New Jersey Automotive December 2023

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The Industry Speaks: New Jersey Automotive 2023 Survey Results

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6 | New Jersey Automotive | December 2023

P.O. Box 734 Neptune, NJ 07753 EXECUTIVE DI­REC­TOR Charles Bryant 732-922-8909 / setlit4u@msn.com

VOLUME 53 NUMBER 12 | December 2023

2023-2025 OFFICERS PRESIDENT Ken Miller, 821 Collision, LLC (973) 949-3733 / kmiller@821collision.com

CONTENTS

COLLISION CHAIRMAN/ PAST PRESIDENT ATTENDING Jerry McNee, Ultimate Collision Repair, Inc. 732-494-1900 / ultimatecollision@att.net

10 OUT OF BODY (AND MECHANICAL) EXPERIENCES

14 PAST COLLISION CHAIRMAN’S MESSAGE

MECHANICAL CHAIRMAN Keith Krehel, Krehel Automotive Repair, Inc. 973-546-2828 / krehelauto@aol.com

12 PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE

42 NJA ADVERTISERS’ INDEX

TREASURER Tom Elder, Compact Kars, Inc. 609-259-6373 / compactkars@aol.com SECRETARY Thomas Greco, Thomas Greco Publishing, Inc. 973-667-6922 / thomas@grecopublishing.com BOARD Dennis Cataldo, Jr., D&M Auto Body 732-251-4313 / jr@dnmautobody.com Brad Crawford, Livingston Collision, Inc. 973-992-5274 / livingston.collision@gmail.com Gary Gardella, Jr., County Line Auto Body 732-363-5904 / countylineautobody@gmail.com Dave Laganella, Peters Body and Fender 201-337-1200 / petersbandf@gmail.com Jeff McDowell, Leslie’s Auto Body 732-738-1948 / chacki@aol.com Sam Mikhail, Prestige Auto Body 908-294-1985 /prestige@goldcar.us Danielle Molina, Perfect Bodies Collision Center (973) 777-7881 / Danielle@PerfectBodiesCollision.com Ted Rainer, Ocean Bay Auto Body 732-899-7900 / ted@oceanbayautobody.com Anthony Trama, Bloomfield Auto Body 973-748-2608 / anthony@bloomfieldautobody.com BOARD ALLIED Joe Amato, The Amato Agency 732-530-6740 / joesr@amatoagency.com Mike Kaufmann, Advantage Dealer Services 973-332-7014 / mkaufmann@advantageds.com

PRESIDENT/PUBLISHER Thomas Greco / thomas@grecopublishing.com VICE PRESIDENT/SALES DIRECTOR Alicia Figurelli / alicia@grecopublishing.com EDITORIAL/CREATIVE COORDINATOR Alana Quartuccio / alana@grecopublishing.com MANAGING EDITOR Chasidy Rae Sisk / chasidy@grecopublishing.com OFFICE MANAGER Donna Greco / donna@grecopublishing.com PRODUCTION COORDINATOR Joe Greco / joe@grecopublishing.com CONTRIBUTING EDITORS Charles Bryant • Mario DeFilippis • Dennis Cataldo • Mitch Portnoi • Ron Ananian • Keith Krehel • Jerry McNee • Jacquelyn Bauman

Published by: Thomas Greco Publishing, Inc. 244 Chestnut Street, Suite 202, Nutley, NJ 07110 Corporate: (973) 667-6922 / FAX: (973) 235-1963 @grecopublishing www.grecopublishing.com NEW JERSEY AUTOMOTIVE is published monthly and is sent to AASP/ NJ and ARANJ members free of charge. Subscriptions are $24 per year.

NEW JERSEY AUTOMOTIVE is published by Thomas Greco Publishing Inc., 244 Chestnut St., Nutley, NJ 07110. The editorial contents of NEW JERSEY AUTOMOTIVE are copyright © 2023 by Thomas Greco Publishing Inc. and may not be reproduced in any manner, either in whole or in part, without written permission from the publisher and/or editor. Articles in this publication do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Thomas Greco Publishing Inc. Stock Images courtesy of www.istockphoto.com.

LOCAL FEATURE 16 Moving Forward: A Q&A with New AASP/NJ President Ken Miller

by Chasidy Rae Sisk

IN MEMORIAM 18 New Jersey Repairers Remember Angelo Kostakes

by Chasidy Rae Sisk

LOCAL NEWS 20 AASP/NJ Presents Russ Robson Scholarship to Cole Daly of Auto Tech Collision

LOCAL FEATURE

NORTHEAST UPDATE 24 Pre-Registration for NORTHEAST® 2024 Opens December 1 INDUSTRY NEWS 24 Nominate an Influential Woman for the Women’s Industry Network’s 2024 Awards NATIONAL FEATURE 26 AASP Leaders Take Part in National and Local Level Talks

LOCAL NEWS

by Alana Quartuccio

COVER STORY 28 The Industry Speaks: NJA 2023 Survey Results

by Jacquelyn Bauman

AUTOMOTIVE RECYCLERS ASSOCIATION OF NEW JERSEY 40 Wharton Insurance Briefs

COVER STORY

by Mario DeFilippis

Joe Amato, Sr. Ron Ananian Jim Bowers Charles Bryant Don Chard Guy Citro Pete Cook Ed Day Dave Demarest Phil Dolcemascolo Tom Elder Bob Everett Alicia Figurelli

Thomas Greco Dan Hawtin Rich Johnson Mike Kaufmann Wes Kearney Nick Kostakis Jim Kowalak Keith Krehel Joe Lubrano Michael Lovullo Jeff McDowell Sam Mikhail Ron Mucklow

George Petrask Russ Robson Jerry Russomano George Threlfall Anthony Trama Cynthia Tursi Lee Vetland Paul Vigilant Rich Weber Brian Vesley Glenn Villacari Stan Wilson

New Jersey Automotive | December 2023 | 7

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OUT OF BODY (AND MECHANICAL) EXPERIENCES

Sir Mix-A-Lot How crazy is it that, as I write this, there is a new song by the Beatles and a new album by the Rolling Stones? Who in their right mind could have imagined that over 60 years later, the survivors of these two iconic bands would still be delivering new music and playing live? And the music is great!

I have endlessly confessed my love of the Beatles in this column. Not so much for the Stones, but I love them almost as much. With these records and Christmas on my mind, it made me think about how these bands were a part of my favorite Christmas gift.

It all started with my first stereo system. It was a record player (we didn’t call them turntables then) and two speakers that folded up into something like a briefcase. I vividly remember playing 45s on that thing, specifically “Revolution” by the Beatles. The record player used to play multiple 45s that you stacked on top of each other so they would interchange after each song. Oh how I used to love to put a bunch of them on, shut my bedroom door, grab my tennis racket and put on a concert for the imaginary full house in front of me.

