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John Rupert of XGM Automotive Inc. has been appointed to CAWA’s Manufacturers’ Advisory Council.

“I am pleased to announce that longtime automotive associate John Rupert is joining the CAWA Manufacturers’ Advisory Council," said Young Suhr Jr., chair of the Board of Directors. "I look forward to John’s participation and contributions to CAWA in assisting the association in achieving its goals as an effective and valuable automotive care industry organization."

Rupert has 52 years of service in the automotive industry of which 35 have been devoted to automotive lighting. He currently is the executive vice president of sales, North America, for XGM Automotive and previously served as the senior vice president of sales for

The Women’s Industry Network (WIN) held its annual Educational Conference, May 1-3 in San Antonio, TX, themed “Reimagining Tomorrow,” offering a three-day chance for women in the collision repair industry to connect, learn and celebrate.

This was the second year the conference offered attendees the choice to attend in person or virtually.

In her opening remarks May 1, WIN Board Chair Tanya Sweetlandthanked everyone for taking the time out of their schedules to invest in themselves and their futures. She said WIN recently hit a new record number of members---800, more than half of whom represent sponsor organizations.

The three-day event featured many inspiring speakers, including Gina Schaefer, founder and CEO of a chain of

The Northwest Auto Care Alliance (NWACA) held its first Collision Training Expo (CTE) on May 6 at Clover Park Technical School in Lakewood, WA.

Forty people attended the all-day training and exhibition event designed for collision shops, by collision shops. The classes---several of which were hands-on---consisted of training for managers, owners, estimators and technicians, with trainers from leading industry names like CCC, Wesco, ATI, Elitek, 3Mand LDC Equipment teaching everything from performing calibrations on ADAS features and writing estimates to measuring and welding on a variety of materials used in modern vehicles.

Micah Strom, collision chair for the NWACA and a body shop

Jason Caldwell of RPS Marketing has been appointed to CAWA’s Board of Directors.

“I am pleased to announce that Jason Caldwell is joining the CAWA Board of Directors," said Young Suhr Jr., chair of the Board of Directors. "He has participated in the association’s Manufacturers Advisory Council for some time and now the board. I look forward to Jason’s continued participation and contributions to CAWA in assisting the association in achieving its goals as an effective and valuable automotive care industry organization."

Caldwell is starting his 20th year with RPS Marketing, where he has been working with key automotive distributors throughout California for the last eight years to help grow their business with key

At the second annual Southeast Collision Conference in April, collision repair professionals had the opportunity to participate in various educational sessions, attend a tradeshow with more than 50 exhibitors showcasing their products and services, and network with industry peers.

The two-day event in Doswell, VA, was hosted by the Carolinas Collision Association (CCA) and the Washington Metropolitan Auto Body Association (WMABA). A membership awards dinner was held the evening before the show celebrating those who work in the industry.

See more photos of the show

Dan Rader of Mevotechhas been appointed to CAWA’s Manufacturers' Advisory Council.

“We are pleased to have Dan join our leadership team and contribute to our discussions of current and future industry issues," said Young Suhr Jr., chair of the Board of Directors. “We look forward to his participation and contributions which will assist the association in achieving its goals as an effective and valuable automotive aftermarket industry organization."

Rader is the U.S. sales team’s vice president of sales for Mevotech. He will focus on the U.S. WD business and new business development, expansion into adjacent markets, training, fleets and helping customers grow their chassis and hub business.

He has a proven track

Applications are now being accepted for the 2023 Bryl Shoemaker/ASE Education Foundation Instructor of the Year. The award recognizes a high school or college instructor from an ASE accredited automotive, diesel/truck or collision repair program who demonstrates excellence through their personal dedication and commitment to the young men and women who have chosen to pursue a technical career in the automotive service industry.

“There are many individuals within automotive service education whose contributions continue to influence and inspire long after they are gone. Such an individual was Byrl Shoemaker, Ph.D.,” said Mike Coley, ASE Education Foundation president. “Few have done as much to advance technician education as Dr.

The Alliance of Automotive Service Providers of Minnesota (AASP-MN) is pleased to announce it has awarded 22 scholarships totaling $20,000 to help automotive service and collision repair students pay for tuition or tools during the 2023-24 school year.

The scholarships are in the amounts of $500 to $1,500 and are made possible by the generous donation from the Minnesota State I-CAR Committee, as well as proceeds from AASP-MN’s Annual Race for Automotive Education fundraiser.

