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Letter to the Editor

Georgina Sweeney Appointed CertifiedFirst Network Manager; Steve Topczewski New Manager of Insurance Industry Relations

The CertifiedFirst Network, the PPG North American group of quality-rated auto body repair centers, has appointed Georgina Sweeney Manager, CertifiedFirst Network. The CertifiedFirst Network also announced that Steve Topczewski has joined the Network as Manager of Insurance Industry Relations.

Sweeney has an extensive background in the collision repair industry that spans 12 years in five nations. She has held managerial positions in the U.K., France, Spain and Canada in addition to the United States. Sweeney had been Marketing Manager of the CertifiedFirst Network.

"Georgina understands the collision repair industry, its needs and trends," said Bill Reynolds, Director Marketing Programs. "She is also a leader who will continue bringing energy and focus to the CertifiedFirst Network."

Reynolds said Sweeney's charter includes positioning the Network as a preferred repairer to insurers and delivering outstanding services to shops participating in the Network. In addition she will oversee day-to-day operations of the CertifiedFirst Network's Operations Team at the Network's headquarters near Cleveland.

"I first joined the CertifiedFirst Network (at its beginning two years ago) as this new business model was getting started," Sweeney said. "It was exciting then and it is even more exciting now as we near the 1,000 shop mark. Without being a franchise, the CertifiedFirst Network and its participating shops are setting and achieving high standards - standards that are verified by independent, third party evaluations. This is translating into satisfied customers at our participating shops, and into national recognition such as being designated 'Motor Trend Preferred.'

"My goals are to continue growing the Network, to provide great services to our participating shops, position Network shops as the preferred repair choice with insurers and consumers and help our shops achieve the best possible ratings in customer satisfaction," Sweeney said.

Steve Topczewski, joining the Network as Manager of Insurance Industry Relations, comes to the CertifiedFirst Network with a strong background in the insurance claims industry.

"With an industry professional like Steve on board, we can strengthen the Network by representing participating shops to insurers and show how the high levels of customer service and quality workmanship at CertifiedFirst Network shops can positively affect policyholder retention," Bill Reynolds, Director, Marketing Programs, said. "Steve's insurance industry experience will be an invaluable benefit to the shops participating in the CertifiedFirst Network."

In two years, the Network has grown to more than 950 shops, in 46 of the 50 United States and 5 of 10 Canadian Provinces.

The CertifiedFirst Network is a North American group of dealership and independently owned auto body repair centers. One of the most important aspects of the CertifiedFirst Network is that the standards required to be met by participating auto body repair shops are verified by independent third parties. The standards, consistent across the CertifiedFirst Network, are divided into two major categories - an evaluation of the repair center itself, on aspects ranging from its facilities to employee training, and measurement of the satisfaction level of the repair center's customers.

Underwriters Laboratories Inc. (UL), conducts the facility verification review and Customer Research, Inc., (CRI) verifies customer satisfaction.

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