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You Are Invited to a Special Seminar June 23

Learn How to Stay Legal in Your Shop

This may be the most important seminar you will attend all year. DO NOT miss it! Rave reviews and sold-out crowds from previous presentations this year!

John Mosley, who owns and operates Clinton Body Shop Inc. in Central Mississippi, has been outspoken in his opposition to PartsTrader, State Farm's Parts Bidding program. He has written an open letter to Consultant George Avery of State Farm.

Dear Mr. Avery,

I write you on behalf of the entire collision repair industry.

My name is John E. Mosley and I own and operate Clinton Body Shop Inc. and Clinton Body Shop of Richland in Central Mississippi. I am a proud member of the Mississippi Collision Repair Association and a member of the Society of Collision Repair Specialists.

Our industry has been paying a lot of attention to your affiliation with the PartsTrader program and the potential impact it may have on our industry and ultimately the consumer.

Many of us in the collision repair industry admit we have become dependent on direct repair programs over the last several years. Now that you have released this program as a pilot in some states, our first reaction could only be described as fear and shock.

It would suffice to say that the emotions of fear and shock have served to make shop owners including myself think about what the repair industry really means to you and your company as a whole. This program is now serving as a catalyst to both ignite and unite this industry in a manner I have never experienced in my 58 years.

For your assistance in making this industry I love think about being better business people and better neighbors to our competitors, I sincerely thank you. The employees of the collision repair shops thank you in advance. I, as well as many others, have now begun to look at my business model in a different way. We are now realizing the true value the repair industry has been to your company and our customer. You have far less employees in our area and, I would suspect, most areas of the country. You haven’t needed them as we do a lot of the work for your company. We haven’t minded providing this service and savings to you because the Select Service program has helped each shop by saving time waiting on appraisers. In the past, the Select Service program has allowed the shop to determine what type of part and which supplier would serve to properly repair the vehicle in the least amount of time. This process was beneficial to all three parties involved in the process. The three parties I speak of are the customer, the repairer and State Farm Insurance.

After lengthy discussions with shop owners and parts suppliers in Alabama, I see no way this program is a benefit to the repair shop or the consumer. The underlying purpose of this program is for State Farm to make a higher profit at the expense of the collision repair industry and the parts industry. You present this program as a tool of efficiency serving to expedite repairs. I ask you, do you think that little of repair shop owners' and managers' mentality? How can any program that adds to the administrative process by gathering bids, waiting for those bids before we can begin repairs, only to be waiting again when we have a supplement, add to efficiency? There is no way.

It is both disappointing and quite frankly shameful of you to attempt this manipulative assault on our industry. This industry has formed bonds of good faith and friendship with many within your company. Our industry will work to preserve and strengthen those bonds with the State Farm agents and employees with whom we have formed these mutually respectful relationships.

The collision repair industry is not your enemy. Neither are we your puppets or your children. You can’t successfully threaten us or punish us into submission by removing us from the Select Service list if we refuse to participate in this one-sided, unfair program.

I ask you and the others in managerial roles who have control of this situation to stop and reconsider the effect this pilot program is having on your company and our industry. These same effects are being felt by consumers who don’t deserve it. Stop and think about the most powerful companies that have fallen in recent years. Think about WorldCom, Enron and the other Wall Street giants who no longer exist. Think about how the government had to bail out General Motors. Think about the enormous unrest you are about to release in your industry as well as ours. This in itself will be a huge cost to your company. Just as sure as there may be some shops waiting to take advantage of a shop’s removal from the Select Service program, there are insurance companies waiting to take your unhappy customers.

Your company made itself successful and famous by promising to be a good neighbor. Good neighbors don’t take these type of actions against others without regard to the resulting consequences. Everyone wants to make a profit. Money can be a dangerous thing. It can blind a person to the point they can’t see right from wrong. When that happens to a large company, it is called corporate greed. Don’t fall any deeper into this than you already have. Please stop, think and let’s work together to help our industries benefit the customer without destroying the very core of this country, the small business person.

I write you this plea as a business owner and a member of the collision repair industry. No other business has conspired or construed with me to contact you. I am not asking you to think what you are about to do to me or my business, but to my brothers in this industry. Make no mistake, we are a brotherhood. Because of this program, we are quickly forming stronger bonds than you or I would have ever imagined. You may have your way with some of us, but rest assured, the majority of us are educating and preparing for business life off your programs if you continue. Do you really want to do this to our industry? Can your company survive the negative publicity this will ultimately create? Is this fair to the State Farm agents who have truly been good neighbors?

As this program hasn’t been released in our area, it is my desire to keep our shops on the Select Service program. We will continue to make good repairs and provide excellent service to our mutual customer and to hold ourselves up to a high professional level in all our mutual relations. If you decide otherwise, we will continue to build our relationships with our local State Farm agents, their employees and our State Farm customers. There are no bad feelings toward our local claims people. They are good people doing what they are paid to do.

There is a big difference in being mad and being disappointed. We hold the hope and faith you will do the right thing. I just wonder when and at what cost.

Respectfully Yours,

John E. Mosley

CC Attorney General - Jim Hood
Ms. Insurance Commissioner - Mike Chaney
Anthony Simon PLLC
State Farm Claims Vice President - Susan Hood

Car West Auto Body’s Craig Moe, President and CEO announced the acquisition of Auto Tech Collision Center in San Jose, CA, after renovation of one of the largest collision repair centers in the Bay Area at over 40,000 square feet.

