ASE top scorer

ASE presents the ASE Top Score Award to the individual who works for an ASA member shop who had the highest score in the nation on the ASE collision repair and refinish tests in the past year. This year's winner was Raymond Jones, shop foreman at Central Georgia Collision Center in Warner Robins, Georgia.

"Raymond is a really conscientious worker, who is good at training others, and he knows to show them the right way," Jones' boss Carlene Goff said. "And you don't have to worry that he's going to teach them the wrong thing."

Magazine presents award, scholarship

For 20 years, BodyShop Business magazine has presented a "Collision Repair Executive of the Year" award at NACE. In announcing this year's winner, magazine publisher Denise Lloyd said Wisconsin shop owner Jim Keller "exemplifies the changing nature of the collision repair industry and how a hard-working individual can succeed in a turbulent industry."

Keller started working as a technician in his teens, and was managing a dealership shop by age 21. In 1981, he opened his own shop, adding a second location after several years. In 1998, he sold his shops to a consolidator, buying them back two years later when the consolidator closed its doors.

"Along the way he has held numerous positions with I-CAR, ASA, CIC, and his local and state technical colleges," Lloyd said.

"I share this award today with all my many industry friends and the leaders of ASA, I-CAR, CIC and SCRS, who over the years have helped me to succeed and understand the true meaning of leadership," Keller said.

He also expressed appreciation to his shop staff and his family.

Lloyd also presented her magazine's annual NACE scholarship to William Bray, an estimator at Roth & Miller Autobody, Inc., in Portland, Oregon. As the winner, Bray received $1,000 toward her expenses to attend NACE.

Akzo Nobel salutes women in industry

Akzo Nobel once again honored a group of women as among the "most influential in the collision repair industry. The women - now a total of 36 in the program's 5-year history, are recognized for their commitment to their business or organization, as well as to their communities and the industry at large.

As part of the program, Akzo donates funds in the winner's names for student scholarships. This year, Akzo donated $10,000 to the I-CAR Education Foundation, money the Foundation in turn presented as scholarships to nine women attending collision repair training throughout the country.

The guest speaker at the Akzo awards dinner was Janet Guthrie, who in the mid- 1970s became the first woman to compete in the Indianapolis 500.

This year's honorees were:

• Bertha Betrand, co-manager of Brian Cullen Body Shop in St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada;

• Teresa Bolton, collision repair and refinishing specialist for the National Institute of Automotive Service Excellence (ASE);

• Georgina Carson, editor of BodyShop Business, based in Cleveland, Ohio;

• Karen Fierst, president of KerenOr Consultants, based in Silver Spring, Maryland, whose clients include the Taiwan Autobody Parts Association; and,

• Eileen Haberman, vice-president and co-owner of Glen's Auto Body in Waukesha, Wisconsin.

CIECA announces annual awards

Each year, the Collision Industry Electronic Commerce Association (CIECA) recognizes the individuals and companies that have made extra efforts during the past year to contribute to CIECA's work to create and implement standards for the various electronic links tying the various segments of the collision industry.

State Farm Insurance was named the "Electronic Commerce Company of the Year." Three State Farm employees - Paul Rutkowski, Darren Voth and Dave Meiser - received awards for outstanding contribution or outstanding leadership.

Mark Kovacs of Process Claims also received an "Outstanding Leadership" award; and Sylvia Schoch of USAA and Bob Thomas of CCC Information Systems were cited for "Outstanding Dedication."

Receiving a special recognition award from CIECA was John Webb of CSi Complete.