The Arizona Collision Craftsman's Association January 19 meeting at the Phoenix Airport Hilton was a testament to the success of 2004 and a commitment to success for 2005. Over 60 industry representatives from all over the state and around the country gathered for this first meeting of the year. 

Herb Gerard accepts the Pioneer Award.

Riding on the coattails of a successful legislative effort last year - securing the passage of anti-steering bill HB 2468 --this association promises a full slate for the upcoming year.

President Brad Beebe, Brad's Deer Valley Collis-ion, Phoenix, started off the evening by introducing Cindy Backes, Main Street Collision, Phoenix, to bestow the ACCA's first Pioneer Award. The Pioneer Award is a designation to honor individuals who have contributed above and beyond to the collision repair industry.

First Pioneer Award

Backes presented the Pioneer Award to Herb Gerard, a passionate 83-year-young industry leader. With tears in her eyes, Backes introduced Gerard and spoke of his dedication to this industry and his compassion for all. Gerard has been active in the automobile business for 65 years.

Starting his career as a welder - and a very good one - he has owned businesses, worked as an insurance claims manager and is currently the editor of The Arizona Collision Watchdog, the official national publication of the Coalition for Collision Repair Excellence (theCCRE). Gerard, looking resplendent and very Arizona wearing a magnificent silver and turquoise bola tie, received the award to a standing ovation. He spoke of his passion for the industry and left the audience with these thoughts: "I am a champion to those who listen and I have a message for those that don't."

Lobbyist speaks

The next item on the agenda was a report from Arizona lobbyist Barry Aarons. Aarons, representing the political action group Fairness For Automotive Consumers (FAC), asked Arizona's collision industry to "please be aggressive in asking your customers to fill out the easy questionnaire developed to monitor how consumer repair choices are handled. We need to show graphically how our legislation is working." FAC is continuing its strong participation in the Arizona Statehouse. Currently, the group is working on language for an air bag safety bill for next session.

CollisionWeek editor speaks

Dan Needham, CARSTAR franchisee, Jim Henson, CARSTAR franchisee, Bob Mickey, I-CAR Southwest Regional Manager, and Russell Thrall III, editor of CollisionWeek, pause in conversation long enough to pose for this picture at the Arizona Collision Craftsman Association meeting in Phoeniz, Arizona.

Guest speaker Russell Thrall III, editor of CollisionWeek, left a snowstorm in Pennsylvania to come to the seventy-five degree weather in Arizona. Thrall, second generation in the collision re-pair industry, still lives in the community where his father, Russell Thrall II, continues to run his collision repair shop and nine towing locations. "I started at the bottom," smiled Thrall, "cleaning up for my Dad." From those humble beginnings, Thrall has climbed the ladder of editorial success as for-mer editor of Industry Insight magazine and Automotive Body Repair News.

In 2000, Thrall started CollisionWeek: Your Global Source for Collision Repair Industry News, Statistics and Trend Analysis. A self-proclaimed news junkie, Thrall explained "I always have CNN or CNBC on in my office. It seemed this industry would welcome daily up-to-the-minute news from a global perspective."

In addition to industry news, Thrall does trend analysis and statistics. He brought some Arizona statistics to the group. From 1998-2001, the Arizona collision repair shop population grew 7.4 %, to 667 shops. Startlingly, the stats for total losses climbed from 9-10% in 2002 to a staggering 18-20% currently.

Nationally speaking, 2004 was not a good year for the collision repair industry. Third quarter 2004 reports were way down - 54% lower sales and 57% lower earnings. "If your business is growing - good for you," he stated.

Industry faces lack of technicians

Thrall continued, "Looking at big picture issues, the biggest problem the industry is facing is the lack of skilled technicians. The competition from other industries is creating a serious shortage." In that vein, this last year Thrall has been working with I-CAR. He is managing the technical services of the I-CAR Education Foun-dation. One of his I-CAR projects is the "Collision for Kids" website. His research for this project has included spending time watching shows like "Pimp My Ride." New generation, new ideas!

In his closing remarks, Thrall's heritage was evident. "When I am asked how to identify good shops, I explain that it is the shops involved with their associations - sharing benefits and ideas that rise to the top."

Come and join in

The ACCA plans on substantial growth in the coming year. Bill Park, Big Sky Collision, Tucson, will chair a new membership committee. ACCA is also working on an inter-active website to be available later this year.

President Beebe concluded the meeting by asking the membership "to come together as an industry, and learn to view competitors as a valuable resource. Come to a meeting, we learn a lot from each other!"

Janet Chaney has served in many facets of the collision repair industry. She is now looking after the best interests of her clients from Desert Hills, Arizona. Her email address is This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it