long. It makes the job very difficult. At least this way if the employees operate as a team, there are multiple levels of experience working together so they can accomplish more. It helps with communication and the newer techs’ growth can also be a little quicker because there are different people who can help train them in different aspects. It has had its ups and downs of course but the guys seem to like to work together as a team.

With the shortage of employees in the industry, how have you found new talent?

ing without DRP programs. There should be a balance between whatever your business model is: DRPs, wholesale business, corporate business, etc. and having a strategic plan is also critical. We, as repairers, need to figure out how to diversify and that is something that we are working on daily.

What do you attribute your growth to over the last several Q: years?

Brandon: Over the past five A: years, our business has been trending upwards. We’re starting to make decisions that will allow us to be more profitable. We’ve found that

Eddie became involved in the Acoat group many years ago. The top North America shops get together and go over the mission and goals of the business and discuss financial planning. Although we are competitors, we talk about the common problems we have and ways to address them. That’s one of the biggest benefits. We have a core group of shops in Hawaii and we get together and are able to talk to each other honestly. We feel that an important aspect of running our facility is financial planning. In addition to attending the Acoat meetings, we go over finances on a regular basis during our family meetings.

The team at Oka’s Autobody

having an attitude of just getting the work done, putting a car out and collecting a check is not necessarily the best thing to do sometimes. We are really looking into the way we are managing and building the business. Hawaii is a very unique environment. The processes are very different from the mainland. For example, we have to accommodate for parts delays. If a part is not available on the island, it usually takes about five days to arrive. Shops also have to make adjustments due to space constraints.

How much of your business is Q: reliant on DRPs? How has financial planning been Brandon: Currently, our shop Q: instrumental in the growth of A: is heavily dependent on DRPs. your body shop? Probably 95 percent of our business is DRP driven. We’re working to bring Brandon: We have been workthat number down because we want to A: ing on incorporating a processbe a little more diversified. centered environment in our shop,

Carl: It’s important to have balance. If you think back to the history of body shops before consolidations, there were independent shops operat-

What are the benefits you have Q: realized since installing the system? Carl: It took us two years to A: fully research it. We talked to about 20 different companies and received quotes that ranged from hundreds of thousands of dollars to a million plus dollars.

Brandon: Finding new techniA: cians is very challenging. We decided that moving forward we need

to train our up-and-coming techs from the ground up. Recently, we hired four younger technicians that have little to no auto body experience. We also hired a student who will be graduating from Honolulu Community College’s auto body program this year. About two years ago, they began revising the college program in hopes of drawing more people. It’s a good thing that they are doing it but we are in the stage where we just can’t wait. We have been growing sales-wise over the past five years but if you don’t increase the number of people producing the work, it puts a little stress on the guys. They have the extra set of hands but it’s a different type of stress because on top of the work they are already doing they have to help train someone new. However, they are realizing that it’s an investment on their part as well.

ways been an important priority for us. For example, we have used waterborne paint for many years, have set up recycling programs for the business and done other things that are good for the environment as well as the employees at our shop. There were other collision repair centers looking at installing photo voltaic systems, which we kept referring to as solar panels. Everyone we talked to corrected us. We decided to find out more about it and eventually installed a system of our own.

which helped push us in the right direction. Our involvement in the AkzoNobel Acoat program has also been instrumental. They bring a lot of experience from multiple markets.

58 OCTOBER 2017 AUTOBODY NEWS | www.autobodynews.com

Brandon: By installing the system, we have been able to almost completely remove ourselves from the power grid. The system creates enough energy to run the shop. It is also a way of providing sustainable energy and is good for the environment. One of the biggest benefits is that we were able to create a separate power company that helps fund our parents’ retirement. Part of this is doing a cost analysis of our different cost centers, looking at the averages and our profit and loss statements. Then we ask ourselves, “What can we do better?”

What are some of the initiaQ: tives you have taken as a result of your financial meetings?

Carl and Brandon: Going into A: 2008, we were already doing this type of financial analysis on a reg-

ular basis. The economy was in a little bit of a downturn and we began to look at how we could better manage the cost of doing business. One of the things that always seemed to stand out was our electric bills. They are much higher in Hawaii in general. The nation was focused on alternative energy sources at that time and there were grants being offered for progressive businesses that were doing things for the environment. Running a sustainable and environmentally-friendly company has al-

As a progressive company in Q: this industry, what are the shop’s priorities looking into the future? Carl and Brandon: ContinuA: ous training is crucial. We have used the same vendor since the late

1990s—Island Concepts. We count on them to train our employees throughout the year and keep everyone current. We provide I-CAR and ASE training to all of our technicians as well as participate in safety and equipment training. We also understand the importance of learning about sales and negation. We try to stay on top of everything. Training is expensive and we expect that it will only increase in the future due to the complexity of vehicles. We have no choice but to figure out ways of gathering extra profit whether that is through increasing prices or decreasing our operating expenses. It’s up to us to figure out how to catch that wave now and lay it out on the table and figure it out. As a family, our goal is to do that together to remain a profitable family business moving forward.

www.autobodynews.com | OCTOBER 2017 AUTOBODY NEWS 59

Project Underdog Heads to Auction, Actor’s Project to Benefit SEMA Scholarships Project Underdog, a highly customized ’72 Ford Maverick originally conceived by actor Sung Kang—known for his role as Han Seoul-Oh in The Fast and the Furious franchise—is finished, fine-tuned, revved and ready for auction. Sponsored by Shell and featuring Pennzoil, and supported by Ford Motor Co., Samsung, Nitto, GReddy, Rocket Bunny and Facebook, the unique vehicle build was completed at the SEMA Garage in Diamond Bar, California, with specialized tuning provided by Cobb Tuning, headquartered in Austin, Texas. Kang enlisted inner-city students Tony Chen, Alexis Hernandez and Christian Quiroz to successfully transform the unassuming “underdog” Maverick into a showcase performer and winner of a Ford Corporate Design Award for its significant contribution to vehicle design.

Debuting at the 2016 SEMA Show, the Maverick went on to continued refinement and a year-long media tour, which will now culminate at the October 19–21, Barrett Jackson auction in Las Vegas, where its sale will benefit the SEMA Memorial Scholarship Foundation. Providing financial support to young people pursuing automotive careers, the foundation delivers dozens of annual awards ranging from $2,000– $3,000 to deserving student recipients, with a $5,000 award going to a top achiever. The program also includes a loanforgiveness fund for employees of SEMA-member companies who are paying off loans from study at an accredited university, college or vocational/technical program. Since its inception in 1984, the memorial scholarship fund has granted $2.1 million to more than 1,200 students. Kang first drove the Maverick while shooting one of the Fast and Furious series’ installments in Brazil and immediately fell in love with the vehicle.

