The Gulf States Collision Association (GSCA) has entered a new season of growth with the appointment of Ementi Coary as executive director. Coary, who also leads the Florida Auto Body Association (FABA) and the Tennessee Collision Repairers Association (TCRA), brings more than 18 years of hands-on industry experience — from estimating and shop management to insurance, equipment, and OEM technology support.
Coary began his career as an adjuster for Farmers Insurance before transitioning into shop operations at Patrick BMW Collision and later the Patrick Hyundai Collision Center. (Read our Frame by Frame feature about Coary here.) He ultimately moved into the technology side of the industry with Mitchell International, where he currently covers the Southeast territory. His background gives him an unusually broad view of the repair process, business pressures, and the realities shops face when working with carriers, OEMs, and customers.
Now two months into his role with GSCA, Coary is focused on rebuilding the association from the ground up — starting with expanding the board and relaunching statewide engagement efforts.
“It’s not the Ementi Coary Association,” he said. “These associations belong to the shop managers, owners, and technicians. My role is to facilitate and help them make the changes they want to see.”
His first priority: strengthening GSCA’s foundation across Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama by establishing four active board members in each state. The goal is to support local needs while uniting the region under a shared mission — education, advocacy, and empowering repairers to get paid fairly for the work required for safe and proper repairs.
What’s in it for shops: real education, real access, real change
For many repairers, association membership can sometimes feel abstract. Coary wants to change that.
“The biggest issue we see is shops believing their membership doesn’t make a difference,” he said. “But strength in numbers is exactly how we move the industry forward.”
Shop owners have told him consistently that two issues weigh heavily going into 2026:
1. Not being paid adequately for required procedures.
2. Feeling disconnected from the decision-makers who influence their day-to-day business — including insurance carriers, OEM program administrators, parts and equipment vendors, policy and regulatory stakeholders, and DRP program managers.
Coary believes both concerns can be addressed through stronger, more accessible educational events and building a more engaged shop community.
“Associations aren’t anti-insurance, anti-DRP, or anti-dealership,” he explained. “We’re pro-repairer. Our job is to equip shops to document properly, explain the ‘why’ behind what they do, and get paid for safe repairs.”
To that end, GSCA has already completed its 2026 statewide calendar, focusing on a combination of major educational summits and regional three-day tours designed to bring training directly to shops — no matter where they’re located.
Major GSCA training events in 2026
GSCA will host two flagship events near the Jackson-Hattiesburg corridor, central to all three states. The first, scheduled at the end of Q1, will feature industry leader Mike Anderson. A second major event follows in September.
Three-day training tours
Each GSCA state will receive two multicity training tours, bringing an expert speaker to multiple regions over three consecutive evenings. Examples include:
- - Louisiana: New Orleans → Baton Rouge → Lafayette
- - Alabama: Mobile → Montgomery → Dothan
- - Mississippi: To be scheduled around its key population centers
The goal is simple: Get education as close as possible to the shops that need it. Coary believes this face-to-face contact will drive membership and demonstrate that GSCA is serious about showing up where repairers actually work.
Florida sets the pace with a new-format January conference
Florida, where Coary also serves as executive director, has finalized its 2026 calendar and is preparing for its next major event: the Florida Auto Body Conference — Jan. 16-17 in Kissimmee.
This year’s event reflects a major shift. Instead of a large, equipment-heavy trade show, FABA is focusing on education-first programming and smaller, more affordable vendor booths to increase value for both attendees and sponsors.
Highlights include:
- - Friday Estimating Class: Taught by Jeff Oldenettel of Collision Advice — designed for beginners through advanced estimators and shop owners.
- - Friday Night Vendor Social: A casual networking event featuring hors d’oeuvres and a cash bar.
- - Saturday Breakout Sessions: Covering emerging repair issues, documentation strategies, and technology updates.
FABA will also continue its rotating three-day road shows, ensuring repairers across the state — whether in Tampa, Orlando, or the Panhandle — receive in-person training.
Building the future, one shop at a time
Managing three associations across the Southeast is no small task, but Coary sees it as an opportunity — not a burden.
“Yes, it’s three states in one, but I don’t shy away from a challenge,” he said. “If shops want change, we have to work together to build it.”
For GSCA and FABA members alike, that means more local access, more meaningful education, and a stronger voice in the issues that matter most.
And in Coary’s words: “If you’ve been frustrated for years about the direction of this industry — it’s time to get involved. Associations are here to make a difference. And we’re just getting started.”
Leona Scott