Hammer & Dolly October 2023

POWERED BY

BY

BY CHASIDY RAE SISK

SEMA RED CARPET AWARDS

INDUSTRY ADVICE: ASK MIKE (AND TRACY)

MY LITTLE PINK PICKUP TRUCK

My 20-year-old bonus kid recently bought her first car: a 2003 Lincoln Town Car Executive. So, basically a bus that’s the same age as she is – and also the same age as my high school diploma.

I bought my first vehicle back in high school, as soon as I turned 16 and got my license, with help from my Poppop who found it and loaned me the money. Each month, I’d write him a check for $85 and fill out a coupon from a receipt book that my mom bought me so that she could teach me about responsibilities. But that truck…shew, I loved that truck!

I don’t know exactly why I first got it into my head that I wanted a pickup truck, but that’s what I decided about a year before I was going to get to drive. I wanted a black Chevy S-10 or Ford Ranger, and I

fully intended to get pink and purple flames painted down the sides (it’s okay to judge me; I now judge my younger self)! Alas, there were no small black pickup trucks to be found in my price range around my way, so my Poppop went on the prowl for me. He was so excited when he called me to tell me that he’d found the perfect vehicle: a 1995 “maroon” Chevy S-10 for just $6,000 with something like 35,000 miles on it. I was less excited. Maroon? Yuck. But I was 16, and a vehicle meant freedom, so I mentally prepared to drive something ugly – at least I’d be driving. Mom conveyed me the two hours to the town where my grandparents lived, and Poppop was grinning like the Cheshire cat as we pulled up to his buddy’s car lot. Before long, I was smiling even wider! Turns out that “maroon” truck was actually more like magenta – my favorite color. (That was also my first encounter with the fact that men’s eye for color is extremely different than a woman’s!)

Well, I was thrilled as I drove that little S-10 off the lot. And that joy never wore off over the next two years that it served as my transportation. I decorated it with pink

leopard print seat covers and tacky fuzzy dice, even got a stereo put in (which was subsequently stolen from the school parking lot). That truck took me everywhere.

And the coolest thing about it? It was a truck! So while a lot of my friends would ride down Main Street over and over again, I’d do one loop down the one-way street and then park in the biggest shopping center, turn up my music and dance in the truck bed with my friends – we could basically throw a party anywhere we went. And it was definitely a party because I had an unfortunate habit of cramming four or five of us in that little front seat for short distances.

It’s funny when I think about vehicles from that time. I remember my pink pickup like it was yesterday, and while I cannot tell you what any of my friends drive today, I can still picture my best friend Mike’s 1981 Mercury Capri; I can also feel the frigid temperatures that winter since his heat didn’t work and his roof leaked, but he started driving before I did so it was better than the school bus!

And anyone who knew Missy (my other bestie) back then would recognize her Geo

continued on pg. 21

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

HAMMER & DOLLY STAFF

PUBLISHER Thomas Greco thomas@grecopublishing.com

SALES DIRECTOR Alicia Figurelli alicia@grecopublishing.com

EDITORIAL/CREATIVE Alana Quartuccio 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

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.

www.grecopublishing.com

Co-celebrating decades of creating chemistry between two industry leaders

Here’s to 241 years of combined service excellence

This year, as Albert Kemperle Inc. celebrates its 83rd anniversary, BASF also celebrates its 158th anniversary. We are proud of our decades of partnership with BASF and years of serving the auto paint and body industry together. Kemperle’s founders would be proud of this relationship and the growth their company has experienced because of it.

Today, as we look forward to many more decades of service to our customers, we find ourselves filled with gratitude. The creativity, hard work, and sense of responsibility of the people working for our two companies have made us what we are today. Thank you for your many years of loyalty.

BY JORDAN HENDLER

ONE PLACE TO BE...

In the most direct way possible, there is only one place you should plan to be for SEMA week events, and that is THERE IN VEGAS!

You have a lot on your plate, your shop is busy, you are down employees, you just find travel to be a nuisance…or you have any number of reasons it is so difficult to pull it off.

You need to change your mind! If you cannot change your mind, you can’t change anything. (To quote George Bernard Shaw.) What I mean to encourage you about is to decide on investing in yourself and your future. Being at SEMA - taking in the education, going to the Collision Industry Conference, and seeing the best products or newest technologies - is something that will alter the course of your planning and decision-making for the year to come.

Many repairers plan their whole year around what they will do and learn at the SEMA Show. Being in the room and hearing with your own ears or asking questions right to the experts changes the way you learn and grow. It also changes what you believe about the future of our industry and the vehicles we repair.

I can say with absolute certainty that you will not regret it, even if you are only able to come for two days. If you really just can’t pull away for a week (which is a whole other lengthy conversation about self-care), then just come for two days. Talk to me about which two days those are, but there’s no doubt you’d feel a sense of connectivity to the rest of the industry and a newfound desire to maintain that connection through education and networking.

