GENERALIST VERSUS SPECIALIST MESSAGE PRESIDENT’S

What do you do? Think about it. Is it really a simple question in regard to running a collision repair center? Ever have any issues dealing with a bank for operating capital, and it seems like they just don’t understand some of the cash flow versus reserve issues? What about consumers who don’t understand how the automaker they chose to purchase a vehicle from can’t seem to provide the part needed to repair their vehicle, and each day it seems to become your fault. Or that repair procedure from the OEM service manual that seems to just be missing something?

I have always thought of the expression “jack of all trades” as a negative, but dig a little deeper and you see that may not be the case. In today’s modern collision repair center, it seems we are tasked with more than just vehicle repair. We have now become claim reps, psychologists, paralegals, counselors, life coaches (even though we probably need them ourselves), insurance adjusters/investigators, documentation specialists, photographers, accident reconstructionists, metallurgists, negotiators, and I will bet that you can add to this list exponentially. You could hire one person to specialize in each of these critical areas, but where do the funds for these positions come from, especially given the Labor Rate debacle which we will not discuss today? So, we are left with a seemingly impossible task.

What I’m getting at is, in order to be successful, you need to spend as much time as possible on self-development personally and professionally to thrive in the modern collision repair world.

WMABA OFFICERS

PRESIDENT Steven Krieps steve@gregclineauto.com 304-755-1146

VICE PRESIDENT Rodney Bolton boltonconsulting61@gmail.com 443-386-0086

TREASURER Kris Burton kris@rosslynautobody.com 703-820-1800

SECRETARY Phil Rice phil@ricewoods.com 540-846-6617

IMMEDIATE PAST PRESIDENT Torchy Chandler Torchy Chandler torchy.chandler@gmail.com 410-309-2242

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Don Beaver (donbeaver3551@gmail.com) 443-235-6668

Barry Dorn (bdorn@dornsbodyandpaint.com) 804-746-3928

Administration

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Jordan Hendler (jordanhendler@wmaba.com) 804-789-9649

WMABA CORPORATE OFFICE

P.O. Box 3157 • Mechanicsville, VA 23116

Bill Hawkins (hawkinswilliamjr@gmail.com) 510-915-2283

John Shoemaker (john.a.shoemaker@basf.com) 248-763-4375

You will need to study the science and art of negotiation, the legal requirements of your profession within your state and how to manage the new generation (who, I promise, is not like you). Now more than ever, things are changing and coming to a head every day as it becomes increasingly clear that the current version of the “old way” has been stapled, taped, glued, welded and patched as much as possible…and the monstrosity will not hold itself up much longer. The insurance claims landscape is almost unrecognizable. Even in the insurance world, the old and the new are clashing and spilling over into all areas of their business. Don’t believe me? Take some time on your next call with a claims rep and see if you can have an honest one-on-one about their day.

A jack of all trades is a master of none, but oftentimes better than a master of one. The path to success for a generalist is a rock wall versus a specialist, which is like a ladder. A generalist can move up, down, left and right as needed to adapt to changes and obstacles, where a specialist has but one path – and if it changes or is altered, it can create real problems. Take time this year to improve yourself and your people. I know time seems to be in short supply, but if it’s not taken, you may lose more than just time.

(Shameless plug: Get involved with the industry, and take classes through the multitude of available resources – WMABA, DEG, SCRS, CIC to name just a few.) H&D

HAMMER & DOLLY STAFF

PUBLISHER Thomas Greco thomas@grecopublishing.com

SALES DIRECTOR Alicia Figurelli alicia@grecopublishing.com

EDITORIAL/CREATIVE Alana Quartuccio Bonillo COORDINATOR alana@grecopublishing.com

MANAGING EDITOR Chasidy Rae Sisk chasidy@grecopublishing.com

OFFICE MANAGER Donna Greco donna@grecopublishing.com

PRODUCTION Joe Greco COORDINATOR joe@grecopublishing.com

@grecopublishing

PUBLISHED BY TGP, Inc. 244 Chestnut St., Suite 202 Nutley, NJ 07110 973-667-6922 FAX 973-235-1963 www.grecopublishing.com

Reproduction of any portions of this publication is specifically prohibited without written permission from the publisher. The opinions and ideas appearing in this magazine are not necessarily representations of TGP Inc. or of the Washington Metropolitan Auto Body Association (WMABA). Copyright © 2023 Thomas Greco Publishing, Inc.

Stock Images courtesy of istockphoto.com.