The renovation includes state of the art waterborne paint booths, preparation booths, IRT paint curing technology, dedicated Aluminum welding booth and welders, Jollift, Chief and Car Bench frame straightening & measuring equipment, Hunter wheel alignment rack and tire handling equipment, factory-equivalent resistant spot-welding, and cutting-edge computer management systems. With the ultimate throughput management processes and best practices available, Car West will continue to set records in the industry for cycle time and volume capability in excess of one million dollars per month at this new location.

Using satellite estimating locations throughout the Bay Area to focus on customer satisfaction, Car West of San Jose will offer auto glass, a detail center, and mechanical repairs, as well as collision repair. “This location allows Car West to expand our Silicon Valley footprint to San Jose, further building on our goal of servicing all of the California Bay Area with the best collision repair experience available,” said Craig Moe.

For more information, visit their website at carwest.com

Chief Automotive Technologies will sponsor the Collision Repair Technology Championship at the SkillsUSA 48th annual National Leadership and Skills Conference in Kansas City June 23-27. This will be the 26th straight year that Chief has sponsored the event, in which state winners compete to be named national champions.

to read story and see video go HERE

http://www.happyplace.com/16205/the-worst-possible-way-to-advertise-your-auto-body-business

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At Auto Tech and Body in Pompano Beach, FL, customer service is a top priority, as is dedication to the community. The reason behind this is founder Jay Ghanem’s philosophy that “We want to work for a company that contributes to and is part of the community, where personal values and the passion to repair cars are interconnected with the vision of being of service to our customers and the community as a whole.”

Auto Tech and Body demonstrates their interest in and devotion to their community in multiple ways. The shop includes an in-house community center that is donated to their community for use by the Kiwanis Club, the Rotary Club, the Key Club and others. They hold multiple car wash fundraisers for different charities and host a blood drive three times a year.

To view a pdf file of this article with photos, click HERE.

The following is an interview with Chuck Gosney, President of Collision Billing, a company that could help bring the changes the collision industry desperately needs. In this interview, Domenico Nigro asks some direct questions on exactly how this company could bring needed change.

To view a pdf file of this article with photos, click HERE.

Cole’s Collision, with three locations  in upstate New York, focuses on community involvement and quality customer service.

Owner John Cole told me, “Our community efforts are quite substantial compared to other shops in our area. With the ability of our three locations to capture so much market share, we make it a point to be extremely customer oriented. Through our community involvement and large customer base, our customer service and quality of work maintains the customer’s loyalty. We pride ourselves on running a legitimate business and ‘doing the right thing’ at all times.”

To view a pdf file of this article with photos, click HERE.

After listening to Larry Montanez III of P & L Consultants discuss OEM procedures and repair standards at AASP NORTHEAST™ in March this year, I wanted to know more about him and his company.

First, a little personal history. As a teenager, Montanez was all but obsessive about cars, both in real life and on TV. Enamored with the Batmobile, he remembers that fast American muscle cars were—then and now—“where it’s at.” It’s became a lifelong fascination.

To view a pdf file of this article with photos, click HERE.

Man Ray may never have done any automotive art or be as well known in the collision repair community as our best liked airbrush artists or custom painters, but he has been called one of the most influential artists of the 20th century and his photographs, paintings, and drawings are highly sought-after in the international art markets.

To view a pdf file of this article with photos, click HERE.

Should repairers be held solely responsible if a repair process or part they choose fails—even if that process or part was chosen at the behest of an insurer?

That was one of the questions at the heart of a panel discussion on “indemnification” at the Collision Industry Conference (CIC) held in Oklahoma City in late April.

To view a pdf file of this article with photos, click HERE.

In the world of big corporation marketing, how a company or product is “positioned” is a big deal. For example, a shop that is known to be the biggest, or the fastest, or (not likely but possibly) the cheapest, or (as many would like to claim), the highest quality, would be likely to hold that position in people’s minds indefinitely, unless something radically changed their mind. In copiers, Xerox is still thought of as the standard, in computers IBM is still first in most people’s minds, and Hertz is still the top rental car name people think of.

In marketing, it’s well known that it’s always better to be first than better. Charles Lindbergh flew the Atlantic solo first, but Bert Hinkler did it faster, consuming less fuel. He was second and never heard of again. George Washington was the first president. Who was second? Neil Armstrong was first to walk on the moon. Who was second? Second place is generally no place. So, is it too late to be first in your area? It all depends on first…at what? And are there other alternatives?

To view a pdf file of this article with photos, click HERE.

This is an interesting story and I don’t know quite where to start. How about: Elvis has just entered the building and nobody noticed. Is it possible for Elvis to walk into a room and take a seat yet have nobody notice that the King is in the house? It’s impossible, right?

Well, it seems just as impossible that collision repairers didn’t mention State Farm and parts at the most recent Collision Industry Conference (CIC) meeting. They are the most common words affectionately uttered by body shops owners throughout the country these days. So how is it possible that during one of the industry’s biggest stages, CIC, there wasn’t even a mention?

To view a pdf file of this article with photos, click HERE.

Back in 1956, House of Kolor®, based in Minneapolis, Minnesota, was founded by world-renowned custom painter, Jon Kosmoski, and 56 years later, is still a strong player in the world of automotive color.

House of Kolor produces basecoats, surfacers, primers, sealers, thinners, reducers, dry pearls and flakes and other specialty products. The company is known in particular for its premium custom finishes.

To view a pdf file of this article with photos, click HERE.

Custom Painter Jim Hetzler, 53, of Muscatine, Iowa is a world class pinstripe and airbrush artist whose career started at the tender age of 13 when his hobby was building model cars.