Between the Repairer Driven Education put on by SCRS and the Collision Industry Conference, you’ll find plenty of trade show opportunities to talk to vendors – new and existing – and even more ways to maximize your endeavor.

You just have to take these three easy steps:

R R R

Register for SEMA, CIC, and SCRS’ Repairer Driven Education

Get your Hotel Room Reservation –visit SEMASHOW.COM

Book your Flight and pack your bags!

I can’t wait to see YOU at the SEMA Show!

Jordan Hendler

(804) 789-9649

jordanhendler@wmaba.com

Your business is our business.

Audi Silver Spring

Direct: 301-890-3015

Fax: 240-471-6103

Email: wholesaless@mileone.com

Hours: M-F 7:30am - 5:00pm S 8:00am - 3:00pm

Porsche Silver Spring

Direct: 301-890-3015

Fax: 240-471-6103

Email: wholesaless@mileone.com

Hours: M-F 7:30am - 5:00pm S 8:00am - 3:00pm

Mercedes-Benz Silver Spring

Direct: 301-890-3060

Fax: 301-890-5473

Email: mbsilverspring@mileone.com

Hours: M-F 7:30am - 5:00pm

S 8:00am - 3:00pm

Sprinter Silver Spring

Direct: 301-890-3060

Fax: 301-890-5473

Email: mbsilverspring@mileone.com

Hours: M-F 7:30am - 5:00pm

S 8:00am - 3:00pm

Free delivery on our fleet of 15 GPS-equipped delivery trucks - delivering all Silver Spring brands on the same truck throughout Maryland, D.C. and Virginia

We use IRF automotive systems including CCC, CollisionLink, OPSTrax, PartsTrader and RepairLink

Highly knowledgeable, experienced and dedicated wholesale specialist team

Large inventory of OEM parts and tires

Contact our dealers for all your Genuine Parts needs!

BMW of Silver Spring

Direct: 301-890-3015

Fax: 240-471-6103

Email: wholesaless@mileone.com

Hours: M-F 7:30am - 5:00pm S 8:00am - 3:00pm

Herb Gordon Subaru

Direct: 301-890-3065

Fax: 301-847-2239

Email: herbgordonsubaruwholesaleparts@mileone.com

Hours: M-F 7:30am - 5:00pm S 8:00am - 3:00pm

Volvo Cars Silver Spring

Direct: 301-890-5456

Fax: 301-847-2239

Email: herbgordonvolvowholesaleparts@mileone.com

Hours: M-F 7:30am - 5:00pm S 8:00am - 3:00pm

BY ALANA QUARTUCCIO

D&V AUTO BODY’S MIKE MURPHY RECOGNIZED AS WMABA TECHNICIAN OF THE YEAR FOR 2022

It’s a great feeling when one is recognized for their hard work. That feeling can mean so much more when you happen to love the work you do!

This sure was the case for Mike Murphy (D&V Auto Body; Sterling, VA)! The auto technician was the very first recipient of WMABA’s Tech of the Year Award for 2022. WMABA held its first award recognition ceremony this past spring during the Southeast Collision Conference. Murphy admits he had a heads up he was to receive some type of recognition; however, he had no idea what the celebration was about until his name was called.

“It was so cool,” Murphy shared. “I was really blown away when I heard them recognize me as Tech of the Year. I was like ‘Wow, out of all the technicians out there, you guys picked me?!’”

Murphy has been working with D&V Auto Body for a little over two years, and he absolutely loves it. “It’s an awesome place to work. We work on a lot of exotic vehicles, and it’s so great to come in every day and work on these high-end cars.”

Fixing cars has been a passion for Murphy since he was a young boy. Both his father and uncle liked to tinker with their vehicles, although neither fixed cars for a living. “I’d watch my dad work on cars in the driveway. I’d always be in the driveway helping him.”

This sparked an interest in Murphy’s young mind that would eventually launch a career in automotive mechanics and auto body work. He was fortunate enough to attend T.C. Williams High School (known today as Alexandria City High School), which had an active auto body program.

“It was awesome to not have to leave the school building to study auto body; we even had a paint booth,” he recalled. “A lot of my friends in other counties had to go off site or be part of a vocational program to study auto body or even auto mechanics.”

Painting was Murphy’s first love. He worked his way up as a painter at a few different body shops and landed himself a job at Spectrum Collision Center (Arlington, VA). Owner Mark Boudreau made Murphy head painter – he was only in his early twenties! “I was really young and he gave me that opportunity. I painted for 10 years.” Then, Murphy decided to step away from the auto body world and went over to the mechanical side of the fence, working as a service technician for an Audi dealership for 13 years.

The next stop in his career path was D&V Auto Body.

“They were looking to hire a mechanic and reached out to me through a co-worker, and that is how I wound up working there.” Murphy acknowledged that not many go from collision into mechanics like he did, but it’s given him versatility. Although he mainly serves as a mechanic at D&V, he is able to do whatever is needed as he has extensive experience in all areas of automotive repair.