10 | New Jersey Automotive | December 2023

by THOMAS GRECO, PUBLISHER

Of course, when my sister Diane or mom would open the door, I would drop the racket and dive on the bed as if nothing was going on. I’m pretty sure they knew.

Another song I played the hell out of was “Don’t Let Me Down” by the Beatles. I had a special audience for that song. I may have been in my room, but in my head, I was on my Little League baseball field singing to my teammates…“Don’t Let Me Down!” Yup, that was me.

A few years later, my future sister-in-law Karen gave continued on pg. 38

Check out this month’s episode of the “Out of Body Experiences” podcast, with your host Greco Publishing’s Alicia Figurelli and featuring Eddie Day of Collision Restoration and Tom Greco. Join the trio as they discuss the 2023 New Jersey Automotive Survey!

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PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE

A New Beginning When I sat down to write this message, my first message as AASP/NJ President, I started thinking about beginnings. As I begin this journey, a quote by Plato comes to mind: “The beginning is the most important part of the work.”

Of course, this is not the beginning of the association; AASP/NJ has been around for 60 years, longer than many of us have been around. I like to think that time has given us the opportunity to mature as an organization, but at the same time, we’re entering a new era.

This past year, we’ve seen a big difference in the level of training the association has brought to its members, and we’ve received some great responses from attendees about the quality of those offerings. We’ve also been able to schedule sessions a little more consistently, and that’s really important when it comes to making sure repairers in the Garden State receive the knowledge they need when they need it.

I’ve had a great time planning those events with the Education Committee, and I’m proud that we’ve

12 | New Jersey Automotive | December 2023

by KEN MILLER

done such a phenomenal job of steering our training sessions in a new direction to make sure the association is bringing the type of education that everyone in our industry needs. The different committee members offer a variety of perspectives, and by collaborating to come up with relevant training topics, we’ve been able to create comprehensive guidance to help shops move forward and succeed in their businesses.

Walt Disney said, “We keep moving forward, opening new doors and doing new things, because we’re curious and curiosity keeps leading us down new paths.”

I want more of you to be curious. As I take the reins as president of AASP/NJ, I’m looking forward to meeting more shops in New Jersey, so I invite you to come to our next meeting and see what we’re doing differently – and maybe even help us identify areas where we can improve what we’re doing for members. We need fresh outlooks as we continue to grow and explore new paths; we need YOU to get involved and join us in this new beginning.

NJA

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PAST COLLISION CHAIRMAN’S MESSAGE

Here’s to Our Incredible Journey As the year comes to a close, it’s a pleasure to reflect on the strides we’ve made together in the realm of training and education. This month’s message is dedicated to celebrating AASP/NJ’s collective commitment to personal and professional growth through continuous learning.

Throughout the year, we’ve actively invested in training programs that empower each of you with the knowledge and skills needed to excel in your roles. From workshops and seminars to online courses and on-the-job training, your enthusiasm for self-improvement has been truly inspiring.

December marks not only the end of the year, but also an opportunity to take stock of the valuable lessons we’ve learned. Whether it’s mastering new technologies, honing leadership skills or staying abreast of industry trends, your dedication to staying informed and educated is commendable.

In the spirit of the season, let’s reflect on the knowledge gained, the challenges overcome and the successes achieved. As we look forward to a new year filled with promise and potential, I encourage each of you to continue seeking out opportunities for growth and development.

As I approach the end of my term as Collision Chairman, I want to express my deepest gratitude for the privilege of serving in this role. It has been a tremendous

14 | New Jersey Automotive | December 2023

by DENNIS CATALDO JR.

honor to work alongside such dedicated and talented individuals. Going forward as a member of the Board of Directors, I will continue to utilize my skills in improving this industry, bringing the very best educational classes we can offer our members and coming up with new tactics to challenge those who just tell us NO! All we require from you is that you continue being an active member. Your participation allows us to acquire more sponsors, which in turn allows for more events. Remember: education is a lifelong journey, and your commitment to learning is an investment in your personal and professional future. The more we learn and share ideas, the further we can push this industry.

As we celebrate this holiday season, let us hope that the world will try to right itself and choose a path for a more peaceful future. May this be a month of reflection, gratitude and anticipation for the exciting opportunities that lie ahead. Here’s to the warmth of friendship and the joy of family, to the memories we’ve created and the adventures awaiting us. Cheers to you all! May your holidays be merry and your new year be filled with love, laughter and endless possibilities.

Here’s to our incredible journey.

Best regards, Dennis Cataldo, Jr.

NJA

NJA

New Jersey Automotive | December 2023 | 15

LOCAL NEWS

Moving Forward: A Q&A with New AASP/NJ President Ken Miller At AASP/NJ’s 2023 Annual Meeting, the association elected a new president for the first time since 2017. Last month, Past President Jerry McNee (Ultimate Collision Repair; Edison) reflected on his six years of service, but what about the future of the organization? That lies in the capable hands of current President Ken Miller (821 Collision; North Haledon) who sat down with New Jersey Automotive to share his thoughts on what association members can expect moving forward under his leadership.

New Jersey Automotive: What industry experience do you bring to your new role as AASP/NJ President?

Ken Miller: I started my career in this industry 35 years ago as a small engine technician. Six years later, I went into the paintless dent repair business, which I’ve been doing for 29 years now. Along the way, I stopped into a new car dealership group where I worked as the general manager for a reconditioning center for a while. Then, six years ago, I started 821 Collision. So, I’ve acquired my experience by spending a little time in different segments of the industry.

NJA: When and how did you get involved with AASP/ NJ? KM: While we were working to open 821 Collision, AASP/ NJ Executive Director Charlie Bryant provided advice to help me get set up and establish my license, so that’s how I got involved with the association. Charlie encouraged me to get more involved, so I started sitting in on some Board meetings and was officially elected to the Board in 2021.

NJA: When you first joined the association, did you have any ambitions of serving on the Board or becoming president?

KM: None whatsoever. At the time that I joined AASP/NJ, I had no desire to serve on the Board. To be honest, I really didn’t know much about what it even entailed when Charlie first asked me to participate in a Board meeting. I was really green and had no idea what to expect, no clue what they were working on or what they were doing.

16 | New Jersey Automotive | December 2023

NJA: So, what convinced you to join the Board and eventually agree to your new role as president?

KM: I noticed that my experience in this industry so far has been different from what I’ve seen from others on the Board and throughout the auto body world. After being in business for a year and a half, 821 Collision hired a business coach, which has made a huge impact and given us a different experience and perspective than many other shop owners have. Serving on the Board allowed me an opportunity to share that with others to help them grow and strengthen their businesses, and now, as president, I’ll have a chance to expand that reach. I also serve on the AASP National Board, which has allowed me to learn more on a national scale and bring that back locally.

