On March 9, the Connecticut Joint Committee on Finance, Revenue and Bonding held a hearing on Senate Bill 335 (SB 335). The bill proposes to eliminate the sales and use tax on goods used exclusively in a business process such as paint in materials. The bill would help clarify the sales tax treatment of paint […]
#1 Cochran Acquires Sixth Collision Repair Center
#1 Cochran, the Western Pennsylvania automotive retailer and collision repair facility operator, announced that it has acquired Mignogna Collision in Greensburg, Pennsylvania, 35 miles east of Pittsburgh. With the acquisition, #1 Cochran’s operates six collision repair centers. The new facility marks the company’s entry into the Westmoreland County market. The 30,000-square-foot facility will continue to […]
Rome Technologies Announces Integration with Auto/Mate
Rome Technologies Inc., the collision repair facility management software provider, announced an integration with Auto/Mate, a dealership management system (DMS) provider. Using the Rome Management interface with the Auto/Mate program enables data to flow between Rome and Auto/Mate. Scott Rome, President of Rome Technologies said, “Rome talking to Auto/Mate will greatly improve the efficiency and […]
Axalta Opens Renovated Cromax Training Center in Belgium
Axalta Coating Systems announced it has recently opened its renovated Cromax training headquarters for the Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) region, in Mechelen, Belgium. Extensive work was carried out at The Cromax Training Centre (CTC) in two phases over two years and has seen the facility being completely overhauled – both cosmetically and technologically […]
Interview: Domenic Brusco, Chairman, National Auto Body Council
Brusco, chairman of the National Auto Body Council Board of Directors and senior manager, Industry Relations for PPG Automotive Refinish, discusses how the Council’s programs are helping to improve the image of the collision repair industry. In January, the National Auto Body Council celebrated the 1,000th vehicle donation through the organization’s Recycled Rides program to […]
Philadelphia Shop Owner Among Three Charged in $400,000 Insurance Fraud Case
Philadelphia District Attorney R. Seth Williams yesterday announced that after a review by an Investigating Grand Jury he is charging collision repair shop owner Ronald Galati, Sr., Ronald Galati, Jr., and former city employee Robert Otterson for their role in an insurance fraud scam that stole over $400,000 from the City of Philadelphia’s Office of […]
Women’s Industry Network Announces Michelle Sullivan 2016 Most Influential Women Honoree
The Women’s Industry Network (WIN announced that Michelle Sullivan, Regional Vice President, FinishMaster, Inc., Indianapolis, Ind. is this year’s honoree for the prestigious Most Influential Women (MIW) of the collision repair industry for 2016. “The 2016 MIW nominees highlighted the geographic, functional and sector diversity of women who are influencing the collision repair industry today,” […]
Craftsman Tools and Sears Auto Centers Donate Tools to Collision Repair Students
The Collision Repair Education Foundation announced a commitment from the Craftsman brand and Sears Auto Centers to support the Foundation’s upcoming collision career fairs around the country and provide Craftsman tools for collision repair students. “It’s a natural for Sears and the Craftsman brand to support auto mechanic students,” said Tom Park, president of Kenmore, […]
CSN Collision Centres Expands in Nova Scotia
CSN Collision Centres announced its newest location in Mahone Bay, Nova Scotia, CSN – County Collision. After 27 years of in the newspaper industry, owner Michelle Nickerson decided to switch her focus to collision repair. She was given an amazing opportunity to bring vibrancy and life to the former County Collision in Mahone Bay. After […]
Small Business Optimism Hits Two-Year Low
NFIB survey shows small business owners expectations on business conditions declined in February. The National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) Index of Small Business Optimism in February fell 1 point from January to 92.9. None of the 10 Index components posted a gain, six posted small declines, and four were unchanged. Spending and hiring plans […]