“Coming from the auto body side, I know how things work, so jumping in as a mechanic is different from being in the paint shop or being a body technician. It’s an interesting position to be in. I’m able to work with everyone.

“I try to be a team player as much as possible,” Murphy continued. “I get along with everyone. It’s a great group here at D&V; everyone has years of knowledge. We can work our way through any problem.” H&D

WMABA President Steve Krieps with Tech of the Year Award winner Mike Murphy (D&V Auto Body)

Conquest your Mitsubishi parts needs!

Fitzgerald Mitsubishi

1930 West Street Annapolis, MD 21401

Direct: 410-224-4636

Fax: 410-224-4264

E-mail: adamsf@fitzmall.com

Younger Mitsubishi

1945 Dual Highway Hagerstown, MD 21740

Direct: 800-296-1190

Fax: 301-733-5465

www.youngermitsubishi.com

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For Original BMW Parts, contact one of these authorized BMW centers:

BMW of Silver Spring

3211 Automobile Blvd Silver Spring, MD 20904

866-737-8937

Direct: 301-890-3015

Fax: 301-890-3748

Email: wholesaless@mileone.com bmwofsilverspring.com

Passport BMW 5000 Auth Way Marlow Heights, MD 20746 301-423-0733

Fax: 301-423-2717

passportbmw.com

Richmond BMW 8710 West Broad Street Richmond, VA 23294 800-237-0130

Direct: 804-527-6860

Fax: 804-965-6254

Email: tdailey@crownauto.com

richmond-bmw.com

BMW of Catonsville 6700 Baltimore National Pike Baltimore, MD 21228

855-996-2906

410-744-2000

Fax: 410-818-2600

bmwofcatonsville.com

EV CHARGING STATIONS: A NEW REVENUE STREAM FOR YOUR SHOP?

“Electric vehicles (EVs) are the future…the future is EV.” Shops have been receiving this message for the past few years, and while some have invested in upgrades to their facilities, tools, equipment and training, many more have turned a deaf ear to the news. Yet, consumers are forging ahead with the purchase of EVs in many areas of the country, begging the question not only of “who will repair these vehicles?” but – more pressingly – where will drivers be able to charge them?

While the total number of EVs in the US increased from 1,019,260 to 1,454,580 from 2021 to 2022 (a growth rate of 42 percent) according to Zutobi’s “2023 EV Charging Station Report,” the

number of public charging outlets have increased by just 12 percent, from 128,549 to 143,771. In its “Get Connected: Electric Vehicle Quarterly Report 2023,” the Alliance for Automotive Innovation (AAI) agreed the “installation of US public chargers is not keeping up with current and projected EV sales,” noting that as of the first quarter of this year, there was a “total of 133,982 publicly available charging outlets in US for 3.34 million EVs on the road, a ratio of 25 EVs per charger,” and while 306,047 EVs were registered that quarter, only 7,802 new chargers were added, a ratio of 39 EVs per public port.

The current shortage of public charging stations creates an opportunity for savvy business owners willing to invest in the

infrastructure needed to support EV growth, and such an investment seems particularly well-aligned with the body shop world which could benefit both directly and indirectly from this type of venture.

Although installation can be costly, shops with the means and space to add one or more charging ports may enjoy increased profitability, both by attracting new customers – who may ultimately elect to have their EVs repaired at the shop – as well as by creating an avenue to generate new income by setting up a charging station similar to gas stations. How profitable are charging stations? It really depends on the level of EV adoption within the specific market, but estimates indicate the potential to earn thousands of dollars monthly from EV

charging because it’s a service that consumers desperately need!

Adoption rates vary from state to state, largely driven by tax credits made available and state laws being passed. In WMABA’s market, West Virginia has the lowest adoption rate with EVs comprising just 0.29 percent of registered vehicles, though the state saw an increase from 600 in 2021 to 1,010 in 2022, an increase of 68.3 percent. The state does not currently offer tax credits, though Governor Jim Justice did sign an EV infrastructure development bill earlier this year.

Washington DC boasts the highest adoption rate in the market –and fifth highest in the nation – with 1.98 percent of registered vehicles

continued on pg. 20

You’ve got the right tools, staff, technology and procedures to give your customers the best repair possible. The missing piece of the puzzle? Genuine Volkswagen Collision Parts. Contact an authorized dealer today and find your perfect fit.

Alexandria Volkswagen 107 West Glebe Rd.

