The Society of Collision Repair Specialists on Thursday invited the entire industry to celebrate deserving individuals and businesses at the third annual Red Carpet Awards Breakfast during SEMA.

Some of the industry’s most important organizations and companies will hand out their highest honors during the 7-9:30 a.m. event Wednesday, Nov. 6, at the Westgate Las Vegas Resort and Casino. The event is made possible with support from SCRS, the Automotive Management Institute and BodyShop Business

Admission is free, and all are welcome. However, seating for the breakfast will be first-come, first-served and limited to 200 spots.

The event began in 2017 with the Society of Collision Repair Specialists, BodyShop Business, Collision Industry Electronic Commerce Association, I-CAR and the National Auto Body Council and giving out awards. It expanded in 2018 to include awards by the Automotive Service Association and Automotive Management Institute, with the latter also presenting its Class of 2018 with diplomas.

This year’s event will see nearly every one of those presenters returning. They’ll all be joined for the first time by the Collision Repair Education Foundation and Collision Industry Foundation. PPG national business development manager Jennifer Jarzembowski will emcee.

Given the powerhouse list of presenters and prestige of the awards, it’s likely someone you know — or someone you should get to know — will be recognized, so don’t miss out.

“The Collision Industry Red Carpet Awards Breakfast places a priority on encouraging and recognizing greatness in individuals, companies, and actions in the collision repair industry, and the excitement and energy of the SEMA Show provides the perfect backdrop for such distinguished presentations,” SCRS wrote in a news release.

Awards and recognition will include:

Automotive Management Institute: AMI Graduating Class of 2019

BodyShop Business: The Executive of the Year Awards

Collision Industry Electronic Commerce Association: Electronic Commerce of the Year Award, Outstanding Achievement Awards

Collision Industry Foundation: CIF Distinguished Service Award

Collision Repair Education Foundation: Fueling the Future Award

I-CAR: I-CAR Chairman’s Award, Russ Verona Memorial Award, Jeff Silver Award

National Auto Body Council: Award of Distinction, Body Shop Image Award

Society of Collision Repair Specialists: 2019 March Taylor Kina’ole Award

Kina’ole Award

SCRS drew special attention to the March Taylor Kina’ole Award in its news release Thursday.

The award is named after the late Hall of Eagles member, Auto Body Hawaii owner and SCRS board member also considered the “godfather” behind the concept later developed into the Database Enhancement Gateway. Taylor died in 2007.

The Hawaiian word kina’ole represents “doing the right thing, in the right way, at the right time, in the right place, to the right person, for the right reason, with the right feeling, the first time,” and SCRS called the term “an ethos that has permeated the work of SCRS, instilled in the organization by March Taylor.”

“This man’s ethic, and spirit, and passion for mentorship and leadership have had such a resounding effect on so many in this industry,” SCRS Chairman Brett Bailey (A&B) said in a statement. “There isn’t a day that goes by that he isn’t remembered and not a moment we all don’t work to live up the legacy that March left behind.”

Gary Wano Jr., owner of G.W. and Son Autobody, won the first March Taylor Kina’ole Award in 2017. Retired 47-year Axalta veteran Petra Schroeder (who still is active in the industry as a self-proclaimed “collisionista”) took the 2018 honor.

“From the first delivery, this award has been about demonstrating our appreciation to others who we see do the right thing, for the right reasons, without any other motivation,” former SCRS Chairman Barry Dorn (Dorn’s Body and Paint) said in a statement. “It is a way to keep our friend’s memory alive, by recognizing his light burning in others who share that same spirit and passion for making this industry great. The presentation that will be made at the 2019 SEMA Show could not be more fitting.”

For more information about SCRS or the breakfast, call 877-841-0660, email info@scrs.com or visit www.scrs.com.

More information:

“Invitation to Join SCRS at Collision Industry Red Carpet Awards Breakfast at SEMA Show”

Society of Collision Repair Specialists, Oct. 10, 2019

“Collision Industry Red Carpet Awards Breakfast @ SEMA 2018” playlist

SCRS YouTube channel, Dec. 21, 2018

Featured image: The National Auto Body Council gave the Award of Distinction to the late Gene Crozat, G&C Auto Body, Sonoma County, Calif., represented here by nephew-in-law David Pajon, during the Society of Collision Repair Specialists and BodyShop Business’ 2017 Collision Repair Red Carpet Award Breakfast. (John Huetter/Repairer Driven News)