Two PPG customer shops – Karl Malone’s Body and Paint of Draper, Utah, and Puente Hills Auto Body of the City of Industry, California – have earned the 2016 Toyota Certified Collision Center of the Year Triple Crown Award.
The annual award recognizes the three top-performing Toyota certified collision centers in the country.
According to Toyota representatives, collision centers are evaluated on a points system based on:
- Customer satisfaction
- Manager, estimator and technician certification
- Facility and equipment requirements
- Other benchmark achievements
Nearly 200 Toyota certified collision centers compete for the honor.
“We are extremely proud of these two fine collision centers and their employees,” said Tom Wolf, PPG director, refinish business development. “The National Toyota Certified Collision Center of the Year Triple Crown Award is one of the most prestigious honors in our industry and confirms the commitment each of these shops has made to its customers in providing quality products and service. Karl Malone’s Body and Paint and Puente Hills Auto Body can take great pride in what they’ve achieved. We are happy to congratulate them.”
Karl Malone’s Body and Paint
Karl Malone’s Body and Paint has been a PPG customer since it opened in 2013. The facility has 25 employees with two painters certified to spray Envirobase High Performance waterborne products. This is the shop’s first National Toyota Certified Collision Center of the Year Triple Crown Award.
“I’m grateful to the owners and managers,” said Laif Ekberg, collision center manager, upon learning of the award. “Their commitment has made the shop a first-class participant in the collision repair industry; they’ve built an exceptional facility for our customers and employees.
“It is gratifying to work with such dedicated professionals who strive for excellence in every stage of the process, in the office and the shop. Our consistent hard work has paid off in building long-term trusting relationships with our customers, insurers and the community.”
Puente Hills Auto Body
Puente Hills Auto Body, a part of Puente Hills Toyota, has been a PPG customer since owner Frederick Hitchcock opened it in 1978. The shop converted to using the Envirobase High Performance waterborne system by PPG in 2007.
This is the first time the shop has won the award, although it has finished in the top 10 every year since 2006.
Rob Huntington, Puente Hills Auto Body collision center director, manages a staff of 30 employees, including two PPG-certified paint technicians, and he credits the center’s entire team and Hitchcock’s support for the shop’s achievements.
“Our employees are really excited about receiving such recognition,” Huntington said. “We have a terrific owner who genuinely cares about his staff and his customers. We hire the right people – people who like what they do, are good at what they do, and are committed to customer service. And we have the support of PPG and its products. It’s a great combination, and it works for us. The award is a tremendous affirmation of our work.”
Toyota representative Eric Mendoza, manager, Wholesale Parts & Collision, presented the award for Puente Hills Auto Body to Huntington, Puente Hills Toyota Vice President/General Manager Nicholas Cardin and Hitchcock Automotive President Howard Hakes at a banquet in Newport Beach for the shop and its employees.
George Irving Jr., Toyota North America national manager, Wholesale Parts & Collision, presented the award for Karl Malone’s Body and Paint to former NBA player and principal owner Karl Malone, co-owner Andrew Madsen, General Manager Jon May and Ekberg at a dinner in Salt Lake City.
For more information about PPG and its automotive refinish products, call (800) 647-6050 or visit www.ppgrefinish.com.
