Veteran Who Used Bicycle and Cart to Transport Daughters Gets Refurbished Car from Vallejo’s Regal Collision Repair and Other Supporting Businesses A Vallejo, CA, collision repair firm recently rewarded a 43-year-old married veteran and father of three with a 2006 PT Cruiser convertible, thanks to Regal Collision Repair’s Benevolence Program. Prior to receiving the car, Brian Sepolen of Vallejo used a bicycle and cart to get his daughters to and from school and soccer practice. Sepolen and his wife, Vinita, 44, were surprised with the gift at Regal’s Tuolumne Street shop, thinking they were there to receive a community award for his military service. With a crowd of several dozen well-wishers, including last year’s recipient, John and Cheryl Zimmerman of American Canyon, applauding, the family climbed into their new, blue ride. “I’m humbled and awed,” U.S. Army Specialist Brian Sepolen said. “We just know Vallejo’s a great town, with a lot of wonderful people and we want to make sure people know that.” A substance abuse counselor at the California Medical Facility in Vacaville, Vinita Sepolen said the new car is going to change the family’s life for the better. “I’m just surprised. It’s a bless-
ing,” she said. “We needed a car, we really did, and we want to thank everybody.” A couple dozen local businesses, from car dealers to upholstery, insurance, auto parts and repair firms and others, pitched in to make the gift pos-
Benevolence Program “is like a Christmas present to someone who needs it but would never ask for it,” Jim Boyle said. “We adopted it eight years ago.” Sepolen came to the attention of Fighting Back Partnership’s John Allen nearly two months ago. “I hired him from our (United Way) SparkPoint program, on a very limited basis, to do some fixes to our computer system and to create a database for the (parolee) Second Chance (Mentoring) program,” Allen said. “He gets paid next to nothing and I felt so bad when the first day that he came in to work, he came in carrying a bicycle tire and the seat post. He told me he had chained the kid cart and Brian Sepolen and his wife Vinita sit in the conbike downstairs, but wasn’t taking vertible PT Cruiser given to them as part of the chances with anyone trying to steal Regal Collision Repair Benevolence Program. the bike. He told me he used that to (Chris Riley/Times-Herald) take his kids to and from school, sible, Regal’s owners Jim and Shellie because his wife used their car, a gas Boyle said. guzzler, to commute to work.” “I’m choked up,” Jim Boyle said. Soon after, Allen’s contacts at Regal “It’s my gift to the community. I do it be- mentioned they were still accepting cause I can and it makes me feel good.” nominations for the Benevolence ProAn outgrowth of a 15-year-old gram and were hoping to find a deconcept that started in Utah, the serving veteran needing support.
Service King Acquires AutoBody America
AutoBody America, a 20-shop collision repair operation with locations in Tennessee, Mississippi and Arkansas, was acquired by Service King Collision Repair Centers on Dec. 30. The transactions include markets in Nashville, Memphis, Little Rock, Knoxville, Chattanooga, Clarksville, Jackson, TN, Jackson, MS, and Fayettville. Service King said it will retain AutoBody America’s 250 employees throughout the 20 locations, which will have the capacity to repair more than 40,000 vehicles annually. “We are very excited to partner with a great company in AutoBody America,” said Mike Abbott, market vice president for Service King. “Our two companies have similar histories, which makes this merger a natural fit. AutoBody America and their great team will provide a strong platform for Service King in the southeastern United States,” Abbott added. Jeff McFadden, president of Service King, said, “It’s comforting to partner with an organization that delivers the level of customer service that Service King customers have grown accustomed, and we are very excited to welcome the professionals at AutoBody America to the Service
King family.” Pat James, president of AutoBody America, and Will Johnston, vice president of AutoBody America, will continue serving in leadership roles with the company. “I am so thrilled at this opportunity to join forces with such a solid company that will help my team reach their potential for professional growth,” James said. Texas-based Service King now operates a total of 83 repair locations with 16 in Tennessee, 55 in Texas, one in Mississippi, three in Arkansas and eight in Arizona. “Pat, Will and their team have done a wonderful job of serving their customers and insurance partners. We are so excited to build on that level of customer service and become a part of each community,” said Chris Abraham, CEO of Service King. “Our new team members at AutoBody America will enhance our already talented and tenured leadership team and we are excited about this partnership continuing to spur future growth for the company,” Abraham said. Service King currently employs more than 1,800 individuals in Texas and Arizona.
8 FEBRUARY 2013 AUTOBODY NEWS | www.autobodynews.com
Caliber Collision Adds 10 New Locations in LA, OC
In early January, Caliber Collision Centers acquired Hi-Tech Collision and Glass Centers. Recognized as one of the premier collision repair companies in California, Hi-Tech Collision and Glass Centers has 10 locations in the Los Angeles and Orange County markets. Steve Grimshaw, Caliber Collision Chief Executive Officer said, “Our acquisition of Hi-Tech Collision and Glass Centers increases our market coverage and further improves customer convenience in California.” “Our acquisition of Hi-Tech Collision and Glass Centers increases the total number of Caliber locations across the southwest to 122 as we continue grow into the collision repair provider of choice in every community we serve,” added Mark Sanders, Caliber Collision Chief Operating Officer. “We are proud that Hi-Tech Collision and Glass Centers is now a part of the nation’s leading collision repair provider,” said George Boukather, Hi-Tech Chief Executive Officer. “This partnership will allow the company to continue to grow, while providing Hi-Tech’s customers with the same high standards of quality repair and personal service.”
• Dedicated Wholesale Staff with Over 100 Years Experience • Large Inventory • Daily Local Deliveries
Parts 800-952-5307 Direct 916-405-4700 Fax 916-405-8045 Hours: Mon-Fri 7-7 • Sat 7-5
9640 W. Stockton Blvd. • Elk Grove, CA 95757