Cloudaccess - Joomla! as a service

The Texas Senate voted to approve Senate Bill 944 on March 24. The bill was introduced by Texas Senator Mike Jackson earlier this month before being transferred to the Committee on Business and Commerce. The bill now moves to the House for approval.
The bill would create an advisory committee for the Texas Insurance Commissioner that would make recommendations regarding automobile insurance claims.
The full text of the engrossed* bill can be seen below:

Service King Collision Repair Centers, a Texas-based operator of collision repair facilities, is acquiring Alamo Body and Paint, a collision repair service provider in San Antonio. The transaction is expected to be completed by May 1, 2011.

With the addition of Alamo Body and Paint Service, Service King has 42 locations throughout the San Antonio, Dallas, Ft. Worth and Houston areas.

Service King Collision Repair Centers was founded 35 years ago by owner, chairman and CEO Eddie Lennox.

Alamo Body and Paint co-owner and President Mark Fuller will be joining the Service King team as operations manager. Alamo Body and Paint co-owner Dave Braun will continue to develop Nexsyis Collision Inc., the developer of NEXconnex, a multiple location operator-specific collision repair management system, where Braun serves as CEO.

The collision industry has lost several key players over the years, but their contributions continue to live on through their work.

In February of 2011, the collision industry lost an exceptional colleague in Jim E. Adams.

“Though a Louisiana native, he was known nationwide as a teacher, problem solver, product manager and most importantly a friend to all of the collision repair industry,” said coworker Bill Burnside.

Jim’s collision career began in 1980 when he opened Pioneer Automotive Paint and Body with his father. Jim enjoyed painting most and soon became the lead painter at a dealership body shop while continuing to work at Pioneer. He also helped to teach his two younger brothers the autobody repair trade.

Jim joined United Bumper Exchange in 1983 as a paint store manager. He oversaw two paint lines and serviced numerous body shops within a 150 mile radius of Shreveport, LA.     James Hunter, owner of United Bumper said as a team builder, Jim helped assemble the ‘old’ and ‘new’ body shop managers to fulfill a need to repair cars differently.

Jim was instrumental in forming the Northwest Louisiana Collision Repair Association (NWLCRA) which is still active today. From this association the local I-CAR committee also formed and Jim served as an instructor.

The Northwest Louisiana Collision Repair Association held their monthly meeting on March 1, 2011 at the Country Tavern Restaurant in Shreveport. NWLCRA President, Chris Fielder, and Secretary-Treasurer, Bill Burnside, hosted the meeting.  First the I-CAR class schedule (on the NWLCRA website Calendar page) for Shreveport was discussed.

I-CAR courses will no longer be under the “points” system; once a student completes a course subject successfully, they will be credited with hours instead of points.

Burnside discussed the upcoming Louisiana Legislature that will convene in March and invited discussion on how the Collision Industry can become more involved in the Louisiana Legislature. He suggested anyone with ideas to promote involvement should come to the next meeting. Some discussions have mentioned a possible Auto Collision ad hoc committee.

The new Snapshot Discount device, which is an Event Data Recorder (EDR) aka “Black Box,” that Progressive insurance has introduced was discussed (see sidebar).

The EDR is placed in an insured’s vehicle and information is recorded. Data regarding speed, braking, sudden stops, etc. are then sent to the insurance company. The insured is given a reduction in insurance premium and a reduction in their deductible for their participation in this program.