“It’s a funny thing,” Hetzler said. “I enjoyed building model cars as a pre-teen and I wanted to paint pinstripes on my cars but didn’t know how to begin. I wanted to learn and know the secrets of pinstriping, but back in those days it was hard to find someone to teach me.” One day he saw an advertisement in a magazine and bought a $5 book on how to pinstripe. That book was written by famous car builder and airbrush/pinstripe artist, Ed “Big Daddy” Roth. Roth was the creator of the “Rat Fink and gang” monster hot rod characters which became rock-art icons, appearing on airbrushed T-shirts, posters and hot rods. Roth’s cartoon characters were known for symbolizing the rebellious nature of the 1960s hot rod movement. Roth took the young man under his wing, and even though Roth was in California and Hetzler lived in Iowa, Roth talked to young Jim over the phone and became his mentor. “He is the one who gave me direction,” Hetzler said.

To view a pdf file of this article with photos, click HERE.

If there’s a list somewhere containing the names of the automotive industry’s top artisans/painters, Mitch Kelly is right up there at the top. The owner of Kelly & Son in Bellflower, California and the creator of Crazy Paint, Mitch and his father Tom are proud to say that they’re not average painters and they run a shop that is not average either.

Tom Kelly’s grandfather started pinstriping vehicles back in the 1940s and Tom is well-known for working with Von Dutch as well as Ed “Big Daddy” Roth and still works alongside his son on a wide range of projects.

To view a pdf file of this article with photos, click HERE.

This year’s winner of hot rodding’s top prize—the Don Ridler® Memorial Award—was a 1955 Ford Thunderbird owned by Dwayne Peace of Tyler, Texas. This masterpiece of creativity, engineering and workmanship was chosen from among 63 very strong contenders that had been pared down to the “Great 8” before the ultimate winner was announced at the Detroit Autorama® back in February.

The ‘55 T-Bird had been in the family for more than 20 years and the custom build was a family affair, handled by Peace’s sons in an outbuilding behind his house. The uncompromising design and build of the custom hot rod brought in a number of outside shops and some of the country’s top automotive craftsmen. Greening Auto Company in Nashville, Tenn., was one of these partner shops, called upon to handle the paint work and some machining duties.

To view a pdf file of this article with photos, click HERE.

Alternators, starters, voltage regulators, window motor assemblies, light bulbs, serpentine belts… the list goes on and on of the various cheaply made replacement parts available. Being able to distinguish what parts are good or bad is part of being a professional in this crazy world of automotive repair.

When a customer calls wanting prices on a certain job, more than likely this isn’t the first phone call they’ve made today. The way I can tell this is how they answer certain questions I ask to narrow down the options on that particular part or job. “What’s the motor size? Two- or four-door?  Automatic or manual?” If these questions aren’t a hit and miss answer, chances are they’ve been through this before, and have a pretty good idea what the cost is, or at least what they’ve found out from the auto parts cheapo depot.

To view a pdf file of this article with photos, click HERE.

Forty-eight years young, Grand National Auto Body in Canoga Park, CA, recently underwent a complete remodel and will celebrate its Grand Re-Opening June 21. The shop is inviting insurance managers, supervisors and local agents , and the chamber of commerce for Calabasas and Canoga Park, as well as their customers, of course.

“We want our customers to have an overall excellent experience here at our shop,” said co-owner Robert Salinas. “And that shows from the minute they step through the door. Customers can relax in our newly remodeled 1,200-square-foot waiting room that includes a flat-screen TV, and comfortable couches and chairs. We have relied on our customers just as much as they have relied on us.”

To view a pdf file of this article with photos, click HERE.

A Florida body shop owner was charged with impersonating an insurance adjuster for three carriers at accident scenes to generate more business for his auto body shop, police say.

Vincenzo Gurrera, 43, of Boynton Beach, FL, became the subject of an investigation after numerous complaints were filed against his shop, Collision World, at 610 Industrial Ave, according to the Palm Beach County sheriff’s office and the Sun Sentinel newspaper.

The owner of a Pawtucket, RI, auto body shop at the center of a fraud investigation was arraigned May 21 on three felony counts.

Dino Coccia, owner of AmeriCar Sales and Collision Center at 626 Main St., is charged with obtaining money under false pretenses. A judge set bail at $5,000.

Golden State Collision Centers Inc., a five-shop collision repair operation based in Yuba City, CA, presented two refurbished vehicles to families in need during its “Celebrate Americana Benevolence Event,” on May 17.

Golden State Collision Centers said AAA Insurance provided the refurbished vehicles, and two local organizations—Mercy Ministries and Hands of Hope—helped identify the receiving families.

Auto Body World Collision Centers, with locations throughout Phoenix and Casa Grande markets, announced plans to open its ninth location in Phoenix in June. Auto Body World has been acquired by Texas-based Service King in a deal to be finalized this summer. The 13,000-square-foot facility will serve the Deer Valley community of north Phoenix and is located on 19th Avenue.

“This addition complements our footprint very nicely as it allows us to serve customers and our insurance partners along the 1-17 corridor in the north valley,” said Auto Body World President, Mark Turner. “This addition is another important step in Auto Body World’s overall growth strategy. With the recently announced partnership with Service King, we are excited about the opportunity to accelerate growing out across this market.”

