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June 2019
AASP-MN Awards $16,000 In Scholarships to Auto Students
PLUS: AASP-MN Welcomes New Membership Coordinator
Your Champion. Your Ally. www.aaspmn.org
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AASP-MN News is the official publication of the Alliance of Automotive Service Providers, Minnesota, Inc. 1970 Oakcrest Ave., Suite 102 Roseville, MN 55113 Phone: 612-623-1110 Fax: 612-623-1122 email: aasp@aaspmn.org website: aaspmn.org. To keep its readers better informed, AASP-MN News allows its columnists to fully express their opinions. All views expressed are not necessarily those of the publication. AASP-MN News is published by Thomas Greco Publishing, Inc. 2019 All rights reserved. Cover image www.istockphoto.com.
AASP of Minnesota is an association of independently-owned automotive service businesses and industry suppliers dedicated to improving the state’s automotive service industry and the success of its members.
AASP-MN BOARD MEMBERS 2019 - 2020 PRESIDENT Carl Thomas IMMEDIATE PAST PRESIDENT Will Latuff SECRETARY-TREASURER Matthew Feehan COLLISION DIVISION DIRECTOR Randy Miller MECHANICAL DIVISION DIRECTOR Tom Archambault ASSOCIATE DIVISION DIRECTOR Loren Feldkamp COLLISION SEAT Jesse Jacobson MECHANICAL SEATS Tony Newman Randy Notto, AAM
STAFF
CONTENTS Vol. 28 No. 6
COLLISION DIVISION DIRECTOR’S MESSAGE............................4 An Accelerating Industry by Randy Miller, AASP-MN Collision Division Director LEGISLATIVE UPDATE................................................................5 House, Senate, Governor Grind to Close of Session by Kevin Walli, AASP-MN Lobbyist LOCAL NEWS ............................................................................6 NATIONAL NEWS ......................................................................8 AASP NATIONAL MEETING HIGHLIGHTS ..................................10 Alliance Reps Attend AASP National Board Meeting by Joel Gausten PARTNERS IN PREVENTION ......................................................12 RETAP – a Free Service That Can Steer You toward Big Savings DEG ESTIMATING TIPS ..............................................................14 INSURANCE I.Q. ........................................................................16 CASH IN ON YOUR MEMBER BENEFITS ....................................21 AASP-MN and CHESS Team Up To Offer Members Safety Compliance Services AASP-MN MEMBER BENEFIT PROGRAMS..................................22
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Judell Anderson, CAE OFFICE ADMINISTRATOR Jodi Pillsbury MEMBERSHIP COORDINATOR Ben Simon PUBLISHED BY: Thomas Greco Publishing, Inc. 244 Chestnut St., Suite 202 Nutley, NJ 07110 PHONE: 973-667-6922 FAX: 973-235-1963 PUBLISHER Thomas Greco | thomas@grecopublishing.com SALES DIRECTOR Alicia Figurelli | alicia@grecopublishing.com CREATIVE DIRECTOR Lea Velocci | lea@grecopublishing.com EDITORIAL DIRECTOR Joel Gausten | joel@grecopublishing.com EDITORIAL & CREATIVE COORDINATOR Alana Bonillo | alana@grecopublishing.com OFFICE MANAGER Donna Greco | donna@grecopublishing.com DESIGN ASSISTANT Christoper Rizzi | chris@grecopublishing.com www.grecopublishing.com
UPCOMING EVENTS October 16 Beyond the Four Strokes EP Auto, Tire & Glass 12479 Plaza Drive Eden Prairie, MN 55344
October 17 Advanced Safety Systems: Post Collision Service & Repair EP Auto, Tire & Glass 12479 Plaza Drive Eden Prairie, MN 55344
ADVERTISERS’ INDEX AmeriPride ............................................................5 Buerkle Hyundai..................................................21 CBIZ ........................................................................19 Dentsmart ............................................................14 FinishMaster ........................................................11 Inver Grove Honda/Inver Grove Toyota ....15 Jack McClard........................................................15 Keystone ..............................................................18 Maplewood Toyota............................................11 Mills Parts Center ................................................18 Mopar......................................................................18
AASP-MN News
Morrie’s ................................................................13 Motorwerks BMW ..............................................IBC MPA ........................................................................9 PAM’s Auto ..........................................................12 Proven Force........................................................OBC Reliable Automotive Equipment....................IFC Rosedale Chevrolet............................................13 Roseville Chrysler ..............................................18 Straight & Square................................................10 Toyota Group ......................................................20
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COLLISION DIVISION DIRECTOR’S MESSAGE
An Accelerating Industry by Randy Miller, AASP-MN Collision Division Director
Forty years ago, I graduated from Riverland Technical College in Austin, MN, knowing someday I would own and operate my own facility. It was in my family, as my father and brother were business owners. So, I started my own shop painting one vehicle a week and installing accessories. I made a good living out of that garage. I was building a customer base in a town I did not grow up in. It was a simple life, but I needed more. Six years later, after building a 2,000 square foot building in the same location, I found my first employee and four years later, my second - both of which are change to: still with me today. I-CAR was getting on its feet, unitized vehicles were in the U.S., basecoat/clearcoat refinishing had arrived, computers came into play, DRPs, estimating systems, management systems and, yes, cell phones were all new. I would close the shop down for a week and take my four employees to NACE every year to see the new and evolving equipment and I insisted that we did I-CAR training and become a Gold Class facility. These years were fun. All the new technology made everything easier to manage. It’s also when the industry started to ramp up.
