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- DCR Systems Partners With Willoughby Accident Repair Center
- DMACC Students Will Work, Learn on Newer Vehicles Thanks to GM Donation
- Ohio First Responders Learn New Rescue Skills Through NABC Program
- AASP-MN to Host ‘Creating an AWAIR Program for Your Shop’ Webinar
- Morrie’s 394 Hyundai in MN Liable for Retaliation Against Employee; Must Pay $200,000
Midwestern News
Local news stories affecting the auto body industry in Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, and Wisconsin
Michigan Regulators Warn of Bogus No-Fault Insurance
The Office of Financial and Insurance Regulation (OFIR) are warning Michigan drivers that they may have unknowingly purchased fraudulent automobile insurance certificates from an unlicensed individual reportedly issued through Tennessee Christian Motorist Aid, the Insurance Journal recently reported.
An OFIR investigation found that Mervin Graber, an unlicensed individual, was selling bogus policies through Tennessee Christian Motorist Aid.
OFIR ordered Mervin Graber and Tennessee Christian Motorist Aid to cease and desist from conducting unlicensed and fraudulent insurance activity.
“Any driver who purchased fake auto insurance from Mervin Graber needs to purchase legitimate coverage immediately,” OFIR Commissioner Kevin Clinton said. “Right now they’re driving without insurance.” OFIR can assist consumers in determining whether they have proper auto coverage. OFIR has handed the results of its investigation over to the proper law enforcement agencies.
Chicago’s Central Collision Includes Broadway Auto Body Rebuilders, Previous Facility Donated
Central Collision Center, a family-owned and operated collision repair business in Chicago, has announced that Tiger Cellini and Broadway Auto Body Rebuilders, Inc., will join the Central Collision Center of Crete team.
Beginning March 1, 2013, Broadway Auto’s customers can receive service at any of the six Central Collision Center locations in Peotone, Mokena, Crete, New Lenox, Oak Forest and Tinley Park.
Chicago Parts Supplier Doesn’t See Value in PartsTrader but Has Ideas to Make it Better
Kent Cogswell, with more than 30 years in the parts business, is the Parts Manager and Warehouse Operations Manager for Jack Phelan Dodge of Countryside, just outside of Chicago. Cogswell, 52, has spent decades working as the largest parts Mopar wholesaler in the Midwest and is currently operating from a 35,000-square-foot stand-alone facility where they stock over 14,000 different parts totaling over $1.5 million in inventory. They have a staff of 30 and a fleet of 15 delivery trucks and have sold over $150 million in Mopar parts.
The Chicago market became part of State Farm’s PartsTrader pilot program in December. As a parts supplier, Jack Phelan Dodge is not a preferred PartsTrader provider, but a fax-only supplier and they have hundreds of customers ordering through PartsTrader. Cogswell said he has first-hand knowledge that many of the large suppliers in Chicago are also fax-only suppliers.
Two Illegal Body Shops Shut Down in Detroit
The city of Detroit recently shut down six businesses as part of its “Operation Compliance” program which aims to curb enterprises operating without proper permits.
The Building, Safety Engineering and Environmental Department joined police and fire departments in padlocking and sealing the entrances of six businesses—two auto repair shops, two tire stores, a junk yard and a wood-pallet company—accused of operating without proper licenses and permits.
“Our objective is to bring every business in Detroit into full compliance with the law,” Mayor Dave Bing said. “Proper permitting and ordinance compliance is essential to operating a business in our city.”
The initiative aims to close an average of 20 illegal businesses per week, Bing said. Police said they can be tied to illegal weapons, stolen goods or drugs.
“We are sending a message that if you are doing business in the city, you need to follow the law,” said Nathan Ford, director of the Building, Safety Engineering and Environmental Department, in a statement.
11th Annual Race for Automotive Education Raises More than $7,000
The Alliance of Automotive Service Providers, Minnesota (AASP-MN) recently raised over $7,000 in its 2013 fundraising campaign to support the AASP-MN Automotive Education Fund.
The majority of money was raised at the association’s annual Race for Automotive Education, held Jan. 15-16 at ProKart Indoors in Burnsville. The proceeds will fund scholarships for automotive students enrolled in NATEF-certified mechanical and collision repair programs in Minnesota.
During the course of the two-night event, 105 racers tore up the track in state-of-the-art European karts, reaching speeds of nearly 40 miles per hour. Many fans and spectators were also on hand to cheer their teams on. Twenty one teams of mechanical and collision repair shops and industry suppliers were represented.
ASA Michigan Hosts Webinar Feb. 6 on Paint Materials
ASA Michigan will host its next webinar on Feb. 6 from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. The topic is "Paint Materials: How it is impacting your bottom line."
Attendees will learn an overview of the past eight years, how Hurricanes Katrina, Rita and other natural disasters affect pricing, what the government has identified as refinishing using the 6H/NESHAP rule and other regulations, the increased percentages of paint materials in estimates and how it may affect your net profit, the importance of a paint material inventory and what it can tell you monthly, paint material calculators, scales and using your vendors, and solutions toward recovery.
To register, go to https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/153124210
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Lessons from “It’s a Wonderful Life” and “It’s A Wonderful ASA Michigan”
We all remember this epic holiday story of “It’s A Wonderful Life” available multiple times during the holiday season.
ABRA Acquires 4 More Locations in Two States
ABRA Auto Body & Glass, a Minnesota-based vehicle repair company, acquired four more repair centers in two states.
In two separate transactions, ABRA acquired three Collision Plus Auto Body Repair Centers in southern Illinois just outside St. Louis, MO, and Ogden Auto Body in Utah. The deals boost ABRA’s repair center portfolio to 136 and expands its national footprint to 15 states.
“This is our 16th acquired center of the year and our first step into Illinois and the St. Louis market,” said Duane Rouse, President and Chief Executive Officer of ABRA.
Nagy’s Collision Specialists in Ohio Celebrate 40 Years
2013 marks the 40th anniversary of Nagy’s Collision Specialists in Ohio.
Dave Nagy founded the collision repair business at 12145 Whitman Rd. in Doylestown in 1973. His sons, Ron and Dan, bought the business from their father in 1995 and added multiple locations in Wooster, Wadsworth, Millersburg, Orrville, Akron and Ashland.
Nagy’s will celebrate their anniversary all year long by offering numerous prizes and giveaways to their customers via Facebook and their website.
Nagy’s offers services such as Autowatch, where customers can view their vehicles being repaired online, and e-Estimates, where customers can receive estimates at their homes or offices.
CARSTAR Expands in Ohio
CARSTAR Auto Body Repair Experts recently added a new collision repair center to its network in Cleveland, OH. CARSTAR now operates a total of 25 collision repair facilities in Ohio.
CARSTAR’s new location, Coach & Collision CARSTAR, is independently owned by Jeremy and Theresa Orsky.
As part of CARSTAR’s network, Coach & Collision CARSTAR will have access to the company’s management system and business tools, 19 corporately-managed direct repair programs (DRPs), and 45 corporately-managed purchasing programs.
“We are excited to welcome and Jeremy and Theresa Orsky and Coach & Collision CARSTAR to the CARSTAR network,” said David Byers, CEO of CARSTAR.
“We are thrilled to expand our presence in Cleveland with this new top-notch collision repair center,” Byers added.
CARSTAR operates more than 400 collision repair locations throughout 31 U.S. states and 10 Canadian provinces.