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Letter to the Editor
This article originally appeared in the December 2005 Issue of INSIGHT
©2005 Collision Repair Industry INSIGHT All Rights Reserved
CIC Las Vegas Reports EPA May Impose Point-of-Sale Restrictions on Paint
Giuliani's Speech on Leadership a High Point of NACE 2005
More than 50 Individuals and Organizations Honored in Las Vegas
ADP Demonstrates ClaimsElement to Eliminate Re-Keying
PPG Appoints Outcalt General Manager Sales and Marketing
BASF North American Business Posts 25% Rise in Earnings in Q3
CCC Information Services Marks 25 Years with $25,000 for Repair Tech Scholarships
NCOIL Proposed Resolution Encourages Use of Certified Aftermarket Parts
ASA Launches Buyers Guide for Automotive Service Industry
Jack Rozint Joins Estorga’s Collision Repair
John Hovis Joins Caliber Collision Centers as President
INDUSTRY UPDATE
That notation on every paint can in your shop that says, "For Professional Use Only," may soon hold some real meaning according to early indications about rule-making currently underway by the federal Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
"Point-of-sale restrictions [on paint products] are something we've heard a lot about," Kim Teal, an EPA Environ-mental Protection Specialist, said at the Collision Industry Conference (CIC) held in Las Vegas in early November. "The paint distributor, just like a bartender, should be asking for certification. They should not be selling it unless they see a certification."
Such restrictions are not currently in place, but Teal indicated that new rules her office is expected to propose in 2007 may very well include stipulations about who can purchase or use automotive refinish products.
Teal said that the message her office is hearing from the industry is that new clean air rules on automotive refinishing should help create a level playing field by clamping down on "backyarders" and others often exempted under local or state rules because of the relative small amount of coatings they spray.
"The states wouldn't be allowed to have those minimums under this rule," Teal said. "If you're using auto refinish coatings, you'll be subject to the requirements."
She said the rule will likely include national requirements for paint booths and other equipment - but probably not a lot of required record-keeping for shops or paint jobbers.
"I expect the distributors to be honest people who know there's a requirement for someone to be using the material properly," Teal said.
But CIC participant Tony Passwater, an industry consultant, told Teal that record-keeping may need to be a part of any enforceable restriction on the sale or use of automotive refinish products. And Bob Keith, director of environment, safety and production for CARSTAR, questioned how such new rules will be enforced when regulators are unable to halt backyarders not complying with existing regulations.
"The states are frustrated because a lot of them don't have programs in place that they can enforce," Teal agreed. "As far as this rule goes, all it will take at that point is for you to pick up the phone."
She said she understands that enforcement of current regulations may also be hampered by local officials concerned about interacting with the "criminal element" involved in less reputable refinishing operations.
"There is an arm of our EPA that is armed and equipped to deal with this criminal element," she said.
The EPA will be gathering data and analyzing environmental and economic impacts of new refinish regulations over the coming months, before proposing the new rule in August of 2007. That rule would be finalized in 2009 and go into effect in 2011. That timeline could be sped up, however, based on the outcome of a lawsuit by environmental groups concerned that the EPA is already late in creating the rules.
CIC this fall re-established its Environmental Committee in part to address new air quality rules being created by the EPA and by air quality agencies in California.
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In its second year in its new home, the 2005 International Autobody Congress and Exposition (NACE) offered attendees about 75 classes, the return of the NACE welcome party, a keynote address by former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani, and the opportunity to attend two other larger automotive aftermarket trade shows also being held in Las Vegas.
Event organizers say about 27,000 people attended this year's event, down about 10 percent from the 2004 show, but higher than NACE's final two appearances (in 2002 and 2003) outside of Las Vegas and Automotive Aftermarket Industry Week. About one in 13 of this year's attendees came over to NACE from the Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) or Automotive Aftermarket Products Expo (AAPEX) trade shows, which attracted more 130,000 people to the other end of the Las Vegas strip.
As he did in his 2002 book, Giuliani focused in his keynote address on the qualities necessary to be a successful leader. The first of the principles he discussed in his NACE keynote address was the importance of being a person of conviction.