Wow, what a ride. Over the last 40 years we were hit with many changes and improvements!
In 2003, I took my business to another level, building a new facility and hiring six new employees. I was up to my neck in debt and that’s when I started to get into trouble with employee turnover. Some of the turnover was due to the employees being fresh out of school and the other was that I simply had a dysfunctional shop. Working six days a week wasn’t good for my personal life either. Something had to change. I decided to go with another paint vendor that promised to educate me, which I was hungry for. I was introduced to AASP-MN and, as an outside of the Metro area shop, was flying under the radar taking what I learned back to my facility. I started Lean through my paint manufacturer, which we are still improving upon today. We also developed our own estimating and scheduling processes and are open for business only four days a week. I have a business partner of 29 years and two sons that joined the business over 10 years ago. I am very fortunate.
4 | June 2019
Wow, what a ride. Over the last 40 years we were hit with many changes and improvements! The years have moved slowly compared to what we are experiencing now. I tell my employees that we need to stay focused on our processes and, more importantly, the future. It’s happening faster now. With all the information that insurance companies have, it’s hard to keep up with the retooling and OE certifications which, according to Mike Anderson (Collision Advice), will really crank up by 2022. There are countless advancements in technology and it’s a race for market share for the vehicle manufacturers. Who would have thought electric cars would be the norm in 2030? It could make for a quiet NASCAR or Motocross race! I am very excited about the future of this industry! To stay ahead, shop owners and managers must keep up with the education offered by I-CAR and all the manufacturers – and, more importantly, have an association like the Alliance to help us stay informed about changes in legislation, conduct training events and make connections with peers. The Alliance has had a huge impact on me and my business and I encourage more business owners from outside the Metro area to get involved in the Alliance and its committees. Being an outsider in greater Minnesota, the Alliance has helped me to associate with other leading industry shop owners in the state, which is extremely valuable. In addition, it’s important to be involved with some kind of network or consolidator that can help with marketing, buying power and customer relations. Some of them let you keep your identity and help you grow your business. The technician shortage is in all aspects of the industry and it’s critical to attract and retain good employees, which the Alliance has focused much of its time and effort on in recent years. This, or any other industry, is not for the weak- at-heart, as it’s going to get more complicated. Thank goodness we have the younger people coming into our businesses and associations, as they have far less fear of change will help keep us up to speed with their inventive ideas and thinking! Hang on while the industry gets more complex. It’s going to accelerate with the advancement of technology in the vehicles being produced. Someone close to me once said, “Typically when everything is moving at a fast pace, more doors will open and there is room for more opportunity.”
AASP-MN News
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LEGISLATIVE UPDATE
House, Senate, Governor Grind to Close of Session DFL Governor Tim Walz and the DFL-controlled House could not find common ground with the Republicancontrolled Senate to set a two-year budget prior to the May 20 Constitutional deadline for adjournment. As this story goes to press, negotiations continue and a Special Session of the Legislature will be called when the parties come to terms on a budget compromise. The difference between the House and Senate versions of the budget is approximately $2 billion. One of the key sticking points was the proposed increase to the state gasoline tax. The additional funds would have been constitutionally dedicated to road and bridge projects. The expanded gasoline tax is now off the table as we move to special session. The Senate position would use general revenues to beef up transportation funding at least for the near-term. The second area of considerable difference is related to the extension of the Minnesota provider tax. This is a two percent tax on health care services that has been in place for over 20 years. This tax authority would have
blinked off by operation of law at the end of 2019. The provider tax raises over a billion dollars of revenue, and if it had not been extended there would have been a big hole in the budget – particularly for health care services. Some of the issues that we continue to watch for AASP-MN members include the state business property tax. A proposal to re-establish an annual inflation adjuster has been considered and business organizations are seeking to prevent that from happening. There are other workplace issues that must be resolved. One of the major budget bills included provisions to require employers to provide sick and safe time to employees on an
by Kevin Walli, AASP-MN Lobbyist
accrual basis. There is also family medical leave legislation pending. These employee benefits come with a significant cost and, at a minimum, employers are looking for additional time to better understand the implications of the program requirements and how current benefits might serve to satisfy the new requirements. The governor, speaker of the House and Senate majority leader have given marching orders to the various finance committee chairs to finalize their budget bills on terms agreed upon by leadership. We will prepare an update for AASP-MN on these outcomes as soon as the special session is completed – which we hope will be before or just after Memorial Day.
