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KIDNAPPING SURVIVOR DREAM VEHICLE MAKEOVER REVEALED AT CIC
NATIONAL NEWS
KIDNAPPING SURVIVOR DREAM VEHICLE MAKEOVER REVEALED AT CIC
Way back in 2003, 15-year-old Amanda Berry was a budding car enthusiast who loved spending time with her grandfather, Troy, as they both worked on his prized 1986 Monte Carlo SS. In fact, she was so enamored with the car that her grandpa promised to give it to her when she turned 16. Tragically, that anticipated event never took place.
On the day before her 16th birthday, Berry was kidnapped and subsequently held prisoner for 10 years. Her disappearance and eventual escape made national headlines and became an extraordinary tale of hope and survival.
Sadly, her grandfather was diagnosed with dementia shortly after her return; as a result, he struggled to remember her before he passed away. Despite this devastating loss, she kept the beloved Monte Carlo, which by that time was in a greatly deteriorated state. Fortunately, collision repair students at Max S. Hayes High School in Cleveland would not let the vehicle fade into history. Under the guidance of auto body instructor Greg Boykin, dozens of students put in hundreds of hours – including on Saturdays – to fully restore the vehicle as per I-CAR standards. Although the Monte Carlo was ready to be revealed by early 2020, the class’ planned unveiling at the Summit Racing Equipment I-X Piston Powered Auto-Rama that March was shelved in light of COVID-19.
Thanks to the Collision Repair Education Foundation (CREF), the revamped ride was finally revealed to Berry at a special ceremony at the July Collision Industry Conference (CIC) in Cleveland.
Appearing on stage prior to seeing the upgraded Monte Carlo, Berry expressed her deep appreciation for every student who gave of themselves to provide this special gift.
“First and foremost, thank you to my grandfather, who’s now in Heaven. He’s watching down, and he watched all of you guys do all the hard work. For that, I’ll be forever grateful and thankful […] This is a dream come true that I actually didn’t think would ever come true.”
Additionally, she thanked CREF Managing Director Brandon Eckenrode for his efforts to provide a fantastic venue for such an unforgettable experience.
“Without him and the Collision Repair Education Foundation, I don’t think this could have ever happened.” H&D
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COVER STORY HITTING THE ROAD:
WMABA MEMBERS P.R.E.P. FOR A TRIP TO
These were the passionate words offered by WMABA Secretary Phil Rice (Huber Collision; Fredericksburg, VA) during a recent call to Hammer & Dolly about his plans to attend the 2021 NORTHEAST® Automotive Services Show, held the 10th through the 12th of this month at the Meadowlands Exposition Center in Secaucus, NJ. Although it will take him roughly four hours to travel to the weekend show for the third time, he’d be the first to tell anyone from the WMABA community that it’s worth every second spent in the car.
“I’m really looking forward to the networking opportunities and seeing how some of the larger facilities are doing post-COVID-19 and how that is impacting their business compared to how it’s impacting ours. When you’re having a conversation with one colleague, what you may find is that they know somebody in Kansas who’s gone through something very similar to you. The show is a great resource; it’s the only East Coast representation of what’s happening on a national level.”
In addition to their plans to visit with as many exhibitors as possible, Rice and several other collision industry pros from the region are gearing up to attend WMABA’s Collision Professional Repairer Education Program (Collision P.R.E.P.) throughout the show. As in the past, this year’s Collision P.R.E.P. events were developed by WMABA in collaboration with the Alliance of Automotive Service Providers of New Jersey (AASP/NJ), which has hosted NORTHEAST – the largest industry event of its kind in the nation – for more than 40 years.
“[NORTHEAST and Collision P.R.E.P.] are bringing in the best of the best industry presenters,” Rice says. “They find the best subject matter experts out there.”
WMABA Board member Bill Hawkins is also making plans for his third visit to NORTHEAST.
“Frankly, it’s all going to be about education and ADAS for me this year. Those are areas of opportunity that all shops need to look at or they’re just going to be left behind.” Despite being busy in his daily work, Hawkins finds value in devoting a weekend away to gain a new level of knowledge and connect with others.
“The chance to powwow with other people in the industry is always a good thing. For me, it’s nice to go someplace on the East Coast as opposed to having to go all the way out west for SEMA.”
