3M names Chad Carney president of Automotive Aftermarket Division
Dave Gunderson, president of 3M's Automotive Aftermarket Division, will retire Oct. 1 after 38 years with the company, 3M announced Aug. 21. Chad Carney, a 27-year 3M veteran, has been appointed president of the division, succeeding Gunderson.
Gunderson joined 3M in 1988 and held roles in global business leadership, operations, and technical engineering across several 3M divisions, working in portfolios including advanced ceramics, structural adhesives, and masking tape. He led 3M's 2008 acquisition of Meguiar's Inc. and served as that business's first director and chief operating officer before returning to the Automotive Aftermarket Division as president in 2018.
"Over the last eight years, our focus has been clear: listen to our customers, understand the changing realities of their businesses, and deliver meaningful innovation that helps them succeed," Gunderson said in a statement.
Carney currently serves as global vice president of product strategy in 3M's Personal Safety Division, which has delivered seven consecutive quarters of growth under his leadership. He previously served as vice president of the Industrial Adhesives and Tapes Division.
"Dave has built a strong foundation," Carney said in a statement. "As I step into this role, I am committed to building on that legacy while charting an exciting path forward for the industry alongside our exceptional team."
Crash Champions' Associate Service Advisor Program Surpasses 300 Graduates
Crash Champions' Associate Service Advisor Program has graduated 304 associates to date, the MSO announced. The program prepares team members for full-time Crash Champions Service Advisor roles by combining real-world experience with personalized mentorship.
"Surpassing 300 graduates is an exciting milestone because it represents hundreds of associates who have taken an important step forward in their careers," said Matt Ebert, founder and CEO of Crash Champions. "This mentorship program is about creating opportunities for our people while building a strong pipeline of talented Service Advisors who can make an immediate impact across our organization. Just as importantly, the retention we've seen among graduates reinforces what we've always believed: when you invest in your people and give them a clear path to grow, they respond."
The program has also served as a launching pad for three graduates who have since been promoted from Service Advisors into Crash Champions general manager roles overseeing full repair centers.
Crash Champions Opens Sixth South Carolina Location in West Columbia
Crash Champions has opened a new repair center at 1640 Airport Boulevard in West Columbia, South Carolina, marking the company's sixth location in the state. The 16,000-square-foot facility, near Columbia Metropolitan Airport, expands the MSO's service capacity for drivers throughout the Columbia metro area.
"Expanding the Crash Champions brand in this market is an important step for us," said Ebert. "We're proud to officially open the doors of this state-of-the-art facility and extend our service to new customers in communities across the Columbia market."
Recently certified as a Great Place to Work®, Crash Champions operates more than 650 repair centers across 38 states. Interested candidates can visit careers.crashchampions.com to explore openings.
Hunter Adds Magnetic Adapters, Drive-Thru Configuration to HawkEye XL Aligner
Hunter Engineering has announced four enhancements to its HawkEye® XL Commercial Alignment System, which uses long-range camera technology to capture measurements on trucks, trailers and buses in four minutes or less.
The updates include new magnetic wheel adapters that attach to lugnuts in seconds while protecting wheels without metal spades between rim and tire; a drive-thru sensor configuration that lets drive-thru shops and OEM production lines skip repositioning equipment between alignments, with up to 16-foot-wide tower spacing for commercial vehicles; updated WinAlign® 18.3 software offering new target and aligner placement guidance along with the flexibility to run thrustline or frame-reference alignments; and a latest-generation, fully untethered alignment cart with battery backup that lets technicians store adapters and control the system from the rear of the vehicle.
The magnetic adapters are available as an option for new and existing HawkEye XL aligners.
VISION Opens Applications for 2027 Awards and Training Scholarships
VISION Hi-Tech Training & Expo is accepting applications for its 2027 VISION Awards and Training Scholarships, presented as part of the event's Celebration of Independents. Eight award categories are open, including Technician of the Year, Service Advisor of the Year and Facility of the Year, along with Management and Technical Training Scholarships that provide a four-day VISION training package.
"The automotive service industry is filled with people doing exceptional work every day, and the VISION Awards give us an opportunity to put those individuals and businesses in the spotlight," said Jerry Holcom, owner of S&S Service Center and co-chair of the Awards Committee. "You don't have to wait for someone else to recognize what you've accomplished. We encourage automotive professionals to put themselves forward, nominate someone deserving, and help us celebrate the people who make this industry better."