WELCOME NEW MEMBERS: MAY 2019
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LOCAL NEWS AASP-MN Welcomes Ben Simon as New Membership Coordinator By Alana Bonillo The Alliance is pleased to welcome Ben Simon as its new membership coordinator. Simon replaces Tom Kluver, who retired from the role this spring. Simon has a long history with the AlBen Simon liance. He’s been working in collision repair for 15 years and has worn many hats, starting out as a technician, then moving on to parts and production, estimating and shop management. Every shop Simon has worked for has been a member of the Alliance; therefore, he knows from first-hand experience the countless benefits the association has to offer. “Knowing what goes on every day in the shops, I believe I can relate well to shop owners and bring their questions and concerns back to the Alliance to see if there’s anything else we can bring to them and help them with,” he shares. “It will be nice to be able to show the benefits to them, which I know of from experience through the companies I’ve worked for.” In addition to his part-time role with the Alliance as membership coordinator, Simon also runs his own business, Auto Body Solutions, where he assists shops with estimator training, process improvements and OEM certifications. One of the many things he appreciates about the Alliance is its efforts on the legislative front. With the insurance industry having such strong influence over the collision repair industry, he hopes to help relay related concerns from shops to help the Alliance in its efforts. He also is eager to help encourage younger people to get involved in the industry, motivating them to attend technical schools instead of colleges. “I’m really looking forward to being an advocate for the industry and for shops. I love what I do. I love this industry and I look forward to building relationships and making new ones.”
• Wah Htoo, St. Paul College, St. Paul – Automotive Service Technology • Holly Isdahl, Dakota County Technical College, Rosemount – Auto Body Collision Repair • Brady Kellner, MN State College, Southeast Technical, Winona – Auto Body Collision Repair • Brenden Kerns, MN State College, Southeast Technical, Winona – Auto Body Collision Repair • Grant Leshovsky, MN State Community & Technical College, Moorhead – Automotive Service Technology • Samuel Nelson, Ridgewater College, Willmar – Automotive Service Technology • Khoa Luc Nguyen, Hennepin Technical College, Eden Prairie – Automotive Service Technology • Haiden Peterson, Dakota County Technical College, Rosemount – Auto Body Collision Repair • Vincent Sogbey, Anoka Technical College, Anoka – Automotive Service Technology • Edward Stasyuk, Hennepin Technical College, Eden Prairie – Auto Body Collision Repair • Angelica Tonge, Dakota County Technical College, Rosemount – Auto Body Collision Repair • Derek Wallrich, Century College, White Bear Lake – Automotive Service Technology Congratulations to all of this year’s recipients! The scholarship awards are the centerpiece of AASP-MN’s Automotive Education Fund, which was established to provide financial resources to support automotive students, enhance automotive programs and raise awareness of career opportunities in the independent automotive service industry.
AASP-MN Receives 2019 Business Assistance Providers Environmental Leadership Award The National Steering Committee (NSC) of Small Business Environmental Assistance Programs (SBEAPs) & Small Business Ombudsmen (SBOs) has recognized the Alliance of Automotive Service Providers of Minnesota for its leadership in the AASP-MN Awards Scholarships to Automotive Students areas of improving environmental performance, pollution preThe Alliance is pleased to announce it has awarded vention, sustainability and mentoring. $16,000 in scholarship awards to help automotive service AASP-MN was recognized for working with the Minnesota and collision repair students pay for tuition or tools during SBEAP on advocacy and education for independent auto the 2019-20 school year. The scholarships are in the amount service and collision repair shops throughout Minnesota. The of $1,000 per student and were made possible by a success- Alliance partnered with MN SBEAP to share regulatory inforful fundraising drive within the AASP-MN membership, as mation and pollution prevention practices through articles in well as generous donations from the Minnesota State I-CAR its magazine, sending email bulletins to shops on time-sensiCommittee and the Bill Smith Fund. tive issues and inviting SBEAP to speak on regulatory updates. Thirty college and high school students from 13 schools AASP-MN advocated for regulatory streamlining for the repair submitted scholarship applications. Applications were reindustry to reduce the burden of emissions-limiting requireviewed by a committee of industry representatives, with ments, and assisted shops with switching to water-based consideration given to scholastic achievement, education coating systems and aqueous parts cleaners to reduce their and career goals, financial need and written recommendaenvironmental impact. tions. “We always welcome the opportunity to work with our governmental agencies for the benefit of our members,” said The recipients are: AASP-MN Executive Director Judell Anderson. “Our working • Jacob Boynton, MN State College, Southeast relationship with the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency provides a great example of the good things that can happen Technical, Winona – Auto Body Collision Repair when government and business collaborate toward a common • Toben DeHaan, Dunwoody College of Technology, goal.” Minneapolis – Automotive Service Technology The SBEAP/SBO NSC Awards are the states’ premier • Mekiah Grillo, Hennepin Technical College, Brooklyn Park – Automotive Service Technology awards program for recognizing outstanding environmental leadership among small businesses and small business assis• Jeff Horecka, Dakota County Technical College, tance providers. These awards recognize small businesses, Rosemount – Automotive Service Technology
6 | June 2019
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SBEAP/SBO programs and individuals, trade associations and other business assistance providers who have made significant contributions to protecting the environment. The awards program is sponsored by the SBEAP/SBO NSC in partnership with U.S. EPA Asbestos and Small Business Office. The NSC Awards were presented at the 2019 Annual SBEAP/SBO Training in Chicago, IL on May 15, 2019. More information about the state SBEAP/SBO is available at https://nationalsbeap.org/.
