Five Major Paint Companies Show Support of NACE

The International Autobody Congress & Exposition (NACE) has announced that five major paint companies will be at NACE 2005 and will demonstrate their support by sponsoring special events, event transportation and numerous conference sessions. These companies include Akzo Nobel, BASF, DuPont Performance Coatings, Sherwin-Williams Automotive Finishes Corp. and Valspar.

Valspar will have a large presence on the trade show floor and will sponsor the shuttle service operating between NACE and the Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) show. Valspar celebrates its 200th anniversary this year - while House of Kolor, a division of Valspar, celebrates its 50th anniversary. Valspar will be offering two educational sessions specifically designed for its House of Kolor and DeBeer lines. Shelly Cullen, global marketing manager, said: "The two educational sessions offered by Valspar will showcase two of our many success stories. Jon Kosmoski, world-renowned founder of House of Kolor, will deliver one of the most energetic and exciting sessions about Kustom Painting. And Brian Lynch, Valspar's North American training manager, will present the latest European addition to the Valspar family - DeBeer Car Refinishes - with emphasis on technical and application techniques."

Sherwin-Williams Automotive Finishes Corp. will sponsor the Welcome Reception to be held Wednesday evening (Nov. 2) at the trendy House of Blues Music Hall located within The Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino. In addition to offering four sessions on a variety of collision repair topics, it will present two user group meetings specifically for its Sherwin-Williams and Martin Senour brand customers.

DuPont Performance Coatings, sponsor of the Opening General Session featuring Rudy Giuliani as keynote speaker on Thursday morning (Nov. 3), will offer six training sessions including "Implementing Effective Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs)," "Documentation: Become an Estimation Sensation" and "The Value of Color Science and Color Matching."

BASF will offer six sessions that cover management, jobber, and sales and marketing issues, including "Paint Shop Productivity," "Refinish Principles for Insurers," plus a specialized session on its Carizzma brand. BASF will also be the exclusive sponsor of the official NACE Hotel Shuttle Service that provides complimentary round-trip transportation from all official NACE hotel properties and The Mandalay Bay Convention Center.

Akzo Nobel will sponsor Friday's "Call to Action!" luncheon program (Nov. 4), celebrating and challenging the entire collision repair industry. It will also deliver six dynamic sessions addressing industry-wide management issues, plus serve as the exclusive provider of insurance-specific education.

"The support we're getting from these companies is outstanding and very much appreciated," said Ron Pyle, ASA president and chief staff executive. "The high profile they possess within the industry is important, and their backing of NACE and involvement in the conference program is invaluable."

California ASA Member-Business Wins Environmental Award

Pictured are Leonard Robinson, chief deputy director of the Department of Toxic Substances, and the staff of Larry's AutoWorks, Mountain View, Calif., receiving the California Model Shop Award.

On April 19, the California Environmental Protection Agency, Department of Toxic Substances, Pollution Prevention Division, presented the California Model Shop Award to Larry's AutoWorks, Mountain View, Calif., for its role in reducing pollution in the automotive repair industry. Leonard Robinson, chief deputy director of the Department of Toxic Substances, noted that by a small shop winning this award, it shows a genuine group effort by the staff and owners.

Larry Moore, president, and Laurie Moore, vice president of finance, both earned their Accredited Automotive Manager (AAM) designation from the Automotive Management Institute. Larry's AutoWorks is a 10,500-square-foot facility with 13 employees and is a 21-year member of ASA.

Larry's AutoWorks is one of only nine shops in the state - and the only one in Mountain View - to have earned this award.

ASA-Ohio Establishing SOS Groups

The ASA-Ohio affiliate is in the process of establishing Shop Owner Support (SOS) Groups throughout the state. SOS Groups are localized small groups of five- to 10-member businesses. The groups are designed to assist participating members with developing better management skills through open exchanges of ideas, problems and solutions for the purpose of raising the level of integrity and professionalism of the industry.

NATIONAL NEWS

The Automotive Service Association (ASA) has announced its 2005 Collision Division Operations Committee. Darrell Amberson, AAM, Lehman's Garage, Bloomington, Minn., will continue to serve as Collision Division director. As such, Amberson serves on ASA's board of directors and chairs the ASA Collision Division Operations Committee.

Additional members of the operations committee were named by ASA's board, including Jerry Burns, AAM, Automotive Impressions Inc., Rio Rancho, N.M., who is serving as assistant division director.

In addition to Amberson and Burns, returning committee members are Dan Bailey, CARSTAR Inc., Overland Park, Kan.; Craig Griffin, Laney's Collision Centre, El Dorado, Ark.; Ken Hanley, Five Star Collision Center, Houston, Texas; Harry Moppert, Moppert Brothers Collision Services Group, Morton, Pa.; Ron Nagy, AAM, Nagy's Body & Frame Shop Inc., Doylestown, Ohio; Carroll Proctor, A.C. Proctor's Paint & Body Shop, Augusta, Ga.; and Roy Schnepper, Butler's Collision, Roseville, Mich.

New to the committee are Scott Kallemeyn, AAM, Kallemeyn Collision Center, Palos Heights, Ill.; and Mike Schoonover, Schoonover Bodyworks Inc., St. Paul, Minn.

The 11 members of ASA's Collision Division Operations Committee represent shops of varying sizes from across the United States. The committee works on behalf of all ASA collision members to advance and promote the collision repair industry.

In addition, ASA has announced its 2005 Mechanical Division Operations Committee. Earl Dohner, AAM, E&E's Garage, Brookville, Ohio, will continue as Mechanical Division director. As such, Dohner serves on ASA's board of directors and chairs the Mechanical Division Operations Committee. The position of Mechanical Division director is a two-year term. Dohner was elected to this position in 2004 by the ASA membership.

Additional members of the operations committee were named by ASA's board, including Rolf Werner, AAM, Werner's Mastertek Auto Repair, Aurora, Colo., who is serving as assistant division director.

In addition to Dohner and Werner, returning committee members are Robert Ayers, AAM, Ayers Automotive Repair, Santa Barbara, Calif.; Mike Koebke, Gus Mann Automotive, San Antonio, Texas; Bill Moss, Auto Advantage, Manassas, Va.; Terry Steenholdt, T.D.S. Auto Repair Inc., Sioux Falls, S.D.; Dave Walter, Kehoe Automotive Center Inc., Carol Stream, Ill.; and Bob Wills, Wills Auto Service, Battle Creek, Mich.

New to the committee are Rick Baker, AAM, Rick Baker's Auto Service Inc., Pleasant Hill, Ohio; Mike Brewster, AAM, Gil's Garage Inc., Burnt Hills, N.Y.; and Howard Pitkow, Wagenwerx Inc., Wyndmoor, Pa.

The 11 members of ASA's Mechanical Division Operations Committee represent repair facilities of varying sizes from across the United States. The committee works on behalf of all ASA mechanical members to advance and promote the automotive service and repair industry.