Auto Body World Collision Centers continues to seek out collision repair centers throughout Arizona. Interested owners are asked to contact Auto Body World President, Mark Turner at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

"Drew Collision-Fix Auto and Glass," the body shop at Drew Ford, a Ford dealer in San Diego County for over 75 years, has been awarded Medallion status for collision repair quality. The rating is  very hard to achieve. There are only 54 Medallion-rated body shops in the U.S., but Drew Collision-Fix Auto is the first auto dealer facility ever to earn it. The unannounced Medallion inspections are conducted by VeriFacts. Inspectors electronically and meticulously document some 300 different aspects of the repair process. The Medallion rating must be continually re-earned with every inspection or status is revoked. Congratulations in particular to Larry Houk, the Collision Center Manager, and Ted Stein, Service, Parts and Collision Director.

Ford started shipping its first electric passenger car to dealers the weekend of May 19, according to Reuters. About 350 Focus Electric cars will be sent to 67 dealers in California, New Jersey and New York over the next couple weeks. Manufacturing executives signed off on the decision on May 18. Each dealer will get about six cars, one of which will be a demonstration model, the reports said. Ford declined to comment on the news. The people asked not to be named because the plans are confidential.

‘Brown energy’ is subsidized much more heavily than ‘green energy.’ Many consumers and business owners, especially those skeptical of the green energy movement, are not aware that the fossil fuel industry gets far more in subsidies than does the renewable energy industry.

Pam Oakes and the employees of Pam’s Motor City in Fort Myers, Fla., are starring in a new reality series, “Car E.R.” Sponsored by AC Delco, “Car E.R.” follows Oakes, Peter (her long time fiancé) and the rest of the gang at Pam’s Motor City as they deal with tricky automotive repairs, esoteric customers and serious attitudes within the shop. Of course, not everything’s a problem, and there’s a lot of fun and good times, too. Pam's Motor City was named a Motor Age Top Shop in 2008.

Unique to this series is that Oakes owns and operates the repair shop, day in and day out. Not many women dare to venture into this highly male-oriented field of work, but she follows in her father’s footsteps, and gives the boys a run for their money. The series is slated for first-run distribution via the Internet, with future television broadcasts on the horizon. To see the first few shows, click www.car-ershowcom and connect with the show on Twitter @CarERShow and Facebook. Pam is also the author of Car Care for the Clueless: Successful Used Car Buying 101.

Six people including two Mount Pleasant, SC men were sentenced in federal court for their roles in an auto loan scheme involving more than $800,000.

A judge sentenced William Brian Toadvine, 34, and Donald Toadvine, 58, to two years in prison to be followed by five years of supervised release after both were found guilty of conspiracy to commit bank fraud.

The Alliance of State Automotive Aftermarket Associations (ASAAA) recently launched a national Legislator Education and Awareness program meant to increase recognition among state policymakers about the positive economic and consumer benefits generated by the automotive aftermarket parts and service industry.

The ASAAA said it is becoming critical for new and returning lawmakers to be educated about the benefits of alternative aftermarket replacement parts and services as policymakers in U.S. states are addressing aftermarket parts issues on many legislative fronts.

Mitt Romney argued against the bailout of the U.S. auto industry in 2008, in an article entitled “Let Detroit Go Bankrupt,” notes Chris Isidore, writing for CNN.

Now three years after the Bush, then Obama administration, bailed out General Motors and Chrysler Group, and with U.S. auto industry sales, profits and hiring all rising, Romney believes he deserves credit for that turnaround.

The Collision Repair Education Foundation’s 2012 Ultimate Collision Education Makeover $50,000 school grant application is now available online and two grants (one secondary, one post-secondary) will be awarded this year. The winning schools will be announced during SEMA 2012. As part of the Makeover grant application, schools provide their own itemized wish list, which can include any tools, supplies and equipment that are needed by the collision program. Each of the winning schools will have their $50,000 wish list fulfilled through the Collision Repair Education Foundation and through industry donors/supporters. The application is available at the Education Foundation’s website (www.CollisionEducationFoundation.org), and must be completed by August 31, 2012. Instructors are advised to begin the application process early and industry professionals are encouraged to get involved with the Makeover grant by working with their local schools’ collision instructors to help them apply.

Ray Gunder will present a legal seminar, “Learn How to Stay Legal in Your Shop,” to the Georgia Collision Industry Association in late June. Gunder will address basic legal issues relating to operating a successful collision repair shop.

Bus manufacturer Blue Bird Corporation received the Extra Mile Award from the Middle Georgia Clean Air Coalition for their commitment and success in bringing alternative-fueled school bus transportation to the market. The award recognizes organizations that improve Georgia’s air quality while advancing economic, environmental and energy security.

Students from different schools in Alabama recently participated in a welding competition at Gardendale High School in Jefferson County.

The 2012 SkillsUSA welding contest was held with 20 students and instructors from 12 districts competing for the state championship. The state championship will eventually lead to a national championship.

by Tim Stanley, Tulsa-World Staff Writer

From Model A door handles to LaSalle chrome grills, the antique car buffs who converged on Andy Hope’s place for his heralded going-out-of-business auction found plenty to get revved up about. Well-known nationally for his work on antique cars, the longtime Tulsa-area auto-body man had built up a mind-boggling collection of old and, in many cases, rare car parts over 25 years. In 1980, with the news that he was retiring and auctioning most of it off, hopeful bidders from across the country came flocking.

To read the rest of the story, please go HERE

A vacant former car dealership in north Bibb County is becoming a new body shop. Minnesota-based ABRA Auto Body & Glass bought the 20,129 square-foot former BMW dealership at 111 Riverside Parkway in Macon, GA, and spent nearly four months renovating the building, said David Kulkis, regional business development director in Atlanta.