2019 SkillsUSA Contest Winners Announced The 52nd Annual Minnesota SkillsUSA competitions for collision repair and automotive service technology were held Saturday, April 13 at Hennepin Technical College (Brooklyn Park). The competition allows high school and college students to demonstrate their abilities and talents in collision repair and automotive service. AASP-MN volunteers were out in force to help plan, organize and judge the competition. Congratulations to the following SkillsUSA contest winners: Auto Refinishing Technology High School Division 1st Place – Dalton Underland, Ridgewater College, Willmar 2nd Place – Cooper Smith, ISD 287, Eden Prairie 3rd Place – Holly Isdahl, ISD 287, Eden Prairie College Division 1st Place – Brooke Kline, South Central College, Mankato 2nd Place – Perry Jones, Dakota County Technical College, Rosemount 3rd Place – Jadden Hoffmann, South Central College, Mankato Collision Repair Technology High School Division 1st Place – Dalton Underland, Ridgewater College, Willmar 2nd Place – Cooper Swift, ISD 287, Eden Prairie 3rd Place – Holly Isdahl, ISD 287, Eden Prairie College Division 1st Place – Perry Jones, Dakota County Technical College, Rosemount 2nd Place – Isaac Regla-Breton, South Central College, Mankato 3rd Place – Tyler Kunstleben, St. Cloud Technical & Community College, St. Cloud
Automotive Service Technology High School Division 1st Place – Juan Cruz, Faribault High School, Faribault 2nd Place – Michael Adascheck, Rosemount High School, Rosemount 3rd Place – Nicholas Martel, St. Cloud Technical & Community College, St. Cloud College Division 1st Place – Gerardo Perales, Dakota County Technical College, Rosemount 2nd Place – Isaiah Kallas, Hennepin Technical College, Brooklyn Park 3rd Place – Patrick Miller, Dakota County Technical College, Rosemount 2019 Minnesota I-CAR/SkillsUSA Fall Golf Event Announced The Minnesota I-CAR/SkillsUSA Volunteer Committee invites golfers and sponsors to Oak Glen Golf Course in Stillwater on Wednesday, September 11, for a fun-filled day of golf. All proceeds from the event go towards scholarships for future technicians, equipment for technical colleges and other collision industry training needs in Minnesota. The fourperson scramble, sponsored by North Central I-CAR Committee, begins at 12:00pm with a grilled dinner and awards banquet following golf. In addition, there will be complimentary refreshments on several holes around the course, as well as unique contests for prizes. This is a great opportunity for vendors to market their business, products and/or services, while supporting the industry and enjoying a round of golf with industry leaders. Registration and payment for golfers and/or sponsors can be found on the golf outing’s website, icargolf.com. For more information, contact tournament director Jamison Randall at jrandall@latuffbrothers.com or (651) 796-8003.
Minnesota Careers in Auto Repair & Service (MNCARS) MNCARS is a non-profit organization established in 2016 by AASP-MN. Its sole purpose is to promote careers in the automotive industry, recruit young people into the state's college-level automotive service and collision repair programs and, ultimately, into industry workplaces. To further those efforts, MNCARS recently participated in the following events: • MTTEA Supermileage Challenge, Brainerd International Raceway, Brainerd, MN • Career Exploration Day, Northfield Middle School, Northfield, MN • Humboldt High School Community & Career Fair, St. Paul, MN
Take advantage of the resources in the MotorMouth toolbox! Get out and get active in your local community to promote industry careers! Students demonstrate their talents at the 2019 SkillsUSA contest.