NJA: Speaking of national organizations, we’ve heard that you’re hoping to join the Board of Directors for the Society of Collision Repair Specialists (SCRS); can you tell our readers anything about that?

KM: It’s true that I’ve put my name in for consideration. I’ve been planning to get more involved with SCRS, and I’ve had some discussions with the organization’s leadership, but I do not believe I’m a shoe-in by any means. There are plenty of people hoping to join the SCRS Board, and we cannot all get there. In my opinion, SCRS is a collection of the best of the best operators in the industry, so when you’re among them, you’re learning from the most elite shops in our country. Because it’s a national organization, they share thoughts, ideas and experiences on a scale beyond what we can cover as New Jersey repairers whose knowledge is limited to our own markets, and being part of those discussions would allow me to expand my horizons and bring that knowledge back to share locally, so i definitely think it would benefit AASP/NJ as well.

NJA: As AASP/NJ President, what are your top three priorities for the association moving forward?

KM: One thing I think all associations are really struggling with is membership, so there needs to be a concerted effort to increase membership to maintain the solvency of our association. Without members, we will not have the strength in numbers to support our industry in the ways that we hope to support it.

Secondly, we need to continue focusing on education like we’ve been doing. It’s not just about teaching somebody what to do in a specific situation; we need to teach them how to seek more. You can give someone a meal and feed them now, but if you teach them how to

BY CHASIDY RAE SISK

hunt, they can feed themselves forever. That’s what we want to do as an organization. We want to educate our members in a way that they learn to expand on the things we train on and build upon those concepts so they can become better operators. There’s always more to learn and grow, and our job as educators is to equip them to go out and get that information beyond what we share in a single two-hour session.

Thirdly…Well, I don’t know that there’s one more thing in particular. Really, my goal is to leave this industry and our association in a better place than where I found it.

NJA: What do you think are some of the industry’s biggest challenges, and how do you hope to help address them in your new role?

KM: That’s obviously a really deep question with a lot of layers. Our industry struggles in so many ways, but I believe a lot of it comes back to repairer education. We need to be focused on ensuring that shops understand how to perform complete and proper vehicle repairs.

They also need to better understand the claims handling process to face less of a battle when dealing with insurers.

NJA: What advice or encouragement would you offer a fellow shop owner who may be struggling?

KM: First and foremost, they need to join AASP/NJ. If they used to be a member and left, I’d urge them to join back up. Over the past couple years, we’ve been doing different things to help shops, so it’s almost like a brandnew association. And as a member, you have access to the training we’re offering and the experience of all the Board members and association leaders like Charlie, Jerry and me. We’re here to help New Jersey shops, but they’ve got to meet us halfway by coming out to the meetings and getting involved.

NJA

New Jersey Automotive | December 2023 | 17

IN MEMORIAM

by CHASIDY RAE SISK

New Jersey Repairers Remember Angelo Kostakes Every person is unique, an individual with different desires and aspirations, yet most of us share the hope that we will live a full and impactful life. And that is an accomplishment that former collision industry leader Angelo Kostakes certainly achieved and which should be celebrated, even as those who loved him mourn his recent passing at the age of 94.

Although Kostakes was born in Newark, NJ in 1929, when he was five years old, he moved with his mother and older brother, George, to Neapoli, Greece where his younger brother, Peter, was soon born. The untimely death of the boys’ mother forced them to move in with relatives while also contending with the German occupation and harsh conditions that took place during World War II. According to his obituary, “Like many young men at the time, Angelo did what he could to resist the occupiers, and for a brief period, he was even held as a German prisoner.”

Once the war ended, 17-year-old Kostakes rejoined his father in New Jersey, and in 1946, he was drafted into the US Army where he proudly served as a Corporal.

Having a strong work ethic and an entrepreneurial spirit, Kostakes scraped some money together in 1950 and opened Angelo’s Auto Body, a two-bay shop, in Newark; the same year, he met Rita Efstathiou, the love of his life.

They married five years later and raised three sons.

Enjoying a day of fishing on the open sea.

“Angelo’s old-school work ethic guided him in his career,” the obituary reads. “He approached work with meticulous attention to detail and an unwavering commitment to treat both customers and employees fairly and with respect.”

As his reputation grew, so did the shop, moving to a larger location in Newark before finding its home in Irvington in 1965. An avid reader with an interest in politics and current events, Kostakes made friends easily and 18 | New Jersey Automotive | December 2023

Kostakes was drafted into the US Army in 1946 and proudly served as a Corporal.

soon became a respected figure in his community and the collision repair industry. His dedication to the business led to his involvement in co-founding the Central Jersey Auto Body Association (CJABA) as well as the Auto Body Distributing co-op.

AASP/NJ Executive Director Charles Bryant “first met Angelo when he called me about a problem he was having in the shop, and though it’s been so long ago that I cannot recall what his issue was, I remember being very impressed with him and the shop.”

Jeff McDowell (Leslie’s Auto Body; Fords) got to know Kostakes in the mid-1980s through the CJABA and remembers him as “a real fighter who didn’t lay down for anybody. He stuck up for what was just and right, and he wouldn’t back down. He was inspirational to me as a young shop owner. Angelo was a real standup guy and definitely part of the A-team.”

Tom Elder (Compact Kars; Clarksburg) agrees that Kostakes was “a tremendous help to all of us because he was so knowledgeable. As one of the founders of the CJABA and the co-op, he really supported the industry until he retired.”

When Kostakes retired from the shop when he was 65 years old, two of his sons, Nick and George Kostakis, took over.

“Since Angelo’s retirement, his sons have done an excellent job of filling his shoes,” Elder believes.

Bryant shares a similar impression. “Since Angelo retired, I’ve had a lot of interactions with Nick and his brother. They are both very intelligent and good continued on pg. 41

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LOCAL NEWS

AASP/NJ Presents Russ Robson Scholarship to Cole Daly of Auto Tech Collision There was so much to celebrate at AASP/NJ’s Annual Meeting last month, with one of the highlights being the presentation of the 2023 Russ Robson Scholarship Award to talented young painter Cole Daly of Auto Tech Collision (Sewell, NJ).

AASP/NJ presents this scholarship award annually to a promising individual employed by a member shop in good standing.

It’s done in memory of Robson, the former president who was well known throughout the industry for his dedication and training of others and for being an instrumental part of transitioning the Garden State Automotive Federation into AASP/NJ.

From L-R: AASP/NJ’s Tom Elder, award recipient Cole Daly of Auto Tech Collision and Dean Massimini

Dean Massimini, owner of Auto Tech Collision, speaks highly of Daly’s commitment to his craft and for really stepping up in his role since he came on board from Pennco Tech a little more than a year ago. Massimini feels lucky to have a number of promising young workers on staff, but when it came time to nominate someone for the scholarship, he held a vote, and Daly was chosen.