Alexandria, VA 22305

703-684-7007

Fax: 703-684-4138

e-mail: parts@alexandriavw.com

Karen Radley Volkswagen

14700 Jefferson Davis Hwy. Woodbridge, VA 22191

703-550-0205

Fax: 703-643-0081

Ourisman Volkswagen of Bethesda

5415 Butler Road

Bethesda,MD 20816

301-652-2452

Fax: 301-652-2589

e-mail: vwwholesale@ourisman.com

Fitzgerald Volkswagen 114 Baughmans Lane

Frederick, MD 21702

Toll Free: 800-545-4745

Fax: 877-696-1841

e-mail: parts@fitzmall.com

www.fitzparts.com

Fitzgerald Volkswagen of Annapolis

34 Hudson Street

Annapolis, MD 21401

Phone: 410-224-4636

Fax: 410-224-4264

www.fitzmall.com

Ourisman Volkswagen of Laurel

3371 Ft. Meade Rd.

Laurel, MD 20724

Phone: 301-498-6050

Fax: 301-498-0157

www.laurelvolkswagen.com

Ourisman Volkswagen of Rockville

801 Rockville Pike

Rockville, MD 20852

Parts Direct: 301-340-7668

Toll Free: 855-417-4511

Fax: 240-499-2488

e-mail: rockvilleparts@ourismanautomotive.com

www.ourismanvolkswagenofrockville.com

Wholesale Parts

“Volkswagen“ and the Volkswagen logo are registered trademarks of Volkswagen AG. ©2023 Volkswagen of America, Inc.

NATIONAL FEATURE

continued from pg. 17

being EVs, a number that increases each year. The District of Columbia offers tax incentives to drivers who convert to EVs, as do its neighboring states of Maryland and Virginia.

Of Maryland’s registered vehicles, 1.25 percent are EVs, showing a 42.6 percent increase in 2022 over 2021 (25,630 from 17,970). Similarly, Virginia’s number of registered EVs rose from 20,510 in 2021 to 30,660 in 2022 (a 49.5 percent increase), with 1.04 percent of all registered vehicles in the state being EVs. Furthermore, both Maryland and Virginia have passed laws requiring all new vehicles sold in 2035 and beyond to run on electric power, so EVs truly are the future…but what do shops think about this potential investment?

Well, it seems like shop owners’ opinions are largely driven by their market and the level of EV adoption within it. Two Virginia shop owners have already made the investment.

“We had to invest over $80,000 to upgrade the service to the building and then another $20,000 to add the charging stations,” shares Barry Dorn (Dorn’s Body & Paint; Mechanicsville, VA), who explains how he charges customers for using the EV charging port in his shop. “We charge a flat fee for every EV repair; however, this does not cover the full cost, especially in hot or cold weather. This also doesn’t cover the labor to check each vehicle and cycle them all through a charging station.”

For shops currently considering whether to install EV charging points, Dorn advises, “Check the electrical service coming into your building. This cost can range from a low of $10,000 to a high of $150,000, depending on your existing service, for this alone. Add in the cost of the stations and upkeep, which will add to your overall monthly costs, and also include the 20-60 percent increases you will see in your monthly power bill.”

“The investment is big, and the return is small and slow,” agrees Phil Rice (Huber Collision Center; Fredericksburg, VA). “You are not just investing in electric but also into the future of your shop.”

Huber Collision Center invested in “an indoor fast charging station which required a massive upgrade to the panel box as well as running the electric for a total cost of $30,000 – and this is not for customer use. We installed a charging port only for in-house use to ensure any vehicle being worked on has adequate charge to perform needed repairs; it is not available to our customers for convenience charging, and we do not accept an electric vehicle into the shop with less than 50 percent charge.”

Although Rice has not yet installed charging stations for the public, he did “run all of the electric that would support two outside customerfacing and customer-paying charging stations for future use” while making the upgrades to his shop; however, he notes that his “outside lighting and security cameras will also need to be upgraded to support nighttime or after hour use” before moving forward with the investment.

What would make him and others more likely to make that leap now? “The Biden Administration just made $12 billion of taxpayer money available to US car manufacturers to assist with retrofitting to electric. If there were some sort of incentive for the small business, the buy-in to the change may settle some nerves,” Rice suggests.

Conversely, shop owners in other markets are hesitant to spend so much money on EV charging ports when there seems to be little interest in their area.

“Currently, we just do not see the demand of those vehicles for repairs and have not felt the need as of yet,” says Jake Keaton (Keaton’s Collision Center; Barboursville, WV). “Until we have a demand in this area that represents a need, there’s no reason to install EV charging stations on our property. We do not work on very many EVs, but we know that may change in the future. When we see more vehicles in our area that would facilitate a need with a higher return on investment, we’ll reconsider whether it makes sense for our business.”

Greg Cline (Greg Cline Automotive; Winfield, WV) shares that viewpoint: “At this time, we just don’t see the volume that would facilitate the need for this investment. Not saying we are not keeping an eye on it, but currently we are able to refer the few EVs we see to shops in Ohio or Virginia that do have the volume and have made the investment.”

Cline indicates that he will reconsider installing such systems “as technology advances and consumers adopt this new path forward in our area, though I am not sure we would make them available for public use; however, if there was a void or market need we could fill and a clear path for a ROI, we would absolutely take a more aggressive look into this for our facility and consumers.”

