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 CollisionWeek Feature

SCRS Chairman Aaron Clark
New chair discusses association worries about data privacy and recent repair related issues.
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State Farm: Parts Ordering Program will be Different this Time
Interview with George Avery provides insight into the insurance giant’s new vision of electronic parts ordering, not just for them, but for the entire industry.
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CIC Chairman Mike Quinn
Quinn discusses topics for the upcoming meeting and CIC plans for 2011.
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AASP/NJ President Jeff McDowell
His association's upcoming NORTHEAST show could possibly be one of the best attended shows in years.
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Audatex to Reintroduce Labor Times for Unprimed Bumper Covers
Rick Tuuri discusses the details of the timing and how the new labor calculations will work.

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Mitchell's Greg Horn: Industry Trends Report
Horn answers questions and discusses the data behind Mitchell's quarterly industry trends reports.
May 2011 - Feb 2011 - Nov 2010 - Aug 2010 - May 2010

Copart CEO Jay Adair
With decades of experience in the salvage auction business, Adair discusses current market trends, some of Copart's new initiatives and the future of the company.
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Dan Stander, ASA Collision Division Director
Stander, a third-generation repairer, recently took the helm of the Automotive Service Association's Collision Division Operations Committee. He talks about key issues facing ASA's Collision membership and priorities of the Committee.
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Jim Sell, Senior Counsel, American Coatings  Association, on East Coast Low-VOC Resolution
Sell discusses the coming waterborne regulations on the East Coast and the interstate commission making the call for the switch.
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CynCast Launches New Shop Performance Rating System
Concept is to promote a one-number rating of shop performance covering measurements like severity, cycle time and CSI scores. We interview CynCast CEO Doug Kelly to explain the project and why it was created.
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Identifying Insurer Concerns in Collision Repair
Mike Condon shares some of his thoughts on what he learned through more than 22 hours of candid interviews with insurance company leadership about the collision repair industry.
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J.D. Power: Insight Into Collision Industry CSI
Industry satisfaction is up big in 2009, and cycle time is down considerably from last year, but that isn't the whole story, according to J.D. Power's Jeremy Bowler.
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NABC Program Offers Shops A Chance to Shine
NABC Board President George Avery and Executive Director Chuck Sulkala discuss the emergency extrication program that offers shops the opportunity for positive recognition while providing a valuable community service.
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EPA Rule for Shops: Guilty Until Proven Innocent
Every shop in the country has less than two months to comply with the initial notification requirement of the EPA's new surface coating rule, but there is free help available if you know who to call.
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Michael Quinn, Creating Industry Standards Where None Exist
Chair of the CIC Trade Practices committee would like to develop standards in insurance company programs to increase transparency and reduce waste in the repair process.
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SCRS Executive Director Aaron Schulenburg
Is working together still the most important work they do? Schulenburg discusses the thinking behind the SCRS slogan change as well as other new projects for the association.
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Interviews with I-CAR Leadership

Part One 
In Part One of our video interview, Tom Moreland, of AkzoNobel and Chairman of the I-CAR International Board of Directors, and John Edelen, I-CAR President & CEO, discuss the 30-year Legacy of I-CAR and the importance of its volunteers to the industry.
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Part Two 
In Part Two of our video interview, Moreland and Edelen discuss the economic challenges that have faced the industry, how industry feedback is helping I-CAR develop training, and the current state of the non-profit organization- both operationally and financially.
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Part Three
In Part Three of our interviews with I-CAR leadership, Tom Moreland is joined by Chris Evans, Chairman of the I-CAR Education Foundation Board of Trustees, who explains the reasons behind the 2007 migration of activities between the organizations and clarifies the confusion many have about the migration, and future activities.
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Q&A with Darrell Amberson, ASA Collision Division Director
Industry issues from the perspective of a national association leader and president of a six-location collision repair operation.
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Q&A with Barry Dorn, SCRS Chairman 2009
Dorn discusses recent call for Justice Department involvement in the industry, renewed attempt to enforce the 1963 Consent Decree, and future of SCRS.
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Guy Bargnes, BASF & Michael Condon, Condon Consulting
Bargnes and Condon discuss insurance claim study Finding Common Ground: A Claims Perspective.
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Gary Wano, 2008 Chairman of SCRS
Wano stresses the importance of working together, and looks at the future of SCRS from the perspective of its past success.
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Progressive's Multi-Million Dollar Steering Suit: Interview with Greg Coccaro
Meet the NY shop owner behind the lawsuit accusing Progressive of deceptive, anti-consumer trade practices.
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I-CAR Chairman Explains New Approach and Direction for Training Provider
John Edelen addressed CIC and spoke with CollisionWeek to explain I-CAR's renewed, customer-driven focus.
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What's All the Fuss About Lean Production?
Vice President of Keenan Auto Body, explains why they embarked on a journey to become lean.
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State Farm's Electronic Parts Ordering Test
In an on-camera interview, State Farm's George Avery talks about what the insurer hopes to achieve through this electronic parts ordering program.
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ASA Taking Aim on Total-Loss Bills and McCarran Ferguson Repeal
Bob Redding says waning Right to Repair fight frees association to look at legislative goals for 2007 and beyond. On the agenda: total-loss disclosure, and the repeal of McCarran Ferguson.
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I-CAR Welding Qualification Tests Hit the Open Road
With a fleet of eight new trucks, I-CAR is now taking welding tests directly to shops all across North America. We had to take a look.Click Here for Full Story

