Six members of PPG's emergency response squad Lake Charles, Louisiana, chemicals complex saved more than 150 people during Hurricane Katrina in search-and-rescue efforts in New Orleans.
"You can't even imagine how devastating it is down here," reported Todd Hoffman from the Mississippi Gulf Coast. Hoffman, a Texas-based I-CAR instructor who is spear-heading an effort to get tools to body shop technicians affected by the Gulf hurricanes, continued, "Pictures don't come close to showing the devastation that has taken place. There is destruction everywhere.
Five recipients - each more deserving than the next - were presented the National Auto Body Council's (NABC) annual Pride Awards during the Industry Night of Achievement at NACE.
Ron Ratzlaff is not your ordinary body technician. The 25-year veteran spends every morning checking with his team members to ensure they are clear on the day's objectives and have everything they need to meet goals at 911 Collision Centers. "Sometimes I feel more like a football coach than a body tech," said Ratzlaff. And so the day begins for this year's collision repair industry 2005 Mentor of the Year.
I-CAR and collision industry professionals celebrated the grand opening of the new I-CAR World Headquarters facility during an open house and ribbon cutting ceremony.
Ford's Freestyle, a mid-size SUV introduced for the 2005 model year, earned the highest rating of good in a 40 mph frontal offset test recently conducted by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (the Institute). The Freestyle also earned the "best pick" designation for frontal crash test performance.
Once a year, members of the East Bay chapter of the CAA hone their customizing skills and airbrush elaborate designs or conjure up creative themes to personalize identical, all-white model trucks. Done in the name of charity, the finished works -- some embellished with fish tanks, dvd players and more-- are auctioned off and the funds are donated. '
Two families will be driving into the new year compliments of the folks at Bates Custom & Collision, Baytown, and the many volunteers that helped make dreams come true with the gift of transportation.
The CAA East Bay chapter reports that this year's judging of the Model Truck Customizing Competition was more difficult than ever - "the bar has been set so high!" All of the entries in the 2005 Model Truck Customizing Competition were unbelievable!
Oprah gave away cars to her whole audience, but that is old news to the collision industry - through the Akzo Nobel Benevolence program, shop owners and employees have been giving away cars to worthy recipients for years.
Everything old is new again. Remember when doctors made house calls? Remember when the milkman brought dairy products to your door? What if you could purchase welders and have them serviced without ever leaving your building.
Fred Haas Toyota World in Spring, Texas, has been awarded the Toyota Collision Center Shop of the Year Award for the second time. Recognized for their undeniable success within the automotive repair industry, the collision center received the highest honor from Toyota Motor Sales, USA.
It is January 19, 2006 and we have just arrived at Texas Stadium - the scene of the 2006 OPS Dealer Night Out. Upon arrival, we are lead through a tunnel that takes us past memorabilia reminding us of great sports events from 1950 to 2000. As we make our way past the check-in tables, we enter a hallway and take a step into the future.