“The Maverick has always been The vehicle’s powertrain is based on the show here is the engineering ability of under-appreciated, overlooked and unreplacement of its outdated ’72 inline the SEMA Garage,” said Mike Spagdervalued, but those who love her are six-cylinder engine with a new Ford nola, SEMA vice president of OEM loyal forever,” he explained. “This, EcoBoost 2.3L from a ’15 Mustang. and product-development programs, and the chance to make a difference Originally rated at 305 hp, the Ecowho helped oversee the U3 Maverfor these students, is something I could Boost has been reworked to churn out ick’s development. “From the beginstand behind.” ning, we scanned the engine bay and in excess of 400 hp while delivering The actor had previously modern levels of efficiency, engine so we would know exactly how captivated fans throughout the fuel economy and lowered it would fit into the engine compartworld when he documented a ment. We got dimensions from Tremec emissions. The high-achievprior vehicle build, the FuguZ ing engine is now mated to a and their CAD files, so we knew what 240Z, through videos in social it would take to put that transmission six-speed Tremec T56 transmedia. In similar fashion, mission. A Currie Enterprises into the car. each step of the Project Un“The experience was something rearend and Baer brake sysderdog Maverick build was kind of new for us here in Diamond tem are other key performSung Kang recorded and presented in a Bar. Our four SEMA Tech Transfer enance upgrades. popular YouTube/Garage Monkey To create that unorthodox combi- gineers at the Garage help members all online video series filled with raw, nation, Kang and his student team the time to produce products, but they behind-the-scenes footage, intimate leveraged advanced SEMA Garage re- never had to do it themselves. It was conversations and real-time progress sources, including 3D scanning and neat to see them do that. It was a great reports. But unlike the 240Z build, extensive CAD work to produce a learning process for us that will help Project Underdog was a markedly full-scale, 3D-printed “engine” that us serve our members even better.” purposeful experience for Kang, who greatly aided in the prototyping and Spagnola is especially proud of hoped that it would help spark greater fitment of the actual engine block. the project’s unique incorporation of car enthusiasm among a new Meanwhile, the vehicle’s new body- the latest vehicle technologies. generation of young people— work boasts flared wheel arches, a “The Ford 2.3 EcoBoost engine especially the disadvantaged. was first introduced in the ’15 Muscustom front bumper and forward“I feel like it’s been a long mounted black wing mirrors, all ridtang,” he said. “To our knowledge, road, but it’s been very rethis is one of the first transplants to go ing on a set of deep-dish gold wheels. warding,” Kang said of the into a street car that’s street legal with “Part of what we were trying to completed project. “The whole spirit of it was working with kids and making new friends. The most rewarding has been the transformation that I’ve seen with the kids. I think when we first met them, each of them had a different place they were coming from in terms of self-esteem—to see Alexis now at UTI as a student, to see his life • Delivery to 100 Mile Radius of Naples transform in the sense of who he feels he is and what his contribution is to PARTS HOURS: the community, and then to see Tony PARTS DIRECT LINE: M-F 7am to 6pm come out of his shell and be more ex239-734-3215 2 39 734 39 734 3215 21 Sat 8am to 5pm troverted. And today I found out that Fax: 239-591-3051 he actually bought a go-kart, which is 5665 N. Airport Pulling Rd. / Naples, FL 34109 pretty awesome. It’s another step forward proactively to pursue his dream. At Rick Hendrick Chevrolet Naples, And then I talk to Christian periodiweee’re ’re re yyou yoour onee-sto stop op shop op for forr cally on the phone, and he’s aggressively attacking school and seems very positive about where he is in his life. Another rewarding aspect is all the new friends that have been made on the journey. That’s something that you can’t put a price tag on, this magic recipe that happens when you meet people that you actually enjoy working with.” The Project Underdog U3 Maverick is a showcase blend of humble, old-school hot rodding and leadingedge, new-school performance tuning.

60 OCTOBER 2017 AUTOBODY NEWS | www.autobodynews.com

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an aftermarket GReddy turbo on it. So we have a larger turbo, different tuning and all sorts of SEMA-member aftermarket products—all put into a ’72 Maverick, of all things. It’s a one-ofa-kind vehicle featuring the first cratemotor offering from Ford, the first harness wire kit, the first of a lot of things. It’s fun and an honor to be on that cutting edge.” Spagnola also noted that the build team paid careful attention to the Maverick’s tuning. “The engineers at Cobb did the tuning in successive baby steps,” he explained. “They took their time, running it up to 2,000 rpm, checking it, then to 3,000 rpm, checking it, and mapping as they went along, because this had never been done before. Again, this is really the first 2.3 EcoBoost to get transplanted into anything of this kind. To get the mapping right with all the aftermarket products that were incorporated into the vehicle was skilled work.” Project Underdog helped inspire its other sponsors to push their envelopes as well. According to Jesse Kershaw, product manager for Ford Performance Parts, the Maverick accelerated the development of a new

OE control pack, the electronic wiring kit that allows Ford’s late-model engines to be transplanted into non-original vehicles like the Kang team’s U3. “In this case, when the SEMA group decided to do Project Underdog and they contacted Ford [about making the new engine work in the Maverick], we said, well, we’re actually working on this great install kit that will make your life very easy there,” he explained, adding Ford had originally planned to debut its kit at the 2016 SEMA Show. With the Maverick also slated for a reveal at that same Show, Ford saw the project as the perfect chance to get some advance real-world feedback on the control pack in advance of its debut. Much of what Ford learned from the experience was eventually folded into the OE’s installation instructions, making the application easier for future builders. “What I liked about doing the Maverick with one of our 2.3L engines is that it’s a little unconventional,” Kershaw said. “I won’t say it can fit in anything, but if you can make it work in here, and you can work around the details and get all the small details right, the lessons learned here can be

applied to so many other platforms.” The vehicle’s updated styling emanated from Pure Vision founder and well-known vehicle builder Steve Strope, a longtime friend of Kang’s. Strope believes the out-of-box thinking that went into the project helped teach its team of inner-city students valuable lessons in overcoming obstacles. Such empowerment, he said, was always key to Kang’s vision for the build. “He was formulating the idea for this project and already had the terminology Project Underdog, because these kids he envisioned were underdogs,” Strope said. “They were not the stars of the world, the football team, the homecoming kings. They’re from the inner city and don’t get a lot of opportunity, but they like to work on cars.” With their handiwork now going to auction, the young team can experience not only the pride of a job well done but also the feeling of satisfaction that comes from giving back to the wider community, since the proceeds will benefit SEMA scholarship programs for other students like themselves. Spagnola said they won’t be alone in that satisfaction. A host of SEMA-

member companies contributed significant support, technologies and specialty equipment to the project (see sidebar), resulting in a true “underdog” performer that will also make its highest bidder proud. “It was fun to see the car go from the 2016 SEMA Show, where we were mostly interested in getting it to look right, feel right and get the design right, along with fitting the engine and transmission, and feeling the thrill of actually starting it,” Spagnola said. “It’s been a long journey, but now it’s really a car. It’s been upgraded with aftermarket knowhow into something streetable that’s got some terrific horsepower— the same or more horsepower that you used to get out of a V8 but from a fourcylinder that is half the size and weight. And that’s a great combination.”

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Martin Senour Paints Announces 2017 Fourth Quarter Training Schedule Martin Senour Paints has announced its 2017 fourth quarter training schedule, featuring courses held at training centers nationwide. The curriculum is designed to provide collision repair industry professionals with advanced knowledge in their field. Shop owners, managers and technicians, as well as NAPA jobbers, will learn about cutting edge best practices for utilizing systems, maximizing profits and increasing productivity. “The only way to thrive in this industry is to be constantly learning,” says Jeff Hartl, Martin Senour National Sales Director. “We offer these training courses to help collision repair professionals, and those who service them, at all skill levels grow their business and better serve their respective customers while increasing productivity and profits.” The fourth quarter offering continues the training focus on Color Adjustment and Blending. The class content covers a combination of procedures, theory and application for practical shop experience and for refinish technicians and paint special-

ists to learn about new product updates and maximizing color application. All participants will receive personal safety equipment, as well as product and color training materials for use and future reference. There are also courses specifically designed for fleet refinishers and NAPA jobber personnel who service the collision repair marketplace. Other courses being taught by Martin Senour professionals during the fourth quarter of 2017 include: ● Painter Certification ● Pro//BASE™ Refinish System Painter Certification ● Color Match Simplicity ● Jobber Level 1

For more information regarding Martin Senour training or its paint products, visit martinsenourautopaint.com or call 1-800-5266704.

www.autobodynews.com

Sherwin-Williams Adds HP Single Stage Topcoat Line to Popular ATX™ System

Sherwin-Williams’ popular ATX™ Refinish System has expanded its offering with the introduction of the New ATX HP Single Stage. This topcoat enhances the ATX™ product line, delivering a powerful solution for medium-volume refinishers.