"You have to have a set of beliefs," he said. "You have to have goals. A person leads by having a vision. You have to be able to look at where you want to be in the future, then figure out how to go from where you are, to where the ideal is."
He said that whether you agreed with his politics or not, President Ronald Reagan was clearly driven by some core beliefs, such as the belief in smaller government and the end of Communism. Reagan stuck with those beliefs, Giuliani said, and changed the world more than any President since Franklin Roosevelt.
Two other traits leaders share, according to Giuliani, are a positive attitude and courage.
"People are drawn to optimists," Giuliani said. And courage, he said, is not the opposite of fear but just the will to react and respond in spite of that fear. He cited the example of a firefighter who bravely plunged into a frigid river to save a drowning person - yet was stricken with fear when asked to speak about his actions at a later press conference. The firefighter had trained and prepared to take courageous actions despite the risk, Giuliani said, but hadn't trained or prepared for speaking publicly. That points out another key action leaders must take: preparation
"The more you practice, the better you will be," Giuliani said. "No matter what you do, something unanticipated will happen. But if you prepare for everything you can anticipate, you'll be prepared for the unanticipated. It will just be a variation of what you’re prepared for."
Lastly, he said, leaders communicate. They share their beliefs and goals. They teach, coach and motivate.
"You have to get your ideas from your mind, your heart and your experience, and express them to other people," he said.
Preceding Giuliani to the podium was Minnesota shop owner Geralynn Kottschade, who said as she prepared for her speech as chairman of this year's NACE, she realized that the first year NACE was held - 1983 - was also her first year in the industry. She focused her speech on the changes she's seen in the industry in the past 23 years.
Kottschade spoke of the great strides that have been made to reduce the bottlenecks shops struggled with in the 1980s, primarily in the paint shop and with parts ordering. She said shops then wanted to be able to write their own estimates - something they now do, although those estimates are closely scrutinized by insurers.
"But such scrutiny is a good thing, as it has helped us become more effective and efficient in the way we run our businesses," she said.
In a year when the estimating database providers have been widely criticized by repairers who perceive the providers as changing their systems to accommodate insurers, Kottschade praised the companies for making estimating far more productive than it was in the early 1980s, and for tackling the problem of shops having to rekey estimates.
Kottschade reserved her only negative comments during her speech for the issue of the non-OEM parts.
"Since 1983, the arena of aftermarket parts has garnered the least improvement over the 23 year span," she said. "Until we reach a point where the consumer is informed about the type of parts used in the repair and enabled to choose whether it's aftermarket, OEM or recycled, the parts issue will continue to be of concern."
Kottschade will again serve as chairman of NACE in 2006, when the event returns to the Mandalay Bay Convention next November 2-4.
INSIGHT urges all industry participants to put NACE 2006 on their calendars today!
With more than 27,000 people from the collision industry in Las Vegas in the same week, it's no wonder that dozens of industry organizations chose NACE week to honor some of the industry's best. In the course of five days in early November, more than four dozen awards and honors were presented to individuals and organizations for everything from service to the industry, to superior business performance or community service.
Here's a wrap-up of some of the awards and honorees announced in Las Vegas:
NABC Presents Pride Awards
The National Auto Body Council (NABC) presented five "Pride Awards," designed to recognize individuals and groups for their charitable or humanitarian efforts outside of their normal job duties.
Collision repair instructor Charlie Robertson and his students at Cerritos College in Los Angeles were honored for restoring a 1966 El Camino that belongs to Aaron Musgrave, who was called to military duty in Iraq. Robertson and more than 25 of his students donated more than 1,500 hours of their time to restore Musgrave's car.
Also receiving a Pride Award was Keystone Automotive Industries, which has been instrumental in two industry fund-raising efforts for Camp Mak-a-Dream, a Montana camp for children and young adults actively battling cancer. When the tsunami hit Southeast Asia, Keystone, through a matching donation program, raised over $140,000 for the Save the Children Foundation.