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NATIONAL NEWS
• Dealers have increased in number over the past five years,
www.langmarketing.com
Scrappage & Sales Plague Domestic VIO Domestic nameplates represented approximately twothirds of the cars and light trucks scrapped in the U.S. during 2015 through 2018. At the same time, domestic nameplate annual new vehicle sales averaged 46 percent share, down significantly from 15 years earlier. Low new vehicle sales share and high vehicle scrappage have combined to reduce domestic nameplate vehicles in operation (VIO) from 55 percent share in 2013 to less than 52 percent during 2018. Consumers Rate SS/Garages & Dealers Consumers perceive service stations/garages and dealers differently across four key repair outlet performance factors: Convenience, technical capability, low price and fair price. Over the past five years, consumers have changed some of their perceptions of service stations/garages and dealers regarding these key performance factors. Six Major Takeaways: • Consumers ranked service stations/garages highest for
• • • • •
convenience of repair, while dealers received a strong second place rating. Dealers are improving consumer perception of the convenience of repair by expanding service hours, improving their repair facilities to include quick lube/service lanes and adding consumer friendly repair practices. Dealers ranked highest for technical repair capability, followed by service stations/garages. Service stations/garages received a higher rating for technical repair capability among consumers than they did in a similar research project conducted by Lang Marketing five years ago. Service stations/garages have the highest consumer ratings for low price and fairness of price; while dealers received a fourth-place rating by consumers for both of these performance criteria. Lang Marketing found that the importance of technical repair capability to consumers varies by the level of technical repair they need and the importance of low price varies by the income of consumers and the nameplate and age of the vehicle they own.
Repair Outlet Population Shakeup Despite a $12 billion product surge in the light vehicle Do-It-For-Me (DIFM) market between 2008 and 2018, the number of car and light truck repair outlets fell more than 3,200. Two groups of repair outlets accounted for all of the outlet reduction, while four groups of outlets increased their populations over this 10-year span. Six Major Takeaways: • As total DIFM product volume increased by 15 percent
between 2008 and 2018, the population of outlets repairing cars and light trucks fell more than one percent. • Service stations and garages suffered the largest decline in outlet population, down more than 4,500 between 2008 and 2018, with their total count dropping four percent. • Repair specialists recorded the largest increase in outlet population between 2013 and 2018, adding over 1,400 locations. Foreign specialists increased by more than 1,000 outlets during these five years, achieving the largest percentage gain in population.
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reversing a downward population spiral during the previous five years. Over 500 more vehicle dealers were in operation during 2018 than in 2013. • Service stations and garages fell in light vehicle repair outlet share between 2013 and 2018, as did the residual category of other outlets. Repair specialists, foreign specialists, dealers and tire stores each increased their repair outlet share between 2008 and 2018. • These changes in the repair outlet population reflect changes in the nameplate mix of vehicles, the age and complexity of cars and light trucks on U.S. roads and the competitive advantage and disadvantages of the major types of service outlets participating in the rapidly changing light vehicle service market.
Amazon’s DIFM Parts Delivery Solution Amazon’s unique approach to logistics and its unprecedented consumer presence will enable the internet giant to provide automotive parts to repair outlets as part of an online to offline (o2o) strategy that will transform Amazon into a major player in the Do-It-For-Me (DIFM) aftermarket. Six Major Takeaways: • The delivery of aftermarket products depends on billions of
• • • • •
dollars in inventory located at more than 40,000 brick and mortar locations across the country. This is an effective but inefficient system. The need for rapid delivery of auto parts to repair shops is generally regarded as the primary barrier that will prohibit the growth of internet auto parts sales to repair outlets. Amazon can overcome this barrier by using an o2o strategy in which consumers purchase auto parts from Amazon and have them delivered to an authorized installer in their area. Amazon can sell a large variety of parts in the Do-It-For-Me market and avoid the problem of rapid delivery to repair outlets, by scheduling the work to be completed after products have been delivered to the installer. Amazon can greatly expand its o2o DIFM range by providing its Prime members with OBD plug-ins or other diagnostic tools that would enable Amazon to engage in a wider range of DIFM repairs. Succeeding in o2o automotive repair, Amazon will position itself as a solution for the multi-trillion dollar transportation needs of consumers in future, as autonomous vehicles, ridesharing and transportation as a service sweep across the U.S.
Dentsmart, Inc. Achieves Gold Class® Status Dentsmart, Inc. recently announced its achievement of I-CAR Gold Class status, the industry standard for training that contributes to complete and safe repairs. Only 10 percent of collision repair businesses currently meet the rigorous training requirements necessary to earn the Gold Class designation. Gold Class shops are required to have every technician involved in automotive repair take training that is specific to their roles. They must continue with ongoing training each year for the business to maintain its Gold Class recognition, including classes in new technology. “Dentsmart, Inc. is honored to be named a Gold Class collision repair facility,” said Jeff Williams of Dentsmart. “We are proud of our commitment to training because it is also a symbol of our commitment to professionalism and to the safety of our customers.”