When Daly first came to Auto Tech Collision, Massimini didn’t have much need for someone in his paint department, so he went to the body shop to do assembly and disassembly. Knowing that Daly’s interest mainly lies in painting, Massimini approached him when the need for someone to work in the paint department arose.

“He really stepped up for me,” Massimini praised. “He started in the

20 | New Jersey Automotive | December 2023

paint shop this past February. I’ve sent him to training, and he’s gone willingly. He and another worker are in the paint department, and they are doing a great job. Cole is a great painter, a good kid with a great attitude. He listens, and he wants to learn; he exemplifies all the things that someone in my position would want in an employee.”

“It was awesome,” Daly reflected about receiving the award at the Annual Meeting. “It was a great night, and we all enjoyed ourselves. It was a great honor for me.” His interest in painting and the profession came from his education at Pennco Tech.

His interest in painting and the profession came from his education at Pennco Tech and his paint teacher, Dave Mandraes, who “gave me a real passion to take this on.”

NJA

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22 | New Jersey Automotive | December 2023

New Jersey Automotive | December 2023 | 23

NORTHEAST UPDATE

Pre-Registration for NORTHEAST 2024 Opens December 1 As 2023 draws to an end and a new year begins, it’s time for shops to start counting down to the most anticipated weekend in the automotive and collision world as AASP/NJ’s flagship event, NORTHEAST® Automotive Services Show, returns March 15-17, 2024 to the Meadowlands Exposition Center in Secaucus!

Attendees can now visit the event’s website, aaspnjnortheast.com, to pre-register for free admission to the show.

Recognized as the largest and fastest growing show of its kind, NORTHEAST has supplied automotive professionals with an unmatched experience for 47 years.

The show consistently offers the latest, most advanced equipment and a premium educational slate with some of the industry’s most knowledgeable minds providing guidance on current industry trends and offering advice on how to combat the latest challenges.

Attendees can again expect to visit with over 150 exhibitors, interact with celebrity guests and have the chance to win prizes!

“It’s almost time for the industry to return to the Meadowlands for the largest automotive services trade

show of its kind,” states AASP/NJ Executive Director Charles Bryant. “When repairers take the time to make this type of investment in their business, our industry can achieve everything we’ve ever dreamed and more. We are very excited to see everyone on the show floor this coming March!”

“NORTHEAST grows every year, and we are inspired to make the 2024 iteration bigger and better than ever,” shares AASP/NJ President Ken Miller (821 Collision; North Haledon, NJ). “Attendees can expect more exhibitors, an even better educational slate and some fun surprises as AASP/NJ takes what is already great and makes it even better! Stay tuned as we unveil our plans.”

For news and announcements regarding NORTHEAST 2024, please visit aaspnjnortheast.com.

NJA

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NJA

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by ALANA QUARTUCCIO

AASP NATIONAL NEWS

AASP Leaders Take Part in National and Local Level Talks Meeting for the second time this year, state affiliate leaders of the Alliance of Automotive Service Providers (AASP) considered a number of automotive repair issues on the national level and shared their local wins and goals when they met at SEMA 2023 in Las Vegas in early November.

As the new president of AASP/NJ, Ken MIller returned to the AASP National Board to collaborate with colleagues and share recent achievements and goals on behalf of the New Jersey association.

Miller reported on the success of the recent Annual Meeting, which served as more of a social event as opposed to previous years. Every year, AASP/NJ hosts this event to hold its Board of Director elections and award ceremony but took it up a few notches this year by having legendary comedian Rich Vos come in to do a 75-minute set to entertain the crowd, making it a real treat for the membership.

“It was a lot of fun; he had people laughing, and I think there is a need for hosting more social type events,” Miller relayed.

Training has been a huge focus for AASP/NJ, and Miller was proud to share that the response to their recent offerings has been positive with great engagement and turnout. He plans to continue to have the association develop programs and suggested all affiliates of AASP consider sharing their training programs so they can bounce ideas off each other.

Miller’s main concern is on membership numbers and the lack of participation he’s witnessed from collision repair facility owners. He hopes to see the number of shops involved with AASP/NJ increase substantially and is working with the Board to come up with new ways to promote the various benefits offered as well as exploring new options.

With 2024 just around the corner, AASP/NJ is actively preparing for its flagship NORTHEAST® Automotive Services Show, set for March 15-17 at the Meadowlands Exposition Center in

Secaucus, NJ. Based on the excitement and buzz that is already building about the 2024 show, Miller expects the show to once again be a huge success.

The members of the AASP National Board took part in conversations related to the Right to Repair legislation that was introduced at the federal level this past February. Tod Moore of the Auto Care Association updated the Board on the process of the legislation which supports consumers’ right to be able to choose where they have their car repaired.

A number of collision repair professionals, including Society of Collision Repair Specialist Executive Director Aaron Schulenburg and Wayne Weikel, vice president state affairs for the Alliance for Automotive Innovation, came to the table to verify their support of Right to Repair in general while also sharing some concerns in regard to the motives from those who are driving the federal REPAIR Act, such as major insurance players and aftermarket part manufacturers.

Another shared consideration among repair professionals is the fact there isn’t much detail about how the information would be used, just that it would be accessible.

Others brought up concerns about the testing of aftermarket scanning and calibration equipment that could be reverse engineered via access to OEM information and who would be responsible if the equipment were to malfunction and give a false positive that the calibrations were completed properly.

“If an aftermarket part, scanning or calibration tool were to fail, someone can die,” commented AASP National President Dan Sjosleth (Superior Service Center; St. Paul, MN). “It’s a difficult battle for our industry to support both sides of this.”

Conversations also centered around the success of the invaluable resource that is the Database Enhancement Gateway (DEG). Funded solely by sponsorships, including primary support from AASP National and SCRS, the

26 | New Jersey Automotive | December 2023

AASP/NJ President Ken Miller

DEG successfully rolled out an updated website earlier this year, and corrections continue to be made to estimating platforms thanks to inquiries received.

DEG Administrator Danny Gredinberg reported the year-to-date total of corrected hours across the three main information provider platforms (MItchell, CCC and Audatex) totalled 988 for body hours and 242 hours for paint. Some changes included the timeconsuming process of rivet gun set up being a non-included operation and the application of seam sealer on bolt-on parts being noted as non-included.

Gredinberg also referenced the changes coming via Audatex and CCC in regard to the SCRS blend study.

He stressed the importance of continuing to spread the word about the DEG and how submitting inquiries is a great benefit to the entire industry. Most users submit about 10 inquiries per year, with roughly 50 percent resulting in change.

Gredinberg emphasized the importance of submitting inquiries.

“Even if something doesn’t change, it’s still something we can address.”