The ATX Refinish System now offers a robust product line containing Undercoats, Basecoats, Topcoats and Clearcoats suitable for use in both National Rule and VOC regulated areas. This vehicle refinish system provides repair and collision facilities with excellent hiding and a blendable color match in a compliant, consistent, and complete system. Providing reliable performance while maximizing shop profitability, the ATX Refinish System provides best-in-class versatility: its ideal for mid-sized shops that don’t require a premium cost product line, but de-

Chip Foose Demonstrates the 3M™ Accuspray™ Spray Gun System

Automotive legend Chip Foose, along with Andy Boyd, U.S. Marketing Manager at 3M Paint Booth Solutions, demonstrated the 3M™ Accuspray™ Spray Gun System with Standard PPS™ at NACE Automechanica 2017 in Chicago. During the demonstration, Chip Foose said, “When you are actually using this system, get your paint cup ready with paint in it. When you’ve got that all assembled, if you are doing custom work, you can have 15 different colors here with the tips on them by simply popping the lid off. With a rag, you can wipe the gun and it is easily cleaned for the next color.” The 3M™ Accuspray™ Spray Gun System with Standard PPS™ is a combination of convenience, versatility and efficiency. It is an all-in-one solution for the mixing, measuring, filtering and spraying of primer, sealer, base and clear coat. This system features the Accuspray™ ONE Spray Gun—a lightweight, composite spray gun body that is molded in one piece, eliminating the complexity, wear and cleaning of small parts and pieces. The spray gun uses a series of replaceable, transparent atomizing heads, which can be reused 5—10 times and then simply removed and replaced. This af-

fords the performance of a brand-new spray gun on demand and at a fraction of the price.

Atomizing heads are available in 1.3 mm and 1.4 mm sizes for sealers, primer surfacers, basecoats and topcoats; a 1.8 mm size for higher-viscosity materials such as primer and gel coats; and a 2.0 mm size for heavyduty applications using fluids like adhesives, undercoats or industrial coatings. And fast, easy controls for fan diameter, fluid and air pressure allow for quick adjustment across jobs from spot repairs to full panel coverage requiring up to foot-long vertical or horizontal spray patterns. This equipment works with the standard PPS™ system of reusable paint cups and disposable lids and liners, so you can be done with cleaning paint cups forever. Unlike conventional paint cup systems, the 3M™ PPS™ (PDF, 706.89 Kb) eliminates the need for mixing

62 OCTOBER 2017 AUTOBODY NEWS | www.autobodynews.com

paint in additional paint mix cups and then transferring the paint through a separate filter into a paint reservoir. This is an important advantage because waste occurs every time a user transfers paint through mixing cups and filters. When using PPS™, you place the disposable liner within the re-usable PPS™ Cup. Then, simply mix the paint in the PPS™ disposable liner, snap the disposable lid (with the pre-welded filter) in place and attach the locking collar to complete the PPS™ System. With just these few simple steps, you’re ready to start spraying. PPS™ allows the painter to spray consistently 90° to the part, no matter how the part is positioned. This makes material transfer more consistent, limits paint overspray and lowers paint consumption. Because PPS is a closed system, you can operate in any orientation—e.g. 360 degrees. After spraying, the painter can use a sealing plug to seal and protect paint materials or simply discard the disposable lid and liner, leaving only the adapter and spray gun to clean. Discard the disposable lid and liner in the appropriate approved waste containers specified by the paint manufacturer (or local government

mand a quality finish. The addition of its single stage topcoat complements both its National Rule and VOC Regulated Basecoat Systems. Now shop owners, managers and painters have a quality system for either spot repairs or overall refinishes. Painters appreciate the ATX refinish system because it features superior metallic control, excellent hiding, along with accurate color retrieval via available colors tools like the PROSPECTOR® and iFEX® spectrometer. Now with the addition of the single stage topcoat, the ATX™ refinish system now features every product necessary to handle any refinishing job correctly the first time, with the same quality refinishers have come to expect. The expanded ATX refinish system is just one of the offerings from Sherwin-Williams Automotive Finishes, which offers a complete portfolio of automotive refinishing products and services. SherwinWilliams has the perfect solution for all types of collision repair business needs, no matter how big or small, and continues to pursue excellence of solutions for its customers.

requirements). Use a small amount of solvent for cleaning the spray gun and the PPS™ adapter. Shops are often experiencing a 70 percent reduction in cleaning solvents when using this disposable paint system, which means solvent cleaning savings and solvent disposal savings. Most guns can be cleaned with less than 3 oz. of solvent. Specifically designed PPS™ stainless steel metal adapters allow painters to use the PPS™ system with virtually any spray gun (PDF, 310.09 Kb). Painters have also the option to use the 3M™ Accuspray™ ONE spray gun (PDF, 3.69 Mb), which requires no adapters. Technicians have found that this spray gun further reduces cleaning solvent usage and cleaning and maintenance time. Because the painter uses a new disposable lid (with welded-in filter) and disposable liner for each mix, there is less risk of outside contamination due to mixing, filtering, and clean-up. Using a fresh lid and liner with each paint job, rather than washing out reusable components, often improves overall productivity in prep and clean-up time by as much as 15 percent. For more information visit: http://bit.ly/2xgDxXv

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www.autobodynews.com | OCTOBER 2017 AUTOBODY NEWS 63

New Types of Claims Management ‘Insurtech’ Could Disrupt Auto Body Industry by John Huetter, Repairer Driven News

Developments in “insurtech” could radically change how collision repairers interact with insurers and customers in the next few years—and the nature of that disruption will depend on how automated and “touchless” a claims management method the carrier chooses. We encountered at least three accident management models at TU-Automotive’s Connected Car Insurance USA 2017 last week. It’s possible your customers will encounter any of these (or potentially a blend of them) depending on their carrier’s strategy and budget. At least one scenario is also an option for OEMs to influence the collision repair shop selection process, creating another potential external market condition to which shops must adapt. One framework involved detecting a collision through telematics and getting the claims process started imme-

diately from the moment of loss. One involved photo-estimating artificial intelligence. Another was simply a means of reporting a claim through video cha—sort of a combination of a call center and photo estimating. The appeal to an insurer varies depending on the product, and a benefit suggested by one insurtech provider might extend to a competing product. Carrier benefits mentioned included reducing the lag until a policyholder actually reports the collision —shrinking it from days to seconds— and appearing heroic or high-tech to customers. With a connected car product that detects an impact and immediately alerts an insurer to a loss, the carrier has a chance to reach out to a customer “when he’s most vulnerable,” said CCC OEM Group general manager and Senior Vice President Andreas Hecht, whose company already sells a telematics service capable of facilitating this. “In those first crucial moments, you can help,” Hecht said.

The ability to steer to OEM and DRP shops (and insurer-affiliated tow trucks) and to kick total-loss vehicles immediately to the salvage yard also were mentioned.

Verisk claims Internet of Things and telematics Assistant Vice President Dawn Mortimer said her company had an artificial intelligence engine trained to detect total losses with 91 percent accuracy. “That’s happening already” in Europe, she said. Other applications included cutting fraud and leakage, giving the shop a jump on parts ordering and diagnostics, cutting the cost of physical appraisals, and replacing subjective analyses with vehicle and on-scene crash data and artificial intelligence predictive models. (The latter carries concerns about the quality and neutrality of the model, but we’ll address that in other coverage.) Here’s a look at the three models we saw. Collision repairers need to consider the ramifications of these systems and prepare accordingly, for this technology is coming fast. In fact, all of these products appear to be in use today or are market-ready.

Accident data Attendees CCC, Verisk, Metromile, Octo and Redtail Telematics all have a model where an artificial intelligence studies data gleaned from a smartphone, OBD-II port “dongle,” another gadget or the vehicle’s own electronics to detect a collision by noticing variables like the change in vehicle velocity (“delta-V”) and direction. Generally, the closer one gets to the actual car, the better the data, CCC and Verisk both told us. (But phones are improving, and some OEMs yield better data quality than others, experts told us.) LexisNexis, which is selling a telematics data exchange and working on a pilot driving behavior program with Mitsubishi, humorously observed during the conference that phone-based telematics can erroneously read a cell signal drop as a sudden acceleration.

