The accident repair industry visited Cleveland, The Rock ‘n’ Roll Capital of the World, last week for education, networking and a host of special events. Everything was implemented spectacularly, the weather cooperated and the people were overjoyed to be able to celebrate and network face to face once again. As Tom Wolf, Strategic Account Director at PPG, said Tuesday on the Collision Repair Education Foundation (CREF) golf excursion, “I can trade my mask for a golf club,” so it was a good day.
CREF Golf Excursion Reception
The week started with a cocktail reception the night before the CREF golf excursion at the Matrix Trade Institute in Beachwood, Ohio, a new state-of-the-art business school that has abandoned textbooks and theory to teach collision repair students hands-on skills to keep them productive and effective employees prepared for the day.
Dustin Peugeot, co-founder of the Matrix Trade Institute, greets guests at the CREF golf excursion cocktail reception.
A special guest at the reception was Bernie Kosar, the former Cleveland Browns quarterback who led the team to great success in the mid to late 1980s. Kosar spoke about the importance of providing positive direction for young people with life changing careers.
CREF golf excursion
On Tuesday’s CREF golf excursion at the beautiful StoneWater Golf Club in Highland Heights, the weather looked dicey for a while, but eventually the sun peeked through and participants were able to play a full round and prizes for the long drive, the straightest drive, the next fight the pen and more.
CREF employees celebrate the retirement of Executive Director Clark Plucinski.
A helicopter ball drop sparked the excitement around 11 a.m. when the chopper tossed a bevy of golf balls onto a green that various participants had bought for $ 15 each to aid collision students, instructors, and schools in hopes that her ball landed the closest to the goal. The lucky winner was Marty Evans, Chief Operating Officer of the Certified Collision Group, who took home a $ 1,000 gift card and Golden Tee arcade game.
NABC competition for recycled trips
Wednesday’s highlight was when the National Auto Body Council and BodyShop Business presented a recycled ride to a local Marine Corps veteran, Victor Schwartz.
BodyShop Business Editor Jason Stahl with Recycled Ride recipient Victor Schwartz.
The presentation took place on the Quicken Loans Stage directly in front of the Public Square, with the Terminal Tower and the Soldiers and Sailors Monument in full view. When presenter Jason Stahl Schwartz asked where he would drive his 2017 Honda Civic, which was donated by GEICO and refurbished by Gerber Collision & Glass, he said, “Home !!”
Later that evening, the Collision Industry Conference (CIC) attendees were given a tour of DCR Systems in Mentor, Ohio, one of the most modern and cutting edge accident repair facilities in the country. Guests were able to see new Symach equipment recently installed at the facility, as well as a dismantling inventory table that helps create an organized, complete, and mapped set of steps for any hardware needed in the vehicle reassembly process .
Collision industry professionals tour DCR Systems in Mentor, Ohio.
Other events on the day included the Society of Collision Repair Specialists (SCRS) Affiliate Association Conference and the SCRS open board meeting where SCRS shared information on the various initiatives they are taking to promote positive advances in the accident repair industry.
Collision Industry Conference
The main event on Thursday was the CIC, a forum with participants from all areas of the collision industry, in which current topics of the day were discussed and deepened. Through updates from the CIC committee and special presentations, attendees learned everything from 3D printing automotive parts to electric vehicles to ADAS and advanced steels used in vehicles.
A panel discussion on the subject of “3D printing in automotive parts” in the CIC.
You could also see the handicrafts of Max S. Hayes High School students after they restored a Monte Carlo for Cleveland kidnap victim Amanda Berry in 1986. Berry was kidnapped in 2003 when she was walking home from her job and was held captive for 10 years before escaping. Her grandfather, or “Pappy” as she called him, told her as a young girl that one day he would give her his Monte Carlo as a present. After Berry disappeared, Pappy believed she was alive and held the car too. When Berry was free she went to see Pappy, but tragically he suffered from dementia and didn’t know who she was. However, he still had the Monte Carlo. Now Berry has restored it to its former glory, by collision students who wanted to help.
Amanda Berry after seeing Monte Carlo for the first time since the restoration.
Next
Cleveland will host another collision event September 15-16 HD repair forum, an event for those who are involved in the accident repairs of large, heavy commercial vehicles of classes 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8. Registration will open shortly so visit hdrepairforum.com for updates.
To see live video and photos from Collision Week, visit BodyShop Business on social media (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and LinkedIn).
