Cedar Rapids, Iowa--The Iowa Collision Repair Association’s (ICRA’s) first statewide Collision Industry Day in Cedar Rapids was well-attended and featured open communications between participants.
The event began with Mike Anderson’s seminar on “Best Estimating Practices.” Anderson, who owns WagonWorks Body Shop in Alexandria, Va., covered the collision repair gamut, drilling attendees on estimating best practices and real-life applications.
But the estimating seminar had a twist to it. In addition to collision repairers, dinner guest speaker Chris Andreoli, Progressive Corporate Damage Process manager, was encouraged by the group to join the class. Progressive’s Iowa Physical Process leader, Mike Hoogers, was also in attendance. That set the stage for positive and open communication throughout the day and evening.
The message of open communication continued through the evening as Anderson introduced Andreoli to the group and led the question-and-answer session.
Andreoli spoke to Iowa collision repairers regarding Progressive’s initiative to develop a more open interindustry dialogue. He answered all questions from the group and made his contact information available to everyone in attendance.
To round out the Industry Day, attendees visited the mobile virtual spray technique classroom from Scott Community College in Bettendorf, Iowa. The van is traveling the state of Iowa to raise awareness of the National Emissions Standard for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAP) that will require all spray facilities to meet compliance standards beginning in 2010.
The ICRA Board of Directors strategic planning session the afternoon before Industry Day set important goals for a stronger and more sustainable future for the association and the Iowa collision industry.