Thirty college and high school students from 10 schools submitted completed applications. Applications were reviewed by a committee of industry representatives, with consideration given to scholastic achievement, education and career goals, financial need and written

Vinni Uzzardo of Standard Motor Products (SMP) has been appointed to CAWA’s Manufacturers' Advisory Council.

“We are pleased to have Vinni join our leadership team and contribute to our discussions of current and future industry issues," said Young Suhr Jr., chair of the Board of Directors. “We look forward to his participation and contributions which will assist the association in achieving its goals as an effective and valuable automotive aftermarket industry organization."

Uzzardo has 38 years of automotive aftermarket experience. He started his career working at his family’s jobber store in the south suburbs of Chicago. After graduating from Northern Illinois University in 1992, he went to work for All Products

The National Institute for Automotive Service (ASE) announced the creation of EV technician/shop personnel electrical safety standards.

The purpose of the standards is to provide guidance, document and establish electrical safety requirements, standards, procedures and safe work practices relating to the development of an electrically safe working area for service professionals in North America working on or around electrified vehicles (xEVs). The intent is to minimize exposure to these hazards and their associated impacts.

These standards were developed in conjunction with vehicle manufacturers, aftermarket personnel and other electric industry subject matter experts. Visit ...

The upcoming ASE Instructor Training Conference will feature speakers from leading transportation industry organizations. Hosted by the ASE Education Foundation, the premier training event will be held July 17-20 in Concord, NC, and will be attended by high school and college instructors from auto, truck and collision repair programs nationwide.

“Each year, some of the industry’s best share their knowledge and experience at the ASE Instructor Training Conference, and this year will be no different,” said Mike Coley, president of the ASE Education Foundation. “This year’s speakers will address a variety of relevant technical subjects and teaching techniques to help the instructors be more effective in the classroom.”

The 2023 ASE Instructor

Members of the collision industry from across the country traveled to the second annual Southeast Collision Conference, which opened April 14 at the Meadow Event Park in Doswell, VA. 

The two-day event, hosted by the Carolinas Collision Association (CCA) and the Washington Metropolitan Auto Body Association (WMABA), offered attendees a variety of educational sessions, a tradeshow with more than 45 exhibitors, and an opportunity to network with industry peers.

See more exclusive photos by Autobody News' Stacey Phillips from the first day ...

The Automotive Recyclers Association(ARA) on April 12 announced professional automotive recycler Sean Krause of Speedway Auto, Ltd. in Joliet, IL, has been nominated to join the ARA Executive Committee as secretary for 2023-2024.

Krause is the CEO of Speedway Auto, Ltd., alongside his father, Paul Krause, who established the business in 1969 with his wife, Indra.

“We have been a member of ARA since 1972 and I am honored to join the Executive Committee,” said Krause. “I look forward to giving back and contributing value, but I still have a lot to learn and re-learn. Before accepting the position, I called Marty [Hollingshead] from Northlakefor his advice and his support

Because many people experience test-taking anxiety, the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) has put together useful tips and online resources to help take the fear out of testing.

Spring registration is now open. Register by June 30.

What if I’m not a good test taker?

ASE tests focus on knowledge of the skills required to do a certain task, not on theory. This makes ASE tests relevant to what's done on the job, not in a laboratory. ASE's test taking tips provide an interactive look at the different types of ASE questions: www.ase.com/testingtips.

Will I have enough time to complete the

The Midwest Auto Care Alliance (MWACA) announced a new API connection with Tekmetricto its DriveYourKPI program. Designed to show shop financials in a 3D dashboard, the DriveYourKPI program also includes coaching support with Rick White, owner of 180BIZ.

DriveYourKPI was created out of an idea from the MWACA Des Moines Chapter to better understand financials in a visual format. Over the past four years, with the help of White, DYK has created dashboards to help shops see their financials and easily identify what areas can be improved upon.

"This new API with Tekmetric allows shops to have all of their daily numbers automatically imported into the DYK dashboards so that subscribers no longer have to enter them in manually. We are

The Auto Care Alliance (ACA) is proud to announce its Florida association, the Florida Auto Care Alliance (FLACA), headquartered in Jacksonville, has hired Gary Keyes as its new executive director. Keyes brings with him years of experience as a shop owner and board member, making him a perfect fit for this position.

