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VOL. 30 ISSUE 8 AUGUST 2012
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Mike Causey Wins Republican Nomination for North Carolina Insurance Commissioner Mike Causey, a former Autobody News columnist, advocate and lobbyist for auto body associations in the Southeast, has earned the Republican nomination for North Carolina Insurance Commissioner. Causey ran for the office previously and once served as the Director of Government Affairs for the Independent Auto Body Association (IABA). He was a registered lobbyist in North Carolina for the IABA, the North Carolina Autobody and Glass Association, and the Automotive Service Association of North Carolina. He defeated Richard Morgan in
a July 17 runoff election for the nomination, earning 57 percent of the vote. Causey ran as the Republican nominee against former Democratic Insurance Commissioner Jim Long in 2000. He was defeated when Long captured 57 percent of the vote. In a newspaper interview with the Beaufort Observer in January of this year, Causey said, “One of the main reasons I’m running is that I want to help people who are having problems with insurance companies.” Causey has a website to support his campaign: www.gocausey.com. See his columns at autobodynews.com.
Continuing its rapid expansion, Caliber Collision Centers announced July 20 the acquisition of three new centers in the Oklahoma City area. “Caliber Collision is proud to announce our entry into a new, contiguous market with the acquisition of three new locations in Oklahoma,” said Steve Grimshaw, Caliber Collision Centers’ Chief Executive Officer. “Our clients continue to request that Caliber expand into new markets like Oklahoma to aid them in delivering greater customer service with the operational consistency they require in today’s competitive insurance market.”
Caliber Collision’s newly acquired 7,000 square foot collision repair facility in northwest Oklahoma City opened for business July 23 at 8020 NW Expressway, Oklahoma City, OK 73162. Caliber Collision’s newly acquired 10,500 square foot facility in Midwest City, Oklahoma will also open for business July 23 at 751 W. Curtis Drive, Midwest City, OK 73110. The newly acquired Edmond location is currently being renovated and is scheduled to open in late October at 3501 South Broadway Extension, Edmond, OK 73013. “Our new Oklahoma locations rep-
Caliber Collision Expands into Oklahoma with Three New Shops in Metro Oklahoma City
See Caliber Collision, Page 33
State Farm and PartsTrader Defend Parts Program, Questioned about Benefits to Shops by John Yoswick
Perhaps the most interesting question at the latest Collision Industry Conference (CIC) came at the end of a 2-hour discussion regarding PartsTrader, the electronic parts ordering system State Farm is requiring its Select Service shops in four markets to use (see related cover story). Denise Caspersen, the collision division manager for the Automotive Service Association (ASA), asked State Farm’s George Avery the same question the association first posed to the insurer formally five weeks earlier in a press release, namely, what benefit, financially or operationally, does required use of PartsTrader offer shops? “If State Farm is not able to
George Avery
clearly demonstrate the benefits of this pilot application to the repair community, then this application should not move forward,” ASA’s June 12
press release stated. While Avery skillfully addressed most of the questions and comments about PartsTrader during the CIC meeting in San Antonio, Texas, he acknowledged State Farm did not yet have an answer for Caspersen as the insurer is still evaluating feedback recently obtained from the 158 shops in the pilot program. See PartsTrader Defends, Page 43
PartsTrader Coverage Continues from Cover Stories See additional coverage of PartsTrader on pages 18, 19, 20 & 39
PartsTrader Draws Blistering Reaction at CIC, Shop Owners Line Up to Comment in Person by Autobody News Staff
A capacity crowd of more than 400 heard State Farm Claims Consultant George Avery and PartsTrader CEO Rob Cooper give an overview of the very controversial parts procurement system at the CIC in San Antonio. Avery, who is also the incoming Chairman of the CIC starting in January, has endured some harsh criticism since the details of the PartsTrader program were first announced. Avery and Cooper outlined the program for the few unaware of it, and explained State Farm foresees shops ordering all their parts (recycled, aftermarket and OEM) from a single provider, PartsTrader. Avery attempted some comic relief by joking that he had a button
made up saying, “I Love My Job, I Love My Job, I Love My Job,” but questions and comments from approximately 20 members of the audience made it clear that while Rob Cooper electronic parts ordering was understood and largely positive, there was significant apprehension about insurance companies intervening and/or controlling the process. Avery said misinformation about the program is widespread, and much of the concern is based on speculation and rumors from individuals who have not tried the product. See PartsTrader Pushback, Page 41
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