For most people, New Year’s Eve is a time to reflect on the past year and make resolutions for the incoming year. Collision repair industry associations have also started preparing for next years by setting their sights on what they can do to improve the industry for their members. Several association leaders shared their New Year’s Resolutions for 2015 with Autobody News.

From record snowfalls in the southern U.S. to a missing Malaysian airplane to the fear of an Ebola outbreak, 2014 was a memorable, if somewhat frightening, year around the world. In the American collision repair industry, 2014 was riddled with lawsuits against insurers’ unfair business practices and other battles for the rights of collision repair professionals, but industry associations still managed to provide some positive experiences for their members throughout the year. As the New Year rolls around, Autobody News asked a handful of association leaders about the most memorable things their associations did in 2014.

On Saturday, August 16, the Atlanta I-CAR Committee held their 6th Annual Rockin’ Car Show at the Hooters restaurant in Kennesaw, GA. Beautiful weather and an excellent turnout of over 55 custom vehicles contributed to a successful event.
 
The awarded trophies and prizes were donated by local collision repair industry businesses as a show of support for the event. The Atlanta I-CAR Committee also held a 50/50 raffle and a silent auction, raising over $3400. The proceeds from the event will benefit the Collision Repair Education Foundation (CREF), and funds will be used to support GA students.
 
Over the past six years, the Atlanta I-CAR Committee has donated approximately $100,000 to CREF in funds raised at their annual golf tournaments and car shows. Terry Fortner, Chairman of CREF’s Board of Directors, attended the car show to discuss CREF’s mission with attendees.
 
For the second year in a row, Travis Peck, lead deejay of Radigital Studios, donated his time and skills to provide music and entertainment at the Committee’s event. He also plans to support the Rockin’ Car Show again next year.
 
During the Rockin’ Car Show, a presentation was held to award a check to the student who was the winner of the Atlanta I-CAR Scholarship for post-secondary collision education, and both collision instructors from Maxwell High School of Technology were in attendance as well. They also recognized the Skills USA student who received travel expense assistance from the Atlanta I-CAR Committee which allowed him to attend the national contest.
 
Gerry Poirier, Chairman of the Atlanta I-CAR Committee, states “the committee’s goal is to help replenish our dwindling technician base and our fundraising has been accomplished by the support of the many great collision industry businesses in the area, including shops, insurers, parts suppliers, paint manufacturers and rental partners.”

At 7:30am CST on Tuesday, August 26, attorney John Eaves Jr and Bill Fowler, owner of Bill Fowler’s Bodyworks in Southaven MS, attempted to raise consumer awareness of the national lawsuit Eaves filed earlier this year when they appeared on the Drake and Zeke Show, a popular morning radio show in the Memphis, TN area. The reason for their guest appearance was to explain the lawsuit to consumers and educate them on their rights during the collision repair process in hopes of raising awareness about this important issue impacting collision repair facilities across the country.