While Richie Bosacco (Apple Valley Collision; Martinsburg, WV) concurs that there’s not much demand in his market, he has begun doing the research to determine what would be needed to “bring that ability to our facility. We have been looking into our options for the shop infrastructure, but we are concerned with the emergency containment areas that are needed as well as the charging capability. Also, we have to consider what direction all the manufactures will go with standardization for EVs – there’s just a lot still to consider before pulling the trigger.”

But until demand increases, he just cannot fathom making such a costly investment. “It’s just not a demand for our market, and until it reaches a point in which we can obtain a reasonable ROI, it just does not make sense at this point for us. We have facilities close by that we can recommend until demand increases.”

Clearly, investing in EV charging stations offer a lot of opportunities and still-present challenges, but does one outweigh the other? We’d love to hear what you think! Feel free to share your opinion with chasidy@ grecopublishing.com. H&D

Executive Director’s Thoughts

Everything in our industry is a weighing: the options, the investment, the upkeep, the “PITA” factor (Pain In The A--). It can sometimes be a bet hedged in the favor of where we are headed as EV technology advances and becomes more prevalent. What I will say is, don’t just put it all on the back burner. Check in often as to your market where the possibilities change so rapidly; the opportunity could be here today but gone tomorrow, scooped up by someone else.

-Jordan Hendler

Metro from a mile away – the green car was pretty distinct with its red door and purple fender! As we reminisced about her first car, she reminded me that she had to “change lanes by putting my hand out the window while driving on the interstate. I may have been in the trunk at one point when it was picked up and moved…and driving over the Route 1 bridge was a death-defying feat as I had to floor it to reach the peak and often got side-swiped by the wind!”

That S-10 was actually the only used car I’d ever owned until last year. I bought a Dodge Neon after high school, and my college graduation gift to myself was a Ford Mustang, my dream car at the time. I’ve since owned two Nissan Altimas – one black and one white. And I now own my second truck, which was my Poppop’s work truck. He wasn’t here to loan me the money for that one, but thanks to his lessons, I had the cash in my savings account to hand over to my Mommom to prevent her from selling to a stranger. I love that truck because it was his. But I loved that S-10 because it was mine. I sold that little pink pickup truck just about 20 years ago, yet I still think of it fondly because it was my introduction to adulthood and freedom. I think most of us feel similarly about our first cars, and I’d love to hear about yours! What did you start driving? H&D

Quality Repairs Start With Volvo

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Rockville Audi

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Audi Silver Spring 3151 Automobile Boulevard

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COVER STORY

2023 SCRS OEM Summit Preview

Navigating the technical revolution.

Looking to take your collision repair education to new heights? There’s just a month left to get all your plans together for SEMA 2023, taking place in Las Vegas from October 30 to November 3, and those interested in staying on the cutting edge won’t want to miss the chance to rub elbows with innovators in automotive structural design and technology during the Society of Collision Repair Specialists’ (SCRS) OEM Collision Repair Technology Summit, with three sessions beginning at 9am on Thursday, November 2.

“We are beyond excited about the caliber of panelists who have accepted our invitation to interact with the industry,” states SCRS Chairman Amber Alley. “The OEM Summit has always been designed to gain insight into the most cutting-edge developments in the industry and to give our attendees access to individuals who are on the front lines of innovation. I’m personally very excited for the opportunity.”

Session I: Understanding OEM Insurance takes a deep dive into the new world of OEM insurance programs, featuring Andrew Rose, president of OnStar Insurance; Rob Spencer, president of Toyota Insurance and Rivian’s Head of Insurance Mike Slattery.

“An increasing array of automakers have begun to offer exclusive insurance products designed and underwritten to deliver unique coverage to complement their vehicles,” according to a statement from SCRS. “As programs mature and expand across the United States, so does the potential to positively impact the consumer experience during the claims and repair process. Each panelist will present the unique aspects of their individual offerings, and then join to further discuss the evolution and potential of OEM insurance and its intended impact on the claims and collision repair process.”

“This session on OEM insurance offerings is an intriguing one, and I think it will be an interesting illumination on how the claims and repair process can dramatically impact the consumer experience,” says SCRS Executive Director Aaron Schulenburg. “I’ve been really impressed with how interested and engaged the panelists have been in asking questions about the collision repair experience, the time spent on activities advocating for consumer interests and whether we see opportunities for improvement through the same lens.”

Beginning at 11am, Session II: North American Automotive Material Outlook and Implications to Collision Repair will be led by Abey Abraham and Bertrand Rakoto of Ducker Carlisle and include panelists Dan Black (Rivian) and Matthew Pitta (Lucid Motors) as they outline metallic and nonmetallic material strategies that auto body shops can expect to encounter as the transition to electric vehicles (EVs) and alternate fuels create dynamic changes in the material makeup of vehicles.

