4th Annual BIG SHOTS Competition at the Texas Auto Body Trade Show invited repairers from across the Lone Star State and beyond to test their skill sets. This year’s winners: Tony Rios (Dent Stop; Dallas), Orlando Hernandez (Berli's Body and Fine Finishes; Pflugerville), Adrian Ortiz (Park Place Bodywerks; Dallas) and Bill Thacker (Caliber Collision).
BODY TRADE SHOW RECAP
Alana Quartuccio
Bobby Beason DeMontrond Collision Center bobby.beason@demontrond.com (936) 577-2747
Larry Cernosek Deer Park Paint & Body lcwrecker@comcast.net (281) 930-1539
Kevin Ellison Westway Ford kellison@vtaig.com (972) 584-9033
Brandon Gillespy Park Place BodyWerks bgillespy@parkplace.com 214-443-8250
Chad Kiffe Berli's Body & Fine Finishes chadk@berlisbody.com (512) 251-6136
Payne Payne & Sons Paint & Body logan@paynescollision.com (214) 321-4362
Palomo West Texas Auto Color japalomo3@yahoo.com (806) 831-7765
Manuel Rubio Miracle Body & Paint manuelr@miraclebp.com (210) 843-9564
Albert Salinas South Houston Nissan asalinas@southhoustonnissan.com 833-856-7871
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PRESIDENT/PUBLISHER
Thomas Greco / thomas@grecopublishing.com
VICE PRESIDENT/SALES DIRECTOR Alicia Figurelli / alicia@grecopublishing.com
EDITORIAL DIRECTOR Alana Quartuccio / alana@grecopublishing.com
SR. CONTRIBUTING EDITOR Chasidy Rae Sisk / chasidy@grecopublishing.com
PRODUCTION COORDINATOR Joe Greco / joe@grecopublishing.com
OFFICE MANAGER
Donna Greco / donna@grecopublishing.com
SPECIAL CONTRIBUTORS: Burl Richards / Jill Tuggle
Robert L. McDorman / Mike Anderson / Jacquelyn Bauman
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President’s Message
Re-energized and Refocused
WWOW! That’s the quickest way to describe the 2024 Texas Auto Body Trade Show, which just took place a couple weeks ago in Irving! It went great, as it always does, and if you couldn’t make it, you really missed out, but just keep flipping these pages for Texas Automotive’s recap.
As the president of ABAT, I attend a lot of industry events around the country, but there’s just something extra special about the Texas Auto Body Trade Show that has a way of re-energizing and refocusing me as a body shop owner. And it’s not just one thing – there are so many things that make ABAT’s show the best one around (in my humble opinion).
Obviously, the great industry leaders who share their knowledge during the training sessions play a big part in it, as does getting to visit with vendors and learn about the latest and greatest tools and equipment on the trade show floor. But it’s also the ability to speak with our industry peers openly about our struggles and our victories. That level of communication is simply invaluable, and it’s what makes the Texas Auto Body Trade Show THE place to be for shops that want to learn and truly understand what’s going on in our industry!
As a matter of fact, I’m planning to visit a shop owner I met
during the show who has been in the industry just over five years but has taken things he’s learned through association events to improve his business. That seems like evidence that we’re doing something right, and I can’t wait to check out all his progress.
Speaking of progress, ABAT’s BIG SHOTS Competition just keeps growing, and I cannot tell y’all how pleased I am that this idea has taken off like it has. We had tons of fierce competitors this year, with each category’s champion walking away with $1,000 cash, but the second and third place winners also took some great prizes home, thanks to all the support we’ve gotten from the great companies that sponsor this event each year (more details on page 10). And I’m seriously jealous of the Super-Bowl-style rings winners received this year; don’t be surprised if I enter the painting contest next year, so I can win one of my own!
The BIG SHOTS weren’t the only winners around this year, though. During the Afterparty at Bar Louie, we held our first ever
Burl Richards ABAT President
Russell & Smith Logging Big Paint Hours with USI Booths & Prep Station
Buying a paint booth is a huge investment, and there are many factors to carefully consider before selecting one Will the booth work well in a region where there’s a ton of humidity and with drastic changes in the weather? How long do you think the booth will last and will it require a lot of maintenance? Will your painters be comfortable using it ever y day and finally, will the company making the booth provide solid training and reliable customer ser vice?