On April 25th, the Society of Collision Repair Specialists (SCRS) hosted a face-to-face meeting of national repair associations, I-CAR, the OEM Roundtable and the vast majority of the top automakers in Oklahoma City prior to the start of the Collision Industry Conference (CIC).

Louisiana Commissioner of Insurance Jim Donelon and James H. Freis, Jr., Director of the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) within the U.S. Treasury, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) aimed at boosting anti-fraud efforts.

A San Antonio company has been fined $46,000 by OSHA in connection with a fatal loading dock accident.

A Yukon High School and Canadian Valley Technology Student competed for eight hours to win a state SkillsUSA championship.

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.

The 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.

State Farm’s forced implementation of its PartsTrader e-bidding process within its Select Service Program shops has ignited a firestorm of criticism from the industry, not just from its own DRPs.

Blink, blink. A new study suggests failure to properly use turn signals causes 2 million accidents annually, a more serious problem than distracted driving.

When’s the last time you used your own turn signals? According to research by the Society of Automotive Engineers, drivers either neglect to use their signals when changing lanes,  or fail to turn the signals off  48% of the time.  And when making a turn, the failure rate is around 25%. That works out to 2 billion times a day drivers fail to use signals, or 750 billion times annually.

AkzoNobel Automotive & Aerospace Coatings Americas (A&AC) announced the three recipients of its 2012 Most Influential Women in the Collision Repair Industry (MIW) Award.
AkzoNobel’s annual MIW award program, which launched in 1998, recognizes and promotes the contributions of key leaders within the collision repair industry. The company said 69 women have received the award over the program’s 14-year history.

“Social Media is Word of Mouth on Steroids”  —Frank Terlep

There’s no escape. Nearly everyone and their grandmother is using social or digital media. Is your shop up to speed with the age we live in?

According to Frank Terlep, CEO of Summit Software and Marketing Solutions, more than 112 million generation X and Y consumers, 60 million baby boomers and 20 million seniors are on the Internet, emailing, texting or using social media. And these numbers don’t even reflect the younger generation, those between 18–34 who comprise an outsized proportion of consumers who watch online videos, visit social networking sites and blogs, own a tablet and use a smart phone.

Massachusetts police arrested a man on charges of stealing a car from a body shop, then arrested the owner of the body shop on charges of filing a false stolen vehicle report and misleading or lying to police during the investigation.

Linda and Michael Downey’s 2002 car, at 250,000-plus miles, was on its last legs. They were about to plunk down at least another $600 for a brake repair when they heard some good news: they were eligible to receive a newer car for free.

The cash-strapped Somerville couple is delighted to get their new wheels—a remodeled 2007 Chevrolet Malibu donated by State Farm Insurance, Britland Auto Body in Green Brook, NJ, and a number of vendors that do business with the Route 22 shop.

The Pottstown Classics Car Club and local businesses and community volunteers raised money to refurbish a disabled veteran’s 1967 Ford Galaxie 500 on April 28.

A fund to pay for the restoration of a car owned by a disabled U.S. soldier was down to its last $10 when Bill Struble donated money from his veteran’s benefits to help the cause.

New York’s Cuomo administration is opening another front in its battle against no-fault insurance scams.

State Financial Services Superintendent Ben Lawsky has announced a new regulations that give insurance companies more leeway to decline claims if they suspect fraud.

A college student from Paoli, Chester County, is in a coma more than 1,000 miles from home after a hit-and-run driver plowed into Eliza Gresh in Miami, authorities say. The teen was crossing the street on April 27 when police say a hit and run driver plowed into Gresh. Police were looking for the car, a Mercedes Benz, and the driver, Luis Moya, 24.

Some of the new technology currently being developed by the OEMs makes the “vehicle as gadget” notion more than just futuristic speculation.

For example, the key components of the concept Infiniti LE’s elaborate electronics system are improved versions of what you’d expect—navigation, movies, etc.—but what about gesture recognition, pupil tracking, fingerprint ignition “keys”? These add-ons come from Intel, better known for developing chips for personal computers.

The Automotive Service Association (ASA) is conducting a multi-segmented fact-finding mission on State Farm’s new electronic parts procurement program “to ensure the information collected and provided to the ASA membership and the broader industry is as accurate and thorough as possible.”

An ASA Collision Division team consisting of operations committee members and staff recently interviewed George Avery, State Farm’s claims consultant, regarding the pilot program. ASA has since posed some follow-up questions and will issue further statements as conversations continue.

State Farm video aims to address ‘misinformation’ on parts program for DRP shops

State Farm distributed a video to its Select Service shops to “clear up some misinformation” about its electronic parts ordering system that it introduced in four U.S. markets.

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.

The May chapter meeting of the Glendale-Foothill California Autobody Association was held at the Brookside Country Club, 1133 Rosemont Ave. Pasadena, CA. An unusually large crowd turned out to hear Qasi Asad, Verifacts Automotive Compliance Director, speak on current BAR (Board of Auto Repair) policies, procedures and compliance. Qasi started out reminding the group of the BAR’s sting operation in Orange County a while back that closed several shops and arrested the estimators for false and fraudulent estimates. Qasi noted that most of those estimators will not be able to get a job estimating again.

In the “good old days,” auto body men knew full well that exposure to volatile compounds on the job might lead to health problems down the road. They worked without respirators anyway and that was pretty much the norm. But, as we focus more and more on workplace safety today, the workplace is safer and healthier for its painters, welders, body techs and even front office personnel. This is especially true with the advent of waterborne paint and all of the technology that protects employees from toxins, fumes and other volatile compounds they encounter every day.