AASP-MN News
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AASP NATIONAL MEETING HIGHLIGHTS Alliance Reps Attend AASP National Board Meeting By Joel Gausten Last month, Alliance Executive Director Judell Anderson and Past Presidents Bruce Tschida and Dan Sjolseth represented the association at the most recent AASP National meeting at Autoshop Solutions in Apex, NC. The semi-annual
AASP National President Bill Adams honored Past National President Bruce Tschida of Lake Marion Collision for his service.
gathering allowed various AASP state affiliates to share updates and ideas on their various activities and initiatives on behalf of the industry. During his state association update, Tschida detailed the Minnesota group’s recent rebranding initiative, which was developed to better communicate its services to the Minnesota collision repair and automotive service community. The most obvious result of the project has been a new logo and referencing “AASP-MN” as “the Alliance.” Additionally, a poll of current members on what the association means to them yielded two commonly used words in responses, “champion” and “ally,” that will now be featured prominently in new marketing material and on the Alliance’s recently revamped website. “It was something that needed to be done and something to try to change who we are a little bit and make people aware of us,” Tschida shared. “Using the words ‘champion’ and ‘ally’ explains what our purpose is and what you can get from us.” In other news, Anderson (who also serves as AASP National administrator) informed her fellow state association representatives of LKQ Corp.-promoted legislation in Minnesota, Missouri and other states that aims to automatically give a salvage title to any vehicle totaled by an insurer regardless of age and damage.
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“In Minnesota, we don’t have a threshold for totals. If it’s economically advantageous for an insurance company to total a vehicle based on salvage value, they’ll total it even if it’s 20 percent. This is something to have on your radar and be on the lookout for.” On the national front, AASP continues to enjoy a fruitful relationship with benefit provider United Fire Group (UFG), which delivered a seven-percent dividend to participating AASP state affiliate members for the 2017 program. “It’s always great for membership retention when members can see a very tangible return on their membership investment,” Anderson said. The meeting included a guest presentation by Tricia Sauls, marketing and communications director for AASP state affiliate IGONC (Independent Garage Owners of North Carolina), on how state associations can use online social media resources including Facebook and LinkedIn to more effectively market to and communicate with current and prospective members. As the meeting concluded, Tschida was honored by current AASP National President Bill Adams for his previous term in that position and his years of service to the industry.
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PARTNERS IN PREVENTION
RETAP – a Free Service That Can Steer You Toward Big Savings The Retiree Environmental Technical Assistance Program (RETAP) provides free, non-regulatory energy efficiency and waste reduction assessments for small businesses and both public and private institutions in Minnesota. Assessments include an on-site visit to your facility from a team of RETAP members with emphasis on finding opportunities to increase energy efficiency and water conservation, reduce waste and reduce operating costs. When you have an assessment done, an experienced team of retired professionals will:
• Analyze utility bills • Visit your facility • Create a customized report with recommendations and estimated savings
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Recommendations may range from behavior changes to upgrading or retrofitting inefficient appliances. You are under no obligation to implement the proposed changes, but a high percentage of surveyed participants were found to have implemented recommendations within the first year. The average savings from RETAP recommendations implemented in 2016 was over $3,000 per client. Since RETAP’s start in 2001, over 500 businesses and institutions – including dry cleaners, coffee shops and fire stations – have benefited from RETAP assessments. You can too! To find out more or to request a free assessment, visit pca.state.mn.us/retap contact Ralph Dickinson, RETAP Coordinator, at rdickinson6881@gmail.com or (651) 233-3374.
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ESTIMATING TIPS All Three Systems: Road Testing for Diagnostic and Repairs – Road testing/test driving a vehicle for diagnostic purposes or to road test a vehicle after repairs are complete is NOT INCLUDED in all three estimating systems. Road test is only included to verify alignment after completion. Some vehicle OEMs may require this process to reinitialize the vehicle after scanning and calibration is complete to ensure the vehicle systems are functioning properly. Considerations for road testing may require cost of fuel as well as vehicle owner approval. Audatex: Additional Setup NOT INCLUDED for Interior Surfaces, Edges and Jambs – Audatex DBRM section 44, pages 134 and 135, TWO and THREE stage “Interior surfaces” states “does not include additional time for setup.” If refinishing interior, edges and/or undersides in a separate booth cycle, additional “SET UP” is NOT INCLUDED and would be an on-the-spot evaluation with manual line entry. Audatex defines “set up” to the following operations: • • • •
Mitchell: Refinish on Repaired/Used Panels – Labor times related to repaired and/or used panels are not included in refinish time. Examples include: Remove and install or masking of glass, outside handles or exterior trim; feather prime & block and masking for primer surface application. The steps required for refinishing a repaired and/or used panel may vary from those required for a new panel depending on the condition of the repaired and/or used panel. All Three Systems: Accuracy of Footnotes – Some vehicle chapters in the estimating systems may list specific notes about a part being one-time use or other specific information from the OEM. It is important to confirm this information directly in the OEM service repair manual from the OEM. Third-party information may not be the most up-to-date information and should not be solely relied upon. An example of this scenario would be recent inquiry (http://degweb.herokuapp.com/inquiries/14090) where the footnotes reflected information that was changed by the OEM in 2018.
