EDITOR’S MESSAGE
Thank You and Goodbye by JOEL GAUSTEN After 21 years covering the automotive industry on a full-time basis, I have made the difficult decision to move on from my role as editor of New Jersey Automotive. Way back in 2000, Greco Publishing hired me right out of college, and I was put in charge of running several automotive trade publications. At the time, I was new to the inner workings of the collision repair industry; I couldn’t even change a tire! Thankfully, Tom Greco saw something in me and gave me a shot. I still remember the first thing Tom told me to do on the job: “Call Charlie Bryant.” Talk about a positive first impression of what I was getting myself into! Charlie’s an easy guy to like and respect. He can be tough when he needs to be (especially when pushing back against entities that hurt shops), but he has a heart of gold. As NJA0420_CSNE.qxp_Layout 1 3/30/20 10:50 AM Page 1 gruff and no-B.S. as he is at times, he’s also empathetic and kind – the perfect general to lead the charge for a better industry. I’ve been honored to call him a friend and
colleague for more than two decades. After that great first step, my next assignment was chatting with shop owners to get a sense of how they approached their day-to-day professional lives. I scrolled through the AASP/NJ member list and randomly called Pompton Auto Body. The owner was an energetic and incredibly friendly guy by the name of Bob Magee. I soon spent an afternoon with Bob as he filled me in on his long career in the industry (including a stint on the AASP/NJ Board). He also revealed his desire to sell his shop and give back by becoming an automotive instructor. Bob’s a true man of action, so it was no surprise when he quickly became a guiding light and inspiration to countless students in the Garden State who later found careers of their own. He’s still at it today. (Oh, did I mention that Bob’s also an extremely gifted self-taught artist?) I left that first meeting with Bob completely inspired by his dedication to his craft and his willingness to go beyond
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collisionsuppliesne.com 16 | New Jersey Automotive | October 2021
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