The AASP National Board continues to communicate throughout the year via virtual meetings. The Board plans to reconvene in person next spring once a date and location is determined.

NJA

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The Industry Speaks:

2023 New Jersey Automotive Survey Results

by JACQUELYN BAUMAN

The automotive repair industry can feel isolating at times. There are so many questions you’re probably asking yourself over and over again: Am I charging what everyone else is charging? Are other shops feeling the pressure of steering like I am? Does the shop down the street have a problem hiring new employees, or is it just me? Are insurance companies the bane of everyone’s existence, or am I having a harder time with them than everyone else? What can I do to make my business more successful?

Once again, New Jersey Automotive has polled shop owners all across the Garden State to get a temperature check on the industry and paint a picture of where shops are and where they might be headed. All of the questions you could ever want answered by your fellow shop owners are located in the following pages with the NJA 2023 Industry Survey results. We hope that this information makes you feel less alone and provides you with the relevant information you need to help make better decisions for your business.

28 | New Jersey Automotive | December 2023

2023 NJA Industry Survey What describes your primary business?

Collision repair: 81% Mechanical repair: 4% Collision & mechanical repair: 15%

Collision shops: Are you a DRP? If so, how many are you on?

1-5 programs: 60% 6-10 programs: 13% More than 10 programs: 2% No: 26% In last year’s survey, 13 percent of shop owners answered that they were on more than 10 DRP programs – a number that had gone up from zero the previous year. It seems over the course of 2023, Garden State shop owners are seeing less value in “playing nice” with a wide range of insurers.

If you answered that you are NOT on a DRP program, is steering more or less of a problem than in the past?

changes to the makeup of their shops over the past few years. Between 2017 and 2021, an average of 31 percent of NJA survey respondents had five or fewer employees, a number which has now dropped to 17 percent.

While large shops with over 20 employees are still the minority in New Jersey, most of our survey respondents have found that the sweet spot for their businesses is somewhere between six to 20 employees.

What is the age of your OLDEST employee?

30-40: 0% 41-50: 2% Over 50: 98% It’s no secret that the industry is beginning to age out. Shops around the United States are feeling the stress of a significant decrease in their labor

Steering is MORE of a problem than in the past: 50% Steering has remained about the same: 40% Steering is LESS of a problem that it’s been in the past: 10%

Shop owners in New Jersey have seen a lot of

What is the age of your YOUNGEST employee?

18-25: 54% 26-35: 25% Over 35: 21% The scariest part of having your employees age out of automotive repair work is not having enough new blood to replace them.

After last year’s survey, it looked like things might be in an upswing, as 77 percent of shop owners who responded said their youngest employee was between 18 and 25 years old, with 0 percent saying their youngest employee was over 35; however, it now looks like we are back on a downward trend, with just over half of our survey respondents indicating that their youngest employee is between 18 and 25 years old and a fifth of them stating that their youngest is over 35.

Do you have any involvement with local vocational/trade schools?

How many employees do you have, including yourself?

1-5: 17% 6-10: 35% 11-20: 31% More than 20: 17%

asking this question on our survey in 2019, we hit a whopping 98 percent of survey takers who have their oldest employee with a birthdate prior to 1973.

Seems like we may soon have to add an option to this question – over 60 years old!

pool, and New Jersey is no different. Last year, only 86 percent of survey respondents indicated that their oldest employee was over the age of 50. For the first time since we began

Yes: 21% No: 54% No, but I’d like to: 25% To confront the problem of a dwindling labor pool, shops are getting proactive in developing new talent by building relationships with

local vocational/technical schools. Fifty percent of those who noted they were involved with these schools in some way stated they were part of an Advisory Board, with a few even indicating that they teach automotive repair in their local night school. We hope that due to this activity, we will see some more positive trends in acquiring new technicians in the coming years.

How many employees have you hired in the past year?

None: 22% 1: 21% 2-4: 44% 5 or more: 13%

What has been your biggest challenge in attracting and retaining employees?

The automotive repair industry has been struggling with a lack of qualified and motivated technicians for quite some time, and the challenges shops encounter to confront that obstacle are pretty consistent. Fifty-eight percent of Garden State shop owners who took our survey stated that their biggest challenge in hiring new employees is that the labor pool is significantly lacking.

“The pool of experienced repair technicians is much smaller than it was 10 years ago,” explained one shop owner from South Orange. “There aren’t many young people wanting to get into the auto body repair business.”

“Honestly, it’s just hard finding young people who can tie their shoes these continued on pg. 32

New Jersey Automotive | December 2023 | 29

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2023 NJA Industry Survey continued from pg. 29

days,” echoed a collision repairer from Morristown.

“It’s a struggle getting someone who actually knows what they are doing, along with getting them to show up. People are f***ing lazy nowadays.”

The abysmal labor rates that insurers are willing to pay has been an issue for the industry for as long as many of us can remember, and now with inflation reaching ridiculous heights, its impact on shops’ capacity to hire new employees can’t be denied.

Thirty-eight percent of NJA survey takers wrote that their inability to properly compensate new talent was a leading cause of their labor shortages.

“We cannot pay new techs enough money based on our shop’s hourly rate from insurers,” a Cliffside Park shop owner stressed.

“The current labor rate does not make it feasible to pay competitive wages.”

“The cost of labor is quickly exceeding the quality of labor, when you can find it,” one Rockaway repairer agreed. “We can’t afford to be competitive in compensation compared to other industries fighting for skilled labor.”

What benefits do you offer employees?

With the complexities (and overall rising cost) of life these days, many employees wonder what

else a company can provide for them, on top of their regular salary. Over 80 percent of shop owners who took our survey explained that they provide, at minimum, health insurance to their employees. After health insurance, vacation/ paid time off (PTO) was the most cited benefit that New Jersey shop owners offer, with 52 percent of them waving “see you soon” to their employees at some point during the year.

Of course, with the rising age of technicians in the automotive repair industry, it shouldn’t be surprising that 401k/ retirement plans were also at the top of the list, with 38 percent of respondents sharing that they offer this benefit to employees in their shops. Other perks that shop owners indicated they offer included overtime pay, flexible hours, profit sharing, paid holidays, free lunches and continuing education.

through their families’ employers because it’s too costly. It’s nearly breaking the bank.”

“If I was able to find an affordable health plan with less than 75 percent participation, I would do it in a heartbeat,” shared a Manville repairer. “Until that time, I just can’t swing it.”

It takes a certain type of fortitude and resilience to be

percent of them indicate that the most pressing one is, without a doubt, the substandard labor rate and the effect it has on their ability to run a successful shop.

“The compensation we’re receiving is not realistic with today’s expenses and costs of goods,” lamented a repairer from Sayreville. “The insurance companies are not keeping up with inflation.

It’s always been difficult to do business with what they’re willing to pay us, but as everything gets more expensive, it’s getting harder and harder.”

