WIN Opens Applications for 2027 Board Leadership Team
The Women's Industry Network is accepting applications through Sept. 15 for seats on its board of directors, with onboarding beginning in November ahead of terms starting in January 2027.
"Service on the WIN Leadership Board is an incredible opportunity to serve the industry and shape the future of our organization," said Laura Kottschade, 2026-2027 WIN chair. The organization is particularly seeking volunteers with experience in legal, compliance, HR, marketing, sales or business development, and student relations or scholarship programs. More information is available on the WIN leadership page.
CREF Opens Applications for 2026 Board of Trustees
The Collision Repair Education Foundation is accepting applications through Sept. 24 from professionals interested in serving on its board of trustees, with candidates representing collision repair businesses, OEMs, insurers, related services and collision repair education encouraged to apply.
"Serving on the Collision Repair Education Foundation Board of Trustees is an opportunity to make a lasting investment in our industry's future," said Brenda Hogen, chair of CREF's board of trustees.
Assessments and interviews will take place this fall, with the board approving final candidates in December. New trustees will complete orientation in the first quarter of 2027 and attend the board's spring 2027 meeting as guests before their terms begin. Industry members can learn more by emailing info@ed-foundation.org.
CIECA CONNEX 2026 Adds Speakers, Panels for San Antonio Conference
The Collision Industry Electronic Commerce Association has announced new speakers and sessions for its 17th annual CONNEX conference, set for Sept. 29 to Oct. 1 at the Hilton Palacio del Rio in San Antonio, Texas, following an earlier call for speaker submissions. This year's theme is "The Rise of Software-Defined Vehicles: Collision Industry Impacts," and industry veteran Bill Garoutte will emcee.
Sessions include keynotes from Greg Horn of PartsTrader and Steve Greenfield of Automotive Ventures, along with panels on software-defined vehicles, OEM repair procedures, ADAS calibration data standards and insurance trends. A CIO panel will feature executives from Crash Champions, Caliber Collision and Boyd Group, and an insurance panel will include representatives from State Farm, Mobilitas and GAINSCO.
A free CIECA IT Forum on Oct. 1 will bring collision industry technology experts together to discuss ADAS and calibration data use cases, including who inputs and stores the data. Those interested can RSVP with technical project manager Paulette Reed at paulette@cieca.com.
The conference will also include a tour of Toyota's Texas manufacturing facility, where the automaker builds the Tundra and Sequoia, and two National Auto Body Council Recycled Rides vehicle donations on Sept. 30. A discounted hotel room rate is available through Sept. 2 at connex.cieca.com.
Plasnomic Adds State Farm's Tom Bergeron to Plastic Repair Alliance Council
Plasnomic announced that Tom Bergeron, manager of State Farm's Vehicle Research Facility, has joined its Plastic Repair Alliance Council, adding insurer and technical representation to the group.
"Tom brings extensive technical knowledge and an important insurer perspective to the Council," said Mario Dimovski, president of Plasnomic and head of the Plastic Repair Alliance Council. "His practical experience in plastic repair research, OEM processes and training will add real value to our work."
Bergeron was a founding member of State Farm's Vehicle Research Facility, where his early work included evaluating plastic repair products for performance on bumper covers. Over more than 30 years, he has worked with OEMs to refine repair processes and built expertise in plastic, composite and carbon-fiber repair, structural repair, refinishing, aluminum welding and glass repair. His appointment brings the council's insurer representation to State Farm, GEICO, Allstate, Intact Insurance and Allianz.
Auto Glass Now Launches Nationwide Fund for Children's Hospitals
Auto Glass Now has launched a nationwide fundraising initiative through the Auto Glass Now Foundation to support children's hospitals. Customers can now add a $1 donation when receiving service or requesting a quote online, with 100% of contributions going toward children's hospitals.
"At Auto Glass Now, being part of the communities we serve means more to us than simply doing business there, it means finding ways to make a meaningful difference," said Nathan Edwards, president of Auto Glass Now.
Houston-Area Navy Veteran Receives Refurbished Truck Through NABC Recycled Rides
A U.S. Navy veteran from the Houston area received a donated 2019 GMC Sierra Aug. 25 through the National Auto Body Council's Recycled Rides program, with the vehicle donated by Allstate and refurbished by Crash Champions in Pearland, Texas.
Recipient Bertram Jenkins, nominated by the American Legion, served in the Navy from 1995 to 1996 and was severely injured during his service. Now considered 100% disabled, Jenkins has faced ongoing medical appointments and rehabilitation since 1996; the vehicle will support his continued care. Additional partners in the presentation included AutoNation Chevrolet, Discount Tire, ATE Automotive, O'Reilly Auto Parts, Enterprise, Copart, Advanced Remarketing Services and Cars for Charity.
NABC F.R.E.E. Training Reaches First Responders in Maryland and North Carolina
The National Auto Body Council's First Responder Emergency Extrication program held two training events this week, teaching first responders in the Washington, D.C., and Greensboro, N.C., areas how to extricate victims from modern vehicles.
In Bethesda, Maryland, first responders from Virginia and Maryland trained Aug. 20 at Bethesda-Chevy Chase Rescue, with GEICO donating vehicles, Crash Champions providing lunch and tools supplied by Hurst Jaws of Life/MES. "With the changes in the way that car manufacturers are putting in high strength steel, boron, ultra-high strength steel, all that kind of stuff, it has become a major challenge for rescuers to reach someone who becomes trapped inside," said Ronnie Carr, a rescue specialist with Municipal Emergency Services who led the training.
In High Point, North Carolina, more than 20 first responders trained Aug. 21 at Pinnacle Financial Partners, with Farmers Insurance donating vehicles and Hurst Jaws of Life supplying tools. "Anytime we can get our hands on real cars and use our tools to see how they're going to react and work with the newer metals on these newer model cars is very important to us so that the first time we see it isn't on an actual call," said Capt. Kelly Baker of the High Point Fire Department.
Both events are part of NABC's First Responder Emergency Extrication program, which the organization says has trained about 7,000 first responders nationwide as vehicles increasingly incorporate high-strength steel and electric drivetrains that complicate rescues.