Keyes has been involved in the automotive industry for more than 30 years. He started his career as a technician and eventually opened his own shop, E & M Motors, in Stuart, FL. During his time as a shop owner, Keyes was an active leader in various industry organizations, including the Automotive Management Institute (AMi), Automotive Service Association (ASA) and the ACA. Keyes has also been involved

The keynote speakers and full slate of in-depth professional sessions, networking and community outreach programming is set for the Women’s Industry Network (WIN) 2023 Educational Conference.

This year’s conference, under the theme of Reimagining Tomorrow, will be May 1-3, and held at the WESTIN San Antonio Riverwalk in San Antonio, TX. Registration closes April 24, and there is also a virtual attendance option available.

WIN 2023 Educational Conference attendees this year will experience three days of industry learning, mentorship, celebration and community giveback. They will all celebrate women in collision repair by recognizing scholarship winners, taking part in community outreach, and honoring this year’s ...

The 2023 Midwest Collision Repair Trade Show, set for May 19-20 at the Overland Park Convention Center outside Kansas City, KS, will bring together the collision repair industry for two days of networking, product demos and education.

The show is doubling in size after its successful inaugural run in 2022.

“We’re pretty excited to get our second show under our belts,” said Gina Cotton, co-coordinator and executive director of the Nebraska and Missouri autobody associations, which is hosting the show along with the South Dakota Autobody Association and the Iowa Collision Repair Association (ICRA).

The show is free, but organizers ask everyone to register so they can have nametags. The only charge is to attend the catered

CAWAhas joined other association leaders to support the critical global Right to Repair movement by signing a new position statement.

The statement enumerates the core beliefs of the movement and the objectives and intended outcomes of Right to Repair legislation. Importantly, the document sets forth 10 best practice principles to developing a framework for Right to Repair legislation any supporting country can use and adapt to its needs.

Globally, the automotive aftermarket keeps 1.5 billion vehicles on the road while contributing $1.8 trillion to the global economy. After vehicles exit their warranty period, independent repair shops perform 70% of repairs. This vibrant industry and the consumer choice it creates is being threatened by automotive manufacturers

Mike Harris of Holstein Parts has been appointed to CAWA’s Manufacturers' Advisory Council.

“We are pleased to have Mike join our leadership team and contribute to our discussions of current and future industry issues," said Young Suhr Jr., chair of the Board of Directors. "We look forward to his participation and contributions which will assist the association in achieving its goals as an effective and valuable automotive aftermarket industry organization."

Harris has more than 37 years in the automotive aftermarket. Thirty-three of those years were in the NAPAsystem, primarily with Genuine Parts Company in five locations nationwide, including nine years in Southern California, as well as four years

The Auto Care Association on March 15 announced Mike Anderson of Collision Adviceas the keynote for the PBES Conferenceto be held May 23-24 during the 2023 Auto Care Connect event at the Hyatt Regency Orlando in Orlando, FL.

At the 2023 PBES Conference, Anderson will share updates on the current paint, body and equipment (PBE) industry landscape and also reveal and analyze fresh survey results from the award winning survey “Who Pays for What?,” distributed quarterly to an audience of more than 25,000 collision professionals. In recent surveys, Anderson and his team asked collision shops their views on the current distribution market and what their motivators are for selecting their manufacturers, suppliers and paint lines.

All Repairer Driven Education (RDE) sessions, recorded by SCRSduring the 2022 SEMA Show, are now available for digital access at rde.scrs.com.

Current SCRS members are entitled to a 20% discount off purchases in the SCRS Online Education Platform. If you are not currently a member of SCRS, join online at www.scrs.com/join-scrs or contact our office at info@scrs.com to confirm your membership status.

The 2022 Repairer Driven Education (RDE) FULL SERIES Online pass ($249) provides at-home access to

The Auto Care Association has announced the latest recipients of the World Class Technician Award in partnership with the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE).

The two organizations provide this annual recognition to professional technicians who have attained ASE certification in 22 specific areas during the previous calendar year.

There are an estimated 887,000 technicians in the U.S., with approximately 250,000 holding ASE certification. As of now, there are 2,224 technicians who have earned the respected status of “World Class Technician” since its inception more than 30 years ago.

The class of 2023 World Class Technicians is listed below:

• Anthony H.