The third Pride Award winner was well-known industry trainer Toby Chess. "Perhaps not so well known is the boundless energy he donates to local and national charities," the NABC's Stacy Bartnik said. "By raising $4,000, he provided the down payment seed money for the Camp Mak-A-Dream bus. When the California Highway Patrol ran short of funds, Toby collected funds from area businesses and then matched those funds out of his own pocket, which allowed the Patrol to buy Christmas toys for underprivileged children. When the devastating fires ravaged Southern California, Toby again spearheaded the drive to donate more than 2,000 toys to children who had lost their Christmas. And, as that season comes again, Toby is working hard to make sure children affected by Hurricanes Katrina, Rita and Wilma have a toy for Christmas."
The fourth Pride Award recipient was the Peña family, owners of Brea Auto Body in Brea, Calif. David, Virginia, Doreen, Denise, and her husband, Fred Gruner have for the last 11 years helped the Mount Tabor Orphanage in Tecate, Mexico grow from a single RV to a 10-building community. The orphanage is a sanctuary for children who are victims of abuse, child prostitution and poverty. The Peña family has been working to raise the $80,000 necessary to run a dedicated water line from Tecate to the orphanage.
The final winner of a 2005 Pride Award was Joe Canby, of Smoot's CARSTAR Collision Center in Reistertown, Maryland. Joe, a trained funeral director, went to the gulf coast after the hurricane to assist fellow colleagues and the military deal with the death and destruction dealt the area by Katrina.
ABRN Presents Award, Scholarship
Mike Willins, editor-in-chief of Auto Body Repair News (ABRN) presented the "Industry Leadership Award" to industry consultant Lou DiLisio. DiLisio was honored for his work with the Collision Industry Conference (CIC), in particular for his role in the Database Task Force and in driving efforts to eliminate estimate rekeying. DiLisio grew up in his grandfather's collision repair shop, opened his own shop in 1979, served as chairman of CIC in 2000-02, and now runs an Illinois-based consulting company.
The magazine also presented its Emil Stanley Merit Award to Vicki Ford, office manager for J & M Collision, Inc., in Troy, Mich. Ford received a trip to NACE to continue her management training. She has been in the industry since 1979 when her father purchased the shop.
VeriFacts Automotive Honors Shop, Technician
VeriFacts Automotive presented two ACE (Achievement in Collision Repair Excellence) Awards to recognize outstanding performance from individual technicians and collision repair centers committed to attaining higher repair quality as measured through the company's "Shop Coaching Program."
In the category of VeriFacts Technician ACE Award, the top award was presented to Dave Campbell of CARSTAR Metcalf in Stillwell, Kansas. The VeriFacts Repair Center ACE Award was presented to Skill Craft, Huntington Beach, Calif.
Business Honored for Customer Satisfaction
CSi Complete, an Ohio-based company that conducts customer satisfaction research, presented its "Clearly Elite Award" to the Zara's Collision Center in Springfield, Ill.
Technician Honored for Mentoring Others
Mentors at Work, a company that helps collision repair organizations build successful apprenticeship and occupational mentoring programs, presented its "Mentor of the Year Award" to Ron Ratzlaff of 911 Collision Centers in Tucson, Ariz.
Two More Inducted into "Hall of Eagles"
Two more members of the industry have been inducted into the "Hall of Eagles," an honor bestowed on fewer than 100 people in the past 15 years for their significant positive impact on the industry. To be inducted requires receiving the vote of at least two-thirds of the "current Eagles."
Inducted into the Hall of Eagles for 2005 were Don Askew, who recently retired after a long career with PPG, and Guy Bargnes of BASF. Tom McGee of I-CAR called Askew "instrumental" as a board member of the I-CAR Education Foundation, SCRS and ASE as well as an active supporter of CIC and SkillsUSA. Atlanta shop owner Gene Hamilton praised Bargnes for regularly working quietly behind the scenes to help the industry, including as chairman of the NABC, without a lot of industry recognition.
Third "Q Award" Presented
Jordan Hendler of JD Hendler and Associates received the Collision Industry "Q" Award, an honor presented to recognize "quiet," behind-the-scenes efforts for the industry.
