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CollisionFix.com Website Educates Public About Industry Issues and Unites Shops by Stacey Phillips, Assistant Editor
When Ray Gunder from Lakeland, FL’s Gunder’s Auto Center discontinued his DRP relationships, he said that
Ray Gunder (left) pictured with bodytech Lance Smith who has worked for Gunder’s Auto Center for approximately 35 years
he wasn’t sure if his shop would survive. The DRP programs accounted for approximately 30 percent of his Florida-based business and he knew that he needed to do something. Then he met Jeff Roberts from Eagleville Marketing Group and together they developed a commercial for the local cable networks. Gunder said he received an instantaneous response and his second month of advertising on air was his best month in 45 years. “It has been incredible since day one. Every bay in our shop is full,” said Gunder. “Our See CollisionFix.com, Page 12
School: “No Shortage of Jobs for FTCC’s Repair and Refinishing Technology Grads” Students in a new program at Fayetteville Technical Community College are getting job offers even though they’re only halfway through school, according to Steve DeVane, writing in the Fayetteville Observer. The collision repair and refinishing technology program is training students for an industry where jobs are expected to be abundant. One company has said they could hire the school’s first 20,000 graduates, while another said it would take the first 10,000, said FTCC President Larry Keen, who told county commissioners about the program at a meeting in July.
Students learn how to make cosmetic repairs on plastics, composites, steel and aluminum and receive training on multiple welding techniques, according to the FTCC website. They are taught refinishing procedures and work with aluminum specialists. Keen said professionalism is a major part of the program. The students use computer tablets with state of the art software being used in the industry now, he said. Program Director Paul Gage wouldn’t say which companies made the statements about hiring, but he said the school has enough commitSee FTCC Apprentices, Page 8
VOL. 6 ISSUE 6 AUGUST 2015
Jacksonville Body Shop Owner Admits to Loaning Out Customer’s Truck and Crashing Another The Florida State Attorney’s Office is reviewing the case of a local auto body shop owner accused of loaning out one of his customers’ vehicles and crashing a second. Criminal charges could be filed. Action News reported June 23 on Oliver Pickett after a customer said Pickett loaned out his truck instead of doing requested repair work. The vehicle is now missing. Another man said June 24th that his Dodge Ram was not only loaned out, but that Pickett crashed it. The owner of the Dodge Ram came back June 25 to make sure work was getting done on his truck. Pickett admitted that he took it out for a ride and crashed it, damaging the front bumper. The owner of the Dodge Ram wouldn’t give his name, but he said he
dropped off his truck three weeks ago to have work done. Action News was there the night of June 24th when Pickett brought it back damaged, with the work unfinished. There was more of the same on June 25. “Are you happy with the agreement you guys reached?” Action News asked the truck owner. “I’ll be happy when I can pick my truck up and it’s fixed like he promised he would fix it,” the owner of the Dodge Ram said. William CarOliver Pickett, roll said Pickett owner of Pickett Brothers Body Shop scammed him too. in Jacksonville Carroll said going See Missing Loaner, Page 9
NACE Moves From Detroit to Anaheim, August 2016
First Major Collision Trade Show in California in Well Over a Decade by Autobody News Staff
During the NACE-CARS expo in Detroit July 21–25, ASA executives confirmed that the next NACE expo will occur next August in Anaheim, CA. The announcement was greeted with relief by many in attendance. Despite a wellorganized expo, very well-attended MSO Symposium (700 attendees), a major connected car technology and telematics forum, and demonstrationrich expo floor complete with active spray booths and occasionally running vehicles, the show failed to attract many more than the approximately 6,200
See NACE Moves West, Page 18
Donny Seyfer (l), CARS Chair, and Dan Risley, ASA President, beside hockey goalie helmet painted by air-brush artist Ray Bishop. The helmet was auctioned to help to raise money for breast cancer fundraising and will be displayed at ASA headquarters
Additional NACE/CARS 2015 Coverage in this Issue...
NACE 2015 Entertains, Informs and Wows (photo montage) p. 42 ● MSO Symposium During NACE Include Claims Management Models, Future of DRPs and Financing Options p. 48 ● Jon Kosmoski from Valspar’s House of Kolor & TV Reality Star KC Mathieu Demo Kandy Painting p. 24 ● Chip Foose Demonstrates 3M’s New Accuspray Gun p. 50 ● More Coming in September
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