As internal combustion engines are increasingly replaced, repairers need to prepare to contend with more advanced grades of steel, various types of aluminum, magnesium and composites. Panelists will share insights on material selection and design in their manufacturers’ models, identifying aspects of these vehicles that shops will need to understand before tackling these repairs.

The details for Session III, which begins at 1pm, have not been released as of the time this article was written, but it will be made available at bit.

ly/2023OEMSummit3

Held consecutively, the three sessions of the OEM Collision Repair Technology Summit are designed to provide attendees with an opportunity to continued on pg. 28

continued from pg. 27

learn how vehicles, materials, technologies and trends are evolving and how that will impact repair processes and repair businesses. Sponsors for this year’s Summit include AirPro Diagnostics, BASF Automotive Refinish, Car-O-Liner, CCC Intelligent Solutions, Enterprise Rent-A-Car, Reliable Automotive Equipment Inc., Toyota Motor North America and SEMA.

The Summit rounds out a full week of educational offerings curated by SCRS, which commences on Monday with the IDEAS Collide Showcase, which features 10 fast-paced presentations designed to stimulate thought, innovation and resolution of business challenges with brash, outspoken and provoking concepts from thought leaders both in and out of the industry.

The 2023 Showcase includes “A Health Plan Your Employees Can Love: Fantasy or Within Reach?” presented by Ben Simmons (Gravie); “Culture: The Real Job Market Currency” presented by Michael Bradshaw (K&M Collision); “Being Burdened with the Burden of Proof” as discussed by Richard Desvousges (3M Collision); “Mentoring: Opportunity Amidst Labor Crisis” by Kyle Holt and Marc Brune (Mentor Mentee); “Death of the ‘Estimator’ Role” from Andrew Batenhorst (Pacific BMW Collision Center), “Growth through Acquisition – What You Need to Know” presented by Bing Wong (Collision Builders); “The Power of One More Booth Cycle Per Day” discussed by 3M’s Jason Garfoot; “The Culture Code” from Tracy Dombrowski (Collision Advice); “Creating a Build Sheet for Your Garage Liability Insurance” covered by

Shaughn Kennedy (SPARK Underwriters); and “Fixing the Faucet: How to Increase the Flow of Technicians into the Industry” presented by Alex Crays (Career Technical Education Center).

On Tuesday and Wednesday, repairers can sign up for 18 Repairer Driven Education (RDE) classes which offer a slight upgrade over previous years: SCRS has adjusted class times to provide a full hour in between classes to ensure attendees won’t miss out on important information from collision’s best trainers AND allowing more time to visit exhibitors on the Show floor. A variety of course topics focused on the industry’s biggest challenges – and opportunities! – guarantees that all attendees walk away with new, useful knowledge to implement in their shops right away. (Check out last month’s Hammer & Dolly for a detailed look at this year’s RDE agenda, available at grecopublishing.com/ hammer-and-dolly-september-2023.)

“When we zoom out and look at the program as a whole – from each OEM Summit session, the classrooms, to the IDEAS Collide Showcase – there’s a lot of common thread woven between topics, all tying together how we are able to serve the consumer well,” Schulenburg observes. “I’m really excited about the deliverables in the 2023 program and the impact we can make in the industry through that exchange of information.”

Auto body professionals will want to also make sure to sign up for the final CIC of 2023, taking place on Tuesday at the Westgate Las Vegas Resort & Casino, where participants from all industry segments will gather for the express purpose of discussing and exploring the issues that occur among them. Through discussion and research during meetings and extensive interim committee work, CIC attempts to form consensus on various issues, aware that all such findings are nonbinding and voluntarily accepted. Meetings are open to all interested individuals from all segments of the industry, including repairers, insurers, paint/material companies, equipment, vehicle manufacturers, data providers, representatives of trade associations and more.

Following the educational portion of CIC, participants will want to stick around as the organization toasts its 40th anniversary after the reception. In another deviation from the norm, the Collision Industry Red Carpet Awards – typically held as a breakfast event – will be part of the CIC anniversary celebration as industry leaders gather to recognize and celebrate greatness in the collision repair industry.

Registration is now open to automotive and collision industry professionals for the 2023 SEMA Show at semashow.com. Explore and register for individual RDE sessions at scrs.com/rde, or sign up directly for an all-access “Full Series Pass” at bit.ly/RDE-FSP. Learn more about CIC at ciclink.com H&D

Executive Director’s Thoughts

I’ll say it once and a million more times that you need to make your plans to be at SEMA week, go to the Repairer Driven Education and attend the Collision Industry Conference. Everything you want or need is in Vegas in one place. Make the decision, make the effort, and make a difference for yourself!

-Jordan Hendler

Register for Repairer Driven Education at the 2023 SEMA Show at scrs.com/rde, or scan this QR code.

Watch Repairer Driven Education from prior years online at rde.scrs.com, or scan this QR code.