64 OCTOBER 2017 AUTOBODY NEWS | www.autobodynews.com

The car, dongle, device or phone registers a collision and the relevant information from that crash. Depending on the program, this information might immediately be shared with an insurer, OEM or emergency services. Mortimer, whose company partners with General Motors and Ford to offer such a capability, described a system activated by collisions over 5 mph. OnStar and BMW’s telematics offerings will call the owner and see if he or she needs medical assistance, according to Strategy Analytics automotive connected mobility director Roger Lanctot and Mortimer. Ford cuts right to the chase and calls emergency responders, Lanctot indicated. Hecht said CCC already was deciphering crash pulses (and scoring driving behavior) today for insurer clients, and it was in the proof of concept and discussion phase with OEMs on the idea of the cars themselves transmitting crash data to CCC for such electronic first notice of loss uses by other CCC clients. Luke Harris, director of claims for Metromile, said that while the solely usage-based insurer was “not

currently” dispatching police or an ambulance, it can validate that a loss occurred. “I’d say down the road” these capabilities could develop, he said. Metromile in June announced AVA, an “AI claims assistant” which helped get claims paid faster. “AVA can also use opt-in sensor data from the Metromile Pulse device to reconstruct the accident scene, ex-

pediting the approval process,” the company wrote. “For certain claim types, this enables the claim to be instantly approved.” RedTail Telematics in its booth and on its website described a system that not only alerts an insurer that See Claims Management, Page 66

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The 6700-DCE Series Electric Palm Sander/Polisher by Ed Attanasio

Ask a body technician about sanding and polishing, and you will likely hear many of the same things over and over again. “It’s dirty and dusty.” “It’s loud and hard on my hands and shoulders.” “There are other things I’d rather do!” Well, until we can get robots to sand and polish our next generation’s fleet of self-driving cars, body people are still going to have to do the task themselves on a daily basis. That’s why the 6700-DCE Series Electric Palm Sander/Polisher by AIRCAT is here. By alleviating all of the less desired aspects of sanding and painting, this tool was designed with collision repair body shop professionals in mind. With three push button speed settings (10,000, 7,000 and 4,000 RPM) the 6700-DCE Series by AIRCAT is poised and prepared to do every aspect of the job. If you need to move quickly, you have the power to get it done, but if you need to slow down and concentrate on a specific portion of the vehicle, you can achieve that easily as well. By stepping it up or backing off, you have the flexibility

you need right in the palm of your hand. Body techs are punishing their bodies all day long, and the shop floor can get loud when things get busy. So,

they should be happy to hear that the 6700-DCE Series Electric Palm Sander/Polisher by AIRCAT is both comfortable on the hands and quiet to the ears. By featuring low vibration technology, this tool won’t fatigue your hands and arms and with a noise level at approximately 70 d(B)A, the shop radio is probably louder. In addition, it’s clean and green, because it releases zero exhaust air or air borne oil into the shop environment. When it comes to any tool or piece of equipment, the idea is to buy

it, use it and rely on it to not breakdown. With its sturdy design and construction, the 6700-DCE Series Electric Palm Sander/Polisher by AIRCAT will perform day and night without issues down the road. It comes with a 6”, 5” or 3” VELCRO sanding backing pad; a 4-ply 100 percent twisted wool 6” polishing bonnet and a 6” foam polishing/compounding pad so you can get right to work with the 6700-DCE Series Electric Palm Sander/Polisher by AIRCAT. While power can be an obstacle with many other sanders/polishers, it’s never a problem with the 6700-DCE Series Electric Palm Sander/Polisher by AIRCAT. Air sanders normally maintain only 60 percent of their speed under load, while this polisher holds strong at 85 percent. When you need it to go that extra mile on a timeintensive repair, this unit has the power to get it done. You can use this tool wherever there is an AC power point within 20 feet. The DC cable and tool are totally shock-free, so increase your productivity and alleviate the problems associated with sanding and polishing today by getting a 6700-DCE Series Electric Palm Sander/Polisher by AIRCAT.

U.S. DOT Releases Revisions to Self-Driving Cars Guidance

The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) released new federal guidance for Automated Driving Systems (ADS): A Vision for Safety 2.0. This document updates the original 2016 guidance by incorporating public and congressional feedback. Specifically, the new guidance: ● Focuses on SAE International Levels of Automation 3-5 – Automated Driving Systems – Conditional, High and Full Automation ● Clarifies the guidance process and that entities do not need to wait to test or deploy their ADS ● Revises unnecessary design elements from safety self-assessment ● Aligns federal guidance with the latest developments and industry terminology ● Clarifies federal and state roles On release of the guidance, U.S. Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao stated, “The new guidance supports further development of this important new technology. The safe deployment of automated vehicle technologies means we can look forward to a future with fewer traffic fatalities and increased mobility for all Americans.”

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Continued from Page 64

Claims Management

there’s been a collision, but also reconstructs the accident. “The INR platform enables detailed observation of incidents by sampling data at an extremely high frequency leading up to and during the event,” Redtail wrote. “Its data outstrips what can be provided by GPS alone and includes forensic detail relating to the impact, the accelerations and forces involved, together with evidence of any harsh braking immediately before and during the incident. “This intelligence replaces potentially unreliable human recollection of events with precise facts, which in turn enables timely and accurate assessments of liability and claim costs.” Nexar, one of the startups competing in a semi-formal audience-judged competition during the Connected Car Insurance event, offers an insurer similar crash data and analysis as its competitors, but pairs it with photos from the scene. The company’s fleet drivers—who can receive an attractive commercial insurance discount for allowing Nexar

to score their driving and study their collisions—mount a smartphone with the Nexar app to their windshield. In addition to spitting out traditional

driver-rating and collision metrics, the app transmits images of the collision event back to the insurer.

Video estimating DropIn should probably feel the most familiar to customers, shops and insurers. The startup offers insurers a first notice of loss piece of software— which mostly involves live-streaming video chat—which can be integrated into a carrier’s app. This “gives the power to the carrier,” DropIn CEO Louis Ziskin said during the startup competition. The customer can be directed to produce

Estify Adds Industry Veteran Toan Nguyen to Executive Team

Estify, the software company that is bringing efficiency and innovation to the collision repair industry, recently announced the appointment of Toan Nguyen as CIO/CTO/CSO. As Estify’s chief technologist, Nguyen will oversee the continued development of the company’s core products, Estify Transfer and Estify Pro, which simplify the rekeying process and generate repair plans that align with Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) documentation, respectively. He will be responsible for spearheading projects and cultivating strategies that cement Estify’s position as a forward-thinking industry leader. “Core to Estify’s success is our laser-focus on ensuring we have a world-class technology team that can very quickly understand the unique challenges of our partners and create technology to anticipate the needs of our rapidly changing industry,” says Estify CEO Rochelle Thielen. “Toan has become one of the best-recognized technology leaders in our industry by creating ‘first-of-its-kind’ technology and fostering industrywide collaborations that have been responsible for advancing major breakthroughs for repairers. We are

elated to have him at the helm of our technology and strategy team going forward.” An automotive industry veteran, Nguyen has spent 14 years in executive roles in the automotive space, where he has focused on application development, software and hardware engineering, big data analytics, and cloud computing. He joins Estify after an illustrious career at ABRA Auto Body & Glass in Minneapolis, where he was most recently the Chief Information and Strategy Officer. In his past roles, Nguyen has been responsible for multiple divisions and has helmed product development in addition to leading enterprise growth strategy. His combined interests in technology and the collision repair space attracted him to Estify. “Witnessing recent advancements in vehicular technology really motivated me to venture back into the software space,” says Nguyen. “I wanted to do something bold and disruptive within our industry, so Estify was an obvious company with which to partner. The ecosystem we’re building will completely change the landscape of how automotive companies operate.”