To answer these questions before acquiring two Chronotech spray booths and a prep deck from USI ITALIA back in 2004, Collision Center Manager Kevin McIllveen at Russell & Smith Body Shop in Houston, TX spent six months studying the market He was looking for the best booths that matched his needs to use in a brand-new 36,000 sq ft facility that the company built from the ground up
Mcllveen, age 56, entered the industr y more than three decades ago as an estimator and has worked for Russell & Smith Body Shop since 1993 His goal with his new spray booths was to improve the efficiencies in his paint department and to accommodate his production, he said, while simultaneously saving time and energy if possible
The vetting process was arduous but worth it in the end. "We did our research so that we could make an educated decision," he said "I went to NACE two years in a row and talked to literally ever yone and asked a lot of questions We knew that this was going to be a ver y significant investment, so we took the time to perform our due diligence to cover all our bases We invested in their prep stations as well, which was another good decision, because my guys can work so much faster and effectively with five different places where we can spray We put a curtain up in the prep booth that provides us two additional spaces that are heated and properly ventilated So, when we are really jammed, we can handle the workload and maintain our cycle time without interrupting or slowing down our production "
After using them for a ver y short time, Mcllveen could clearly see that his Chronotechs were more than capable as they quickly became a centerpiece in his new, high-end, modern shop
"We have four paint teams here, consisting of a painter and a painter’s helper and we consistently log approximately 600-700 paint hours weekly,” he said “We switched to waterborne paint when we opened this facility because we want to provide a healthier climate for our employees and the community as a whole ”
we push these booths and they never let us down ”
Any issues that Russell & Smith Body Shop have encountered with their USI ITALIA booths have been rare and far between But Mcllveen feels good knowing that if called upon, the company will respond and find solutions promptly “If you do your scheduled maintenance and keep ever ything clean, these booths will last you 30 years and maybe even longer The issues that we have encountered with the Chronotechs have been minor and quickly solved, which is impressive when you think that we have been using these booths daily for the last 16 years. I tell people that these booths will be here long after I’ve retired!”
Why was Mcllveen able to improve his numbers by simply adding two USI booths? “In the end, it all comes down to their airflow because we never need blowers or additional air to cure these vehicles The fans in these Chronotechs are exceptional because they feature variable speeds, so we can switch depending on the parameters of each job. Our painters are producing an impressive product day after day, so these booths are saving us both time and money We paint an average of 400 cars ever y month, so
After training provided by USI ITALIA, Mcllveen’s painters were able to start spraying after one day, he said "The Chronotechs are designed to work with waterborne paint, which makes it easier for our painters to do their work After a ver y short time, all of our guys were comfortable and the results were consistently exceptional.”
Mcllveen is also impressed by the Chronotech's sturdy construction and durability "Some booths are just a box, but these are wellbuilt," he said “I know, because I've seen them all and there isn't anything like a USI ITALIA booth "
His career in collision repair industr y has been a great experience and products like his USI ITALIA spray booths and prep station are a part of that, he said “We haven’t had to furlough anybody here and that’s because we value our people and, in the end, our Chronotechs are part of the team ”
Executive Director’s Message
The Year of the Dragon
TThe 2024 Texas Auto Body Trade Show is a wrap! It was another solid, successful year and with so much positive feedback, we couldn’t be happier about our ninth annual show. We are seeing this year really shape up to be something special for us. We have faced new challenges and been presented with many new opportunities, and it made me think a bit about why this year feels a little different. Is it because of the experience we’ve gained through some of the most crazy and challenging years in recent history? Is it due to the knowledge we have acquired from hitting a 10-year anniversary? Or something more…mystical?
While I was getting a pedicure recently, my technician told me it was the year of the dragon and that in Vietnam (and many Asian cultures) they hold the Chinese zodiac in high reverence. He went on to tell me that one of the most iconic and important animals of the zodiac is the dragon.
The year of the dragon is also said to be lucky, in fact Chinahighlights.com states that “In Chinese culture, the Dragon holds a significant place as an auspicious and extraordinary creature, unparalleled in talent and excellence. It symbolizes power, nobility,
honor, luck and success. 2024 is forecasted to bring about opportunities, changes and challenges.” And so far, 2024 has done just that.
While 2024 may be the year of the dragon for many people across the globe – and it certainly has lived up to the creature’s promises of opportunities, changes and challenges – I would venture to say here at ABAT it has also been the year of the woman. We have seen such an uprising of amazing women in our industry that have a passion to see it grow and become better by their contributions.
We saw this at our Ladies Night of Honor in Lubbock and then it was further confirmed at the Ladies Event at the Texas Auto Body Trade Show. We planned for just a handful of women to attend as they have in years past, but this year we busted right out of the doors of Salt Bar at the Texican Court. The best energy of the continued on pg. 27
Jill Tuggle ABAT Executive Director
Trade Show Highlights 2024
Bigger, Better, BEST!
Great Memories Made at ABAT’S 2024 TEXAS AUTO BODY TRADE SHOW
It just keeps getting bigger and better!
That is precisely why the Texas Auto Body Trade Show is THE best! Record-breaking numbers are proof that this year’s show is the only place collision repairers in the entire southeast region – and, of course, the Lone Star State – can access excellent education, top-ofthe-line equipment and reliable resources, all while having a ton of fun along the way!