Add flex additive Clear clean gun Gather materials, equipment and tools Mix clear coat
Note: The estimating databases are all intended to be used as a GUIDE ONLY - it is important to remember that the auto body professional performing the repair is in a position to thoroughly inspect, diagnose and identify the methodology and their unique cost of the vehicle damage repair. You can view these tips and others on the DEG website, DEGWEB.ORG.
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INSURANCE I.Q.
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LOCAL NEWS continued from page 7
A/C Update & Certification Testing Clinics Highlights Forty people attended the A/C Update and Certification Testing clinics on Tuesday, May 7 at Eden Prairie Tire & Auto (Eden Prairie) and Wednesday, May 8 at the AASP-MN office in Roseville. The clinics, hosted by AASP-MN, were presented by Joe Barton with Bosch Automotive Service Solutions. Attendees found the clinics to be very beneficial, with the vast majority taking the certification test. AASP-MN will also be hosting GM clinics “Beyond the Four Strokes” on October 16 and “Advanced Safety Systems: Post Collision Service & Repair” on October 17. Both classes will be held at EP Auto, Tire & Glass. Watch for details in future issues of AASP News and on the Alliance’s website, aaspmn.org.
Thank You to
Our Sponsors To date, the following companies have made sponsorship commitments for AASP-MN’s educational programming and other activities in 2019:
Platinum LKQ – Minnesota Lube-Tech & Partners Gold AASP National AmeriTrust Group Auto Value Parts Stores/APH Axalta Coating Systems CARSTAR CBIZ AiA Finishmaster PPG Automotive Finishes United Fire Group Silver aaa Auto Parts Enterprise Rent-A-Car National Coatings & Supplies/Single Source O’Reilly Auto Parts PAM’s Auto, Inc. Suburban Chevrolet Bronze C.H.E.S.S. Leadership Conference Vendor AkzoNobel Ameripride Services AutoZone BASF Dent Impressions Dentsmart PDR Heartman Insurance Monroe, Moxness, Berg, P.A. Napa Auto Parts Net Driven AASP-MN News
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WHY GENUINE PARTS? It’s the Right Thing to Do
You lose money when aftermarket parts don’t fit. Toyota Dealers are your best source for Genuine Toyota Parts. All it takes is one call. For Toyota Genuine Parts please call one of these authorized local Toyota Dealers: Inver Grove Toyota 1037 Highway 110 Inver Grove Heights, MN PH: 651-306-4630 FAX: 654-457-8705 www.invergrovetoyota.com
Rochester Toyota 4365 Canal Place SE Rochester, MN 55904 PH: 507-424-2956 FAX: 507-424-0301 parts@rochestertoyota.com
Burnsville Toyota 14730 Buck Hill Road Burnsville, MN 55306 800-448-5912 PH: 952-435-8401 FAX: 952-435-8515
parts@invergrovetoyota.com
Maplewood Toyota 2873 Highway 61 Maplewood, MN 55109 PH: 651-490-2648 FAX: 651-490-2652 TOLL FREE: 877-574-0667 parts@maplewoodtoyota.com
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CASH IN ON YOUR MEMBER BENEFITS
AASP-MN and CHESS Team Up to Offer Members Safety Compliance Services Complete Health, Environmental & Safety Services, Inc. (CHESS) offers AASP-MN members a 20 percent discount on the following services: Right to Know (RTK)/Hazard Communication You must train employees before they start work and annually. You must have a written program. CHESS’ Right to Know written program and training guide is customized for your facility, whether you offer collision or mechanical repair. The written program and training guide is available exclusively to AASP-MN members for $300. Safety Data Sheet Management As part of the Right to Know/Hazard Communication OSHA law, you must provide your employees access to Safety Data Sheets (SDS) for the products in your shop. CHESS’ SDSLinks, an online SDS management tool, makes them easy to find. CHESS also provides support 24/7 if you cannot locate one. SDSLinks is available exclusively to AASP-MN members for $300 per year.
Safety Reminder Posters OSHA has some regulations, such as walking and working surfaces and ladder use that require training. Keeping safety in front of employees on a regular basis is one way to help reduce injuries. CHESS will email you a poster on a different topic each month relating to safety issues found in your shop. You can post it or review it with employees in a shop meeting. The Safety Reminder Posters program is available exclusively to AASP-MN members for $240 per year. All of these services can be bundled for a fee of $800, with annual renewal of the SDSLinks and posters for $525. In addition, CHESS offers up to one hour of free phone consultation to any AASP-MN member with safety or environmental questions. For more information, contact Carol Keyes at (651) 481-9787 or carkey@chess-safety.com.