Magazine Presents Award, Scholarship
For more than 20 years, BodyShop Business magazine has presented a "Collision Repair Executive of the Year" award at NACE - although this was the first year the winner was not particularly well-known in the industry.
John Sweigart has spent 21 years in the industry, starting as a hobbyist restoring Corvettes, then managing several Ford dealership body shops, and then joining the Allstate-owned Sterling Collision Centers, first as a regional vice president and eventually as national director of operations.
In April of 2004, Sweigart and a business partner in Pennsylvania launched "The Body Shop At…," what he calls "a better business model for body shops."
BodyShop Business magazine publisher JonOwens also presented the magazine's annual $1,000 NACE scholarship to Frank Paschal, an autobody instructor at Tuscola Technology Center in Caro, Mich.
ASE Top Scorer
ASE presents the ASE Top Score Award to the individual who works for an ASA member shop who had the highest score in the nation on the ASE collision repair and refinish tests in the past year. This year's winner was Jim Witt, owner of Jim's Collision in Roscommon, Mich.
SkillsUSA Winners Honored
Recognized during NACE were the national winners of the SkillsUSA collision repair competition, held last summer. The secondary division winner was Josh Smith of Tazewell County Vocational Center in Tazewell, Virginia. For the post-secondary division, the winner was Robert Isakson of North Dakota State College of Science in Wahpeton, North Dakota.
Network Presents Awards to Shops
The Assured Performance Network (APN), a business development group for independent collision repair shops, presented its annual "Collision Business of the Year" awards during its NACE week reception.
The "curb appeal" award went to Collision Pro in Helena, Mont., owned by Pat and Barry Reddick.
The "peak performance" award went to Erie-LaSalle Body Shop in Chicago, owned by Robert Gottfred. The "Collision Business of the Year" award went to DCR Systems, a Cleveland, Ohio-based company that develops turn-key collision repair centers for dealerships. The company is owned by Michael Giarrizzo, Jr.
APN’s Scott Biggs of the Assured Performance Network also presented an "Esprit Leadership" award post-humously to Duffy Anthony, owner of ABC CARSTAR Body and Frame in Prescott, Ariz., who died in early October.
Akzo Nobel Salutes Women in Industry
Akzo Nobel once again honored a group of women as among the "most influential in the collision repair industry. The women - now a total of 50 in the program's 7-year history - are recognized for their commitment to their business or organization, as well as to their communities and the industry at large. As part of the program, Akzo donates funds in the winner's names for student scholarships. This year, Akzo donated $25,000 to the I-CAR Education Foundation, money the Foundation in turn presents as scholarships to women attending collision repair training throughout the country.
This year's honorees were: Cheryl Cotton-Schmidt, owner of two CARSTAR collision repair centers in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan; Manon Duplantie, vice president of sales and marketing for Fix Auto Canada; Twila Harris, manager of the Crown Ford Collision Center in Nashville, Tenn; Carolle Larose, managing director for a Quebec-based organization for leaders of the automotive service industries; Diane Rodenhouse, owner of Rodenhouse Body Shops in Grand Rapids, Mich; Margo Smith, vice president of Storm Appraisal & Management in Impendence, Missouri; and Yumi Vaught, executive director of the Autobody Craftsman Association in Washington State.
ASA Honors Industry Leaders
At its second annual "Celebration of Excellence" awards banquet, the Automotive Service Association (ASA) held a graduation ceremony for about 150 people who completed the Automotive Management Institute (AMI) training needed to earn their Accredited Automotive Manager (AAM) designation during the past year.
ASA also presented more than a dozen awards at the event. The Phoenix Award winner was Myron Hazen, owner of Collision Repair Center in East Moline, Ill. Chelsie Jackson, manager of Park's Royal Body Works, Inc., of Boise, Idaho; and Brett Bailey, general manager of A&B CARSTAR of Riverside, Kansas City, Mo both received $500 scholarships toward expenses to attend NACE.
Luz Rubio, executive director of ASA-Arizona, accepted a new award at the event, the ASA Affiliate of the Year, awarded based on the group's membership growth, educational events, participation in ASA national programs, legislative activities and overall contributions of their membership to the industry.