The Irving Convention Center was alive with activity from the moment the show opened on Friday until it was all said and done Saturday evening. Attendees walked away with newfound knowledge, valuable tools and memories that will last for decades to come.
Some even walked away with prizes and bragging rights!
The fourth iteration of the BIG SHOTS Competition once again drew crowds to the center of the show floor as onlookers came to watch people compete and show off their skills in paintless dent repair (PDR), auto body tech (welding), painting and estimating.
The champion in each of the four categories (featured on the front cover) walked away with $1,000 cash and other prizes.
PDR TECH
First place: Tony Rios (Dent Stop; Dallas)
Second place: Wendell Shults (Delete Dents; Pampa)
Third place: Steve George (After the Storm Autoworx; Plano)
ESTIMATOR
First place: Orlando Hernandez (Berli’s Body and Fine Finishes; Pflugerville)
Second place: Kent Deaver (Berli’s Body and Fine Finishes; Pflugerville)
Third place: Philip Glass (Park Place Bodywerks; Dallas)
PAINTER
First place: Adrian Ortiz (Park Place Bodywerks; Dallas)
Second place: Bryan Mendez (Xtreme Collision; Carrollton)
Third place: Flaco Oviedo (Auto Body Concepts; Gainesville)
AUTO BODY TECH
First place: Bill Thacker (Caliber Collision)
Second place: Alan Meza (Ratteree)
Third place: Hector Delgado (Traction Collision; Houston)
Mike Anderson Discusses 100 Percent Disassembly, Embracing Change & More With Attendees
Collision repairers filled the Junior Ballroom to capacity to hear from the always-captivating Mike Anderson (Collision Advice), who showed them all how tomorrow’s success is based on their willingness to embrace change today.
“What got you here today is not what is going to get you there tomorrow,” Anderson inspired, challenging them to “try something different. If it isn’t broken, I’m telling you to go ahead and break it.”
He hit shop owners with the cold hard truth that dollars do not equal success.
“We are all fat and happy because severity is up, but we are getting a false sense of security if we don’t wake up and get back to the basics.” His solution? Write a proper repair plan. “Our industry’s repair planning has gotten worse, and we have got to fix that.”
Anderson demonstrated the many things that matter most to customers. They want the body shop to know them individually and know their car. They want a personalized experience. Studies show that people are more interested in investing money into experiences rather than things. Evolving telematics is sculpting a world where
vehicle owners will not only want a personal experience, but they will get that experience.
“The car of the future is basically going to become a concierge or a butler,” Anderson illustrated. “This is what IS coming. People will use their cars for recommendations, including where to get their car serviced.
He had the entire room shout in unison, “Response time matters” as he drilled home this important point because “when someone contacts our shop after hours, response time will matter, and that is where artificial intelligence can help you.” There are AI tools that can help customers schedule appointments or even answer an initial intake phone call.
“You need to offer an experience worth paying for.”
Collision shop owners must invest in their own business, according to Anderson, who has found that one needs to spend about 2.5 percent of their sales in marketing. “It helps people know who you are before they wreck their car.”
In a field struggling with tech shortages, Anderson showed proof
All winners in all categories received prizes and swag courtesy of the BIG SHOTS sponsors.
Each year, the show provides an opportunity for vendors to showcase their latest innovations, and 2024 was no different. In fact, it was one of the best according to many returning exhibitors who reported loads of activity on the show floor.
“We’re big supporters of ABAT and believe in their mission and vision – that’s what brings us back year after year,” shared Robby Read of Gold Sponsor 1Source ADAS. “This time, the show was bigger than it’s ever been. We get to interact with the people in this market. Being part of the show is a good way to get our name out there and interact with people in the industry.”
Matt Riddle of BIG SHOTS Sponsor AkzoNobel reported, “Turnout has been really good! We are here to support the industry. We are also big proponents of what ABAT does and their work to push legislation that would support the entire United States eventually.”
Silver Sponsor REVV ADAS was new to the show floor. According to Saurabh Kohli, the business seized the opportunity to learn and grow from the experience. “The company is about
continued on pg. 12
that hope lies in Enterprise Mobility’s Collision Engineering Program. He welcomed Jannifer Stimmel-Watkins of Texas State Technical College (Waco) to the stage to share details about this 15-week program that is both hands-on in shops and hands-off in the classroom. Anderson outlined how the program can result in huge rewards for minimal investment of a $13,000 tuition which includes tools. If a shop chooses to send a student to this program, “you will pay for that tech in just 90 days.”
Anderson sent everyone away with the promise of good times ahead. “There are opportunities for this industry,” he insisted as he reminded all to “never underestimate the power of a consumer” and encouraged everyone to “develop your team and develop yourself.” He also stressed how important it is to be part of organizations like ABAT.
Creating An Extraordinary Customer Experience
Offering an extraordinary customer experience begins with getting to know one’s customers on a personal level. Sheryl Driggers of Collision Advice used the DISC track system to show attendees how to identify different personality traits and how to effectively communicate with each one.