Moreland Provides Update on SCRS Activities Over Past Year
Progress made on non-OEM parts, estimate rekeying and database issues.Click Here for Full Story

FIX Auto Develops Shop Technology for Use Beyond the Network Membership
The successful development of IT solutions for its member shops has led to the release of technology that any shop can use, and they may now have a solution to eliminate estimate rekeying.
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Improving Industry Image:
More than an Exercise in Public Relations
The National Auto Body Council's new president, Guy Bargnes, believes that improving the image of the industry can have a profound effect on its future health.Click Here for Full Story

New EPA Refinish Regulations are Coming, and this Time They’re Serious
The EPA is writing new regulations for the refinish industry, and they are looking at everything from sanding and painting to welding and waste management.Click Here for Full Story

Half of All Shops Could Could Fail Without Industry-Wide Change
Ed Kizenberger, executive director of the Long Island Repairmen's Association, believes that repairers must change their behavior if they hope to avoid the fate of repairers in other countries.Click Here for Full Story

SCRS Names New Chairman, Elects Board of Directors
Tom Moreland of Akzo Nobel elected chair. Interview with the first corporate member to hold the position of SCRS chairman. He views the position as similar to the support role he plays as a supplier.Click Here for Full Story

Joint Task Force Set to Begin Talks with Database Providers
Lou DiLisio, SCRS Chairman and task force member, discusses some issues the task force would like to resolve with the estimating database providers.Click Here for Full Story

Matt Ohrnstein, Dan Pettigrew
A New Beginning for Caliber Collision
Caliber's new CEO says the company is ready to re-emerge as a growth leader. We sat down with Dan Pettigrew, the new CEO, and Matt Ohrnstein, Caliber's Chairman to find out where they see Caliber headed.
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Rick Tuuri
New CIC Chair Would Like to Guide the Group with a Vision
The new leader of CIC would like the participants to adopt a shared vision of the future, and move in a direction to achieve that vision.
Video interview with Rick Tuuri.

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Dan Risley
SCRS Releases Initial Results of Aftermarket Parts Study
Initial data shows high level of parts returns. SCRS requests that repairers assist by completing a form when they order certified aftermarket parts.
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Brian Vesley
New Jersey Legislation to Address Aftermarket Parts
Addressing issues beyond simple consumer consent, these bills could make insurance company affiliated parts certifiers no longer legally recognized in the state of New Jersey. AASP's Brian Vesley discusses the reasons behind the new bills.Click Here for Full Story

Bob Redding
Part 1 of 2
Insurer-Owned Shop Legislation: Coming to a State Near You
In the first of a two-part interview, ASA's Washington D.C. Representative Bob Redding shares his thoughts about upcoming insurer-owned shop legislation, the Allstate-Sterling lawsuit in Texas, and how it's all affecting the industry.
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Part 2 of 2
Non-OEM Parts - A Viable Solution to the Never Ending Battle 
On the legislative front, ASA's Bob Redding has been dealing with the arguments over the use of aftermarket parts for years, and as he sees it, there is only one viable solution to finally settle the issue for all parties involved.
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Dan Risley
National Industry Issues Forum Focused on Repairers Only 
SCRS Executive Director Dan Risley discusses how the NIIF is unique because it focuses exclusively on the concerns of repairers and the issues they face, with the goal of solving problems. Click Here for Full Story