2023 EVENTS SCHEDULE

MONDAY, OCTOBER 30

3pm - 5pm IDEAS Collide (Repairer Driven Education)

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 31

7am Collision Industry Prayer Meeting

8am - 5pm Collision Industry Conference Westgate Ballroom AB

9am - 5pm SEMA Show 9:30am - 4pm Repairer Driven Education

6pm Collision Industry Conference Reception Westgate Ballroom C

7:30pm Red Carpet Awards Westgate Ballroom AB Featuring the CIC 40th Anniversary Celebration!

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 1

9am - 5pm SEMA Show 9:30am - 4pm Repairer Driven Education

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 2

9am - 5pm SEMA Show

9:30am - 5pm Repairer Driven Education 9am - 2:30pm OEM Summit (Repairer Driven Education) 9pm SCRS After Party

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 3

9am - 5pm SEMA Show 9:30am - 5pm Repairer Driven Education

OFFICERS

Position Your Business as a Leader!

Just like equipment and training, WMABA membership is not only a commitment to excellence, but also a valuable investment.

PRESIDENT: Steven Krieps srkrieps@live.com 304-755-1146

VICE PRESIDENT: Rodney Bolton rbolton@aacps.org 443-386-0066

TREASURER: Kris Burton kris@Rosslynautobody.com 703-820-1800

WMABA is recognized both regionally and nationally as the key forum for the exchange of ideas concerning the D.C., MD, VA and WV collision repair industry. It is the venue to discuss, learn about and impact evolving standards and policies in the technical, administrative and legislative fronts of our industry. Shops and industry supporters can best develop themselves and their employees by actively engaging in the association and its activities.

Automotive collision repair facilities in Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia and Washington, D.C. who are willing to adopt WMABA’s Standards of Membership and offer a guarantee to their consumers are encouraged to engage their business as an active member of the association. For over 40 years, the WMABA membership of professional collision repair businesses and affiliates have committed to operating at a higher standard on behalf of their industry and their consumers. Over the years, WMABA has proudly represented the collision repair industry at hearings on Capitol Hill, in Annapolis, MD, and Richmond, VA as well as almost every national collision repair event. While WMABA has a rich history of dedicated men and women serving the local collision repair community, WMABA also boasts numerous past and current accomplished Board members who represent our membership at the national level.

WMABA offers current and dynamic discussion forums on topics facing collision repairers, technical information and educational seminars, opportunities to network and discuss pressing topics with leaders of the collision repair industry, an arbitration program that works with consumers to help resolve issues they might have, apprenticeship programs, legislative representation and the ability to receive and contribute to one of the nation’s leading collision repair magazines, Hammer &

Dolly

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR: Jordan Hendler

jordanhendler@wmaba.com

804-789-9649

ADVICE INDUSTRY ASK MIKE (and TRACY ):

What Is Collision Advice Bringing to SEMA 2023?

This month, we “ASK MIKE” – and this month’s special guest, Tracy Dombrowski of Collision Advice – to share some details (and words to the wise) regarding this year’s SEMA Show. We at Hammer & Dolly hope you find the following exchange useful, and we encourage you to reach out to us if you have a question for Mike on this or any industry-related matter that he can answer in a future issue.

Hammer & Dolly: Tracy, thanks for joining Mike as our special guest this month! You’re gearing up to give two very important presentations at this year’s SEMA Show. For those folks in the industry who are unfamiliar with you, what is your history in the collision repair industry and your role at Collision Advice?

Tracy Dombrowski: I met Mike and started working with him over 20 years ago. I have a background as an instructional design engineer; I developed curriculums. Before becoming exclusive to the collision industry, I built training for Fortune 500 companies. I started out at a company based in Colorado called TEAM Marketing Group, which had a contract with DuPont at the time. I had worked on the old S.M.A.R.T. management program, and DuPont had brought Mike in as a subject matter expert for the training. We hit it off and started working together on and off. About 10 years ago, TEAM Marketing Group closed, and I started my own training business. I continued to work with Mike on various projects. About seven years ago, I started working with him and the collision repair industry exclusively. Last year, I became a partner in Collision Advice, for whom I serve as the training manager. Mike likes to say that I write the songs and he sings them!

H&D: This will be your first time presenting at SEMA. Tell me a bit about what you’ll be providing for attendees at the Show?

TD: I’ll be doing two presentations at SEMA. One is a 90-minute session on October 31 called ‘Phone Etiquette and the Power of Mystery Shopping.’ The other one will be a 10-minute session on the book The Culture Code: The Secrets of Highly Successful Groups by Daniel Coyle as part of the IDEAS Collide Showcase on October 30.