66 OCTOBER 2017 AUTOBODY NEWS | www.autobodynews.com

the images an adjuster would need, he said. “It compresses admin costs,” Ziskin said. The insurer can start taking costcutting steps like picking the towing company, instead of emergency services calling a tow, Ziskin said. “The car’s on your hook,” he said, noting there’s a better chance of getting it to a DRP shop. Ziskin said customers could be directed to use the software for claims as a condition of a premium discount upfront, and the ability to knock out the entire claim immediately might be attractive to a policyholder.

Photo estimating AI Tractable is a little different than the others in that it doesn’t have a crash reporting feature. Rather, the company uses artificial intelligence to identify parts of a car and the damage to those parts based on photos of the vehicle. It trained the computer using what CEO Alexandre Dalyac characterized as a “gold mine” of hundreds of millions of insurance industry estimates and accompanying photos. “We are making sense of the vehicle,” Dalyac said during the startup

competition (Tractable beat out Nexar by a hair). The AI can estimate if parts are likely to be repaired or replaced and estimate the overall cost, he said. He said that insurance experts typically see an agreement rate of 75–80 percent, but Tractable’s AI is usually 2– 3 percentage points higher. He said the AI is only uncertain in about 8 percent of cases—and that number is dropping, he said. Overall, the company can generate $40 in value per claim for a potential billion dollars in value to insurers in the U.S., he said. It has deals with Mitchell and half of the top 10 insurers in the U.S., and No. 3 United Kingdom insurer Ageas announced in May it would use the company on every claim. Dalyac predicted that next year, the industry would see entire estimates generated by artificial intelligence, and the innovation departments of its partner carriers had a goal of “touchless claims.” We thank John Huetter at Repairer Driven News for reprint permission. See additional articles at repairerdrivennews.com, a publication of SCRS.

CREF Fundraiser Co-Hosted by PPG Raises $120,000

The annual Collision Repair Education Foundation industry fundraiser, co-hosted by the automotive refinish business unit of PPG, raised $120,000 through the support of attendees and sponsors.

Sponsors and participants enjoyed a day of golf at the Harborside International in Chicago, IL, on July 24, and the funds raised from this event will go toward supporting scholarships and grants for collision schools and students. “PPG is proud to support an event of this caliber,” said Domenic Brusco, PPG, Senior Manager, Industry Relations. “It’s an honor to bring together industry professionals from around the country and to assist the Foundation in making sure that collision repair students are well prepared for entering our industry. With the Education Foundation staff working towards another great event next year, I encourage industry members to participate through a sponsorship, by attending, or by donating items

for the raffle table and silent auction. This is a wonderful and important investment in our industry’s future.” “Through our incredible sponsors, attendees and volunteers, we had another great golf fundraiser event that will significantly assist in the Education Foundation’s abilities to support high school and college collision school programs. A special thanks to the automotive refinish professionals at PPG for their continued co-sponsorship,” noted Collision Repair Education Foundation Director of Development Brandon Eckenrode. The Collision Repair Education Foundation is already starting to plan for the 2018 event taking place in Atlanta, GA, in conjunction with NACE and Automechanika. The date and location should be announced in the coming weeks. Individuals and companies interested in getting involved with next year’s fundraiser should contact Education Foundation Director of Development Brandon Eckenrode at 847-463-5244 or Brandon .Eckenrode@ed-foundation.org.

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BASF Glasurit Paint on Winning Porsche at Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance A 1952 Porsche 356 Reutter Cabriolet restored by Road Scholars, Durham, NC, won Best in Class (Post War Open) at the Concours d’Elegance in Pebble Beach, CA. This is only the

stored.” The 1952 Porsche is painted Fashion Grey in Glasurit 55 Line, which was the original color when the car was produced. “We love the finish and quality of Glasurit products,” said Ingram. “We use Glasurit paint because Porsche used it during production.” Only 294 Cabriolets were made in 1952. “We are so proud of Road Scholars and this history-making win, and want to thank them for being such a dedicated Glasurit The 1952 Porsche 356 Reutter Cabriolet won Best in customer,” said Dan Class (Post War Open) at the 2017 Pebble Beach Bihlmeyer, BASF North Concours d’Elegance. Painted with Glasurit 55 Line America Marketing Direcin Fashion Grey and expertly restored by Road tor, Automotive Refinish. Scholars, Durham, NC. “Glasurit continues to set second time a Porsche has won its the standard for quality finishes.” class in a non-Porsche class. BASF’s Automotive Refinish “Winning Pebble is the top of the business makes and markets coatings mountain in the Concours d’Elegance for the collision repair, commercial world,” said Cam Ingram, owner of fleet and automotive specialty markets. Road Scholars. “It’s like winning the Its paint products are supported by Super Bowl. The last time a Porsche technical training programs, advanced won Best in Class was in 2011 with color information systems and busithe 1950 356 Gmund Coupe we re- ness management and planning tools.

Industry Invited to Sponsor Work Uniforms for Local High School and College Collision School Programs The collision industry is invited to help make “Back to School” more professional for its local high school

and college collision school programs by sponsoring Cintas work uniforms for students through the Collision Repair Education Foundation. Industry businesses can select the local collision school programs that they are already working with or the Education Foundation can help locate local programs for them. The work uniforms will add a new level of professionalism to programs during the 2017-2018 school year. A local collision student can be sponsored for $50 each and would be provided with a Cintas work shirt and pants. Those businesses that sponsor more than 20 uniforms for a school will have their corporate logo added as a patch to the front of the work shirts. The Collision Repair Education

Foundation will coordinate the work uniform orders and the sponsoring company will be invited to visit the school to meet the students and distribute the uniforms that they helped make possible when they arrive. Collision Repair Education Foundation Director of Development Brandon Eckenrode said, “We hear from instructors across the country that of all the support that we have been able to provide over the years, these student uniforms have made the most significant impact on collision programs. It changes the mindset of the students as they look like employed industry professionals, school administration and guests treat them with respect, and the students feel like a family. We invite you to help a local collision program in your local area by making these student uniforms possible.” Companies interested in sponsoring work uniforms for a local high school or college collision program should contact Collision Repair Education Foundation Director of Development Brandon Eckenrode at Brandon.Eckenrode@ed-foundation.org/ 847-463-5244.

68 OCTOBER 2017 AUTOBODY NEWS | www.autobodynews.com

Charley Hutton’s Color Studio Recommends Innovative Tools & Technologies, Inc.

Charley Hutton began his custom car career at an early age, and is now widely recognized as a leading automotive fabricator and painter. Charley began his career working with the legendary Boyd Coddington, who had him work on the famous 1938 Lincoln “Led Zephyr.”

He appeared on the Discovery Channel’s “American Hot Rod” as Boyd’s body shop supervisor. In 2004, Hutton joined another legendary team, Foose Design, led by automotive icon Chip Foose. When working with Foose design, Charley worked on his first Ridler car, the 1936 Ford “Impression.” He also worked with Rad Rides by Troy, joining Troy and his team to work on the 1936 Ford “First Love.” In 2009, Charley, along with his wife, Teri, opened Charley Hutton’s Color Studio in Nampa, ID.

Charley has appeared on the automotive TV shows “Overhaulin’” and “Chasing Classic Cars.” He now makes personal appearances around the United States and around the world at automotive events. One of Charley’s favorite tool companies is Innovative Tools & Technologies in Minnesota. Recently, he demonstrated the assembly of a set of Innovative tool racks from the company for use in his studio, and shared it via social media. Innovative Tools & Technologies was founded in 1996 by Bryan Johnson. As an auto body technician for more than 21 years, he noticed the need for quality racks to hold plastic bumper covers. During his career, many shops placed the bumpers over trash barrels for painting. Bryan came up with a better way to support and secure bumpers during the repair and paint process by creating the SuperStand. This was the first of many innovative products, hence the name of the company. Currently, more than 275,000 Innovative products are in use throughout the U.S. and worldwide. Innovative’s customers range from small shops to large corporations to do-it-yourself individuals.