Of course, insurance

an automotive repair shop owner. Even though every industry has its own set of complexities to navigate, for auto repairers, it seems to be tenfold. Between fighting with insurers to complete safe and proper repairs, to the struggle to get paid what you deserve, to an insufficient labor pool, to consolidation and more, the daily battles that shop owners face are plentiful and unyielding.

Out of all the issues New Jersey shop owners must endure in their daily business, nearly 60

companies have a larger chokehold on the industry than just their refusal to pay a sufficient labor rate.

“Insurance companies are the worst part of this industry,” one Newark shop owner expressed. “They are steering work at a ridiculous pace. They have incompetent adjusters, supervisors and claim representatives; they are making claims a nightmare with unfair photo estimates, and they’re taking forever to settle claims.”

“Most insurers act as if they walk on water,” an

What do you think is the most pressing issue affecting shops today?

If you don’t offer benefits to employees, why not?

It should not be a surprise to anyone that 100 percent of survey respondents who indicated that they did not offer benefits to employees cited cost as the reason why they are unable to do so.

“At one time, all of our employees were insured by us,” an Ocean City shop owner revealed. “Now, they all have to be insured

32 | New Jersey Automotive | December 2023

2023 NJA Industry Survey Edison shop owner agreed.

“But in reality, they have a lack of knowledge and inadequate acceptance of required procedures.

Plus, with their employee shortage, they’re causing significant delays. And of course, they’re often in violation of regulations and then lie to their customers about it.”

On top of the insurer interference and inadequate labor rates being provided by insurance companies, many shop owners are struggling with the lack of new workers coming into their shops. Thirtyeight percent of survey respondents explained that the dilemma of hiring qualified employees to replace those aging out of the industry is their biggest concern.

“The labor rates make it hard to pay an employee with what the insurance companies are offering us,” shared a Succasunna repairer. “The rates are too low to be able to compete with other skilled – or even non-skilled – industries to attract talent to our trade.”

state of business as the worst it has ever been (and this includes during COVID).

We hope that this trend will not continue, but you’ll have to look out for our 2024 survey to find out!

It feels like you can’t drive anywhere these days without finding yourself behind at least one Tesla. As the rate of electric vehicles on the road continues to rise, we wondered if New Jersey shop owners think they’re ready to begin repairs on these “cars of the future” if they happened to roll into their shops. When we asked this question last year, we were surprised that

themselves lacking, as our rate of ‘prepared’ repairers has now dropped to 26 percent. For several of our survey respondents, the reason behind this decline comes down to the almighty dollar.

“We’re just not seeing enough of them yet to make the investment,” one Little Egg Harbor-based repairer shared. “As it stands right now, we have access to OEM data and all the required safety gear. That’s enough for the time being. I will just sublet out anything above our ability.”

Aside from the monetary constraints, some respondents explained that they’re limited by regular aspects of shop ownership such as their lack of qualified technicians and the size of their facilities.

“I used to run the business,” a Jersey City shop owner shared. “Now, because of the lack of qualified employees, I am stuck working in the business. I don’t have the

over half of respondents felt they were prepared for these vehicles to appear in one of their bays; however, it seems that as the reality of electric vehicles has settled in, many shops found

time or capacity to invest in new training right now.”

“We’re mostly set to start working on EVs,” a repairer from North Jersey reported. “However, full scale adoption will be

Is your shop prepared to repair EVs? Why or why not?

Yes: 26% No, but I’m working towards it: 53% No, and I do not plan to work on EVs in the future: 21%

How would you rate your current state of business?

Over the past few years, the answer to this question has largely remained about the same, with New Jersey shop owners rating their current state of business at an average of between six and seven. This year is no different, landing us at an average rating of 6.68. The largest deviation we see in this question is, for the first time since 2017, we had survey respondents who would classify their current

difficult because of our facility size. Full scale adoption will probably require adding on to the building, relocating or adding an additional facility, which we can’t do at the moment.”

For some shop owners, they aren’t even bothering to prepare because they just don’t see the point.

“Like the water-based paint mandate that never came to be, I feel the EV boom will die the same death,” disclosed one Maple Shade survey taker. “It’s not feasible for manufacturers to continue to make electric cars.”

In your experience, which insurer do you find the most difficult to deal with, and why?

Over the past seven years, we have asked this question to New Jersey shop owners, and we have had the same three culprits coming in as the top three most difficult insurers to deal with. Although the standing of each one has changed, State Farm, Allstate and Progressive have consistently topped the list.

This year, we had another contender tie for the third spot – Liberty Mutual. So, what makes these insurers so challenging to work with?

“Progressive, Allstate and Liberty Mutual do not want to pay for proper repairs,” one shop owner from Central Jersey communicated. “Allstate does not want to pay for

New Jersey Automotive | December 2023 | 33

2023 NJA Industry Survey proper repairs and delays claims for a month at times.

Liberty Mutual delays claims, then does not want to pay for a proper repair… it’s all the same. They’re all terrible.”

“Progressive has a complete lack of knowledge on everything from claims to

“I’m still waiting to speak to a human on the phone from State Farm,” joked a repairer from South Jersey.

“They really don’t care at all.”

This complete lack of care was reflected in many of the answers from our survey respondents.

estimating,” a South Jersey repairer shared. “It’s the blind leading the blind with no direction from the top.

The adjusters don’t have a clue on how to repair a damaged vehicle, so they call someone to make a decision, and it goes nowhere.”

For a number of shop owners who took our survey, insurers’ refusal or inability to communicate with them has reached a point they’ve never seen before.

“GEICO is denying necessary procedures or sending back a change request without any communication or way to communicate with them,” explained a survey respondent from North Jersey. “USAA never answers the phone or returns phone calls. State Farm is difficult to get on the phone too, and when I do [reach them], they refuse to negotiate.”

“All the insurance companies have developed a ‘don’t care’ attitude,” a Central Jersey repairer described. “They demand we use alternative and aftermarket parts from multiple suppliers which is forcing us to call numerous vendors to purchase parts.

And most of the parts listed from the insurance companies are not even available. Plus, the admin part of the job has increased threefold because of the virtual world we live in. The cost of estimating software is out of control. We need to have multiple systems, which is very expensive.”

Post-pandemic, do you find most insurance companies are: Less difficult to work with vs. pre-pandemic: 12% About the same vs. prepandemic: 32%

34 | New Jersey Automotive | December 2023

More difficult to work with vs. pre-pandemic: 56% As we are now three years out from the 2020 pandemic and have settled into a “new normal,” the effects COVID had on the automotive repair industry have now become regular business practices. For the majority of New Jersey shop owners, that means insurers have gotten even worse to work with.

“The staff is lazier than ever before and completely incompetent,” pointed out a shop owner from Orange.

