In early April, industry leaders gathered for Quality Collision Group’s (QCG) fourth annual D.R.I.V.E. Leadership Conference in Coronado, CA. D.R.I.V.E. stands for Dedication, Results, Integrity, Vision and Excellence. According to QCG’s CEO Jerod Guerin, these values guide the company’s operations and are used to inspire their teams.
More than 185 collision repair professionals attended the four-day gathering, which focused on OEM (original equipment manufacturer) practices, thought leadership, collaboration and networking.
“The D.R.I.V.E. Leadership Conference is designed to set the tone for excellence across Quality Collision Group for the year ahead,” said Guerin. “Bringing all of our leaders together in one space fosters meaningful collaboration and reinforces QCG’s commitment to driving innovation and setting the standard in our industry.”
“The D.R.I.V.E. Leadership Conference is something I look forward to all year,” said Mario Sano, vice president of operations at QCG. “Every time, I leave with a clear, actionable plan to implement across my region. Being part of a company that unites our leaders to build strong connections and inspire thought leadership is unlike anything I’ve experienced.”
“What sets the D.R.I.V.E. Leadership Conference apart is the alignment it creates across our entire organization,” said Blake Farley, executive vice president of operations at QCG. “It’s not just about strategy -- it’s about shared purpose. When our leaders unite, we leave empowered, connected and ready to elevate the QCG standard in every market we serve.”
The conference is specifically designed for general managers (GMs) and senior leadership.
QCG leaders often say the most important position at a collision repair facility is a GM because they run the shop at a local level and interact with the team.
Industry leaders gathered in April for QCG’s fourth annual D.R.I.V.E. Leadership Conference.
“The 2025 D.R.I.V.E. conference was a celebration of our general managers and the critical role they play in driving our success,” said Julie Hemman, QCG’s vice president of procurement. “It reflected our deep commitment to being and OEM-centric organization, honoring the standards and philosophies that guide our work.”
From team-building activities to a meaningful charity initiative, Hemman said the conference was more than just a gathering. “It was a powerful reminder of who we are and what we stand for,” she said.
During the event, the company put a strong emphasis on team-building activities and collaboration.
“That's one part I love about the conference specifically is having all of these ultra-high performers in our industry in one room together,” said Troy Hall, QCG’s chief marketing officer, who has been involved with the company since its inception and helped build the brand. “It is amazing to witness.”
This year, the company introduced a Rock ‘n’ Roll-themed costume contest during the awards dinner, which Hall said really brought the teams together.
“Because our teammates are very high performers, our D.R.I.V.E. events allow them time to reflect on accomplishments during awards night,” said Hall.
Twenty-two non-sponsored awards were given out, many of which were based on performance. Sponsor awards were also distributed.
Hemann said Quality Collision Group was incredibly grateful to the sponsors whose support helped make the event possible.
QCG put a strong emphasis on team-building activities during the event.
“It was great to see our partners like AkzoNobel articulate their alignment in our mission to elevate our industry with a focus on safety for our customers,” Hall added.
“It’s a privilege to attend this event and witness firsthand how Quality Collision Group is strategically shaping its role within the industry,” said Dan Carranza, AkzoNobel’s national sales director. “The D.R.I.V.E Leadership Conference is rich with opportunity, and its message is both timely and inspiring. I’m excited to see how far its influence will grow.”
Throughout the conference, attendees had an opportunity to share best practices.
“QCG is made up of the best-of-the-best shops around the country and each one brings something unique,” said Hall. “When they’re able to share best practices amongst our teams, it makes us all the better.”
He said it also helps align QCG’s teams on the company’s goals and the roadmap for the organization.
One of the highlights of the annual conference is the focus on giving back to a veteran charity.
“We employ a large number of veterans and because our CEO and founder is a veteran himself, these types of organizations are near and dear to our hearts,” said Hall. “It will be a theme we will carry over every year of D.R.I.V.E.”
Last year in Nashville, conference attendees built guitars for an organization that performed musical therapy for veterans and the year prior, they assembled wheelchairs for veterans.
This year, attendees decorated surfboards for the Jimmy Miller Memorial Foundation, an organization that uses ocean therapy to help those suffering from mental and physical illness, injury and disabilities. The foundation will use the surfboards with the veterans they work with.
Attendees decorated surfboards for the Jimmy Miller Memorial Foundation.
“We aspire to heal others and ourselves one wave at a time while bringing awareness and changing the stigma of mental health,” said Tyus Miller, waterfront safety coordinator and lead surf instructor at the Jimmy Miller Memorial Foundation. “The gesture of giving a decorated board shows that others still care about our service men and women,” he said.
He said that decorating the boards gave a more personal touch to the donation. “Buying someone a gift is one thing,” said Miller. “Personalizing it is a whole ‘nother step. Everyone’s eyes light up whenever they see the boards.”
Miller said surfing is an activity that brings all walks of life together. “Sharing the ‘stoke’ and having a good time. That’s what life is all about,” he stressed.
QCG’s OEM Focus
Founded in 2020 and backed by Susquehanna Private Capital, Quality Collision Group introduced a groundbreaking MSO model focused on quality and OEM compliance, providing industry-leading repairs and exceptional customer satisfaction, according to Hall.
With a focus on OEM-certifications, QCG is associated with 34 vehicle manufacturer programs.
“We want to provide our customers with the best repair, which means following the OEM required repair procedure and OEM parts,” he explained. “We are not willing to compromise on that stance.”
He noted that quality is their namesake. This includes quality repairs, quality people, quality service and quality experience.
“We don't try to mask anything,” he shared. “We're pretty transparent about what we're trying to do and where we're trying to take the company.”
Currently, QCG has 92 locations across 12 states. All locations are corporately owned.
Recent acquisitions include Auto Crafter’s Auto Body in Utah, Dorn’s Body & Paint in Virginia, Eveland Bros. Collision in Kansas and LaMettry’s Collision in Minnesota.
The organization’s make-up is unique in that it provides the opportunity for shop owners to maintain their legacy and brand reputation. Many collision repair facilities are named after the owners, such as B&S Hacienda in San Francisco, CA, a fourth-generation business.
A common theme when QCG talks to sellers is their kids don’t want to run the company and they cannot bring themselves to sell to an MSO that is going to change their name or business model.
“If you join another MSO, on day one post-acquisition, they're there with new uniforms, signage and procedure changes,” Hall noted. “For a lot of these sellers, they didn't have anywhere or anyone to sell their business to until now.”
Many sellers stay on board in some capacity. “We unburden them so they don't have to do finance, HR or marketing,” explained Hall. “They're free essentially to keep running the shop.”
As the MSO draws closer to its fifth anniversary on Oct. 1, Hall said the amount of people reaching out to join QCG has skyrocketed.
“People have bought into fixing cars the right way and that’s our model,” he noted.
The company often refers to its growth as “fish in a boat.”
“Normally, you'd go fishing, but at this point, we're just sitting in the lake and the fish are just jumping in.”
Hall said it’s surprising that nobody's taken this approach before. “I just don't know why you would do it any other way,” he said.