“Who you are speaking to and the words you choose matters,” Driggers explained. “We want to make sure we are balancing competency and warmth and it’s scaled based on who we are dealing with.”
Take the time to get to know the customer and their vehicle. The process should go deeper than taking keys and worrying about the process later. “Educate the customer about what the repair process looks like at your shop. Maybe they had an accident a few months ago and had a different experience elsewhere. Your process may be different. Set expectations up front.”
Anderson returned to the classroom Saturday morning to not only preach the importance of performing nothing less than 100 percent disassembly, but to show repair professionals how it’s done. It starts with getting the entire shop team on board with the process.
“Do you want to create thinkers or robots?” Anderson asked, explaining that showing people how to do something will be taken more seriously when that person has a true understanding of why it is done. “If I take the time to show an employee how it’s done in depth, the employee will understand it more.”
Anderson has trained countless shops in this process. He said studies show that people need to perform a task 30 days in a row in order to learn it, but in a body shop, it will take a lot longer as employees don’t work that many days consecutively; therefore, he’d audit the work every day until he got the outcome he wanted. “If all you do is point out what was done wrong, it will have negative effects. Attack the process, not the person.”
The goal is to teach them to look for not-so-obvious indicators of damage. Anderson demonstrated his methods for organizing parts carts to easily keep everything in order and ready for reassembly.
Mike Anderson (Collision Advice)
Sheryl Driggers (Collision Advice)
Trade Show Highlights 2024
continued from pg. 11
Damage Appraisal Documentation
John Shoemaker (BASF) set out to arm collision repair professionals with numerous resources to effectively document the repair process.
“We have to understand what is going on with the vehicle,” Shoemaker stressed. “The first resource we have is the OEM repair procedures, and there are a lot of other things that go with that, like p-pages, your Audatex, Mitchell or CCC. If you don’t understand those p-pages of what is included and what is not-included, you are going to lose up front.”
He reviewed how to use tools like the Society of Collision Repair Specialists’ Guide to Complete Repair Planning, I-CAR’s RTS portal and OEM1Stop. Shoemaker also suggested shops be “cognizant of the skill set of the OEs.” OEs do a lot of their certifications through I-CAR and spend a lot of time on curriculum, so they want to make sure shops know what they are doing. “If Subaru sees that you replaced an apron or an upper rail and you assign that repair as ‘body,’ you may be put on suspension.”
Unveiling Trends & Reimbursement Strategies for Body Shop Materials
A big part of getting properly reimbursed for the work and materials used comes down to the presentation. “Make sure you have your house in order,” advised Yanni Koutmos (Eagle MMS) who emphasized that a shop must “write everything you do and do everything you write.”
Having one’s house in order includes maintaining a clean shop. “It’s hard for an adjuster to write a check in an office with dust and parts all over the place.”
He reminded repair professionals that the insurance companies owe the vehicle owner, not the shop, but the shop can shape the narrative by including the customer in all lines of communication. It’s also important to remember that the appraiser is human too, but just someone on the other side of the fence.
“Put your ego in your front pocket, and you’ll put more money in your back pocket,” Koutmos suggested. “It’s not all about you.”
Filling Profit Leaks
Ian Szilagyi (OEC) gave attendees insight into some of the tools that can help them capture the full picture of the repair, as there are many situations where shops are likely leaving too much on the table, without them even realizing it.
“Let’s make sure we get paid for everything we do.”
Referring to the complexity of vehicle repairs, especially with the influx of electric vehicles (EVs), Szilagyi suggested shop owners make a strategic business decision about whether or not they want to take on this area of repair.
“If you don’t want to fix EVs depending on your geographical location, that is ok,” he said, referring to making the right choice for one’s business.
one year old now, and we came to meet clients, get some new leads and expand our business.” He reported the team had good conversations with those they interacted with and looks forward to seeing what the ROI will amount to in coming weeks.
Justin Proctor of Diamond Sponsor All Clear Diagnostics and Calibration says the show is consistent year after year with all it has to offer. “We always enjoy this show! It’s a chance to see some familiar faces. We are big on relationships and networking, and there’s always a good turnout here. It’s all about meeting people, getting out there and showing people what we have to offer.”
“This is our backyard,” Matt Burkley of BIG SHOTS sponsor and returning exhibitor Car-O-Liner Southwest enthusiastically expressed. “This is where the majority of our customer base is; it’s the customer base we’ve had for 30-plus years. It’s old friends, new friends, children of old friends – that’s why we keep coming back.
“What we’re excited about this year versus prior shows is we have a new product that we were able to unveil for the first time in 20 years – an update to our frame bench,” he continued. “It was exciting for us to showcase that, especially to our old friends.”
Chris Curran of longtime supporter Eco-Tech Systems also sang the praises of the 2024 event. “It’s been a really good show with new leads coming in.” Curran says the opportunity to “meet new clients and see existing clients” is what always brings them back.
