Southwest Associations
Chasidy Rae Sisk is a freelance technical writer from Wilmington, Delaware, who writes on a variety of fields and subjects, and grew up in a family of NASCAR fans. She can be contacted at crsisk@chasidyraesisk.com.
Arkansas Collision Repair Association Seeks New Members for the Industry’s Future, Focus on Educating and New Technology Training with Chasidy Rae Sisk
On April 8, 2014, the Arkansas Collision Repair Association (ACRA) held their monthly meeting in the Pulaski Technical College Body Shop Department in Little Rock, AR. Members gathered to discuss current issues and network with their peers. Jay Scott, ACRA executive director, and Larry Golden, former ACRA president and current ACRA member, took some time to talk about ACRA. ACRA began in 1986, “... When a group of independent shop owners were looking for a better way to get information on the latest technological changes and the equipment necessary to repair the unibody cars coming out,” Golden recalls. “They also wanted to work together to improve the image of the collision repair industry and to bring more professionalism to their image.” Since its inception, ACRA has progressed quite well. “We have experienced times of tremendous growth and other times where interest has faded, but we have always remained focused on education for our shop owners and vendors,” Golden elaborates.
ACRA services the entire state of these future technicians acquire the In recent years, members of Arkansas, but Scott notes that it’s chalnecessary skills and experience to beACRA have participated in Recycled lenging to attract shop owners and come effective employees. Rides, a charitable program that works managers from all over the state beBecause of their dedication to futo refurbish vehicles that are donated cause Arkansas so large. To partially ture technicians, ACRA tries to support to families in need. Jody Gatchell, alleviate this dilemma, ACRA who heads their community-focused attempts to hold at least one committee, also contributed his servmeeting each year in a differices to paint a fire truck pink for the ent part of the state. city of Conway, AR, to help generate Currently, ACRA conbreast cancer awareness. sists of approximately 31 When questioned about the biggest members who attend monthly challenges impacting the industry today, meetings to gain insight on Golden noted, “Changes in technology how to improve their busiand the advanced electronics on vehicles nesses in an ever-changing will continue to present shops with chalmarket. In addition to their lenges. Staying involved with associaACRA members and guests touring the newly-opened continual goal of providing Harry Robinson Body Shop in Fort Smith, AR tions like ACRA will help shops see education, ACRA also strives what equipment and training is necesto grow the organization with engaged their local SkillsUSA competitions. sary to correctly fix the cars of today. and enthusiastic members. Historically, advancements in technolScott takes pride that one of their stuLike most collision repair indus- dents from Pulaski Tech placed seventh ogy—from unibody cars to air bags to try associations, ACRA contends with in refinishing at the SkillsUSA Nationhigh-strength steels to drive-by-wire the struggle of attracting new mem- als several years ago. suspension—have always been the core bers to rejuvenate and strengthen their organization. Golden explains, “Revenue is a challenge. We receive annual dues [from members] and donations from vendors, but we need to grow our base. We have transitioned from mailing our monthly newsletter to emailing our bulletins to manage our costs better.” ACRA holds member meetings on the second Tuesday of every month (except December) in the Body Shop Department at Pulaski Technical College. Scott and Golden are grateful for their great relationship with the ACRA members being instructed on aspects of aluminum Pennsylvania college, and ACRA reciprowelding Lehman Motors Lehman Volvo cates by offering support to MECHANICSBURG YORK The ACRA mission is, “To pro- students at the facility, who are invited 888-556-4176 888-306-8900 vide education for shop owners and to attend their educational meetings. 717-791-6149 Fax 717-757-4296 Fax managers to help them run more effi- This system also allows the shop ownFree Delivery Free Delivery cient and profitable businesses.” ers and managers in ACRA to get acparts@lehmanvolvo.com parts@lehmanvolvoyork.com ACRA puts a lot of emphasis and con- quainted with the students who will www.lehmanvolvo.com www.lehmanvolvoyork.com centration on the importance of con- become future employees. Maryland tinuing education within the industry, Additionally, ACRA collaborated so they ensure that each meeting in- with North Point Nissan, who donated Herb Gordon Volvo SILVER SPRING cludes an educational segment pre- approximately $20,000 in damaged 301-890-5456 sented by local vendors or faculty at new parts over the past few years, al301-847-2239 Fax the college. Their June 2014 meeting lowing Pulaski Tech students an opM-F 7:30am-6pm will feature an I-CAR class as part of portunity to get more hands-on their efforts to provide valuable edu- experience. In turn, this also benefits Trust your order to the collision parts specialists at these fine Dealers cation to ACRA members. ACRA members as it ensures that
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50 MAY 2014 AUTOBODY NEWS | www.autobodynews.com