On April 17, the East Bay California Autobody Association (EB-CAA) held its monthly meeting at Scott’s Seafood in Walnut Creek to network with other collision professionals and listen to the evening’s featured speaker, Gene Lopez. Lopez was hired in 2009 by I-CAR as a regional manager to head the organization’s Southwest region, headquartered in Glendora, CA. Before receiving the assignment, Lopez was the Director of Development for Seidner’s Collision Centers and was also a part-time instructor for I-CAR.

Texas-based, Service King Collision Repair is partnering with Auto Body World, Inc., with nine large scale, high volume locations throughout metro Phoenix and Casa Grande. Terms of the agreement were not disclosed.

The transaction is expected to close in July 2012. By joining Service King, Auto Body World will become a part of the third largest collision repair company in North America with 48 Texas locations throughout the Dallas, Ft. Worth, Houston, San Antonio, and Austin areas.

Some legislative bills have more lives than cats. Usually, when any piece of proposed legislation gets defeated for one or more reasons, it is then re-written, re-packaged and amended, hopefully just enough to make it through in a different form that will appeal to more legislators the second or third time through. If it eventually becomes a law, it means it survived several rounds and reincarnations, in almost every case.

A Boynton Beach, FL, body shop owner was arrested Tuesday on charges he impersonated an insurance adjuster at car crash scenes to steer business back to his shop, according to the Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office.

Authorities arrested 43-year-old Vincenzo Gurrera following an investigation of his auto body shop, Collision World, in the 600 block of Industrial Avenue.

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Sherwin-Williams Automotive Finishes will be hosting its next A-Plus University Series of Advanced Business Management classes in Dallas, Texas in June and July. This is a collection of best practices and detailed course offerings specifically designed to help collision shop owners, managers, sales and estimating staff professionals increase productivity and profitability. Specific courses and dates include:

• Estimating Solutions for Profit – June 19, 2012
• The Road to Sales Success – June 20, 2012
• Key Performance Indicators – June 21, 2012
• Improving Workshop Efficiency – June 21, 2012
• Achieving Sales Excellence – July 11, 2012

According to Troy Neuerburg, manager of Marketing Business Services at Sherwin-Williams Automotive Finishes, these advanced business management classes are specifically designed for the collision repair industry and should provide a number of practical ideas, reduce internal costs and raise CSI levels. Details on each course include the following:

Estimating Solutions for Profit – June 19, 2012

The course is designed for Shop Owners, Managers, Estimators, and Production Managers to provide participants with the skills, information, and tools necessary to write and negotiate more profitable estimates. The course presentation will use written materials, group discussions, and hands-on exercises to develop skills necessary to be more profitable in today's highly competitive market. The course’s ultimate goal will be to maximize profitability by writing more complete estimates and effectively negotiating an agreed price for the repair.

The Road to Sales Success – June 20, 2012

The course is open to anyone wishing to improve their customer handling skills, but will be especially suited to estimators or office managers. Designed to improve the effectiveness of sales techniques during the estimating process, it will utilize proven sales techniques especially tailored to the collision repair industry. The course presentation will use written materials, group discussions, exercises and role playing to develop skills necessary to succeed in today's highly competitive market. The ultimate goal of the course will be to maximize profitability by increasing sales potential.

Key Performance Indicators – June 21, 2012

The course is designed for shop owners and office managers to help collision repair facilities discover ways to measure their performance and use those measurements to focus their efforts to improve their business results. While the course is structured to focus on paint shop issues, its concepts can be used successfully in other areas of most any collision repair facility.

Improving Workshop Efficiency – June 21, 2012

This workshop has been developed especially for collision facility owners and managers who are interested in leveraging the power of lean production as well as business solutions that help reduce environmental waste. Built by collision industry experts, this course will show the origins of lean production, how to run the workshop more efficiently, raise output quality while lowering operating costs and capture increased market share through continuous improvement.

Achieving Service Excellence – July 11, 2012

This workshop has been developed especially for collision facility owners, production managers, customer service representatives and estimators. It will provide the skills, knowledge and tools necessary to improve their collision center's quality, production and output…all by focusing on the right types of customer service. This includes becoming more profitable with a customer-focused strategy, establishing a proven method for providing customer value, and improving the efficiency and effectiveness of customer service staff.

I-CAR recently announced the line-up of panelists who will speak during the general session of the 2012 I-CAR Industry Event, which is based on the theme “Driving Excellence.”

I-CAR said this year’s panelists will focus discussions on industry excellence. Speakers will discuss how to achieve industry-wide and business-specific excellence in repair methods, business performance and professionalism.

The panel discussion—which will be moderated by Vincent Romans, founding partner of the Romans Group—will include the following seven panelists who represent several segments of the collision repair industry:

• Tim O’Day, president and chief operating officer of Gerber Collision & Glass
• Will Johnston, co-owner and chief operating officer of AutoBody America
• Geralynn Kottschade, owner of Jerry's Body Shop
• James Roach, senior vice president of the Parts and Service Division for American Honda Motor Co. Inc.
• Darren Huggins, national collision director of Van Tuyl Auto Group
• Susanna Gotsch, director industry analyst for CCC Information Services Inc.
• George Avery, auto claim consultant—P&C Claims for State Farm Insurance

The 2012 I-CAR Industry Event will be held July 18-20 at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in San Antonio, in conjunction with the next Collision Industry Conference (CIC) meeting. I-CAR said early bird registration for reduced pricing is available through May 31.