Platinum Sponsor BASF’s Jeff Frye cites the consistent foot traffic and opportunity to meet new people as reasons for coming back to each iteration of ABAT’s show. “This year has been much like years past,” Frye reported. “We’ve seen existing customers and some new prospects. It’s been a good show.” Beyond the great experience the show provides, BASF’s partnership with English Color and Supply as well as their relationship with Burl Richards and his
John Shoemaker (BASF)
Yanni Koutmos (Eagle MMS)
Ian Szilagyi (OEC)
shops are additional reasons Frye lists as their reasons for bringing their annual support.
“It was a great turnout,” boasted ABAT Board member Robert McDorman (Auto Claim Specialists). “Lots of people are hungry for education. They want to learn about safe and proper repairs, and ABAT supports that message.”
McDorman noted the enthusiasm that was felt by those he interacted with on the show floor. “Many guests are interested in what ABAT can do to help them. Every year, we see more and more new faces.”
ABAT thanks the following sponsors for their generous support of the 2024 Texas Auto Body Trade Show: Diamond Sponsors: All Clear Diagnostics and Calibrations and English Color and Supply, LLC; Platinum Sponsor: BASF; Gold Sponsor: 1Source ADAS; Silver Sponsors: Complete Collision Solutions and REVV ADAS; Car Show Sponsor: English Color and Supply, LLC; Media Sponsor: VAULTONIQ; BIG SHOTS Sponsors: 3M, AkzoNobel, AnsonPDR, Car-O-Liner Southwest, CCC Intelligent Solutions, Evercoast, KECO, Norton, Sherwin-Williams and Solidus; NASCAR Sponsors: All Clear Diagnostics & Calibration, Auto Claim Specialists, Car-O-Liner Southwest, Collision Classifieds, Consolidation Coach, FindPigtails.com, GO Rentals, SMART Vehicle Solutions and UniCare Spraybooths. TXA
Show Coverage continues on pg. 16!
Estimating for Seat Belt Inspections
“If it’s not in the file, it didn’t happen.”
Danny Gredinberg of the Database Enhancement Gateway used that statement to drive home the point that repairers must document everything they do.
“How many of you have ever had a frustrating experience and you call to vent your frustrations and are told that they have no record of it?” he polled the audience. One must prove the seat belt was removed and inspected. “You can’t tell a jury ‘I did everything to it.’ Document it and share it with the customer. When the time comes to prove the work was done, it’ll be at the ready,” Gredinberg preached.
He also spoke about the importance of verifying components. “One little clip can cause chaos if you don’t have it when you need it. One 50 cent clip can cause havoc as you will have to do the right thing and hold the vehicle until it’s 100 percent complete.”
Contemporary Workforce Dynamics
Seventy percent of employees in the US are self-admittedly disengaged, and Tony Adams (AkzoNobel) believes that number is even higher in the collision repair world.
“It begs the question: do we need more people, or do we have to figure out how to tap the hearts and heads of our employees?” he asked. “They are showing up and giving us their hands, but we have to reach their hearts and minds. I believe this is the only thing we need to focus on.”
Adams believes the industry has an employee retention problem as opposed to an employee shortage issue, and the conversation has to shift in that regard.
“We need to come up with solutions and new ways to engage this workforce, because this workforce is different.” Adams hears shop owners say “I can’t find anyone” or “employees don’t want to work,” but he suggests they ask themselves, “What are the conditions that I’ve created in my business that would make people want to stay here?”
Having Honest Conversations
Clay Hoberecht (Best Body Shop) set out to have an honest conversation with fellow repairers about the most pressing issues that affect their day to day in an informal, interactive setting. Fellow collision professional Alex Stapleton (Spanesi) joined Hoberecht in spurring audience interaction. The two encouraged participants to come forth with topics such as short pay, Right to Appraisal, educating customers, labor rate challenges and thensome.
“I think our industry is upside down,” Hoberecht declared. “One of the biggest problems is that we don’t have real conversations.” He commended the audience for their enthusiasm and openness to discussion. “This is a breath of fresh air I haven’t felt in quite a while. This is a room full of people who really want to do the right thing.”
Tony Adams (AkzoNobel)
Clay Hoberecht (Best Body Shop)
Danny Gredinberg (DEG)
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Trade Show Highlights 2024
Navigating Collision Repair Regulations and Insurance Terminology
An all-star cast consisting of ABAT President Burl Richards (Burl’s Collision Center; Henderson), Robert McDorman (Auto Claim Specialists) and attorney and former state legislator Travis Clardy (Clardy Law Offices) shared tales of how to navigate around the “necessary evil” that is the insurance industry.
Richards admits that when insurance companies would pay for some things, but not other things, he initially thought “it was just the way it was.” When they began to pay even less and less, “I realized that ain’t right, and I got really pissed off.”
