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It was an exciting year for the California Autobody Association’s (CAA) northern California chapters. Here are year-end recaps from the East Bay and Santa Clara chapters reported by former Chapter President/State Board Member Gigi Walker and 2012 Chapter President Randy Greenblat, respectively.

East Bay Chapter Year in Review
The chapter began the year by appointing its new President Tiffany Silva from Accurate Autobody. “As a second-generation body shop owner, Tiffany has been an exceptional president,” Walker said. “She took the reins and hit the ground running. Her industry knowledge and leadership skills were apparent almost immediately and we’d like to thank her for her contributions to the chapter this year.”

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Palomar College in San Marcos, CA, recently upgraded its collision repair program and other technical programs with a new Industrial Trades Center building. Space dedicated to auto body repair is approximately 4,700 square feet. Cost for the new ITC building, which also houses diesel technology and auto technology programs, cost $7.7 million paid for by Proposition M building funds, which was approved by voters in November, 2006, to maintain and modernize the 60-year-old campus and to create new educational opportunities.

Bodycraft Collision Centers and Golden State Collision Centers, announced this week that they have merged operations to form a new 19 location entity in the greater Sacramento area that will be called Golden State Collision Centers, a Bodycraft Company.

The two companies, which had a management agreement in place since earlier this year, formally merged their operations on December 15. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

The combined company now has shops in Antelope, Citrus Heights, Elk Grove, Folsom, Lincoln, Orangevale, Rocklin, Rancho Cordova, Roseville, Sacramento, Shingle Springs and Yuba City.

Golden State was founded in 1993 by Dave Finkelstein in a 2,400-square-foot facility on Roseville Road in Sacramento. The company added its fifth facility in Yuba City in 2009.

Bruce Mackie, owner of Bodycraft, will serve as the president of the merged operation and Finkelstein has taken the title of chief marketing officer.

In a letter addressed to customers and colleagues, Mackie and Finkelstein said, "Our decision to merge was a strategic one with the intent of creating a new entity whose shared vision and focus parallel one another. We are unwavering in our focus of unmatched service, distinction for excellence in collision repairs and re-investment in the communities where we operate.

The letter concluded, "Our merged entity, Golden State Collision Repair Centers, A Bodycraft Company, will continue to place a priority on our customers and our service to them. We will continue to work diligently with our insurance partners to ensure their objectives are achieved.

Golden State Collision Repair Centers, a Bodycraft Company, presented four rehabilitated vehicles to local families in need in Sacramento, CA. The vehicles were presented during their sixth annual “Community Benevolence Event” on Dec. 11, 2012, at the Golden State Collision Repair Center, 7407 Roseville Road, Sacramento, CA.

In an annual holiday-time event, the Golden State Collision Repair Centers’ community benevolence events have benefited 25 local families with restored vehicles over the past six years. This year’s event was held in partnership with Farmers Insurance Group, Allied/Nationwide Insurance, Safeco Insurance, Cottage Housing, Inc., and St. John’s Shelter for Women and Children.