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AUTOBODY CT / DE / ME / MD / MA / NH / NJ / NY / PA / RI / VT
39 YEARS
AUTOBODYNEWS.COM Vol. 11 / Issue 7 / October 2020
Toby Chess: 40-Plus Years of Service to the Industry He Loves
Toby Chess Says SOPs, Industry Training & Networking are Key to Body Shops’ Future Success
by Ed Attanasio
by Stacey Phillips
If you’ve been in the world of body shops for more than a few years, you likely know the name Toby Chess. He’s the smiling bearded guy who brings gifts to people—and no, he’s not Santa Claus. His story all began in a salvage yard and has turned into a fantastic career of teaching, mentoring and helping the collision repair industry and other people on many levels. Chess, 75, has given his life to others through several channels and
Several weeks ago, a local body shop owner asked Toby Chess to help set up a welder to repair an aluminum deck lid on a Mercedes-Benz. When Chess arrived at the facility, he quickly realized the technician didn’t have an understanding of the process to repair the vehicle. As a result, Chess created a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for the shop, laying out the steps to get the job done. Since then, Chess has created more than 30 SOPs for the collision repair industry and has been
See Toby Chess, Page 12
Toby has been involved in First Responders’ auto body extraction for many years.
‣ See Nonprofit Finds, Matches Living Organ Donors , Page 57
Toby’s SCRS presentations are often hands -on and use attendees to push concepts.
sharing them with shops across the country. See Training & Networking, Page 18
• Toby Chess: Best Practice for Air Conditioning Repair, R&I and Replacement, Page 73 • Toby Chess: Best Practice for Pre and Post Scans, Page 73
Expert Predicts Auto Industry Could Take 2 Years to Rebound to Pre-Pandemic Sales Levels
Alfred State Instructor Shifts from Improving Vehicles to Enhancing Students’ Futures
by Dave Boucher, Detroit Free Press
With years of real-world experience and an Alfred (NY) State education in his toolbox, automotive trades instructor CJ Tremper is now steering future autobody professionals toward the road to success.
It’s going to take at least two years for auto manufacturers to restore the sales and production numbers seen before the start of the coronavirus pandemic, an industry expert told Michigan lawmakers in Lansing on Sept. 2. Despite successful efforts from suppliers and manufacturers to keep their doors open and employees safe, staffing shortages and some overall drop in demand means the industry
The automotive industry did not take as big of a hit as many predicted due to the coronavirus pandemic. But experts and analysts told Michigan lawmakers on Sept. 2 their future is still a bit tenuous. Credit: Eric Seals, Detroit Free Press See Pre-Pandemic Sales, Page 26
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Tremper said. “He taught me the basics of automotive repair and just how to fix things that were broken.” Initially, Tremper was interested in becoming an automotive service technician, but an older friend who performed auto body work at the local BOCES changed his mind. At the time, Tremper was working at a local auto salvage yard, which bought and sold wrecked vehicles that could be fixed. “I spent much of my time in high school fixing a toAlfred State instructor CJ Tremper brings years of real-world taled Chevy K5 Blazer that knowledge and experience to the classroom and labs. I bought from the salvage Credit: Alfred State yard,” he said. “That was Growing up in Avoca, NY, my first big autobody project and I Tremper became interested in work- enjoyed taking something that had ing on automobiles thanks to his dad, been a complete wreck and making who taught shop class at Avoca Cen- it roadworthy again.” Tremper furthered his education tral School. “He is a car guy and I was al- and gained even more hands-on exways helping him work on things perience in Alfred State’s auto body when there was an opportunity,” See Alfred State Instructor, Page 22
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