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AASP-MN MEMBER BENEFIT PROGRAMS WORKERS’ COMP INSURANCE AmeriTrust Group (formerly Meadowbrook Insurance Group) Contact: Brad Schmid 763-549-2247 / bschmid@cbizaia.com Up-front scheduled credit makes AmeriTrust one of the most competitive programs around for Worker‘s Compensation insurance. In addition, members are eligible to receive an annual dividend based on the group’s loss ratio. For more information, log on to www.wcpolicy.com/aaspmn. PROPERTY/LIABILITY INSURANCE CBIZ AIA Contact: Brad Schmid 763-549-2247 / bschmid@cbizaia.com CBIZ AIA and United Fire Group (UFG) have created a program for members that includes a special premium discount, exclusive coverage and potential safety group dividend. CBIZ AIA can present quotes from multiple carriers and, as an added bonus, offer members an exclusive 10% discount on their property/liability insurance premiums.
LEGAL CONSULTATION Fryberger, Buchanan, Smith & Frederick 800-496-6789 Members receive free, over-the-phone legal assessment and consultation (some restrictions apply) with an attorney who specializes in the area of law that is the subject of the call. WEBSITE AND INTERNET MARKETING SOLUTIONS Autoshop Solutions Contact: Tony Mercury 919-267-1731 / tony@autoshopsolutions.com Autoshop Solutions has developed the most cutting-edge marketing platform for AASP members. Really Powerful Marketing (RPM) is an all-in-one program that bundles your website, pay-per-click, search engine optimization, social media, and much more! With five levels of RPM to match your budget, goals, and competition, it’s built to drive your shop forward!
Net Driven Contact: Rich Mullen 877-860-2005, ext. 224 / rmullen@netdriven.com Net Driven is a market leader in website EMPLOYEE BENEFITS Business Planning Professionals and internet marketing solutions designed Contact: Dennis Begley exclusively for the automotive industry. 612-308-6577 / dennis@begley-group.com AASP-MN members who choose Net Business Planning Professionals will provide Driven are eligible for a $500 discount off AASP-MN members with quotes from their 1st year setup fees. multiple carriers for life insurance, health insurance, long-term care and disability TECHNICAL INFORMATION HOTLINE IDENTIFIX insurance. 800-288-6220 Members enjoy discounted prices on the UNIFORM & LINEN SUPPLIES AmeriPride Services industry’s #1 technical information hotline, Contact: Joel Hogstad Direct-Hit. 612-362-0318 / Joel.Hogstad@ameripride.com Discounted pricing to members on rental INFORMATION PROVIDERS of uniforms, entrance mats, shop rags, etc. Mitchell1 Contact: Mitchell1 Representative Purchases are also discounted. Members receive annual rebate equal to 10% of their 888-724-6742 x 6986 business with AmeriPride each year. Mitchell1 offers AASP members special savings on Mitchell 1’s ProDemand, CREDIT CARD PROCESSING Manager SE & Teamworks products. For Association BankCard Services more information, contact Customer Contact: Mac Hardin Service at 888-724-6742, ext. 6986. 952-933-2026 / mach@retailfinancialservices.biz Mitchell International Competitive rates for AASP-MN members. Contact: Mitchell International Representative Terminals and printers sold at cost. Monthly 800-238-9111 rental of equipment is also available. AASP members receive a 15% discount on any Mitchell RepairCenter TechAdvisor package. Visit repaircenter.mitchell.com/ Catalog/OEMRepair.aspx for more information.
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AUTO EMPLOYEE ASSESSMENT Assessment Associates International Contact: Ron Page 952-854-6551 / ronald.page@aai-assessment.com Designed to help facilitate and enhance hiring decisions. AASP-MN members receive 50% off retail price, starting as low as $15 per assessment. BUSINESS FORMS/CALENDARS AASP-MN Contact: Jodi Pillsbury 612-623-1110 / jodi@aaspmn.org Discounted rates on printed business forms and calendars. CHECK GUARANTEE SERVICES Certegy Check Services 877-520-2987 Discount rate of .75% to AASP-MN members. Use existing credit card terminal. Fast claim payments. SAFETY COMPLIANCE Complete, Health, Environmental & Safety Services, Inc. (CHESS) Contact: Carol Keyes 651-481-9787 / carkey@chess-safety.com AASP-MN members receive a 20% discount on Safety Data Sheet Management (SDSLinks), Right to Know(RTK)/Hazard Communication program customized for your facility and monthly safety reminders, and other safety, OSHA or environmental assistance. PAYROLL PROCESSING CBIZ Payroll Contact: Carrie Hobrough 612-436-4620 / chobrough@cbiz.com Members receive 20% discount off standard payroll products and services (excluding 401k). BUSINESS COACHING 180BIZ 540-833-2014 / info@180biz.com Members receive a 20% discount on oneon-one sales and management coaching programs (covering financial planning & analysis, strategic marketing, leadership and personnel development) without longterm commitments. Members also receive a 20% discount on monthly sales & management webinars as well as a 20% discount on all 180BIZ advisor training programs.
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