Among the 2027 scholarships is a newly established award honoring Holcom, VISION co-founder and longtime co-chair, following a $100,000 contribution to the Technicians of Tomorrow Educational Foundation made in his honor at VISION 2026.
Applications and nominations are due Jan. 8, 2027. Winners will be recognized at VISION Hi-Tech Training & Expo, taking place March 4-7, 2027, in Overland Park, Kansas.
AASP/NJ Offers Vehicle Safety Inspection Training Course in September
The Alliance of Automotive Service Providers of New Jersey will offer "Vehicle Safety Inspections: A Shop Perspective" on Sept. 24 at Dashlight Solutions in Wall Township, New Jersey. The course will count toward the 2026 NJ-MVC Auto Body License renewal due at the end of September, with attendees receiving a certificate for the requirement.
The training is aimed at shop owners, managers, estimators, technicians and others involved in the repair process, covering inspection procedures, repair planning, ADAS and calibration considerations, documentation best practices and safety concerns affecting customers and repairers.
NABC Recycled Rides Delivers Vehicles to Veterans in Florida, North Dakota
Two U.S. Army veterans received refurbished vehicles this week through the NABC Recycled Rides® program.
In Leesburg, Florida, Christopher Allen, who served from 1981 to 1985, received a refurbished 2022 Honda CR-V Aug. 18. The vehicle was donated by Allstate and refurbished by technicians at Community Collision Centers, with the presentation held as part of an open house celebrating the shop's new location. Allen was nominated by Find, Feed & Restore, an organization offering housing solutions for homeless families with children. Allen had been relying on walking or rideshares to get to medical appointments.
"I haven't driven in almost five years, and I can't believe how nice this vehicle is," Allen said. "This is very special because I volunteer every day to help others, but no one has ever helped me in this way."
In Moorhead, Minnesota, Stanley Mitchell, an honorably discharged veteran who served as a cavalry scout in Germany from 1988 to 1991, received a refurbished 2022 Honda Pilot. The vehicle was donated by Farmers Insurance and refurbished by technicians at ABRA Auto Body, part of the Driven Brands family. Mitchell, of West Fargo, North Dakota, was nominated by Cass County Veterans Services, which assists more than 11,000 veterans and their families in the region. Mitchell met his wife, who also served in the military, during his Army years; after she died of service-connected conditions, he was forced to sell the family home and became the sole caregiver for their disabled daughter, who requires frequent medical appointments.
"This is a very beautiful feeling to tell you the truth," Mitchell said. "I have a really appreciative feeling knowing that there's people out in the community, friends really, that think of me this way."
Additional partners in the Florida presentation included AutoNation, O'Reilly's Auto Parts, Pep Boys, Total Recon, ADAS SAFE, Trim Line, Gladiator Glass, Spencer's Towing, Wheel Pros of Central Florida, Copart, Advanced Remarketing Services and Cars for Charity. Additional partners in the North Dakota presentation included ABRA Moorhead, Richfield Honda, Fargo Bumper, 1-800-Radiator, APS, All Star Auto Lights, Advanced Remarketing Services, Cars for Charity and Copart.
Allstate, a Level One NABC partner, has donated nearly 400 vehicles through the Recycled Rides program to date. Farmers, also a Level One member, has donated nearly 100.
Registration Opens for 15th Annual MSO Symposium
Advance registration is now open for the 15th annual MSO Symposium, hosted by the Automotive Service Association. The one-day event returns to Las Vegas on Monday, Nov. 2, ahead of the 2026 SEMA and AAPEX shows.
The 2026 program will feature presentations and panel discussions on the economy, recent consolidation trends, the continued expansion and influence of AI in operations, and an overview of the evolving claims environment, among other topics.
"What makes the MSO Symposium unique is the willingness of people to openly share what they're learning," said Scott Paul, senior vice president of U.S. collision operations for Driven Brands. "The conversations that happen in the hallways, over meals, and between sessions are often just as valuable as the content on stage."
"I attend the MSO Symposium because it's one of the best opportunities our industry has to come together, learn from one another, and think differently about the challenges and opportunities ahead," Paul continued.
The event begins at 8 a.m. PDT with a light breakfast, with the opening presentation starting at 9 a.m. The program closes with a pre-dinner cocktail reception concluding at 5:30 p.m. Interested parties can sign up for the MSO Symposium's e-communications for event updates.
Attendance is restricted to qualifying attendees, including employees of multi-shop operators, large independent operators with $3 million or greater in annual sales, insurance companies and select vehicle OEMs.