By Stephanie K. Jones

What would happen to the auto insurance industry if automobile safety improves to the point that vehicle collisions become relics of the past?

That’s the question explored by global consulting and research firm, Celent, in a new report that envisions a future of increasing emphasis on safety in the automobile industry and among government entities that leads to a massive drop off in auto insurance premium for U.S. property/casualty insurance companies.

As addressed in prior press releases and communications to repairers nationwide, Ray Gunder of Gunder’s Auto Center has been pressing insurers to provide full compensation to his customers for processes and materials necessary to properly and thoroughly repair his customer’s vehicles. As a result, his customers have received full compensation each and every time, but still, at times, the nation’s largest insurer continues to deny consideration for the very same things that they have paid for in the past

Ray Gunder stated: “I’ve heard that one definition of ‘insanity’ is “To do the same thing repeatedly while anticipating a different result and I guess I must be a bit crazy because I have found that State Farm will deny one customer for the very same procedures of which they have agreed to provide to another only a week earlier!?

Gov. Rick Scott signed off on a bill reforming Florida’s auto insurance system Friday, finalizing a contentious debate around the now-approved law that overhauls how the state compensates providers and policyholders for crash-related injuries.

Legislators passed the reform bill in early March by an 80-34 vote in the state House and a 22-17 vote in the state Senate. That compromise bill followed battles in both state chambers over how to improve the state’s personal injury protection (PIP) coverage system that reimburses policyholders for post-crash medical expenses regardless of who was at fault for the collision.

The law’s proponents say it will save taxpayers money because it will reduce the rate of insurance-related crime, and insurers will, in theory, pass savings from reform onto drivers who search for Florida car insurance with lower premiums.

Opponents say that the reform measure severely undercuts the value of PIP coverage by restricting the amount that can go to treating nonemergency medical conditions to a total of $2,500, barring massage therapists and acupuncturists from receiving PIP payments and covering only treatments that start within the first 14 days of a crash.

The governor signed the bill into law at an event in Jacksonville, Fla., saying “I am glad to do my part in keeping the cost of living low in Florida.”

The governor’s office cited statistics from state regulators showing that the number of crashes in the state declined as the amount of PIP payments increased 66 percent in 2006-10.

“These claims have caused auto insurance premiums to burden Florida families,” the governor’s office stated in a release coinciding with the signing ceremony.

New Conditions for PIP Medical Treatment
The new law institutes reforms that tighten restrictions on the kind of medical treatment a person receives under PIP coverage.

Previously, PIP covered up to 80 percent of medical expenses, up to 60 percent of lost income and up to a $5,000 death benefit, up to the policy limits. Reform supporters said this setup was too wide, leading to a rising number of phony claims and, ultimately, higher insurance premiums for everyone in the state.

Medical care providers previously covered by the state’s no-fault coverage included acupuncturists, massage therapists and other nonemergency medical professionals.

The law now eliminates services like massage therapy and acupuncture from benefits eligibility, requiring specific accreditations of facilities, hospitals and physician-owned clinics where policyholders can receive PIP-covered medical treatment. The law also requires policyholders to receive their initial treatment within the first 14 days after a crash if it is to be covered.

Harrisburg police arrested a man after they said he broadcasted "shots fired" on a police radio. Police said they thought one of their officers had been shot, but when they arrived at an auto body shop at 17th and Brookwood streets they quickly realized a worker inside had been playing with a police radio.

The radio call came from a police car that was being worked on at Maaco, police said. Police said the broadcast call was, “19th and Derry, I got a shooting, 19th and Derry I got a shooting! Back-up, back-up!"

Harrisburg police as well as officers from the surrounding area were called to the scene.

Police arrested a Maaco employee Carlos Albino, 22, within moments and determined there were no shots fired in the body shop.

"Carlos Albino came forward and admitted that he made the radio call from the police car. He claimed that he didn’t realize that the radio was activated," a police news release stated.

Albino will be charged with reporting false information to law enforcement. Police said Albino was also wanted on numerous warrants. He was wanted for a parole violation and six traffic warrants dating back to 2009.
The manager at Maaco declined comment on the incident.

The sixth annual Women’s Industry Network Conference kicked off Monday morning in Atlanta with over 200 women from all segments of the collision repair industry. The first day included a keynote address on “Extreme Change: Adapt, Overcome & WIN as One” by Robyn Benincasa, World  Champion Adventure Racer, San Diego City Firefighter and Founder of World Class Teams and Project Athena Foundation. Dr. Linda Gravett of Gravett and Associates inspired conference attendees with her strategies for managing stress and maintaining inner peace utilizing exercises borrowed from Tai Chi, Yoga and Tae Kwon Do. The afternoon session included an update on vehicle design and collision avoidance technology and its impact on the industry presented by Kim Hazelbaker, Senior Vice President, Highway Loss Data Institute.

BMW is recalling 24,340 vehicles equipped with diesel engines from the 2009-11 model years that may fail to meet U.S. and California emission control requirements.

About 2,740 2011 and 2012 model year X5 xDrive 50i and X6 xDrive 50i vehicles, and 21,600 3-series diesel models, will be recalled, the automaker said. The recalls were scheduled for May 9, with a customer letter to follow, BMW North America spokesman Dirk Arnold said.

The vehicles were manufactured at factories in Spartanburg, S.C., and Germany.

BMW said certain emissions components, including the SCR catalyst, the DEF mixer and the EGR valve, may improperly overstate vehicle mileage, causing emissions standards to be exceeded and the illumination of the "Service Engine Soon" light.