ADP Claims Services Group, in its convention booth at NACE 2005, demonstrated ClaimsElement(TM), a forthcoming Shoplink(R) add-on module that allows collision repair shops to electronically retrieve data from insurance staff estimates prepared using ADP solutions.
A secure, server-based solution, ClaimsElement eliminates the need for shops to re-key estimates by retrieving estimate data directly from ADP in an encrypted format and importing it directly into Shoplink. ClaimsElement also allows carriers to control access to their estimates by specifying whether their Direct Repair Program (DRP) shops, all shops, or no shops can access claims data.
Re-keying is a widespread and time-consuming problem for the collision repair market. Surveys by the Collision Industry Conference (CIC) indicate that of the 9 million auto claims each year, 2.5 million require re-keying.
According to the CIC, re-keying an estimate takes an average of 21 minutes when the insurance adjuster and the shop use the same estimating system. (That time increases to 33 minutes when the adjuster and the shop use different systems). While there are situations where adjustor estimates are written in-person and remotely, ADP's ClaimsElement solution addresses both scenarios via an innovative retrieval mechanism.
"Based on ADP's presentation to the CIC San Francisco meeting, their proposed solution appears to address the 'download' scenario identified by the Re-keying Task Force and facilitate the transfer of ADP estimate data from the adjuster to the repair shop," said Cindy Granse, Chairman of the CIC Electronic Com-merce Committee.
Using the ClaimsElement module in Shoplink, shop estimators need only to enter basic identifying information (such as the claim number, vehicle owner's name, date of loss) from a paper estimate prepared by an insurance adjuster in order to instantly retrieve the estimate data. If the estimate is on the ADP system and the relevant insurance company has agreed to share their estimates with the shop, ClaimsElement then imports the information directly into the Shoplink application. Both the estimate search and retrieval are handled electronically without the need for phone calls. Data imported includes administrative and estimate line information. And because the carrier's rate and tax information is also included, the shop's estimate total will match the estimate of record (EOR).
"Balancing data security with the desire for streamlined business processes is a critical issue for the automotive claims industry," said Daphne Li, vice president of Marketing for ADP Claims Services Group. "Our aim from the outset was to develop a product that simultaneously meets both the repair shops' need for efficiency and the carriers' need for information security. ClaimsElement does that."
According to an ADP press release, in addition to the time saved in preparing estimates, ClaimsElement improves DRP compliance by eliminating the errors that occur as a result of re-keying. ClaimsElement also improves workflow in repair shops by making it easier to get estimate information into shop management systems. (Many shops today re-key estimates for the sole purpose of putting the information into their shop management systems.) For carriers, ClaimsElement provides a greater degree of efficiency and data security than existing manual methods and proposed removable media solutions. It also provides the capability for carriers to track estimate sharing.
ClaimsElement will enter Beta testing late in the first quarter of calendar year 2006.
John R. Outcalt has been appointed to the position of General Manager, Sales & Marketing for PPG Automotive Refinish.
The announcement was made by Jim Latch, General Manager, Automotive Aftermarket for PPG. Outcalt will be responsible for leading all sales & marketing directives in North America for the Automotive Refinish business.
Outcalt began his career with PPG as a Marketing Services Manager within the Automotive Coatings business and has held various positions of responsibility which include marketing, marketing services, technical, sales and management.
In 1996 he joined the automotive refinish team as director of network sales. He then served as director of collision center operations and director of sales, North America, refinish. Most recent, Outcalt has been the general manager, insurance & services.
Outcalt will relocate to the Cleveland area and maintain an office at the Refinish headquarters in Stongsville, Ohio.
BASF's North American business has reported that earnings from operations before special items in the third quarter rose 25 percent to euro 110 million ($133 million) from euro 88 million in the same quarter in 2004, on the strength of higher sales and the company's continuing efforts to increase margins and reduce costs.
Third quarter sales in North America were euro 2.29 billion (approximately $2.77 billion), up 12 percent from euro 2.04 billion in the third quarter of 2004.
