The Society of Collision Repair Specialists (SCRS) is raising concerns about an upcoming I-CAR Board of Directors election and a proposed bylaw change for the training organization.
“I-CAR’s governance process is increasingly weighted toward corporate interests, marginalizing independent repairers and industry associations,” SCRS Chairman Michael Bradshaw of K&M Collision said in the association’s open letter to the industry.
I-CAR’s bylaws call for four seats for collision repairers, including at least one representative from a single-shop business, one from a multi-shop operation (MSO) with fewer than 200 locations, and one from an MSO with more than 200 locations. The fourth seat for a collision repair representative is undefined.
I-CAR earlier this year called for nominations for two of these seats. SCRS nominated its executive director, Aaron Schulenburg, for one of those seats, but was notified by I-CAR staff that only individuals from collision repair facilities are eligible for these seats. One of the proposed bylaw changes I-CAR is seeking to get approved in its upcoming vote would add language to codify that the collision repair seats on the board are to be filled by those from a collision repair business.
“I-CAR appears to be using the amendment process to legitimize a prior, undocumented decision,” Bradshaw wrote in the open letter.
The two collision repair nominees on the upcoming ballot for the open seats on the I-CAR board both represent MSOs: Caliber Collision and Crash Champions.
“I-CAR has not only leaned further into MSO representation, with an absence of any intended balance, but has created barriers to qualified, independent voices capable of representing the market majority,” Bradshaw wrote.
The owner of an independent Gold Class shop, who is also an officer of a state association, said he shares SCRS’ concern about shops such as his needing representation on the I-CAR board.
“Three of us on our board were talking the other day about it feeling like I-CAR isn’t understanding what shops our size need and want from I-CAR,” said the shop owner, who asked that his name not be used. “I didn’t even know who was on the I-CAR board until I looked this morning, and I don’t see people from businesses like mine there. I understand there needs to be insurers and automakers and MSOs on the board. But there should also be more people who know what it’s like running a single shop. We’re still the biggest part of the industry, even though I know the MSOs are big customers for I-CAR.”
SCRS has pointed to I-CAR’s process to submit alternative candidates for the I-CAR board before a July 3 deadline. Requirements for nominees and the application can be found here. Feedback on the proposed bylaw change also can be submitted via email to I-CAR at feedback@i-car.com, with the option to include SCRS at info@scrs.com.
SCRS’ open letter to the industry said the association “recognizes the tremendous value I-CAR brings in training and credentialing for our industry,” and that its communication to the industry “is not to diminish [I-CAR’s] contributions, but to emphasize that I-CAR was created by the industry, for the industry, and must remain responsive to it.”
Several I-CAR board members contacted by Autobody News declined to comment on the issue on the record. But in a written statement in response to questions, I-CAR said it strives to maintain a board “structured to reflect all segments of the industry,” and that it undertook “a governance review several years ago that resulted in a rebalancing of the board to ensure collision repairers hold the most representation of any segment.”
“As with any effective governance structure, we occasionally make adjustments to ensure clarity, accuracy and continued alignment with our mission,” I-CAR said of its current proposed bylaw changes.
John Yoswick