OVERCOMING “VIRTUAL BARRIERS

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR’S MESSAGE

Save your seat!

BY JORDAN HENDLER

OVERCOMING “VIRTUAL BARRIERS”

There’s probably been a few times in the past year when you wished FaceTime or Zoom didn’t exist and you could look someone in the eye or even take them by the hand and show them exactly what you mean – or what the car needs. Our industry is very personal and hands-on, and taking away the personal aspects is a huge pivot.

Since the start of the pandemic, virtual barriers have been brought forward to us by members and non-members alike. It’s a bucket of issues relating to the lack of in-person or face-to-face conversations about repairs, a hodgepodge of problems with virtual adjusting and the creation of extensive delays for the customers.

Our upcoming May 20 meeting at Topgolf in Ashburn, VA (see more on page 12) will be just the place to talk about all the transgressions or transitions that you’ve been facing. Our panel of Board members will have candid back-and-forth on what their experiences have been through the last year and what they foresee moving forward.

Several of our Board members recently talked about how they want to share these experiences in a way that doesn’t just identify problems; they also want to talk about the solutions they know of or would like to see to move forward. Complaining for the sake of complaining gets us nothing, but sharing these “woes” in a constructive way will bring forward potential change.

WMABA meetings are known for giving our community a place to safely air opinions. We keep it professional and on track while looking forward positively. If you’re feeling all doom and gloom, this is definitely a way to get back that confidence. Being given a sense of who you can talk with or run ideas by is what our association is all about. This isn’t a clinical, passive group; this is a collective of movers and shakers. Our area is truly amazing, and each repairer should take advantage of this rich history alongside our future-facing personalities.

I strongly encourage you to get your seat, have some vittles and, if you want, stay after to play some golf, too! It will be the frank conversation you’ve been craving, and I promise it will not disappoint!

Head to wmaba.com for information and registration! H&D

Jordan Hendler

(804) 789-9649 jordanhendler@wmaba.com

Check the WMABA website and newsletters for regular updates and reports from the Executive Director’s perspective.

JOIN TODAY!

EDITOR’S MESSAGE

BACK ON THE ROAD

This industry has been through a lot over the past year, but it appears that bright days are finally here again.

With the winter season over and more Americans receiving COVID-19 vaccines every day, people will inevitably hit the roads more than they have since the early part of 2020. This means that collision repair facilities will soon have schedules that match or even exceed their numbers before the pandemic. While this is encouraging, it can also be daunting for some businesses to get back into fighting shape after being out of the ring for so long. In this month’s “Ask Mike,” industry consultant and longtime WMABA supporter Mike Anderson of Collision Advice offers some great words of wisdom and food for thought to help owners, technicians and office staff get ready for what’s to come.

WMABA OFFICERS

PRESIDENT

VICE PRESIDENT

Torchy Chandler

torchy.chandler@gmail.com 410-309-2242

Bill Hawkins

hawkinswilliamjr@gmail.com 510-915-2283

SECRETARY Phil Rice

phil@ricewoods.com 540-846-6617

IMMEDIATE PAST PRESIDENT Mark Schaech, Jr.

markschaech@gmail.com 410-358-5155

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Don Beaver (donbeaver3551@gmail.com) 443-235-6668 Rodney Bolton (rbolton@aacps.org) 443-386-0066 Kevin Burt (kevinburt@walkermillcollision.com) 301-336-1140 Kris Burton (kris@Rosslynautobody.com) 703-820-1800 Barry Dorn (bdorn@dornsbodyandpaint.com) 804-746-3928 Ben Gibson (bgibson@richmondmarinecenter.com) 804-355-8151 Steven Krieps (srkrieps@live.com) 304-755-1146 Danny Szarka (danny@dynamiccollisionservices.com) 410-500-9200

ADMINISTRATION

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

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

WMABA CORPORATE OFFICE

P.O. Box 3157 • Mechanicsville, VA 23116

Of course, one of the best ways to plan for the future is to know where your numbers are today. Last month, we published the first part of the results of WMABA’s latest Labor Rate Survey. This month, we wrap up this bi-annual endeavor by detailing the WMABA region’s outlook on a slew of critical business practices and repair processes. We hope the results of this most recent Labor Rate Survey give you plenty to consider as you formulate your game plans for the rest of 2021 and beyond. And if the results point out things you don’t like, it is within your power as a business owner to change them. On a personal note, I can’t tell you how excited I am to finally mark up my calendar with upcoming in-person industry events. As of this writing, the next Collision Industry Conference (CIC) is scheduled as a live event in Cleveland this July. WMABA will again participate in the Alliance of Automotive Service Providers of New Jersey’s (AASP/NJ) NORTHEAST® Automotive Services Show in Secaucus, NJ this September 10-12 by providing a live version of its popular Collision Professional Repairer Education Program (Collision P.R.E.P.). In addition, the SEMA Show is slated to return to a live format at the Las Vegas Convention Center this November. As someone who normally spends 100-plus days on the road each year for this industry, I can’t wait to see airport terminals and hotel lobbies – and many of you! – again. I’ve spent way too many days in my home office.

As we continue to return to more familiar living, I wish you all well in making the transition back to an everyday “normal.” We’re getting through this…finally.

STAFF

PUBLISHER Thomas Greco

thomas@grecopublishing.com

SALES DIRECTOR Alicia Figurelli

alicia@grecopublishing.com

EDITORIAL DIRECTOR Joel Gausten

joel@grecopublishing.com

EDITORIAL/CREATIVE Alana Bonillo

COORDINATOR alana@grecopublishing.com

OFFICE MANAGER Donna Greco

donna@grecopublishing.com

H&D

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

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 © 2021 Thomas Greco Publishing, Inc.

Stock Images courtesy of istockphoto.com.

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