The facility consists of nine service bays.

In any business endeavor, the main goal is - obviously - success. But in the automotive repair industry, that goal is only met through dedication, time and effort. Some have said that in order for a business to succeed, the owner should know what they're doing, love what they're doing and believe in what they're doing. For Matt Herzing, owner of Pennsylvania Body and Frame in St. Marys, Pa., all three statements are truly taken to heart. The result is a successful collision and mechanical repair facility committed to introducing a new generation to the challenges and gratifications of the automotive repair industry.

Pennsylvania Body and Frame, a 4,300-square-foot facility, has a staff of 12 - most of whom started in the shop's apprenticeship program.

"I hire them young, and they learn the business and learn the industry while they're in high school," Herzing said. "As long as they're willing to work, I can teach them. And as long as they want to make this their career, we can work with them. And that's how we get good guys. We have a young group that works well together."

Certified BASF Refinisher Brad Black utilizes a paint booth in the shop's state-of-the-art facility.

Herzing believes that instituting an apprenticeship program allows him to provide the best hands-on training for the younger generation of technicians he employs in his shop. Although he received training from a local vo-tech school, Herzing feels the best type of employee is being trained directly in his shop.

"The young kids that work here put the word out in their local schools and that's how I get them."

The time and dedication Herzing has put into this apprenticeship program has yielded successful results. In fact, Herzing's nephew Karl has been going through the program since he was a sophomore in high school. He now works full time in the shop, continuing his ongoing training. Starting out as a "cleanup guy" and detailer, Karl is currently moving into light bodywork and light sanding and buffing. And although this is a strenuous process on the owner, current technicians and apprentices, Herzing wouldn't trade the results for anything.

For technicians at Pennsylvania Body and Frame, training doesn't stop at the apprenticeship level. The company invests thousands of dollars a year on ongoing training for its technicians.

"We take advantage of anything that's thrown at us. Any training that's out there through I-CAR, our local jobber, equipment manufacturers, or our paint company, we take advantage of it," Herzing said. "Training is big for our company."

Karl Herzing uses the skills he's learned in the shop's apprenticeship program to sand a front bumper.

In fact, the shop pays for everything involved in ongoing training. Herzing even pays his technicians while they are being trained. "If he's going to be there for eight hours, we pay him for an eight-hour day. That's how much training means to this company," Herzing said.

The results of the training can be seen in the shop's certifications. All of the shop's technicians are ASE-certified, with several being ASE master technicians. In addition, every employee is I-CAR trained and continues their I-CAR training. With such certifications, Pennsylvania Body and Frame is an I-CAR Gold Shop, an ASE Blue Seal shop and a certified BASF Refinish shop.

"BASF and our jobber have both been a big help in the development of our organization from the beginning," Herzing commented. "The continued support from BASF is very helpful, especially with their management programs like VisionPLUS. The partnership has been great since day one with BASF."

Herzing attributes the success of his business to his dedicated employees.

"If you can get a good group of people to surround you, then you'll have success in your business," Herzing said. "You've got to get great people behind you, you've got to get great people to believe in what you believe, and you've got to get great people that are excited about the career they are in. If you can do that, they're going to produce a great product for you. And if you can produce a great product, then you're going to produce profit out of that product."

Wheel alignment and undercar repair technician Matt Keveney performs a wheel alignment.

In business since 1986, Pennsylvania Body and Frame began as a wheel alignment and frame repair shop. Now, 17 years later, the shop performs approximately 42 collision repair jobs per month and 60 mechanical jobs per month. Ten years after the initial opening, Herzing expanded his business by 1,800 square feet. And currently, the shop is undergoing a significant expansion that will nearly triple the size of the shop.

Keeping up with changing technology is also important to Herzing and his employees. "I guess I'm a technology junkie," said Herzing." I don't know everything about it, but I like it. We continually keep up with technology."

And in keeping up with technology, Herzing has developed an award-winning Web site (www.pabodyandframe.com). Created three years ago, The Pennsylvania Body and Frame Web site has been the recipient of AutoInc.'s Top 10 Automotive Repair Web Sites award, as well as the Automotive Service Association's Golden Quill Award for Web Site Excellence.

"We created the Web site in order to market the facility," Herzing said. "We're heavily involved in DRP programs. It's a great marketing tool for calling prospective insurance companies. I can give them my Web site and everything you want to know about us is listed there."

General manager Tony Thomas prepares an estimate.

Herzing cautions shops that are not willing to invest the time in instituting a Web site for their shop. His site is updated daily and proves to be a valuable tool for his customers. Customers can use the Web site to learn more about the collision repair industry and check the status of their vehicle.

"If it just sits there, then you've wasted your money and time. If you're not willing to invest the time, then it's not going to work for you," Herzing said.

Pennsylvania Body and Frame has been a member of the Automotive Service Association (ASA) since 1988.

"I really believe in ASA. It's been a big help in growing our business," Herzing said. "I have a big arm to speak for me in the industry and I feel they are looking out for me. I will always be a member."

Finally, Herzing's business philosophy can be seen as the epitome of dedication in the automotive repair industry.

"You have to empower every employee. In doing do, you will increase productivity and improve retention," explains Herzing. "You must thrive on change and build a strong partnership. Teamwork requires open, two-way communication and trust. But above everything else, you have to make your customers the center of your culture."

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