BMW said the repair will require the inspection and replacement of one or more of the emissions components and the reprogramming of the vehicle's engine control unit.

AIM Autosport FXDD Racing With Ferrari placed first on May 13 at New Jersey Motorsports Park, securing two victories in a row for the Canadian team. The team has retained their first place lead in the Grand AM Rolex Sports Car Series GT Team and Driver Championship Standings with an outstanding eight points.

The team's racers, Jeff Segal and Emil Assentato say they couldn't be more pleased with their win.

The Collision Repair Education Foundation announced the unanimous appointment of Chris Evans, State Farm Insurance Companies, to Chairman Emeritus on the Board of Trustees in recognition and appreciation of his service to the Foundation.

More than 60 people attended the Collision Industry's Legal Seminar held recently in Lakeland, Florida. Attendees came from Oregon, Minnesota, New York and many other states to hear information shared by Ray Gunder, Bret Geohagan (legal counsel for Gunder’s Auto Center, Inc.) and Barrett Smith of Auto Damage Experts, Inc.

Less than a year after the Maaco Collision Repair and Auto Painting Center in Cape Coral closed its doors, another has opened.

Collision Center Company's new franchisee, Jonathan Washer, opened a new repair shop in Cape Coral in late May.  Contractors gutted and updated the new body shop’s building at 1221 SE 9th Terrace in preparation for opening day, and painters, sanders, detailers and other positions were hired. It’s just a few blocks away from the old location.

Tom Elder, former president and current Treasurer of the Alliance of Automotive Service Providers of New Jersey (AASP/NJ), is taking part in bringing the popular “Cars and Coffee” concept to New Jersey starting this Saturday, April 29 at the Knob Hill Country Lanes in Manalapan. “Cars and Coffee” is an informal get together for people with interesting cars to share their hobby in a nice relaxing atmosphere.

On March 20, AASP/NJ (Alliance of Automotive Service Providers/New Jersey) lost one of its most valued participants with the passing of former Board member Ron Kromer, Jr. The second-generation repair professional leaves behind an unmatched legacy of strong association involvement including the organizing and promoting of numerous AASP/NJ events spanning several years.

“Ron was always full of energy, and ready to take on a new task,” remembers AASP/NJ President Jeff McDowell, who knew Kromer for two decades.  “He inspired people around him with his level of enthusiasm for whatever he would take on. He was always on the cutting edge of whatever information was out there and tried to share that with other people.”

During his time with AASP/NJ, Kromer was directly responsible for overseeing several special events including the Ski Trip, the Day at the Races and the Fishing Trip. Additionally, he was instrumental in the formation of AASP/NJ Chapter One in 2001 and created a special “P-Page Checklist” that shops could use to identify typically-forgotten items on estimates.

AASP/NJ member Dan Hawtin, who knew Kromer for more than 30 years and worked alongside him in building Chapter One, remembers his friend’s willingness to roll up his sleeves and work for the benefit of his fellow technicians.

AASP/NJ Executive Director Charles Bryant credits Kromer for developing several intriguing marketing ideas for the association.

“When we ran into trouble finding enough chairs for AASP/NJ members a few times [at meetings], Ron decided to take charge and come up with an idea to solve the problem,” Bryant explains. “Ron gathered enough support from industry vendors to purchase a trailer and about 100 chairs that could be transported to any location we were going to have a meeting. He funded it by allowing those who donated to put their logo and name on the trailer; we would park the trailer in front of the location where we were holding the meeting. What a great idea for all!"

A longtime NASCAR aficionado, Kromer founded the Bayville chapter of the NASCAR Members Club, a fan-driven organization noted for charity work. His work with the group included organizing a special Pig Roast to benefit NASCAR Day, an event designed to assist underprivileged children.

In 2006, Kromer purchased Ultimate Collision Center in Brick, a business that had thrived in the area for nine years.

Like so many others in the AASP/NJ family, Bryant will never forget Kromer and all that he did to better this industry.

“Words cannot express the pain that I feel that Ron is no longer with us,” he shares. “He touched so many in the collision industry through the many projects and events he thought of and made happen.  I will truly miss Ron, and my heartfelt sympathy goes out to his family.”

A former Acura dealership employee who stole $10.2 million from the Pittsburgh-area store where she worked could face six years in prison, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reported.

In March, Patricia K. Smith, the former controller of Baierl Acura in Pine, Pa., pleaded guilty to wire fraud charges that included stealing $10.2 million over more than six years. She transferred money from Baierl to her own accounts more than 800 times from 2004 through 2011, according to the Post-Gazette.

Two University of Rhode Island undergraduates invested their own money to buy 12 Dumpsters, and Scrap Specialists Recycling was born. Their enterprise operates out of 386 South Pier Road, and saves several automotive businesses hundreds of dollars every month by properly disposing of their recyclables — for free.

for story and video go HERE

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.

Carroll Shelby International, Inc., announced that Carroll Hall Shelby, a man whose vision for performance transformed the automobile industry, has died at age 89. Mr. Shelby passed away yesterday at Baylor Hospital in Dallas. The cause of death was not disclosed.

Born on Jan. 11, 1923, Carroll Shelby was one of America’s greatest success stories. Championship-winning racecar driver, “flying sergeant” wartime pilot, philanthropist, entrepreneur, car manufacturer and racing team owner, he embodied the ingenuity, tenacity and grit to overcome any obstacle. He is perhaps the only person to have worked at a visible level with all three major American automobile manufacturers.

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