He’s since become a huge advocate for change along with McDorman and Clardy. ABAT has been working tirelessly trying to
(L-R): Robert McDorman, Victoria Hickman, Travis Clardy and Burl Richards discussed the “necessary evils” of the insurance industry.
pass legislation that will ensure every insurance policy includes the Appraisal Clause.
“Robert has written the Rosetta Stone on how to deal with insurance companies and claims, and it’s to get them to do what is in their policy,” Clardy said about McDorman’s work.
The idea of consumers having the Right to Appraisal should be simple and not a problem, but unfortunately, insurance companies don’t want people to know about it, let alone use it. Clardy says he’s felt the resistance when trying to push for legislation in front of the insurance committee at the State House.
“Insurance companies don’t want to spend money. Insurance is a necessary evil. They are necessary, and they are evil.”
“Nothing happens without an education,” stressed McDorman. “Policy always dictates what happens, but will they do what the policy says? Absolutely not.”
When a shop like Burl’s Collision sends in an estimate and the insurance company “puts it through the whack-o-meter” as McDorman called it and sends it back at half as much, Right to Appraisal is the answer.
Prior to this discussion, Richards also led an impromptu interactive session with Clardy and John Niechwiadowicz (QLC, Inc.) where they spoke to shop owners about what happens when insurance companies abandon vehicles at shops.
Repairody!
Leave it to ABAT to bring FUN to every aspect of the Texas Auto Body Trade Show –including the educational space!
Danny Gredinberg (Database Enhancement Gateway) and Erin Solis (Certified Collision Group) hosted a Jeopardy parody – a game show designed for collision repairers, appropriately titled Repairody!
Contestants included super duos who teamed up to tackle questions and Daily Doubles in a number of repair-related categories. Contestants earned body hours instead of dollar amounts for answering correctly. Congratulations to the winning team of Carrie Coppi (Hub City Body Shop; Lubbock) and Mike Anderson (Collision Advice) who were in the friendly face off against Phil Glass (Park Place Bodywerks; Dallas) and Kayla Hughs (Car-O-Liner Southwest) and Frank and Jennifer Phillips (ADAS Solutions USA; Argyle).
Trade Show Highlights 2024
Rewarding Shop Culture
Mike Anderson (Collision Advice), Tony Adams (AkzoNobel) and Burl Richards (ABAT President/Burl’s Collision Center; Henderson) got a roomful of repair professionals to consider the benefits of adapting a rewarding and engaging shop culture that keeps employees happy and in turn results in better customer satisfaction.
Burl Richards (ABAT President)
Mike Anderson (Collision Advice)
“If your shop was a sports team, would your employees want to wear your jersey and have your name as their favorite player?” Anderson asked, challenging everyone in the room to think about whether or not their staff members believe in the operation and feel valued.
While incentive or retention bonuses can be good motivators, employee appreciation doesn’t always have to come with dollar signs, the panelists revealed. “We’re always hearing about money, money, money, but some people just really want an extra day off,” Adams observed.
The panelists inspired the audience to think about other ways to reward their team that are memorable. “People don’t always remember what they spent their money on,” said Anderson who spoke about a business that gives employees a “paid-paid vacation” –in addition to the time off, this business owner gives his team members actual funds to take that vacation.
Miss Texas Visits Industry Peers
A visit from “Miss Texas” made the Texas Auto Body Trade Show shine even brighter! The Lone Star State’s very own America Strong pageant winner, Allegra Florimbi (After the Storm Autoworx; Plano) graced the aisles of the show to interact with her industry peers and members of ABAT.
“I’m a part of this industry, and I came to the show to see all the amazing vendors, many of whom we work closely with,” Florimbi shared. “Being here is a great opportunity to learn more – I wouldn’t miss it.”
She’s been working at After the Storm Autoworx for the past year and a half, assisting her boss, Justin Stricklin, in the office with insurance claims, finances and dealing with clients. “I’ll also hop in to help with a windshield or detail. I get my hands dirty.
During her short time thus far in the industry, she’s come to realize how much of a gap there was in her education as a female vehicle owner. “I never thought I’d be a part of this industry and I’m learning so much. I love it!”
Celebrating 10 Years of ABAT!
ABAT’s annual Afterparty at Bar Louie was the only place to be Friday night, as association members and supporters joined together to celebrate the first night of the show and so much more! In honor of the association’s 10-year anniversary, ABAT took the opportunity to present their very first award ceremony recognizing the many folks who have contributed so much along the way.
ABAT’S 2023-2024 AWARD RECIPIENTS
Chapter of the Year: West Texas Chapter
10th Anniversary Founding Member Award: Chad Neal (Paint Works; Tyler)
ABAT’s President Award: Robert McDorman (Auto Claim Specialists)
Advocacy in Motion Award: Griffin’s Paint & Body
Chrome Commitment Award: Auto Tech Services
Tony Adams (AkzoNobel)
Burl Richards with Allegra Florimbi and Justin Stricklin (After the Storm Autoworx)
Allegra visited the ABAT booth and took home a prize!