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Magna Unveils MAX4 Autonomous Driving Platform The hurdles to reaching high levels of vehicle autonomy might be in infrastructure and legislation, but not necessarily in technology development. Magna is proving just that by unveil-

ing MAX4, a fully integrated, customizable and scalable autonomous driving sensing and computing platform that can enable up to Level 4 autonomous driving capabilities in both urban and highway environments. MAX4 combines cameras, RADAR, LiDAR and ultrasonic sensors with a compute platform that are designed for easy integration with any automaker’s existing and future platforms—including hybrid and electric vehicles. Additionally, Magna’s compute platform, scalable for high-volume production, is flexible, upgradeable and fully functional with a fraction of the power requirements of alternative solutions. Magna has leveraged its full-vehicle expertise in its design of MAX4

to overcome traditional obstacles in the development and production of an autonomous driving platform. Crucially, integration of MAX4 retains an automaker’s existing design and styling freedom for their vehicle, including not taking up cargo space in the rear of the vehicle and personal space in the main compartment. “At the heart of this development is a desire to show the market Magna’s breadth of capabilities and an autonomous driving enabling platform with subsystems that do not compromise the interior and exterior of a vehicle,” said Swamy Kotagiri, Magna’s Chief Technology Officer. “Our focus is on developing production-ready solutions that offer flexibility to integrate and the framework to enable Level 4 technology for when the market is ready.” One of the targets for Magna was to simplify the way drivers engage with autonomous driving systems, including the option of an intuitive and familiar cruise-control-like user interface that is controlled through the press of a button. A lighted display indicates the vehicle is in autonomous mode, and drivers can disengage that mode via brake pedal or an emergency button.

Level 4 automation, according to SAE International, includes vehicles that can perform all safety-critical functions for the duration of a trip in a specified operational design domain with no input from a driver, save for destination or navigation input. To compare, most of the vehicles on the road today equipped with some automation features are classified by SAE as Level 1 or Level 2, requiring active monitoring by the driver. Magna has been developing and manufacturing autonomous technology features for automakers since the 2000s. Most recently, it showcased its Level 3 autonomous capability with a 300-mile test drive that crossed an international border, during which the vehicle drove autonomously for 92 percent of the trip.

UPDATED DAILY www.autobodynews.com

Color Compass Partners with AMi on University

The Automotive Management Institute (AMi), the industry’s leading provider and collaborator of management education for automotive collision and mechanical service repair professionals, announces Canadianbased Color Compass Corporation has partnered with AMi to increase Canadian access to collision repair administrative, customer service and management training, certificates and professional designations through its Color Compass University. “This relationship is consistent with the AMi strategic direction, to collaborate with training providers and learning supporters to ensure easy access to relevant industry-developed educational tracks and verifiable credentials for administrative-based staff,” stated AMi President Jeff Peevy. “We are excited and appreciative to Color Compass Corporation for their support and applaud their leadership position in the promotion of learning.” In the agreement, Color Compass University will promote the AMI core belief, mission and educational offerings and help strengthen the institute’s professional recognition programs throughout the Canadian Collision Repair Industry.

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kstewart@gallowayauto.com www.fordparts.com/samgallowayparts www.autobodynews.com | OCTOBER 2017 AUTOBODY NEWS 69

More than Half of Vehicle Owners Think Self-Driving Cars Are a “Good Idea” In a recently released study about autonomous vehicles, automotive marketing consulting firm AutoPacific found that 54 percent of vehicle owners think that self-driving vehicles are a “good idea,” and 23 percent are interested in owning one.

omy find the ability to relax or be more productive during their drive appealing, yet are also interested in being able to be in a more comfortable seating position. Interest, however, doesn’t come without concerns. Rejectors and acceptors alike share con-

“The incremental roll-out of autonomous driving through feature implementation is essential to its success” — Daniel Hall

The study contains results from more than 900 vehicle owners who were asked about various aspects of self-driving vehicles, and also explores consumer opinions, expectations and the role of semi-autonomous features. “The automobile is moving toward increasingly autonomous technology, from lane departure warning systems to cars that can completely drive themselves,” says AutoPacific president George Peterson. “AutoPacific set out to explore consumer opinions to help auto manufacturers navigate the best path to maximum customer acceptance.” Consumers interested in auton-

cerns over vehicle hacking and still want the ability to take over controls if needed.

The Road to Acceptance According to the study, consumers who reject autonomous vehicles do so mainly because they are uncomfortable not being in control of the vehicle and have concerns over reliability. While there will be early adopters of the technology, many vehicle buyers will wait until they see more market penetration, read reviews, hear from friends, and see safety statistics. “Consumers want proof,” says Peterson. “Many consumers like to see technology in action to know that

All New SEM Website Delivers ‘Best in Class’ Experience

SEM Products, Inc. unveils its new website with simplified navigation, powerful imagery, and amplified search tools to deliver a best in class experience, just like its products.

“We’re committed to delivering an exceptional SEM experience. Our products are engineered to the highest of standards. By extension, it’s critical our website delivers an exceptional customer experience as well,” says Andy Lewis, Director of Marketing. “The rapid consolidation within collision has created a new, more tech savvy, info-hungry consumer. Additionally, mobile has become an increasingly critical component of PBE’s digital space. We made the investment to ensure an industry leading .com exceeds the evolving information needs of our customers.” Visitors can easily drill into the specifics they seek via categories,

brands, or markets. Filtering and sorting tools quickly refine searches further. Product detail pages include every corresponding resource available, including the TDS, SDS, SOP, literature, how-to videos, and more. The Resources tab houses five sections of assets including SOPs /videos/literature, SDS/TDS search, training information, VOC rules, and formulas. Visitors can also learn more about SEM by reading through the About Us section and interacting with the company’s historical timeline. SEM designs intelligent products to reduce repair time, steps, and waste in every application. SEM PRODUCTS.COM now reflects the company’s “Built Better” brand promise.

UPDATED DAILY www.autobodynews.com

70 OCTOBER 2017 AUTOBODY NEWS | www.autobodynews.com

it’s [been] tested and proven. They read reviews. They pay attention to ratings. They want to know that a selfdriving vehicle is reliable and safe.” Seventy percent of autonomous vehicle rejectors say proven technology is needed for them to reconsider their interest, and 38 percent say their consideration would increase if selfdriving cars prove to be safer for all drivers, occupants and pedestrians.

The Role of Autonomous Features The continued implementation of autonomous features in vehicles of all types will also play a role in increasing consumer confidence and interest in fully autonomous vehicles. AutoPacific’s study finds that acceptors of autonomous vehicles are more likely to currently have autonomous features, such as active lane keeping assist and forward collision intervention, on their vehicle. “The incremental roll-out of autonomous driving through feature implementation is essential to its success,” says Daniel Hall, vice president at AutoPacific. “Many who reject the idea are rejecting full autonomy, yet consumer interest in autonomous features, such as collision intervention and automatic parking is

high, even for rejectors of full autonomy.”

Changing the Vehicle Ownership Model The AutoPacific study also looks at consumer acceptance of a self-driving vehicle service—similar to Uber or Lyft, but one that would pick them up on demand in an autonomous vehicle. Results show that 19 percent of vehicle owners would be interested in using a self-driving vehicle service – just 4 percentage points less than the interest in owning a self-driving vehicle. Consumers interested in a selfdriving vehicle service are mainly influenced by the ability to get to their destination despite limitations due to age, disability or impairment. While interested consumers are not yet willing to completely give up vehicle ownership for a reliable self-driving vehicle service, the potential future change to the ownership model is interesting. “Services like Uber and Lyft have already opened the door for hiring rather than owning a vehicle,” says Hall. “If the future also offers a reliable, self-driving vehicle service, we may see a significant change in the traditional ownership model.”

