WE STEDITION
AUTOBODY AK / CA / HI / ID / MT / NV / OR / WA / WY
Hundreds of Individuals in the Industry Get Much-Appreciated Help from Foundation by John Yoswick
Bryan Kim’s collision and mechanical repair business, like many others, was struggling this spring as the COVID-19 virus and economic shutdown hit the Catonsville, MD, area. Sales at ASE Auto Center were down as much as 50% some months, not enough to cover rent and payroll. “We started bleeding money a little than some shops, that actually shut down for a week or two, but once we started, we bled a lot of money,” said Kim, who has owned the nine-employee business for seven years.
Adding to the challenge: Kim’s fiancé and his shop manager’s wife both contracted COVID-19, forcing Kim and his manager to each stay away from the shop for several weeks. “I didn’t want to bring it to the facility, and luckily no one who works here got sick,” he said. The situation was made a little bit easier, he said, because of some assistance from the Collision Industry Foundation, the nonprofit dedicated to providing emergency financial help or other assistance to members See Help from Foundation, Page 14
38 YEARS
AUTOBODYNEWS.COM Vol. 38 / Issue 7 / July 2020
How CIF Assistance Has Benefited Collision Repair Professionals in Time of Need by Stacey Phillips
When the coronavirus restrictions were first put into place, the Collision Industry Foundation (CIF) recognized the challenges being faced by the industry. As a result, the nonprofit organization set up a special COVID-19 fund to support collision repair professionals impacted by the pandemic. “Since 2001, CIF has been dedicated to raising, managing and donating funds to provide emergency relief to collision repairers who have
been impacted by natural disasters or other catastrophic events,” said Michael Quinn, CIF board president and SVP of business development at AirPro Diagnostics. “The donations we received for the COVID-19 fund were vital to help repairers across the country.” CIF established the fund with $100,000 raised previously, and CCC Information Services matched that amount. Other industry organizations and individuals then donated to the fund, including AirPro Diagnostics, Guy Bargnes, Colette See CIF Assistance, Page 16
Bay Area Hospitality and Automotive Executive Charged with Fraud
MSO Embraces Intense Training and Cleaning During Pandemic
Geoffrey M. Palermo was charged in a criminal complaint with wire fraud and making false statements in a loan application in connection with multiple schemes to defraud, spanning from 2013 to 2020, announced U.S. Attorney David L. Anderson, FBI Special Agent in Charge John F. Bennett and U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) Office of the Inspector General (OIG) Western Region Special Agent in Charge Weston King. “What is particularly galling about the conduct alleged in the complaint is that while Geoffrey Palermo
continue without missing a beat. By aggressively pursuing training for At Mike’s Auto Body, their motto during many of it its managers, estimators, this pandemic is “It’s not a slow time… technicians and painters, the busiit’s go time!” ness has everyone working full-time While many “essential” business- at getting better, according to Mike’s es are currently closing their doors and Director of Marketing Dane Dearfurloughing or laying off employees, love. Mike’s Auto Body is using this time to Dearlove is playing an import“re-build, re-energize and refresh” in ant role in the training piece of the several areas to become a better com- plan, alongside Region Manager Jason Toner. pany overall. “We’ll be a better and stronger company across the board after this entire thing is in our rearview mirror,” Dearlove said. “Many of our employees are going to be able to focus totally on their OE training and other forms of education to truly enrich themselves during the Training at Mike’s Auto Body is being performed with face pandemic. So, we’ve decidmasks and proper spacing during the pandemic ed as a team to pursue things When the pandemic finally pass- with a focus on improving techniques, es—and if you know the precise date, and training is definitely one of the please let us know—this MSO with best ways to achieve that. If we want 17 locations in northern California’s the team to be a cohesive group, we See Training and Cleaning, Page 25 East Bay will be in a good position to
was wrongfully receiving PPP funds, he was not paying required payroll taxes for his employees, making it difficult or impossible for his employees to obtain the benefits to which they were rightfully entitled,” said Anderson. “PPP funds are intended to protect the many, not to enrich the few. The fraud alleged in the indictment reversed congressional intent by depriving employees and enriching Palermo.” “The FBI, along with our federal partners, will actively pursue this type of criminal behavior—especialSee Executive Charged, Page 22
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