OpenRoad Collision Appoints Brandon Hawkins as Chief Operating Officer
OpenRoad Collision has appointed Brandon Hawkins as chief operating officer. Hawkins brings more than 25 years of collision repair industry experience, including service as vice president of operations at Caliber Collision overseeing more than 130 locations, and most recently as COO of AutoTech Solutions.
In his new role, Hawkins will oversee operational performance across OpenRoad's expanding multi-state footprint and help advance the company's mission of providing quality repairs with integrity and personal connection.
Women's Industry Network Announces 2026-27 Board Leadership Team
The Women's Industry Network (WIN) has announced its 2026-2027 board leadership team, formally presented at the WIN Annual Conference held May 4-6 at the JW Marriott Tucson Starr Pass Resort & Spa.
The new WIN 2026-2027 Executive Committee leadership team:
- Chair, Laura Kottschade, Jerry's ABRA Auto Body & Glass
- Vice Chair, Blair Womble, Caliber Collision, and Conference Chair
- Treasurer, Janette Tooley, Consolidated Dealers Co-Operative Inc., and Finance Chair
- Secretary, Leslie Jones, CCC Intelligence Solutions, Membership Chair
- Immediate Past Chair, Elizabeth Stein, Certified Collision Group
Continuing their service on the WIN 2026-2027 Board of Directors:
- Brandi Brydges, ACX (Auto Canada), Canadian Integration Chair
- Kristle Bollans, Industry Relations Chair
- Leila Hobart, OEC, Virtual Conference Chair
- Nada Jokic, AkzoNobel, WIN Notes
- Arianna Sherlock, I-CAR, Professional Development Vice Chair
- Nicole Shorkey Carpenter, Vive Collision, Conference Vice Chair
- Ellen Sieminski, Boyd Group/Gerber Collision & Glass, Governance Vice Chair
- Stacey Simmons, Enterprise Mobility, Talent Resources Vice Chair
Puget Collision Group Reaches 72 Stores with Acquisition of Six Fix Auto USA Locations
Puget Collision Group has acquired six Fix Auto USA locations previously owned by Richard Fish, expanding its footprint across Southern California. The locations — Fix Auto Oceanside, San Clemente, Tustin, Long Beach, Signal Hill, and Carlsbad Village — bring Puget's total store count to 72.
Fish has been part of the Fix Auto USA network since its inception in 2011 and has earned numerous awards, including Franchisee of the Year (2022) and the Top Shop Award for outstanding performance (2025).
"Richard Fish has been an outstanding partner to Fix Auto USA for many years, and this transaction represents the ideal lifecycle of an owner within our network," said Dennis O'Mahoney, brand leader and senior vice president of operations, Fix Auto USA.
Mirka and 4Plastic Join Forces to Advance Plastic Repairs
Finland-based Mirka has announced a partnership with automotive plastic repair innovator 4Plastic to deliver an ecosystem of OEM-compatible plastic repair solutions previously available only to leading multi-shop operators and specialized repair networks.
According to Mirka, the partnership addresses a critical gap in the market by introducing an ecosystem with proven and rigorously tested OEM-compatible plastic repair solutions that, until now, have been largely limited to leading multi-shop operators (MSOs) and specialized plastic repair networks.
By moving away from filler and adhesive-heavy methods, the approach is designed to restore components such as bumpers to true OEM-level performance. 4Plastic said the benefits for repairers include increased labor hours per repair, higher margins, faster turnaround times, and reduced dependency on parts availability and supply chain delays.
Sherwin-Williams Automotive Finishes Launches Pronto XL Automated Dispenser
Sherwin-Williams Automotive Finishes has introduced Collision Core™ Pronto® XL, a fully automated paint dispenser designed for commercial vehicle refinish operations. The system mixes up to 5 gallons and integrates with Collision Core™ Color technology.
Key capabilities include a single dispense head with 20 ingredients, dispensing accuracy down to 0.01 g, and a compact 4-by-4-foot footprint. The system can complete a mix in approximately five minutes — 50% faster than traditional methods — and connects to inventory optimization tools for real-time stock management, according to Sherwin-Williams
"By automating the mixing process, shops can handle a higher volume of jobs with fewer mistakes and lower labor costs," said Dan Szczepanik, global director, Sherwin-Williams Automotive Finishes, Commercial Vehicle Refinish.
NABC Recycled Rides Presents Refurbished Vehicles to Veterans and Families in Need
The National Auto Body Council® Recycled Rides® program presented multiple refurbished vehicles to deserving recipients across several events this week.
In Phoenix, Army veteran Matthew Severin received a 2018 Toyota Tacoma, donated by Allstate and refurbished by Camelback Toyota Collision Center.
In Brentwood, TN, Cody Marshall received a 2018 Chevrolet Equinox donated by GEICO and refurbished by Victory INEOS Grenadier and Victory Nissan of Nashville.
In Santa Rosa, CA, six Bay Area residents in need received refurbished vehicles at a multi-car donation event hosted by G&C Auto Body and the Crozat Family Foundation, with vehicles donated by Allstate.
Arvada Auto X and NABC Host First Responder Extrication Training in Denver
Arvada Auto X, sponsored by GEICO and Allstate, hosted nearly 60 rescue units from across Colorado at South Adams County Fire Department Station 25 for a hands-on NABC First Responder Emergency Extrication (F.R.E.E.™) training session.
The program provided education and live demonstrations on rescuing accident victims from late-model vehicles equipped with high-strength steel, airbags, advanced restraint systems, and alternative fuel systems. Since its founding, the F.R.E.E.™ program has educated more than 7,000 first responders nationwide.
Automotive Communications Council Announces 2026 ACC Excellence Award Winner
The Automotive Communications Council (ACC), a community of the Auto Care Association, named Lance Boldt, vice president of production development at AutoNetTV Media Inc., as the recipient of the 2026 ACC Excellence Award at the Auto Care Connect event in Atlanta.
Boldt co-founded AutoNetTV 20 years ago, developing B2B and B2C communications for the automotive aftermarket. A former ACC board member and past president of the organization, he has also been recognized for his work on DEI best practices in the industry.