Join ABAT today in our mission to promote consumer safety, proper repairs and the success of the collision repair industry!
WE CAN’T WAIT FOR YOU TO SHARE YOUR IDEAS!
Ask The Expert Latest Total Loss Scheme – Insurance Carriers Abandoning Vehicles at Shops
Dear Mr. McDorman,
by Robert L. McDorman
I own and operate a collision facility in East Texas. In the last several months, several insurance carriers have abandoned vehicles at our shop. The insurance carrier refused to send us the title in each of these instances. Over the years, you have represented many clients when the insurance carrier deducted our shop fees from the insured’s total loss settlement. On each of these, you were able to help our client get reimbursed for these wrongful deductions by their insurance carrier and also increase their settlement by accurately defining the Actual Cash Value through the Right-to-Appraisal process. How can the insurance carrier abandon the vehicle at our shop without paying reasonable fees? Have you seen this type of egregious behavior in other parts of Texas?
Thank you for your comments and questions. Yes, we see this egregious behavior across the United States. It is my professional opinion the first line of defense the insured has in these types of situations is to review the total loss proposed settlement offer to make sure the insurance carrier has appropriately defined the actual cash value. If the insured emails us the market valuation report, settlement summary and photos of the damaged vehicle, we will review the settlement at no cost. Should we determine that the insurance carrier has likely under-indemnified the proposed settlement, we will offer suggestions to the insured to see to it they are made whole for their loss. The first step is to obtain a certified actual cash value appraisal. As I have spoken and written about for many years, the actual cash value of the loss vehicle is the fencepost on how liability should be handled according to the policy.
Over the years, when our clients’ insurance carriers have wrongfully deducted the shop charges from their settlement, we have successfully seen that these charges are reimbursed. However, the carriers’ latest scheme to harm the insured by abandoning the vehicle has different optics. As a note, the insurance carrier is only liable to the insured for the liability limits as outlined in the policy and declaration page. As mentioned above, the insured should always check the proposed settlement to ensure the insurance carrier has appropriately identified the actual cash value.
In most of the Texas insurance policies in our library, the limits of liability states that the limits of liability for loss to a covered auto, non-owned auto or custom parts or equipment is the lowest of: A) the actual cash value of the stolen or damaged property at the time of the loss reduced by the applicable deductible; B) the amount necessary to replace the stolen or damaged property reduced by the applicable deductible; C) the amount necessary to repair the damaged property to its pre-loss condition reduced by the applicable deductible; or D) the stated amount shown on the declarations page for that covered auto.
As we can see in the policy language listed above, once the insurance carrier has reached the policy limits of liability, the carrier has the right not to honor the insured policy requirement to preserve the loss vehicle after the loss expense. To take this one step further, when the insurance carrier realizes they cannot reduce their liability
Robert is a recognized Public Insurance Adjuster and Certified Vehicle Value Expert specializing in motor vehicle-related insurance claim resolution. Robert can be reached by phone at (800) 736-6816, (817) 756-5482 or via email at AskTheExpert@autoclaimspecialists.com.
enough to cover the collision facility’s fees to pick up the loss vehicle, we see the insurance carrier electing to abandon the vehicle at the shop. Our position at Auto Claim Specialists is that these types of loss disputes should be subject to appraisal.
Until legislators pass laws to make the Right to Appraisal mandatory in Texas for all motor vehicle policies, we have no choice but to continue to advise our clients who have been harmed and cheated by their insurance carriers to fight like the third monkey in line to get onto Noah’s Ark when it has already begun to rain, and we will help. In my professional opinion, the more times these systematic under-indemnification schemes are exposed and monetary punishment is levied, the quicker change will come to help us all.
Our position at Auto Claim Specialists is that the Right to Appraisal should be a mandatory contractual right in every policy. For the 89th Texas Legislative panel, we will team up with our lobbyist, Andrew “Drew” Graham, to educate lawmakers and help secure mandatory contractual appraisal rights for all insured Texans. We, the insureds, are many, and I am confident that if we all join forces and do what we can, we will be successful in securing our rights and our children’s rights to contest insurance settlement offers that would result in underpayment of losses and/or shoddy and dangerous repairs.
Under-indemnification in repair procedure claims in Texas is rampant. Most of the above-referenced averages on estimates and supplements had many overlooked (by design) safety and OEMrequired operations needed to restore the loss vehicle to its pre-loss condition to the best of one’s human ability. Besides the higher settlements we have obtained for our clients with repair procedure disputes, we have increased total loss settlements on average by $4,200 (or 28 percent) above the carrier’s proposed final offer. These under-indemnification percentages are staggering and harmful to Texas citizens. I believe limiting or removing the insured’s right to appraise a repair procedure is a safety issue. Allowing insurance carriers to limit or eliminate the Right to Appraisal in a repair procedure dispute will be the nail in the coffin for safe roadways in Texas.