The company said that Hurricanes Rita and Katrina would reduce EBIT by euro 140 million ($169 million) in the third and fourth quarters. Of that total, euro 20 million ($24 million) were reflected in the third quarter results with the balance of the earnings impairment expected in the fourth quarter.
For the first nine months of 2005, North American earnings from operations before special items were euro 732 million ($885 million), compared to the euro 391 million for the first nine months of 2004. North American sales for the first nine months were euro 7.14 billion ($8.64 billion), up 16 percent from euro 6.16 billion in the same period a year ago.
Klaus Peter Loebbe, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of BASF Corporation, the North American affiliate of BASF AG, said, "Despite the adverse impact of the hurricanes on our Gulf Coast manufacturing sites, BASF grew EBIT in North America by 25 percent in the third quarter. This reflects our progress toward achieving our cost reduction targets totaling $400 million by mid-2007 as well as our focus on continued margin improvement. In addition, we are implementing a Commer-cial Effectiveness initiative and expect our EBIT to rise more than $200 million annually by 2007. Commercial Effectiveness involves adoption of new pricing methodologies and business models and focusing technical and developmental capabilities on customers with whom BASF can grow profitably."
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CCC Information Services Inc. is offering five schools $25,000 in collision repair training and education scholarships to assist deserving students pursuing a career in the automotive-collision repair industry.
The CCC Outstanding Student Technician Scholar-ship, developed in cooperation with the I-CAR Education Foundation, is now accepting applications for the 2006 program. Applications can be obtained via www.cccis.com and must be submitted by 5 p.m. on Feb. 6, 2006. Winners will be announced in April 2006.
"Retaining and recruiting qualified repair technicians remains a critical challenge for our industry," said Jim Dickens, senior vice president at CCC. "We have created the CCC Outstanding Student Technician Scholarship program to help ensure that the best and brightest student technicians remain in school and go on to work in the industry. And, as we celebrate our 25th anniversary this year, we wanted to give something back to the industry that has been very supportive of us, while reaffirming CCC's commitment to the future of automotive claims and collision repair."
Ron Ray, executive director of the I-CAR Education Foundation, stated, "The shortage of qualified repair technicians has the potential to negatively impact the ability of shop owners to run efficient and profitable businesses. CCC's scholarship program will address this issue head on, providing funding to help students receive a high-quality education before entering the collision repair workforce."
The CCC Outstanding Student Technician Scholar-ship program will award scholarships to students currently enrolled at each of the five schools, and have a combined value of $25,000. Students must meet pre-determined criteria to be eligible for the scholarship. Schools participating in the inaugural year of the CCC scholarship program were selected based on criteria that include ASE certification, use of the I-CAR Advanced Training curriculum and geographic location.
The following is a list of participating schools:
- Bridgerland Applied Technol-ogy College, Logan, UT
- Fox Valley Technical College, Appleton, WI
- Nashville Auto-Diesel College, Nashville, TN
- Pennsylvania College of Technology, Williamsport, PA
- Universal Technical Institute, Houston, TX.
Jack Gillis, Executive Director of the Certified Automotive Parts Association (CAPA) has applauded the National Conference of Insur-ance Legislators’ (NCOIL) special property casualty subcommittee for “taking a strong, positive, and proactive position on behalf of the American consumer.”
NCOIL’s proposed resolution states that the use of these parts fosters a competitive environment that leads to lower repair costs and fewer totaled vehicles—to the benefit of consumers, collision repair facilities, and insurers.
“After working for over five years, NCOIL has clearly addressed the need to protect consumers from both poor quality crash parts and the high prices that result from little or no competition,” Gillis added. “In spite of a monumental effort by the car companies and collision repair groups to restrict competition, NCOIL has decided to take a strong stand in favor of competition, fair prices and the American consumer.”
Gillis praised the efforts of NCOIL members, saying that after hearing all sides of the issue they stood up for both the consumer and competition.