“The insurance companies have cut their staff and kept the worst ones around.

It’s taking way too long to complete the repair process and to get supplements approved.”

“There’s an unwillingness to accept required repair processes,” disclosed a repairer from Bedminster. “They write an estimate that does not take into consideration the cost to bring the vehicle back to pre-loss condition.

That was always the case, but it’s gotten worse. They lack any concern for their insureds. They just don’t care, and they don’t have any reasonable answers.”

In addition to all the regular difficulties shops are used to from insurers (uninformed adjusters, refusal to pay for proper repairs, arguing over supplements, etc.), COVID brought a new challenge to the forefront – virtual estimating. Over half of our survey takers noted that adjusters rarely come to the shop these days and that most would rather conduct their business virtually, which has presented them with new challenges.

“No adjusters come to the shop anymore,” a repairer from Iselin expressed. “They have the shops doing all their estimating and admin work, and then they pick it apart and will not pay for all the work you prepared for them.”

“They’re still using the pandemic as an excuse,” explained a survey respondent from Woodbridge. “They say ‘we don’t have enough adjusters’ or ‘we don’t have any adjusters in your area.’

The only way to talk to someone is via email. You can’t even get anyone on the phone.”

“It’s easier to deny paying for something when you’re sitting behind a phone and a computer as opposed to being faceto-face,” agreed a Lindenbased shop owner. “It’s caused them to have much more of a ‘take-it-or-leave-it’ stance on claims.”

How do you educate your current and potential customers?

In any relationship, communication is key – and that isn’t any different in the relationship you hold with your customer. Luckily, most New Jersey shop owners already take this tenet to heart as 83 percent of survey respondents noted that some form of communication with their clients is the main way they keep their current and potential customers informed.

“We focus on extensive communication both before

2023 NJA Industry Survey and during the repair process,” explained a Paterson shop owner. “Total transparency is critical in building rapport with current and potential clients.”

“Before they even leave their vehicle with me, we make sure we have given them a full explanation of parts, rates, costs, etc.,” echoed a repairer from Flemington. “You have to give them full disclosure up front, so they know what they’re getting themselves into. Can’t have any surprises.”

Communication about costs and processes aren’t the only important discussions to have with your customers. As one East Orange shop owner noted, many of them are ignorant of what really happens when you go through their insurance.

“We have to explain the insurance company’s procedures and educate the customer on just how lousy their company really is,” he shared. “We tell them the claims process with some companies is going to be a nightmare and ask them please not to blame us.”

“We repair plan prior

to blueprinting and starting repairs,” a Perth Amboy repairer detailed. “During that conversation, we determine the customer’s expectations and advise as to what we can do and what we can’t do and if they need to have certain conversations with their insurance company.”

What is your current labor rate? $50-$60 per hour: 29% $61-$70 per hour: 32% $71-$80 per hour: 26% $81-90 per hour: 4% More than $90 per hour: 9% After many years, we are finally starting to see New Jersey shops charge closer to what they are worth for their labor. Between 2017 and 2021, an average of 72 percent of shop owners who took our survey were charging between $50-$60 per hour as their labor rate.

We have seen a 63 percent decrease in this number, as less than a third of shop owners’ labor rates now fall within that window. Prior to 2022, we averaged a measly two percent of New

Jersey shop owners who charged more than $81 an hour for their labor rate. That number is now 13 percent, and hopefully on the rise.

What do you think your labor rate should be?

Less than $90 per hour: 6% $91-$100 per hour: 41% $101-$120 per hour: 38% More than $120 per hour: 15% Of course, as current labor rates increase to match the rising cost of everything around us, the ideal labor rate will rise as well. Prior to 2021, an average of six percent of survey respondents could even picture their labor rate being over $101 per hour. As that number inches closer to becoming an actual reality, we are now seeing more than half of Garden State shop owners aim for that amount as their target labor rate.

What is your current storage rate?

$50-$60 per day: 18% $61-$70 per day: 12% $71-$80 per day: 6% $81-$90 per day: 3% More than $90 per day: 61%

If you could change anything about this industry, what would it be?

Every industry has its challenges, and ours is no different. But what would be the number one thing Garden State repairers would change if given the chance? For 59 percent of shop owners who took our survey, labor rates were at the top of their list, with hiring qualified employees coming in right behind.

“We will have no future if we do not have a better hourly rate,” one New Brunswick shop owner told us. “If we’re paid more, we can pay our technicians more, which will attract younger techs to the industry and allow us to invest more in our businesses. Without that, we’re not going anywhere.”

“So many business owners do not understand the cost of this industry,” shared a Burlington repairer.

“My AC guy charges $125 an hour, and my plumber charges $150. We are undercutting ourselves. I feel like we can change this if we have more communication between shop owners. There’s plenty of work, and everyone wants to get it all instead of working together so we can all get what we deserve. The industry needs to charge correctly and get paid a real wage, which we can’t do with the way we currently go about our business.”

New Jersey Automotive | December 2023 | 35

2023 NJA Industry Survey For one shop owner from North Jersey, he wishes the general public was more informed about what the industry has to deal with.

“We need to expose and make public the behaviors and business practices of insurers to the general public, lawmakers, or other interested parties with the intent to encourage fair claim practices and settlements,” he explained. “We won’t be able to make any changes unless the people know what is happening behind the scenes with their insurance companies and how it’s endangering them.”

Many of our survey respondents expressed that a baseline level of standards or best practices for insurance companies, as well as shops, could help move the industry forward.

“We need an even playing field between the shop and the insurer because as it stands right now, insurance companies don’t respect the shops or their customers,” shared one Bedminster repairer. “We need a baseline of experience for insurers, Right to Appraisal in every policy and, of course, increased labor rates and proper reimbursement.”

“I know there are challenges preventing this right now, but I think we need to enforce a much higher level of training as a minimum training standard at all collision repair shops,” a Paterson survey taker explained. “It’s important to have highly trained technicians performing complete, safe and correct repairs on all automobiles without outside influence.”

Closing: While many of the struggles shops are facing are familiar – from insurer interference to insufficient labor rates – this year’s survey revealed many new challenges that automotive repairers must confront such as virtual estimating, electric vehicles and unprecedented inflation (as well as all of the subsequent problems this causes).

We hope that the results of this survey helped you feel more connected to your fellow shop owners and provided you with some insights that may help you navigate these increasingly complex times. We look forward to getting your feedback in 2024 and hope that there are better days ahead!

NJA

36 | New Jersey Automotive | December 2023

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OUT OF BODY (AND MECHANICAL) EXPERIENCES continued from pg. 10

me her stereo console which had a record player AND an eight-track player/recorder. That started a tradition that continues to this day. Once I learned how to do it, I started making my own mix tapes on the eight-track.

