SOUTHWEST NEWS (349)
Texas, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Louisiana
Autobody News SouthWestern print edition is mailed to 7,000 body shops monthly
Caliber Collision Centers announced that it has acquired Legend Collision Center and reopened the location as Caliber West San Antonio.
“West San Antonio center brings our total number of locations in the San Antonio market area to 10 as we continue to grow both organically and through strategic acquisitions,” said Steve Grimshaw, Caliber Collision Centers’ Chief Executive Officer. “This new center also creates additional capacity across this important market as we provide our insurance clients the customer focus, operational consistency and cost management they require in today’s competitive insurance market.”
The newly acquired 19,900- square-foot collision repair facility is at 11720 Culebra Road, San Antonio, TX 78253.
“Our new West San Antonio center provides another example of how Caliber Collision continues to grow across the Texas market,” added Mark Sanders, Chief Operating Officer for Caliber Collision Centers. “This brings our total number of centers in Texas to 49.”
Service King Collision Repair Centers, a Texas-based operator of collision repair facilities in the Houston, Dallas-Ft. Worth, San Antonio and Austin markets, announced the opening of their 12th new collision center within the Houston marketplace on May 22. The shop is located in Clearlake, Texas, at 17080 Mill Forest Rd. This facility is the 48th location in Texas.
Abilene’s 2011 Perfect Storm Still Brings Benefits to Body Shops
Written by staffThe economy in Abilene, TX is still cashing in on the 2011 Easter storm that dumped 2.4 inches of rain in three hours and hammered cars, shattered windshields and punched holes in rooftops with pea to softball size hail.
According to Hector Guerrero, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service, four weather elements combined to create a “perfect storm” on Easter Sunday 2011.
Norman, Oklahoma, Body Shop Narrowly Escapes Next Door Tornado Devastation
Written by Melanie Anderson
In tornado season in Oklahoma you don’t have to be superstitious to think bad things could happen on any given day, never mind Friday the thirteenth. But for Norman shop owner Philip DeFatta, this Friday, April 13, could have been a day out of the movies. At about 4:00 p.m., a tornado hit the heart of Norman, Oklahoma and cut roughly an eight-mile swath through the town, especially the southwest portion.
Auto Body World Collision Centers, with locations throughout the metro Phoenix and Casa Grande, Arizona markets, announced plans to open its ninth location in Phoenix, Arizona in June. Auto Body World has been acquired by Texas-based Service King in a deal to be finalized this summer.
Corpus Christi Shop Fire Video, Information wanted by Police
Written by KIII TV staffMedia
Corpus Christi Body Shop Burns, Arson Suspected, No Insurance
Written by KIII TV staffA Corpus Christi body shop owner is picking up the pieces after his shop went up in flames in the early morning of May 9. See video.
"And for me, I say, 'why, does it happen?' This, because I'm a good guy, I do favor to anybody and why does this happen to me," says Luis Baiza, owner of Baiza Paint and Body.
Around 2:30 AM in the morning, the Corpus Christi Fire Department was dispatched out to Baiza's paint and body at 601 Brownlee.
Crews arrived to find heavy smoke and flames spewing from the business. The shop restores old cars and the owner, who doesn't have insurance, estimates the damage to be about $75,000.
Fire investigators believe the blaze was the work of an arsonist.
"A friend of mine says he saw someone running from the shop. Pero, we don't know who it is. I want to know who it was," says Baiza.
It took about an hour to get the blaze under control. No one was injured, and firefighters were able to save a dog that lives in the shop.
If you have any information on who may have started this fire, you're asked to call Crime Stoppers at 888-TIPS (8477).
Caliber in Woodlands TX donates Recycled Rides vehicle to Vet
Written by staffCaliber Collision Centers’ Woodlands, Texas, location recently donated a refurbished 2004 Volkswagen Jetta to a local military veteran through the National Auto Body Council’s (NABC) 2012 Recycled Rides program.
Michael Ryan Lease received the keys and title to his refurbished vehicle May 2 during a special ceremony to thank and honor him for his service in the military. Caliber said Lease was nominated to receive the Recycled Rides vehicle by ReserveAid, a nonprofit organization that provides assistance to military families.
Dallas-Ft Worth Storms Take out 50,000 Autos and Damage 30,000 Homes
Written by staffTIAA Plans May 23 Meeting in San Antonio, Jeff Franco to Speak
Written by staffHunter Hooge, Membership Director the Texas Independent Automotive Association reminds members that on Weds., May 23, TIAA will be having a collision specific meeting. Jeff Franco, past president of the Arizona collision association will be speaking. The meeting will focus on:
1) Jeff's history and experience with the California Autobody Association, along with involvement in State legislation, aftermarket parts issues, along with insurance issues.
2) The benefits of belonging to an association, working as a team to tackle some of the everyday issues that collision shops deal with on a daily basis.
3) Dealing with issues on a national Level as well as being represented at Industry conferences such as CIC, SCRS, etc.
Right now TIAA is seeing significant membership growth on the collision side of the organization.
The meeting will be held at 6:30 pm at Pompeii Italian Grill, 16109 Nacogdoches Rd, San Antonio, TX 78247. Dinner starts at 7:00 pm.
For more information, contact Hunter Hooge at (210) 445-7625.
The Northwest Louisiana Collision Repair Association (NWLCRA) held their monthly members meeting on February 7 at 6:30 pm at the Country Tavern Barbecue in Shreveport, LA.
Membership dues for 2012 are due. Future meetings will be held during the day, starting with April’s meeting. Day meetings will be held from April to September.
The NWLCRA provided drinks for the judges at the SkillsUSA judging in February.
The night’s guest speaker was Clay Giecek, a Diesel Mechanic/Instructor for the Northwest Louisiana Technical College. Clay discussed the upcoming Shell Eco Challenge. The challenge is open to high schools and colleges and is a contest to see which team can design and build a car that gets the best fuel economy. Clay said that the Northwest Louisiana Technical College has been helping Benton High School, in Benton, LA, build their car for the last few years. Teams must have their cars complete a 10 lap race. This year the event is going to be held in Houston, TX. Clay said that the drivers accelerate, then coast when driving during the event; Clay said that they probably coast 9 of the 10 laps. The car is to be as light as possible. In 2010, the Challenge was held in France, and the winning car was able to get over 11,000 miles per gallon. The winner in the High School class in the United States last year got over 600 miles per gallon. Last year Benton High School was able to get over 500 miles per gallon on a Honda tiller motor. Clay thinks they will do better this year on mileage, but the car will be heavier. Teams that win this event will be on Good Morning America, as this is a World-Wide event. Any help that anyone can provide will be rewarded with a decal with their business name on the side of the car.
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