Everyone talks about the technician shortage or the trouble they have hiring people. The issue isn’t just about hiring people but keeping them. A large part of employee retention comes down to a company’s culture. What are things about your business that attract people to it, and what are the things about it that will keep them there in the long term? When people try to define ‘culture,’ they may say, ‘Oh, you just have to be honest and ethical and have accountability and vision.’ Culture is all those things, but that roadmap doesn’t really help you get better at it. Reading The Culture Code showed me that roadmap to build and deliver a good culture. Part of that means sharing vulnerabilities and being open to feedback. The more you can have that loop, the closer people on the team get. This philosophy will be one of the key points of that presentation.

H&D: What should SEMA attendees start thinking about now – or start doing in advance – to make sure they get the most out of your presentations?

TD: We have training in this industry for estimators, technicians, owners and managers, but there’s very little training for CSRs [customer service representatives]. With claims predicted to decline, the way a shop delivers the customer experience is going to be more critical moving forward. So, for ‘Phone Etiquette and the Power of Mystery Shopping,’ the goal will be for owners, managers and CSRs to build business through how they talk on the phone and the customer experiences they provide. Before attending this course, attendees should take a good look at – and a good listen to – how their CSRs and other team members are delivering a customer experience and be prepared to learn how that experience could be improved.

For the IDEAS Collide piece, my goal is to give attendees practical ways to make connections with their teams by sharing their vulnerabilities and telling stories that help their teams know their purpose. If you’re attending that session, come ready to be open and honest about where your culture is now and what improvements you can make.

H&D: Mike, you’re a SEMA veteran. What are you presenting at this year’s show?

Mike Anderson: This year, I’ll be doing a session called ‘Building Operational Leadership’ on November 1. I’ll be sharing some of my favorite leadership lessons on how to improve an organization and how to share key lessons with your team. Most importantly, I’ll be sharing how to make those things stick! Best of all, Casey Lund of

Collision Leaders, Ron Reichen of Precision Body & Paint and Andy Tylka of TAG Auto Group will be joining me for a panel discussion during the second half.

H&D: Aside from your commitments as a presenter at SEMA over the years, what is it that keeps you coming back as a regular attendee? What does this event give you that you can’t find anywhere else in this industry?

MA: The grand scale of networking that’s available. Because of the many meetings held in conjunction with it – like the Collision Industry Conference (CIC) and the OEM Roundtable – and all the vendors who are there, SEMA is always an awesome experience to be a part of.

H&D: SEMA is massive – like its own planet! It could be an overwhelming show for a first-time attendee, so what advice would you offer to help them have a valuable and productive experience there?

MA: I highly encourage people to download

Mike Anderson is an Accredited Automotive Manager (AAM) and the former owner of Wagonwork Collision Centers, two highly acclaimed shops located in Alexandria, VA. He has served as a member of many industry organizations throughout his career, including the WMABA Board of Directors, the Mitchell Advisory Board, the MOTOR Advisory Board, the ASE Test Review Committee, the National Auto Body Council, the Collision Industry Conference and the Society of Collision Repair Specialists. Additionally, he is a past Virginia SkillsUSA chairman, serves as a facilitator for Axalta Coating Systems’ highly recognized Business Council 20 Groups in both the US and Canada and facilitates numerous courses for Axalta Coating Systems’ Educational Series. He currently offers expert industry consulting via his latest venture, Collision Advice (collisionadvice.com). H&D

the SEMA app in advance and mark their favorite things they want to see – whether it’s exhibitors, vendors or classes. If you go there without a plan, you’ll regret missing things. Also, if you want to meet up with another shop owner or someone else in the industry, a lot of vendors are cool with you asking, ‘Hey, can I meet this person in your booth?’ Most people will let you do that. People are very accommodating at the Show.

H&D: How would you say the Society of Collision Repair Specialists’ (SCRS) presence at SEMA has impacted what the Show offers the collision industry?

MA: There really wasn’t a focus on collision repair at SEMA until SCRS got involved. That’s the most valuable part of it for me – I can see a lot of people in a short amount of time, because the collision repair section is in one part of the Show. I really appreciate what SCRS has done for us – and that includes the relevant training it’s brought to our industry there.

I’m on the road a lot as an educator, but I can be a student when I go to SEMA. It gives

me a chance to recharge my batteries and hear other speakers. I get to listen to people like Tim Ronak, Tony Adams, Aaron Schulenburg and I-CAR. It’s great to get different perspectives on things and learn from them. We can’t know everything if we just stay within our four walls.

To register for all SCRS Repairer Driven Education (RDE) sessions, please visit compusystems.com/servlet/ar?evt_ uid=684&site=SCRS.

The best option is to select the Full Series Pass, which will give you access to IDEAS Collide, all the other RDE sessions—including the OEM Collision Repair Technology Summit—and the Sky Villa Afterparty.

To register for Mike’s stand-alone session, please visit https://www. compusystems.com/servlet/ar?evt_ uid=684&site=OPTS&opts=RD12.

To register for Tracy’s stand-alone session, please visit compusystems.com/servlet/ ar?evt_uid=684&site=OPTS&opts=RD8.