Then whenever I went for a ride with my mom or Diane (my dad not so much), they would let me play my homemade tape. Jeez, I can remember we used to buy the blank tapes at a place called Gem Electronics.

They were 90 minutes long, and of course, my first few

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were Beatles and Stones tapes. It was pretty tedious because you would record one song, pull the tape out, then record another, pull the tape out and so on and so on. The 90-minute tape would usually take about three hours. I didn’t care. I loved it. (I dare anyone to come forward and say they were doing this at the age of 10).

Shortly after (I think it was around 1972), Santa brought what may be my all-time favorite Christmas gift: a Panasonic stand alone eight-track tape deck. It actually had a pause button, so I didn’t have to keep pulling the tapes out. I was in Heaven. I branched out to making tapes with all different artists on them. I also started buying stick-on labels for them and started a tape series called “Various Artists Vol…” I was so proud one day when I was in the car with my dad and my Uncle Tony. As usual, they were talking as if I wasn’t there, and my uncle asked, “When is he gonna get a girlfriend?” My dad answered by saying, “He’s only interested in these various artist tapes.” He knew what I called them! That made me so happy that I didn’t get offended by my uncle’s reference to my lack of female companionship.

From that point on, every Friday night, I would make a mixtape. Even when I finally had a girlfriend, she would

always have to wait until the mixtape was finished. I can still hear her calling on the phone and asking, “Are you done?” (Now that I think about it, she said that pretty often in other situations as well.)

In 1979, I got into a horrible auto accident (maybe a hint to my destiny). Once the lawsuit was settled, I was awarded $10,000.

What did I do with it? Why of course, I bought a new stereo system. Only this time, I crossed over to cassette tapes (I must have kept the Maxell tape company in business for the next decade or so). Seriously, I made hundreds of cassettes for girls, friends, family members, you name it. If you needed a mixtape, I was the man to see. Still, I mostly made them for myself.

Once cassettes became obsolete, I turned to something called Digital Audio Tape (DAT).

DATs were like mini cassettes but recorded the music digitally and the sound quality was 1,000 times better. It also allowed you to make tapes anywhere from three to six hours. To this day, I am the only person (other than musicians) I know who had a DAT machine. But of course, I didn’t just have one DAT. I had a portable DAT and a DAT player in my car. My old friend Mike Zippo (from Zippo’s Car Stereo) used to shake his head whenever I changed cars.

But then everything changed.

The advent of MP3s and things like Napster and iTunes made any recording hardware more or less unnecessary. I threw away most of my eight-tracks and cassettes and sold off all my DATs on eBay. But that hasn’t stopped me from making my mixes. Now, I just do it digitally.

Every Friday night, you still can find me in my basement making my mixes. And I still make a Various

Artists mix once every couple of months. According to my computer, since 2008 alone, I have made 524 Various Artist mixes. With each mix being an average of four hours, that’s 2,096 hours! And that’s just the last 15 years of THAT title. If I do a little math and go back to my very first mix, I’m looking at over 8,000 hours!!!

Other than work and sleep, I can’t say I’ve spent more time in my life doing anything else. Call me crazy, but I wouldn’t change a minute.

I hope you all received at least one Christmas gift in your life like that eight-track machine.

Merry Christmas everyone.

NJA

New Jersey Automotive | December 2023 | 39

ARANJ

ARANJ Board of Directors David Yeager - EL & M Auto (800) 624-2266 / elandmauto@aol.com Ed Silipena - American II Autos (609) 965-0987 / esilipena@yahoo.com Norm Vachon - Port Murray Auto (908) 689-3152 / portmurrayauto@yahoo.com Dillon Rinkens - East Brunswick Auto (732) 254-6501 / ebautonj@comcast.net

ARANJ Officers

President - Rodney Krawczyk Ace Auto Wreckers (732) 254-9816 / aceautonj@comcast.net 1st Vice President - Daryl Carman Lentini Auto Salvage (908) 782-4440 / darryl@las-parts.coms 2nd Vice President - Mike Ronayne Tilghmans Auto Parts (609) 723-7469 / tilghmans@snip.net Past President - Bob Dirkes Dirkes Used Auto Parts (609) 625-1718 / dirkesauto@gmail.com

The Automotive Recyclers Association of New Jersey

Wharton Insurance Briefs

We would like to thank the Automotive Recyclers Association (ARA) for allowing us to write a monthly article for the past 20 years. We would also like to congratulate the officers for continuing to make the association what it is today.

Wharton Group has been involved with the association since 1991. We are a full-service office, providing coverage in business, environmental, personal, life and health through over 20 insurance carriers. As insurance carriers continue to have financial troubles, becoming absorbed by other carriers or going out of business, now is the time to protect your relationship with your agent and carrier.

Over the years, we’ve written articles on insurance topics such as environmental/pollution liability, workers’ compensation, automobile, dealer plates, general liability, garage keepers liability, safety tips, developing safety manuals, health, life and long-term care. We will continue to discuss the nuances of these topics and newer topics such as cyber liability, data breach, identity theft and pandemic coverages.

Whether you’re a client of ours or not, if you have any questions or concerns on any insurance issues, please do not hesitate to call me.

NJA

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FIT AND FINISH IS NO PLACE TO GET CREATIVE. 40 | New Jersey Automotive | December 2023

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IN MEMORIAM continued from pg. 18

businessmen, and it’s clear that their father laid the groundwork for his sons to follow in his footsteps. They’ve done a lot of good things for this industry, and that goes back to their father and the great example he set.”

Kostakes enjoyed his retirement, spending his time fishing and vacationing at the Jersey Shore where he and his wife eventually purchased a beach house “where the family gathered to celebrate milestones or to support each other during difficult times,” the obituary explained. “Angelo and Rita were generous with their good fortune and there was always room at their table for guests.”

Kostakes was surrounded by his loving family when he passed away peacefully on October 28.

He is survived by his wife Rita; children: Dino Kostakis, Nick Kostakis and George (Karen) Kostakis; grandchildren: Kristen (Zachary) Rozano, Christopher, Kyle, Nicole, Eric and Katelyn; and great-grandchildren: Charlotte and Olivia.

“Our dad was a great man,” Nick Kostakis expresses. “He came to the US with little formal education, having had a very challenging childhood and grew a successful business through sheer determination and by taking risks. He never personally touched a computer but was always the first to embrace new technology in his business. In the early pre-technology days, he would work his 12-hour day and then come home to spend another hour or two rewriting handwritten estimates. And yet he somehow found the time to be active in the Central Jersey Auto Body Association and to also be one of the original founders of Auto Body Distributing co-op. His formula was a simple one: devotion to family, business and his third passion, boating and fishing. If there is a heaven, for him, it will include a boat, a rod and a few more fish on the end of his line.”

NJA

New Jersey Automotive | December 2023 | 41

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44 | New Jersey Automotive | December 2023