AASP/NJ’s Tom Elder announcing the Russ Robson Scholarship award recipient, Kyle Bossick
A young and ambitious Kyle Bossick of Ocean Bay Auto Body in Point Pleasant was more than grateful to receive the plaque and scholarship. The third and final honoree of the evening was Phil Dolcemascolo of B&C Auto Services in Rutherford, who received the AASP/NJ Hall of Fame award presented by Greco. The evening’s special guest, I-CAR Northeast Regional Manager Allan Smith, delivered an interactive presentation that stressed the importance of training and certification in 2016. “More than ever, collision repair shops of every size must at a minimum make a commitment to education and training,” he said. “Shop owners must become business leaders who value learning and knowledge as strategic assets that should be managed, developed and maintained.” After the I-CAR presentation, Bryant launched an open forum for attendees to discuss any industry issues, concerns or questions. The topics ranged from pre- and post-repair scanning to insurance interference, with many shop owners sharing similar concerns about insurance companies being unwilling to pay for necessary scans. The Annual Meeting was the latest in a series of successful events (including the 2016 NORTHEAST® Automotive Services Show this past March) that contributed to a great year for AASP/ NJ. “It is events like this that make our association possible. Without all of you supporting us, we wouldn’t be here,” said Bryant in his closing message as he addressed the room. “Thank you so much to everyone who came out to spend the evening with us. AASP/NJ is proud to call everyone in this room a friend, and we look forward to what the next year has in store for this great industry.” NJA
Left to right: Ted Rainer, Jeff McDowell, Luci Robson, Charlie Bryant, Kyle Bossick
Jeff McDowell and Charlie Bryant congratulating Phil Dolcemascolo of B&C Auto Services for being inducted into the AASP/NJ Hall of Fame
Charlie Bryant and AASP/NJ member Tony Lake (Exclusive Auto Collision, Ramsey) during the open forum discussion
50 | New Jersey Automotive | November 2016
Joe James of Bill Flannery Automotive (center) with I-CAR representatives (left to right) Pete Fryzel, Mal Ginsberg, Ron Stitzel and Allan Smith