AutocheX, Mitchell International’s customer performance management group, hosted the seventh annual Premier Achiever Awards ceremony to honor collision repair facilities from throughout the U.S. and Canada for their achievements in customer service and satisfaction. The event was held at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center in Las Vegas in conjunction with the International Autobody Congress and Exposition (NACE) in November.
The Class of 2008 Premier Achievers attained scores in the top five percent of facilities that use the AutocheX service throughout the United States and Canada. They include collision repair facilities of all sizes, from small, family-run businesses to large consolidators, and represent 32 states, as well as British Columbia, Canada. Over 28 percent of the facilities were repeat winners, having also won the award in 2007.
“Clearly, these facilities go the extra mile for their customers,” said Jason Bertellotti, vice president of Mitchell Repair Solutions. “Not only do their high satisfaction scores reflect their ongoing commitment to customer care, but their efforts create loyal customers who will help them drive growth for the long-term through referrals and repeat business.”
This year, Ohio-based True2Form Collision Repair Centers, Inc. had two of its North Carolina facilities win the award: the Mooresville and Wilmington North locations.
“True2Form is committed to satisfying 100 percent of our customers. Our team works really hard to meet this goal, and receiving the Premier Achiever Award helps validate that we’re on the right track with our customers,” said True2Form President and CEO Rex Dunn. “We’re very proud of the Mooresville and Wilmington facilities for achieving this recognition of their outstanding dedication to customer service.”
Premier Achiever Award winners were congratulated at the ceremony by insurance company representatives and the AutocheX team. On hand to present the award to facilities participating in their respective repair programs were: Randy Hanson, Claim Service Manager for PRO, Allstate Insurance Company; Rick Lewis, Unit Manager, Immediate Repair Program, Interinsurance Exchange of the Automobile Club; Gary Reichenbach, Manager, Claims Quality Engineering, Interinsurance Exchange of the Automobile Club; Darcy Gorchynski, Director, Material Damage Services, Insurance Corporation of British Columbia (ICBC); Keith Jones, Manager, Material Damage Services – Policy & Training, ICBC; Dave Mason, Manager, Material Damage Services – Operations Support, ICBC; Mike Wilson, Manager, MD Services Business Support, ICBC; Terry Fortner, Vice President, Material Damage Claims, Nationwide Insurance; and Jim Gadberry, Director of Blue Ribbon Services, Nationwide Insurance.
Preceding the award ceremony, Jim Lindner, Executive Chairman of Mitchell, presented AutocheX co-founder Ray Kihara with a Lifetime Achievement Award.
“For nearly 20 years, Ray has worked passionately to promote and support collision repair facilities,” said Lindner. “It was a real pleasure to recognize and thank him for his many contributions to the collision repair industry – he truly is a lifetime Premier Achiever.”
In 1989, Kihara founded AutocheX with Dennis Kiyohara and served as executive vice president, responsible for collision industry sales and support. Through the years, he has been a driver of industry efforts on behalf of collision repair facilities, insurers and consumers to streamline the claims adjusting process. He is currently director of sales and marketing for AutocheX.
For more information, visit www.mitchell.com.
