Auto Care Association Announces Pending Retirement of President and CEO Bill Hanvey
Bill Hanvey, president and CEO of the Auto Care Association, will retire effective June 30, 2027, the association's board of directors announced. Hanvey has led the association since December 2015, capping more than 40 years in the automotive aftermarket industry.
During his tenure, the association guided members through COVID-19, secured the industry's essential-service designation, led passage of Right to Repair legislation in Massachusetts and Maine, and pushed the federal REPAIR Act further through Congress than it had previously advanced, according to the association. He also launched the TrendLens data platform and its Demand Index tool and established the Associations in Motion program for global aftermarket association collaboration.
"After a great deal of reflection, I've decided it's time to let the next generation take the reins," Hanvey said. "While I have announced my retirement, my work is far from finished. Over the coming months, I will continue fighting every day for our members and this industry, including tirelessly pursuing passage of Dr. Dunn's REPAIR Act to protect vehicle owners and independent repair shops across America."
"His leadership has left this association stronger, more data-driven and better positioned for the future," said Greg Noethlich, chair of the Auto Care Association board of directors.
The board has engaged executive search firm Korn Ferry to lead the search for Hanvey's successor. Hanvey will remain in the role through the transition to ensure continuity.
Quality Collision Group Appoints Paul Williams as Chief Operating Officer
Quality Collision Group (QCG) announced that Paul Williams has joined the company as chief operating officer. Williams will serve on QCG’s executive leadership team and oversee operations across its growing portfolio of collision repair brands.
Williams brings decades of experience across the automotive and collision repair industries, having served as a frontline employee, business owner, regional operations leader, and chief executive in past roles and companies. His leadership philosophy centers on investing in people, strengthening team culture and creating an environment where employees are supported in delivering exceptional repairs and customer experiences, according to the company.
“I have experienced this industry from many different perspectives, and each one has reinforced that people are the foundation of a successful organization,” said Williams. “Nobody will ever work for me, but I will work together across the company. My role is to listen, remove barriers and ensure our teams have the support they need to succeed. Together, we will continue strengthening our culture, repairing vehicles the right way and building a greater future for our employees, customers and partners.”
ASE Connects Launches Free Membership Push to Build Technician Pay Data
ASE Connects, the workforce platform operated by the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence, is offering free memberships through Dec. 31, 2026, to any shop or dealership that completes its Industry Data Exchange survey on technician pay, benefits and company policies.
The 10- to 15-minute anonymous survey feeds a database meant to give automotive, diesel and collision shops a reliable benchmark for pay and benefits, an area the organization says has long relied on guesswork.
"Shops have been making some of their biggest decisions around technician pay and benefits based on guesswork," said Dave Johnson, president and CEO of ASE. "The only way to fix that is to get enough real data into the system that shops can trust. This free trial removes any excuse not to participate."
Shops that complete the survey get access through the end of 2026 to the Industry Data Exchange, School Assist, members-only content and student profiles launching this fall. Sign-up is available at wrenchway.com.
CREF Welcomes Amanda Valmonte to Board of Trustees
The Collision Repair Education Foundation has added Amanda Valmonte, business development manager for PPG Automotive Refinish, to its board of trustees. Valmonte has spent more than 16 years in collision industry roles spanning dealership operations, vehicle auctions and global manufacturing.
"We are honored to welcome Amanda Valmonte to our Board," said Brenda Hogen, chair of CREF's board of trustees. "Her extensive experience and dedication to the collision industry will be invaluable as we continue to advance our mission."
Valmonte, an active member of the Women's Industry Network, said she plans to focus on strengthening pathways between education and industry. "If we want this industry to thrive, we have to invest in the students, schools and educators who are preparing tomorrow's professionals," she said.
AASP/NJ Offers Free Summer Webinars on Succession Planning and Profit Centers
The Alliance of Automotive Service Providers of New Jersey is hosting two free member webinars this month, developed with association partners High Lift Financial and NAPA Auto Parts.
On Aug. 19, Matt DiFrancesco of High Lift Financial & Consulting will present "Building a Business That Gives You Options," covering planning strategies for shops at various stages of a transition timeline. On Aug. 26, Kenneth Pollin of NAPA Auto Parts will present "Turning TPMS & Alignment into Reliable Profit Centers," based on a NORTHEAST 2026 seminar, addressing processes and failure points for building revenue around TPMS and alignment services.
The webinars are free for AASP/NJ members; non-members pay $75 per session. Registration is available at aaspnj.org.
AASP/NJ Members Recognized at Collision Advice Spartan 300 Symposium
Three AASP/NJ members were honored at the 2026 Collision Advice Spartan 300 Symposium, an elite peer-to-peer networking group led by industry expert Mike Anderson.
Gary Gardella of Coury's Auto Body Shop in Barnegat received the CCC "Kept Informed Percentage" award. "At Coury's Auto Body, we know that having your vehicle in the shop can be stressful, so keeping customers informed every step of the way is something we take seriously," Gardella said.
Dean Massimini Sr. of Autotech Collision Service in Sewell was again named to the "100 Percent Club" for exclusive use of OEM parts and received a Spartan Excellence Award. "It's both humbling and rewarding," Massimini said. "It reinforces that we are doing things the right way."
Jerry McNee of Ultimate Collision Repair in Edison received the "ALLDATA OEM Research" award and was also named to the "100 Percent Club." "It's not an easy path," McNee said. "We are responsible for that work, and we strive to deliver a product that meets the highest standards."
NABC Recycled Rides Delivers Vehicle to Bowling Green Nursing Student
Camryn Holder, a nursing student in Bowling Green, Kentucky, received a refurbished 2019 Kia Sportage LX Aug. 6 through NABC's Recycled Rides program. The vehicle was donated by Allstate and refurbished by Gerber Collision & Glass, with the presentation hosted at a Pinnacle Financial Partners office and sponsored by Pinnacle.
Holder, a first-generation college student enrolled full-time in SKYCTC's RN program, was nominated by the Kentucky Community and Technical College System. She commutes daily to class and clinical sites up to 70 miles away while working full-time as an LPN.
"This vehicle means reliable transportation for me, it means getting to and from work safely, as well as getting to school without any issues," Holder said.
Crash Champions Expands Use of CCC's Mobile Jumpstart 2.0
Crash Champions has renewed its relationship with CCC Intelligent Solutions and expanded its adoption of Mobile Jumpstart 2.0, CCC's AI-powered estimating solution.
Mobile Jumpstart 2.0 uses AI and computer vision to guide photo capture and label images in real time, and CCC says the tool captures an average of 84% of the final repair bill in 70 seconds, compared with a 15- to 30-minute traditional process.
"At Crash Champions, putting people first means investing in tools that help our team members do their best work for customers," said Crash Champions Chief Information Officer Mark Miller.
"Crash Champions has long been a technology leader in the collision repair industry, and this renewal reflects a steadfast commitment to empowering people through innovation," said Mark Fincher, vice president of product management at CCC.