The Collision Industry Electronic Commerce Association (CIECA) announced its next CIECA webinar is scheduled for 11 a.m. PT/1 p.m. CT/ 2 p.m. ET March 30: “How to Adapt to the Speed of Change in the Collision Industry… Without Getting Crushed.”

The one-hour webinar will feature Ryan Taylor, founder of the CRM software BodyShop Booster and president of The AMP Bureau.

During the live broadcast, Taylor will share three secrets focused on how Fortune500 companies embrace change: upstream thinking, how to adapt and ride the technology wave, and how the military uses change as rocket fuel to boost advancement.

Upstream Thinking

Taylor said upstream thinking is a new way to solve some of the

In celebration of 2023 International Women's Day on March 8, the Women’s Industry Network (WIN) announced the recipients of its 2023 Most Influential Women (MIW) awards, honoring women whose career achievements have enhanced the collision repair industry.

Six remarkable women will be recognized as new MIWs this year at a gala held during WIN’s 2023 Annual Conference May 1-3 in San Antonio, TX.

The Most Influential Women award was established in 1999 to recognize women whose leadership, vision and commitment to excellence have enriched the collision repair industry. With the addition of this year’s MIWs, more than 100 women have been recognized by WIN for their contributions to the collision repair industry. Winners are chosen by an independent selection committee

Registration is now open for the Women’s Industry Network (WIN) 2023 Educational Conference. This year’s conference, under the theme of “Reimagining Tomorrow," will be May 1-3, and held at the WESTIN San Antonio Riverwalk in San Antonio, TX.

The deadline to take advantage of early bird pricing is fast approaching. Members registering by March 1 will receive a discounted rate of $525; after that, the member cost increases to $625. The ticket rate for non-members is $650. Registration for in-person attendees closes on April 24. Anyone preferring to join virtually may do so for $175.

Interested attendees can actually join WIN as a professional member any time for just $95, and then take advantage of the discounted attendance if they join before March

CIECAannounced its 15th annual conference, CONNEX 2023, will be held Sept. 12-13 at the DoubleTree Hotel by Hilton in Bloomington, IL. 

The event will include a full lineup of business and technical speakers, networking opportunities and a vehicle gifting as part of the National Auto Body CouncilRecycled Rides® program. One of the highlights of the event will be an exclusive factory tour of Rivian. 

The theme of the conference this year is “Connected Car, Connected Industry." It was chosen to reflect the increasing levels of connectedness and integration between all aspects of vehicle design, manufacturing and repair. All industry stakeholders, including CIECA members and non-members, are invited to

The Alliance of Automotive Service Providers of Minnesota (AASP-MN) held its 21st annual Race for Automotive Education, Jan. 23-26 at ProKart Indoor Racing in Burnsville, MN.

The event raised more than $14,000 to support the alliance’s Automotive Education Fund and will fund scholarships for automotive students enrolled in ASE-accredited auto service and collision repair programs in Minnesota’s technical colleges.

During the four nights of racing, 40 teams comprised of 195 racers from auto service and collision repair shops and industry suppliers took to the track in go-karts reaching speeds of up to 40 mph. Many spectators were also on hand to cheer on their team.

Trophies were awarded to the first place and runner-up teams each

Showcasing the positive effects of local new car dealers in their communities coming together to help those in need, the Greater New York Automobile Dealers Association (GNYADA) donated brand-new warm winter coats to the students of P.S. 179 on Feb. 21 in New York City.

The coat donation was the final stop of the GNYADA's annual commitment to giving back to the community and making sure children have the resources they need to stay warm this winter. Working with Operation Warm, hundreds of local new car retailers raised more than $100,000 for the coat drive and donated thousands of coats to more than 30 schools and charitable organizations throughout downstate New York.

"It warms my heart that during these tough economic times, people are still willing to

The Auto Care Association on Feb. 22 announced the addition of David Logan as its new director of digital products. 

Logan will lead Auto Care's ongoing development and maintenance of the product suite. In addition, he will collaborate with stakeholders to develop product roadmaps and determine which technology is needed to achieve the vision.

Logan is a seasoned professional with more than two decades of experience in the automotive aftermarket industry. Throughout his career, he has held a variety of leadership positions in product management and catalog direction. He has a proven track record of success working with top brands in the industry, including FEL-PRO, Sealed Power, Raybestos, TRICO,