“NCOIL should be proud of the leadership role it has taken to protect consumers,” said Gillis. “We are proud to have worked closely with the many state legislators who have stepped up to tackle this important issue. Not only do consumers win when their cars are repaired using quality parts at competitive prices, but the collision repair industry gets more cars to repair because fairly priced parts don’t ‘total’ out cars. The only losers are the car companies, whose monopoly will be eroded, and those short sighted repairers who depend on overpriced parts as a profit center,” Gillis concluded.
The Automotive Service Association (ASA) has introduced ASA's Ultimate Buyers Guide for Service Professionals. The electronic-based publication offers the automotive industry an easy-to-use business tool in which to find products and services catered specifically to their needs.
Launched during Automotive Aftermarket Industry Week in Las Vegas, ASA's vertical search engine features an array of products and services to manage today's service and repair business.
"The association strives to be the information source for our industry. ASA's Ultimate Buyers Guide simply reiterates this commitment," said Ron Pyle, ASA president and chief staff executive. "The guide will help our members, and other industry professionals, clear through the clutter of search engines and easily find the products and services they are looking for through this convenient application. We're very excited to bring this product to the industry."
Within the new search engine, products are placed in categories and will allow the user to search by product, company or geographic location. Supplier listings include address and phone number information, and a number of companies include additional information, such as Web links, e-mail addresses and detailed product descriptions. The guide's search capabilities and electronic format make it simpler and easier than ever before for users to find the right products and services for their business.
The guide is available online at www.ASAUltimateBuyersGuide.com; or bundled with ASA's electronic benefits portfolio, ASA OnDemand (www.ASAOnDemand.com), as a free, downloadable desktop application. In addition, ASA members will receive the guide on CD with the December 2005 issue of AUTOINC. magazine.
ASA worked with MultiView Inc. to publish ASA's Ultimate Buyers Guide. "This is proving to be an outstanding project based on the number of suppliers that are participating," said Dan Maitland, president, MultiView Inc. "This is another strong indicator that the Internet is becoming a large part of the day-to-day operations of the service sector."
Estorga’s Collision Repair, Inc. has announced that Jack Rozint is joining the firm as Vice President of Operations. In this role, Rozint will oversee the firm’s operations in its ninety thousand square foot facility in Long Beach, California and will work with the founder and CEO, Al Estorga on future growth and potential expansion.
“We are excited about having someone of Jack’s caliber join our organization,” said Al Estorga. “His professional background and management experience will allow us to execute the next stage of our growth plan as a total solutions provider of collision repair and claims management services.”
Rozint is an industry veteran with more than 20 years of leadership experience in technology and service businesses involving the automotive insurance claims industry. His experience includes senior management roles with Robert Bosch, Ensera, CCC Information Services, and Akzo-Nobel.
Al Estorga, founder of Estorga’s Collision Repair, has owned and operated leading collision repair operations in Long Beach for more than 35 years.
Dan Pettigrew, CEO of Caliber Collision Centers has announced that John Hovis has joined the company as Pres-ident of Caliber Collision Centers, and will assume full responsibility for the operating divisions of the company, including California and Texas field operations, Client Ser-vices, Vendor Relations, and Facilities Management. Rick Reiss, Mark Sanders, Vince Claudio, Stepan Altounian, and Sandy Muir will report directly to Hovis.
With over 25 years of operations and management experience, Hovis brings operating expertise and a hands-on style that is well-suited to the industry and to his leadership role within Caliber, Pettigrew noted.
Most recently, Hovis served as President of Production Resource Group (PRG), a worldwide, multi-unit entertainment services and production organization based in New York. Previously, he was Chief Operating Officer for Rail America, a $400 million multi-regional transportation and logistics provider headquartered in Boca Raton, Florida. He has also served as Chief Operating Officer for RailTex, a San Antonio based railway consolidator.
This appointment appears to be part of Caliber’s general restructuring plan.
Caliber has also announced the grand opening of a 14,000 square foot collision repair center, its second location in Plano, Texas.
Ben Stuckert, with over 27 years of experience in the collision repair industry, will serve as Center Manager there.
Founded in 1997, with headquarters in Irvine, Caliber Collision Centers operates 67 collision repair facilities in California and Texas.
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