March Taylor Memorial Fund Supports USA WorldSkills Competitors
The March Taylor Memorial Fund (MTMF) has donated $5,000 to offset the costs of sending two USA participants – Scott Raymond for the Collision Division and Ben Janke for the Refinish Division – to the World Skills Competition being held in Calgary, Canada from Sept. 1-7. Raymond was the gold medal winner in both the
SCRS Hires New Executive Director
The Society of Collision Repair Specialists (SCRS) has hired Aaron Schulenburg as its executive director, filling the position left vacant by Dan Risley in August. The SCRS believes Schulenburg’s combined experience in collision repair businesses, associations and interindustry relations will be a great asset for the association and its affiliates. Schulenburg currently serves as the
ASE & NATEF Announce Officers for 2009
The National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) and the National Automotive Technicians Education Foundation (NATEF) have announced the officers for their boards of directors for 2009. ASE named Joe Torchiana, One Stop Tire & Auto Service, Inc., West Chester, Pa., its chair. John Pfennig of Navistar, Warrenville, Ill., is vice-chair; Barry Bronson of Valvoline,
Legislative Lowdown
California – California Senate Bill 1059, which would have made it unlawful for any insurer to require the installation of an aftermarket part for the first three years of the vehicle’s life as well as restrict the ability of insurers to replace a part with a lower priced replacement part during this same three-year period,
True2Form Is Newest Corporate Member of SCRS
The Society of Collision Repair Specialists (SCRS) announced that Cleveland, Ohio-based True2Form Collision Repair Centers has joined the association as a corporate member. Founded in 1998, True2Form operates 38 facilities in Maryland, North Carolina, Pennsylvania and Ohio. "SCRS knows how to provide a reliable focus for industry issues, which is especially important to us since
WMABA Becomes Newest AASP Affiliate
The Alliance of Automotive Service Providers (AASP) Board of Directors has accepted the Washington Metropolitan Auto Body Association (WMABA) as its newest affiliate member. The WMABA is a regional collision industry association that covers Maryland, Virginia and Washington, DC. Its mission is to serve the best interests of collision repairers through leadership, education and
List of Auto Body Trade Associations
NATIONAL ASSOCIATIONS Alliance of Automotive Service Providers (AASP) Minneapolis, Minn. Tel: (612) 270-6696 www.autoserviceproviders.com Automotive Service Association (ASA) Bedford, Texas Tel: (800) 272-7467 www.asashop.org Coalition for Collision Repair Excellence (CCRE) Bainbridge Island, Wash. Tel: (877) 700-7743 www.theccre.com Collision Industry Relief Mechanicsville, Va. Tel: (888) 667-7433 www.collisionindustryrelief.com Independent Auto Body Association (IABA) Raleigh, N.C. Tel: (336)
Going Head to Head
Collision repair consolidators seem focused on customer service as opposed to offering insurance companies even lower repair costs. They’re also concentrated on honing their operations to a razor sharp state of efficiency (which, incidentally, will lower repair costs).
Bullying the Bully: Insurers Trying to Strong-Arm Consumers
When it comes to trying to strong-arm consumers into having their car repaired at a direct-repair shop, insurers have no shame. If you survived the accident, you’re fair game. Forget the long arm of the law. It’s the strong arm of the insurance industry that no one can seem to outrun. It’s no surprise that
Smart Politics: Money = Attention From Politicians
“Anybody can say, ‘I’d like this law to be changed or that law to be changed,’ ” says a Virginia shop owner. “But I don’t see any politicians knocking on my door. … They do it with big insurance companies, but not me.” Well, for lack of a better word: Duh! Of course politicians aren’t