Apollo’s TrueHVLP™ Maxi-Miser® 1000 & 2000 Mobile Spray Systems Offer Dramatically Less Overspray

Apollo Sprayers International, Inc., a USA-based leader in the manufacturing of HVLP (High Volume Low Pressure) has developed the ultimate portable auto body spray finishing systems for both mobile and shop use, the Maxi-Miser® 1000 & 2000 TrueHVLP™ Turbo paint spray systems. “By using Apollo’s advanced TrueHVLP™ technology, the MaxiMiser® 1000 & 2000 system offer dramatically less overspray (80% 90% transfer efficiency) which translates to a documented 40% savings on paint. Mobile collision repair specialists that use the Maxi-Miser® TrueHVLP™ painting system see immediate savings in paint consumption and increased through put. In addition, users have experienced amazing finish results with solvent or waterborne basecoats, metallics and clears,” states John Darroch, President of Apollo Sprayers International, Inc. The Maxi-Miser® 1000 & 2000 TrueHVLP™ Turbo paint spray systems are made in the USA and designed with mobile collision repair professionals in mind. The system provides continuous clean, warm, dry

air without oil or moisture and has no need for expensive filters or dryers. The M2000 system includes the patented Pressure Control System (PCS™) that controls motor speed, voltage and amperage while adjusting automatically for altitude and barometric pressure; Variable Power Level Control, which allows the operator to adjust the atomizing pressure accurate to 1/10th a PSI; LCD Message Center monitors all system functions and (2) HVLP spray guns for use with Base and Clear coats and a 37’ long Air-Flex™ air hose. The M1000 has the same turbine power and includes a Hi-Low pressure control, hour meter, (1) HVLP spray gun and a 37’ long Air-Flex™ air hose. Both models are covered by Apollo’s Two-Year Limited Warranty on parts and labor. The Maxi-Miser® 1000 & 2000 are two of three Apollo TrueHVLP™ spray systems designed for automotive collision repair use. The MaxiMiser® TWIN-TURBO 3000 model is designed for a spray booth shop environment and adds 30% more power, a total of three spray guns, and added features.

The following dealerships are eager to serve your needs. Call your local Subaru collision parts specialist today! GEORGIA

Stivers Decatur Subaru Decatur (800) 833-0454

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www.autobodynews.com | OCTOBER 2017 AUTOBODY NEWS 71

Collision Student of the Year Nominations due Sept. 22

The Collision Repair Education Foundation is currently accepting nominations for its “Collision Student of the Year” award. The deadline for nominations is Sept. 22, 2017.

Launched last year, the Collision Student of the Year award seeks to recognize truly outstanding students training for a career in the collision industry. Nominated students must currently be studying collision repair/refinishing at a school that has completed the Foundation’s 2017-18 Collision Repair School Solutions Survey. “We encourage instructors who would like to recognize the academic achievement, collision repair and refinish training success and drive of their best students to submit nominations for the award,” said

Melissa Marscin, Director of Operations/Administration for the Foundation. Instructors who would like to nominate a student can download a nomination form from the Foundation’s website. (http://www.collisioneducationfoundation.org/wp-co ntent/uploads/2017/08/2017-Student-of-the-Year-Award-Application.pdf) In addition to an instructor endorsement, students must submit a one-minute video to the Foundation explaining his/her academic and collision course achievements, future plans for his/her career, and why he/she enjoys being in the collision industry. Winners of the Collision Student of the Year award and their instructors must be able to attend the Foundation’s reception on Oct. 31 at the SEMA Show in Las Vegas, NV. The award will cover two nights of hotel each for the instructor and for the student, airfare (or mileage if driving), and meals.

Don’t Settle An Insurance Claim Without All the Facts In the wake of Hurricane Harvey, insurance companies will use a bag of tricks to pressure the owners of flood and water-damaged cars into settling their insurance claims for far less money than their vehicles are really worth.

Hurricane Harvey Vehicle Claim Alert Flood and water damaged vehicles are typically declared a total loss. Insurance companies usually lowball policyholders into accepting offers for automobile storm claims that are 40 percent less than the actual value of the car, according to data in a presentation made by independent public insurance adjuster Auto Claim Spe-

cialists to the Auto Body Association of Texas in Hurst as Hurricane Harvey first hit the state’s gulf coast. When car owners feel most vulnerable, insurance estimators use tactics to quickly settle claims with lowball offers by stating that it is “a one-time offer”. They also resort to threats of cancelling the claim or not providing a rental car. This is bad faith insurance adjusting. Do not be taken advantage of by these high pressure closing tactics by insurance companies. An estimated half-million vehicles received flood and water damage during Hurricane Harvey and its aftermath.

Remy Donates to AACF to Help Industry Members Rebuild from Major Hurricanes

Remy Power Products has made a $10,000 donation to the Automotive Aftermarket Charitable Foundation (AACF) to help auto care industry members rebuild in the aftermath of the recent hurricanes. “Our hearts go out to the people who are suffering through the utter devastation caused by these catastrophic hurricanes,” said Dave Nichols, president of Remy Power Products. “We made this donation to the Automotive Aftermarket Charitable Foundation to show our support for fellow industry members who may have lost their

homes, belongings and businesses, as they begin the rebuilding process.” The AACF assists individuals and families of the automotive aftermarket who have fallen on hard times due to death, catastrophic illness, accident or disaster, and have exhausted all other available resources in maintaining a reasonable existence. In the days since the hurricane hit, the AACF has set up a program to specifically help those members of the industry who are victims of this tragic event. Visit www.aacfi.org.

72 OCTOBER 2017 AUTOBODY NEWS | www.autobodynews.com

CIF Rallying to Support Industry Flood Victims of Hurricane Harvey

The Collision Industry Foundation (CIF) is committed to working with all industry segments to deliver aid to victims of Hurricane Harvey. The CIF’s mission is to deliver emergency relief directly to collision repair professionals. CIF is calling on all shops, trade groups, equipment companies, paint companies, insurance companies and all other industry organizations that can assist in this relief effort. The CIF Board of Trustees has assembled a committee that will organize and facilitate the relief efforts. Michael Quinn has been appointed chair of this committee. “Michael led the industry’s relief efforts for Hurricane Katrina, as well as chaired other industry-wide charitable projects like Recycled Rides and the First Responder Emergency Extrication programs,” says Kelly Broderick, CIF Vice Chair and Vice President of Sales & Marketing with Dedoes Industries LLC. “We couldn’t have selected a better person to lead the Harvey efforts.” Within the last 48 hours, donations have started coming in from shops, individuals and companies, in-

cluding: CCC Information Services, Mitchell International and Parts Trader. We encourage others within the industry to support our efforts and donate. EVERY dollar counts and will help your fellow industry professionals! Donations can be made via collisionindustryfoundation.org, and no donation amount is too small. “We encourage all industry professionals to reach deep and make tax deductible donations to CIF so we can help those in need,” stated William Shaw, CIF chair and Director of Business Development US & Canada, PPG Automotive Refinish. “Please join us in sending our thoughts and prayers to those impacted by Hurricane Harvey. It’s time to roll up our collective sleeves and help our brothers and sisters in Texas and Louisiana.” To donate to the Hurricane Harvey Disaster Relief Fund or apply for assistance, please visit collisionindustryfoundation.org, or contact us directly at email: collisionindustryfoundation @gmail.com or Phone Toll Free (855) 424- 3243 - Direct (804) 427-6982. CIF is utilizing all donations for emergency living and/or tool replacement expenses.