Doug Kelly
Fix Auto Putting Performance Before Brand
There are other networks in the industry looking to create brand awareness, but Fix Auto is approaching brand in a way that puts performance first. And they intend to guarantee it.
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Bill Lawrence
Caliber Rejects Lawsuit Settlement Offer, Company President Responds to Charges 
Caliber was offered a chance to settle the suit, but turned it down. Bill Lawrence openly discusses the company's stance on the charges filed against them.
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Jon McNeill
Sterling's CEO Seeks to Dispel Misconceptions About Allstate-Owned Repair Chain 
Will Sterling be on every street corner? Do Allstate employees run Sterling? Will other insurers follow Allstate's lead? Sterling CEO Jon McNeill answers those questions and more. Click Here for Full Story


David McClune
California Considering Numerous Bills Affecting Collision Repairers 
California is back in the news this year with legislation affecting the collision repair industry. Issues range from steering laws to shop report cards. David McClune, Executive Director of the California Autobody Association gives us his take. Click Here for Full Story


Ron Ray
I-CAR Education Foundation's PACE+ST3 Program Enjoying Success From the Start 
After being tested in three schools over the past year, the idea behind the PACE+ST3 program seems to have been the right one. Click Here for Full Story


Bob Redding
Legislative Conversations with Bob Redding,
ASA's Washington D.C. Representative 

In a three-part interview, Bob Redding discusses several legislative topics that have been in the headlines recently, including plans for more insurer-owned shop legislation, crash parts legislation, and why the ASA's information availability agreement with the OEMs was a great achievement for the industry. Click Here for Full Story


David Newton-Ross
Preferred Repairer System in Australia Under Fire in Federal Court 
A group of repairers has taken Australia's largest auto insurer to court seeking to put a stop to the insurer's preferred repairer network. David Newton-Ross of the Collision Repair Specialists of Australia (CRSA) talks about the court case and a little about the current difficulty in Australia with DRP programs. 
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Tom McGee
New CEO Sees Role of I-CAR Increasing in Importance to the Industry
The new CEO of I-CAR discusses the long and short term direction he sees the organization taking, as well as what the future may hold for Gold Class, the Industry Training Alliance, and program availability, content and delivery.
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John Norris
Toronto Aims Environmental SWAT Teams at Collision Repair Facilities
John Norris, Executive Director of Toronto's Collision Industry Action Group (CIAG) discusses the importance as well as the benefits of environmental compliance for a shop, beyond just avoiding the SWAT teams.
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Doug Kelly
Fix Auto Stresses the Power of Brand and Value of Services for Independents
Looking to compete in the same markets as the big boys like Caliber, Boyd and ABRA; Fix Auto does not own the stores in its network, instead relying on a cohesive group of independently owned shops. We talked with Doug Kelly, president and COO of Fix Auto, to ask what makes Fix tick.
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Hinda Chalew
Video Interview with Hinda Chalew ADP's New Plan for Electronic Claims Handling
ADP is now embracing open-standards, the existence of which was threatened only a year ago by the same company. We interviewed ADP's VP of Product Management Hinda Chalew to ask about the recent AutoVista acquisition, their newly announced electronic claims management system, and what's in store for ADP and information sharing.
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Ron Ray
Video Interview with Ron Ray The I-CAR Education Foundation's Promising New Training Initiative
The I-CAR Education Foundation announced a new training initiative at NACE last week, and the program may just redefine entry-level tech training. We interviewed Ron Ray, Executive Director of the foundation and he told us how this program is not only what the industry asked for, it's what the industry needs.
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CIC focus groupsCIC- Data Task Force to Address EMS Transaction Access
The issue of data access has come front and center with the efforts of ADP and CCC to restrict access to the EMS transaction. Industry leaders speak out on this issue. We talked to ADP, Mitchell, autoVista, DriveLogic, processclaims, Ensera, and FIX AUTO to get their views and predictions.
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Matthew Ohrnstein:
CEO of Caliber Collision Centers

In this video interview, Mr. Ohrnstein explains the history of Caliber and the challenges they faced developing their business model, as well as giving us a virtual tour of their facility in Chino Valley, California!
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CIC focus groups
Virtual tour of Caliber's Chino Valley Center


Features - Research - Interviews

 

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