The spirit of the Appraisal Clause is to resolve loss disputes fairly and to do so in a timely and cost-effective manner. Invoking the Appraisal Clause removes inexperienced and biased carrier appraisers and claims handlers from the process, undermining their management’s many tricks to undervalue the loss settlement and under-indemnify the insured. Through the Appraisal Clause, loss disputes can be resolved relatively quickly, economically, equitably and amicably by unbiased, experienced, independent third-party
continued on pg. 24
continued from pg. 4
awards ceremony as ABAT celebrates a DECADE! Some very deserving folks finally received some of the recognition they’re due (full list of winners on page 18), but two of those awards mean an awful lot to me personally.
I was so honored to present ABAT’s inaugural Founder’s Award to Chad Neal (Paint Works; Tyler), one of our founding members who does not get nearly enough recognition for everything he’s done. If it wasn’t for Chad, there wouldn’t be an ABAT! When we were trying to get things off the ground, shops didn’t want to listen to a “competitor” like me, so Chad stepped in and hosted a training event with Tim Ronak (AkzoNobel). He used his resources to bring shops into the same room, allowing us to discuss why Texas shops needed an organization to support their businesses, and from there, we took ABAT to the next level. But it would have never existed at all if Chad hadn’t understood how important this group would be to his customers.
It was also exciting to recognize another vital part of our association: Robert McDorman (Auto Claim Specialists) received ABAT’s first President’s Award. Nobody deserves to be honored more for everything he has done for this organization, from contributing his time and money to educating shops and legislators on Right to Appraisal and diminished value. I’m proud to call him my friend.
ABAT has a lot of really great friends, which is why we’re able to convince some of the biggest names in the industry to come on down to Irving and enjoy the southern charm they’re bound to find
in our neck of the woods. We’re talking about people like Mike Anderson (Collision Advice), Tony Adams (AkzoNobel), Danny Gredinberg (Database Enhancement Gateway) and so many others. (Check out the recap of the educational sessions on page 10.)
As always, there was a ton to learn for anyone who was willing to engage, but I have to admit that my favorite wound up being one that I was involved in (and I swear that’s not why I enjoyed it so much). Because one of our presenters couldn’t make it because of a plane delay, I agreed to step in and figure something out, and I’m really proud of how that impromptu session turned out. Fortunately, John Niechwiadowicz (QLC, Inc.) was on hand, and I asked attorney Travis Clardy (Clardy Law Offices) to join us as we tackled a topic that got brought up in another class related to what happens when insurance companies abandon vehicles at shops. If you were there, you definitely learned something, and if you weren’t, don’t worry – I suspect we stumbled upon something that you’ll be reading more about in a future issue of this magazine!
Running a body shop can be exhausting, so I understand how easily we can all get tired and worn down, but this show manages to reinvigorate me in unexpected ways each year. I’m always amazed by how much I learn from others and by those who learn from me. I believe that’s one of the keys that makes this show such a success; ABAT wants to share this information with every body shop in Texas and anyone else who wants to join us. That’s how we give back to our industry. We support and educate one another, and that’s really a refreshing concept.
burl@burlscollision.com
Ask The Expert
continued from pg. 20
appraisers as opposed to more costly and time-consuming methods such as mediation, arbitration and litigation.
In today’s world, regarding motor vehicle insurance policies, frequent changes in claim management and claim handling policies and non-standardized GAP Addendums, we have found it is always in the best interest of the insured or claimant to have their proposed insurance settlement reviewed by an expert before accepting. There is never an upfront fee for Auto Claim Specialists to review a motor vehicle claim or proposed settlement and give their professional opinion as to the fairness of the offer.
Please call me should you have any questions relating to the policy or covered loss. We have most insurance policies in our library. Always remember that a safe repair is a quality repair and quality equates to value. I thank you for your question and look forward to any follow-up questions that may arise.
Sincerely,
Robert L. McDorman
TXA
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Executive Director’s Message
continued from pg. 6
entire weekend could be felt in the 90 minutes spent at this event. So many connections were made and I cannot wait to see what we can accomplish together!
While my personal beliefs differ from those of the zodiac, it is fun to make connections to something with a little mystery and magic. And with several months left in the Dragon’s reign this year, who knows what he –or probably SHE – has up her sleeve!
jill@abat.com
Why Join WIN?
WIN offers education, mentoring and leadership development opportunities to build critical skills for success in the collision repair market.
• Local/Regional Networking Events
• Annual Education Conference
• Educational Webinars
• Mentoring Opportunities
womensindustrynetwork.com
• Scholarship Program
• School Outreach Program
• Most Influential Women (MIW) Award
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