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CCC Introduces the CCC ONE™ Platform for OEMs CCC Information Services Inc. and its affiliates (CCC) announced the general availability of the CCC ONE™ Platform for OEMs, a hyperscale platform that creates a single connection between Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) and CCC’s expansive automotive network. CCC ONE for OEMs powers solutions that help car manufacturers improve customer loyalty and deliver new consumer experiences. These solutions can leverage connected car and vehicle data in many ways, including the promotion and sale of new vehicles and OEM-branded parts, usage-based insurance and telematics-enabled claims, safety insights, and shop certification scorecards. CCC is a leading Software as a Service provider to the automotive, insurance, and collision repair industries. The CCC platform is already in use by numerous OEMs and dealers, more than 350 insurers, 24,000 collision repairers, and dozens of thirdparty data and service providers. “There is no organization better equipped to support OEMs as they look for ways to strengthen their core business while taking advantage of new models that leverage connected

vehicles to deliver more meaningful car ownership experiences,” said Andreas Hecht, SVP and GM, CCC OEM Group. “CCC understands industry complexity at an atomic level and has a 30-year track record of creating transformational experiences

for insurers and repairers in servicing their customers. CCC ONE for OEMs is a natural extension of our core CCC ONE platform, which has connected industry participants for decades, delivering significant performance improvements.” Utilizing hyperscale technology and AI to accommodate the massivescale demands of connected car data, CCC ONE solutions empower OEMs to realize measurable value from driving data via CCC network partners who value it. CCC ONE for OEMs already processes data for millions of connected cars and has scored more than a billion trips. CCC has processed more than 180 million claims, including vehicle total loss valuations and vehicle repair estimates. The most prominent potential

use cases of CCC ONE for OEMs include:  The sharing of data on behalf of OEMs to a network of insurers for pay-as-you-drive, pay-how-youdrive, and mileage-based insurance programs.

 Telematics-enabled claims solutions that help ease and speed up the claims and repair resolution process.

 New paths for OEMs to promote the sale of in-brand vehicles following a collision, when a large percentage of consumers are considering migrating brands. CCC processes approximately 3 million total losses annually.  New insights to understand and improve the performance of OEMbrand parts sales and opportunities to promote their use in car repairs. CCC processes $13 billion in vehicle parts annually.

 Automated vehicle recalls with CCC’s network of collision repairers. CCC has detected more than 800,000 vehicles affected by recalls since launching the program in late 2016.

CAPA Releases New Online Complaint Form

The Certified Automotive Parts Association (CAPA), a leader in aftermarket part certification, announced the release of its updated online complaint form. In response to market feedback, users now have the ability to upload and submit complaint part photos through CAPA’s website. CAPA’s unique complaint program was developed over twenty-five years ago, to allow the market to provide input on the quality of CAPA Certified aftermarket parts. “CAPA continually monitors the quality of parts certified to the CAPA standard and is pro-active in soliciting industry feedback through the Quality Complaint Program. This is an important tool for investigating certified parts which do not meet customer expectations,” said Deborah Klouser, CAPA’s Director of Operations. “We encourage repair shops and all other stakeholders to report any complaints about CAPA Certified parts to CAPA.” The complaint form can be found at the CAPA website, www .capacertified.org.

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www.autobodynews.com | OCTOBER 2017 AUTOBODY NEWS 73

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MyPriceLink Providing Dynamic, Real-Time Pricing, Receives Patent

OEConnection LLC (OEC), the leading automotive technology provider for original equipment manufacturers’ (OEM) distribution networks, recently announced the issuance of US Patent No. 9,747,481. This patent relates to MyPriceLink®, a service that delivers real-time dynamic list pricing on original equipment (OE) collision parts based on timing and local market conditions. “OEC continues to lead the way in pioneering new technologies that are revolutionizing the auto parts industry,” said Chuck Rotuno, OEC Chairman & CEO. “In 2001, we pioneered online collision parts procurement through our CollisionLink solution; in 2007, we introduced webbased parts conquesting technology through our Parts Marketing Administration (PMA) solution; and now we are providing real-time, dynamic list pricing through MyPriceLink. The combination of CollisionLink, PMA and MyPriceLink makes for a very comprehensive parts strategy for automakers.” OEC currently provides CollisionLink and PMA to 23 OEMs,

8,000 dealers and nearly 20,000 collision repair shops in the US and Canada, who use these solutions to complete nearly 400,000 transactions each month. Launched in December 2015, MyPriceLink currently fulfills 125 million pricing requests every day with an average response time of less than 0.5 seconds. MyPriceLink integrates with numerous collision estimating systems and dealer management systems, and is accessible through CollisionLink (for participating dealers), CollisionLink Insurance, CollisionLink Shop, or directly through participating collision estimating systems. “MyPriceLink is set to transform the industry,” added Bill Lopez, OEC Vice President & General Manager, Collision. “GM is currently using MyPriceLink to great affect and it won’t be long before every automaker makes using MyPriceLink standard operating procedure to more accurately and reliably present their parts pricing.” Several additional patent applications for MyPriceLink features are pending and expected to issue in the near future. Visit MyPriceLink.com.

HDDA Developing Product Data Standards for Heavy Duty Market

The Heavy Duty Distribution Association (HDDA: Heavy Duty), a community of the Auto Care Association, has announced that it will begin the formal creation of product data standards for the heavy duty (HD) aftermarket. Pre-

liminary development of these standards, which will improve product data communication across the entire HD market, is already underway. HDDA: Heavy Duty has contracted Pricedex Software Inc. to continue as its partner on this project. Additionally, the association will bring together volunteer product data experts from across 20 top parts categories to participate in subject matter expert subcommittees for the standards’ creation. This project was initiated to help independent HD distributors and their supplier community communicate product and system attributes more effectively to provide a faster, more ac-

GFS Releases Booth Shield Peelable Booth Protection Global Finishing Solutions® (GFS), a world leader in innovation for paint booth and finishing system technologies, has released Booth Shield™, a complete line of peelable coatings for protecting paint booth walls, windows, lights and floors.

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“GFS is excited to offer our customers a fast, easy solution for booth protection and overspray capture,” said Mick Ramis, business unit manager at GFS. Compatible with all types of booths, Booth Shield provides a bright,

clean finish on paint booth surfaces and ensures prime visibility while working inside the booth. Booth Shield Peelable Translucent offers a protective coating for white pre-coated steel booths, windows and lights. Booth Shield Peelable White brightens and protects both galvanized and white pre-coated paint booths. Easy to apply and remove, and providing longlasting coverage, Booth Shield offers significant advantages compared to traditional paper wrap. The liquid coatings can be sprayed or rolled onto the surface and built up to desired thickness. Most wall applications are complete with just one coat of Booth Shield, and floor coatings can withstand heavy-duty traffic after just two layers. “Booth Shield dries quickly after application, allowing you to resume full use of your booth within a couple hours,” continues Ramis. In addition to improving booth brightness and appearance, Booth Shield creates a safer spraying environment by trapping overspray and minimizing fire hazards caused by

curate experience for the end customer. In 2016, HDDA: Heavy Duty conducted a feasibility study for the standards’ creation. At AAPEX 2016 in Las Vegas, NV, Bill Hanvey, president and CEO, Auto Care Association, announced that the study produced a positive result for the ability to create HD standards. Since that announcement, several industry organizations, including the Technology & Maintenance Council of the American Trucking Associations, and multiple industry publications, featured the data standards project in articles and conferences. “Product data standards mean the heavy duty aftermarket, from manufacturer, to distributor, professional installer, and fleet maintenance managers will get the right part, at the right place, at the right time,” said Hanvey. “We want to reiterate to the HD marketplace that these will be HD standards based upon the way the marketplace looks up and presents its parts. We will seek the input and insight from distributors and data system providers, but particularly manufacturers wanting to communicate product data in a more efficient and consistent manner for all of their customers.”

excess paint accumulation. When it’s time to remove and replace the booth coating, simply score the edges and

peel Booth Shield off your surfaces. The coating can be peeled off walls and floors in large sections, compressed and disposed of normally. Choose from a complete line of Booth Shield wall and floor prep coats, peelable white wall coats, peelable translucent wall coats and peelable floor products to quickly and easily protect your investment.

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