BodyShop Business has announced its selection of Harry Moppert Sr., president of Moppert Brothers Collision Services Group in Morton, Pa., as its 2016 Multi-Shop Executive of the Year, and April Lausch, manager of Faulkner Collision Center of Lancaster in Lancaster, Pa., as its 2016 Single-Shop Executive of the Year.
The award, which has been handed out since 1984, recognizes true collision repair “visionaries” who have experienced great success through innovative thinking, overcoming challenges and persevering.
Harry Moppert Sr.
Entering his 40th year in the collision repair industry, Harry Moppert Sr. has, along with brother Steve, grown the business he founded into multiple locations with annual revenue that places it in the top 5 percent of all U.S. auto body facilities.
Moppert was one of the first I-CAR instructors in the country and is a past member of the I-CAR Advisory Board. He is also a past member of other industry advisory boards including Mitchell, ADP, CCC, AkzoNobel and Nationwide. He was also a national board member for the ASA Collision Division.
Moppert has also made his organization into an active participant in the National Auto Body Council (NABC) Recycled Rides program, gifting a refurbished vehicle every year since the program’s inception in 2007. This year, a 2012 Nissan Pathfinder will be donated to The Michael J. Strange Foundation, which supports military Gold Star families with the grieving process after losing loved ones who have served in the military.
Moppert has received many industry awards over the years, most recently the Nationwide National OYSARN Shop of the Year award. He has also received the ASA PHOENIX award for outstanding service to the automotive collision industry, as well as many others.
Moppert currently lives in Media, Pa., with his wife of 30 years, Valerie, two sons, two daughters, son-in-law and new grandson. He believes strongly in giving back and serving for the greater good, which is why he served as chairman of the fundraising crusade for his church, raising over $1.5 million to build a new wing on the church school.
“We are in a rebirth of our industry from what I’ve seen over the last four years,” said Moppert. “I’m really honored by this award, and it’s my privilege to assist my sons and the next generation to achieve the highest level of customer satisfaction we can. That’s really what it’s all about, making people happy.”
April Lausch
In her 18 years in the collision repair industry, April Lausch has worked her way up from administrative assistant to collision center manager for Faulkner Collision Center of Lancaster, a position she has held since 2012. Lausch prides herself on being a “change agent” and having a dedication and passion that is infectious. These traits helped her turn Faulkner into a Certified Collision Repair Center by BMW America.
In March 2015, Lausch was nominated for the Women’s Industry Network’s (WIN) 2015 Most Influential Women award. Also in March 2015, she won the Outstanding Performance Award from BMW of North America. In July 2015, she won Automotive News‘ 40 Under 40 award. In December 2015, she won the Showmanship of Excellence award from Nationwide, ranking 12th out of 600 shops in the northeastern region. She was also featured in the May 2016 issue of Refinisher, a PPG magazine.
Lausch has given back to the industry in many ways, too, participating on the collision advisory council of Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology and in the NABC Recycled Rides program. She is also on the board of directors of WIN, and a member of the National Association of Professional Women and the American Business Women’s Association, Lancaster Area Express Network.
“I am thankful, honored and grateful to have been selected as a recipient of the 2016 BodyShop Business Executive of the Year Award,” said Lausch. “It is an even greater honor to be placed in such distinguished ranks as those of the past honorees. Thank you for those who have touched my life in any way since I started in this business – you all know who you are – and I am truly grateful for all you have done.”
NACE | CARS
Both Moppert and Lausch will receive an expenses-paid trip to the 2016 NACE | CARS 2015 Show in Anaheim from BodyShop Business. They will also be recognized at a special dinner on Friday, Aug. 12th.
To nominate for the 2017 Executive of the Year, click HERE.