Perhaps the greatest strength of this year’s Collision P.R.E.P. is that it will feature several presentations designed to offer fresh – and sometimes unexpected – perspectives on some of today’s most common subjects. For example, even if you think you’ve already heard it all with the topic of scanning (or are possibly feeling a little burned out on it), you would do well to attend “Tech Download: What a Diagnostic Scan Tool Is and Is Not.” Presented by Josh McFarlin of AirPro Diagnostics, the course will go beyond typical discussion points to (among other things) provide solid definitions for widely misunderstood terms and give an overview of the capabilities – and
misconceptions – inherent in various scan tools available in the current marketplace. Additionally, McFarlin intends to stress that the word “aftermarket” often has a very different connotation when it’s applied to scan tools instead of automotive parts.
“During this course, I think attendees will reasonably come to a conclusion that aftermarket scan tools don’t mean the same thing and carry the same baggage as aftermarket parts,” McFarlin says, adding that some aftermarket scan tools actually license their data straight from the OEMs and can achieve the same goals as a factory product when utilized by an experienced and knowledgeable technician.
Not surprisingly, McFarlin feels that NORTHEAST’s in-person setting will serve as the perfect way to experience his course and bring up any questions or concerns that arise along the way.
“Being able to read the room and look for the folded arms or the nodding and shaking heads so I can get people engaged and bring them more into the discussion will be a major benefit. If it looks like they’re not agreeing with me, it will be great to say, ‘Hey, I see you over there! Share your perspective, and let’s have a conversation about it.’”
Anyone who has followed industry news in recent years is keenly aware that improper repairs could have considerable legal ramifications for the responsible facility. These days, a shop’s ability to properly document its processes and procedures is as important as the repair itself. During “Documenting for Repair Process and Liability, Building a Bulletproof File and Improving Processes over Time,” VECO Experts CEO Mark Olson will walk P.R.E.P. participants through how to create a “bulletproof file” – built first and foremost on pulling OEM information on every car every time – that could shield them from liability if the quality and integrity of their work is ever questioned. “A bulletproof file is ultimately what you want from a liability standpoint, but there’s also a cultural shift that people have to go through within their shop organization,” Olson explains. “What we hear so often is, ‘I’ve never had a problem, so why do I care?’ Well, it only takes one [bad experience] and you’re out of business. Your culture has to support getting all that information and getting it done right.”
Oregon-based shop owner and educator Ron Reichen (Precision Body & Paint) is set to travel to New Jersey for the NORTHEAST debut of his course, “Structural Identification for Profitability – Knowing and Understanding Structural Damage.” In light of the demands facing today’s industry, it’s no surprise that he intends to use part of his discussion to emphasize the importance of OEMrecommended/required repair procedures.
“It couldn’t be more important than it is now […] You can’t assume [the procedures will be the same] because you did that repair a month ago on the same vehicle. You have to pull out that OEM repair procedure again and again, because the manufacturers change them very frequently.” Reichen is excited to finally present in front of actual people as opposed to attempting to get his points across over a computer screen.
“In an in-person class as opposed to a Zoom meeting, it just seems like the participants and attendees are more comfortable asking questions as they come to their mind. That’ll spur a thought in another attendee, and we really get into a good discussion.”
If you’re looking for the perfect way to finally get on the road and reinvigorate your business after months of slowed progress and a lack of face time with your peers, NORTHEAST needs to be on your calendar. As far as a game plan for once you arrive, we’ll leave that to Mr. Rice.
“Wear comfortable shoes and plan on spending a day on the floor! You’ve got to see, look and listen to know what’s out there.
NORTHEAST 2021 is made possible through the generous support of the following sponsors: Platinum Sponsor: BASF; Gold Sponsor: Ford; Silver Sponsors: PPG, NJ Parts of Flemington; Lanyard Sponsors: Innovative Solutions and Technology, Spanesi; Attendee Prize Sponsor: Axalta Coating Systems; and General Sponsors: Harbortouch and Sherwin-Williams Automotive Finishes.
Pre-registered NORTHEAST 2020 attendees will not need to re-register for the 2021 show, as badge data will be carried over to these new dates of September 10-12.
For updates and information on NORTHEAST (including available lodging), please continue to visit the official event website at aaspnjnortheast.com. WMABA’s complete Collision P.R.E.P. schedule is available on page 28 of this issue and at wmaba.com/collisionprep. H&D
Executive Director’s Thoughts
The Collision P.R.E.P. lineup is a condensed education track for anyone in any facility who wants to gain insight to the future, expand on the present industry and grow into new possibilities within their shop. This opportunity to download so much material in a short period is just not offered anywhere else on the East Coast.
- Jordan Hendler
