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 gruff and no-B.S. as he is at times, he’s also empathetic NJA0420_CSNE.qxp_Layout 1 3/30/20 10:50 AM Page 1 and kind – the perfect general to lead the charge for a better industry. I’ve been honored to call him a friend and

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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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the call of duty to support others in his profession. If Bob refused my call or was a jerk when I met him, who knows if I would have stuck with this industry for all these years. That afternoon changed my life. Thank you, Bob!

There are several other people from the AASP/NJ community who made my experience with New Jersey Automotive so unforgettable. I could easily fill this magazine with names, but since I’d run out of space before getting to the end of that list, here are a few guys who’ve really made this a great run: Jerry McNee, Jeff McDowell, Tom Elder, Dennis Cataldo Jr., Ted Rainer, Keith Krehel, Jim Kowalak, Mike Kaufmann, Pete Cook, Eddie Day, Bob Everett, Mitch Portnoi, Dan Hawtin (and the rest of the old AASP/NJ Chapter One crew), Tony Zaccaro, Brian Vesley, Rich Maniscalco, Ron Ananian, Scott Pearson and Nick Kostakis.

Of course, I give massive thanks to Glenn Villacari and Anthony Trama, whose shops fixed my cars over the years. Glenn’s shop, Parkway Auto Body, did two major repairs for me way back when – and after his crew was done with them, you’d never know those cars had been hit. I’m still stunned by that shop’s quality. After I became a stepdad, Anthony’s place (Bloomfield Auto Body) brought my Toyota back to a great enough condition that I felt safe putting my kid in the passenger seat. That’s the best endorsement I can give anyone.

Naturally, my 21 years in this industry would not have been possible without my second family at Greco Publishing. Throughout this fast-paced job of mine, Tom Greco remained a man of quiet strength and guidance, always inspiring me to shine and grow through his trust, support and peerless generosity. I’m lucky to have built my career with him. I was also fortunate to have such a fantastic co-worker and sounding board in Alicia Figurelli; her natural ability to find a sense of calm and good humor in tough times set a bar for me that I’ll always strive to reach. It was great fun working with former Art Director Lea Velocci for nearly 20 years, and it’s been a joy working with Alana Bonillo, Joe Greco and Donna Greco in more recent times. Lastly, I’d like to thank the members of AASP/NJ for welcoming me into your world and giving me the opportunity to be your voice every month. I couldn’t have done this without you.

This message is dedicated to the memories of Russ Robson, Cindy Tursi, Anthony Sauta and Greg Coccaro, Sr.

NJA