NARPRO Consumer Referral Service Announces Sale of First Franchise
NARPRO, The Network of Neighborhood Auto Repair Professionals, a referral service that helps consumers find mechanical and auto body repair shops at NARPRO.com, has signed their first franchisee outside of Arizona. According to NARPRO, all shops listed on the website have passed 26 tests of quality, integrity and customer satisfaction. To facilitate its expansion, NARPRO
Clark Plucinski, Stacy Bartnik, Named to Collision Repair Education Foundation Industry Leadership Circle
Stacy Bartnik of CARSTAR and Clark Plucinski of True2Form/Gerber Collision & Glass have been added to the Collision Repair Education Foundation’s donor Industry Leadership Circle through their personal contributions of $1,000 each to the organization. The donations from Bartnik, current member of the Education Foundation’s Board of Trustees, and Plucinski, Education Foundation chairman emeritus, will
SCRS and March Taylor Education Foundation Team Up to Support Collision Repair Instruction
On April 20, 2011, SCRS MO-KAN – the Society of Collision Repair Specialists’ (SCRS) longstanding chapter – will hold its 2011 Education Night of Achievement at the Marriott Overland Park in Overland Park, Kan. To help provide maximum exposure to the event, SCRS and the March Taylor Education Foundation have teamed up to make it
Getting Paid for Paint and Materials
Reader’s Choice question: “Why is paint and materials tied to paint labor rate? It should be invoiced and marked up accordingly. How do we change this? We went from a 35 percent profit on paint and materials to 2 percent in the last two years.” – Jim Patrick, collision repair manager, Langs Chevrolet, Beavercreek, Ohio
Highway Deaths Hit Lowest Level Since 1949
According to an AP report out today, highway deaths have hit their lowest levels in more than 60 years due to three main factors: more people wearing seat belts, better safety equipment in vehicles and aggressive work toward curbing drunk driving. The drop in vehicle deaths can also be tied to the poor economy and
Indiana Auto Body Association to Hold Second Biannual Convention and Technology Exhibition
The Indiana Auto Body Association (IABA) is holding its second biannual Convention and Technology Exhibition April 28-30, 2011 at the Lincoln College of Technology in Indianapolis, Ind. According to IABA Executive Director Tony Passwater, the 2009 event was packed with industry-related activities, presentations and top collision-related vendors – and he expects the 2011 event to
Second Aftermarket Auto Lights Exec Pleads Guilty in Price-Fixing Conspiracy
A former executive of a California aftermarket auto lights distributor, Chien Chung Chen, has agreed to plead guilty for his participation in a global conspiracy to fix the prices of aftermarket auto lights, the U.S. Department of Justice announced. Chen is the second individual to be charged in connection with the aftermarket auto lights investigation.
Martin Senour Upgrades Kentucky School’s Waterborne Equipment
The Martin Senour Company has come to the aid of Eastside Technical Center of Lexington, Ky., with a waterborne equipment donation through the Collision Repair Education Foundation. Eastside Technical Center applied for the Collision Repair Education Foundation’s 2010 Ultimate Collision Education Makeover $50,000 school grant and noted within their application the need for waterborne equipment.
Collision Repair Education Foundation Announces 2011 Board of Trustees
The Collision Repair Education Foundation has announced the slate of Trustees and Executive Committee members for 2011. The following representatives will serve on the Executive Committee: · Chairman Doug Webb, CSi Complete · Vice Chairman Chris Northup, GD and C · Secretary Tim O’Day, Gerber Collision & Glass · Treasurer Terry Fortner, LKQ Corp. ·
BASF Automotive Refinish to host VisionPLUS Performance Group Conference
BASF announced the VisionPLUS Performance Group Conference, a two-day, interactive conference for collision center owners and managers. The conference will be hosted in Chicago, Ill. at the Hilton Indian Lakes Resort on May 16 and 17. Attendees will experience candid discussions and personal insight into insurance relations from an engaging insurance executive, along with idea