The COVID-19 coronavirus response might have foiled SCRS’ traditional April “Repairer Roundtable,” but the organization has still managed to bring the industry a second collection of notable guests this year besides its SEMA lineup.

The Society of Collision Repair Specialists announced Monday that its virtual open board meeting July 20 would feature representatives from ClaimsCorp, General Motors, Matrix Trade Institute, Ranken Technical College and SEMA as well as collision industry attorney Patrick McGuire.

“The open meeting is for anyone wishing to learn more about the current state of the association’s activities and pressing industry topics,” SCRS wrote in a news release Monday.

“… The meeting will include updates and presentations from SCRS staff and committees outlining current initiatives. The agenda will also feature guest presentations and comments from industry colleagues.”

Both SCRS and nonmembers are welcome to attend the free meeting on Zoom from noon to 2 p.m. CT on July 20; SCRS only asks that you preregister here.

Matrix CEO Dustin Peugeot and Ranken automotive collision repair Chairman John Helterbrand will appear as an SCRS Education Committee presentation. According to the trade group, they’ll discuss “programs from each organization that use unconventional approaches to technician development, in order to aid in the industry’s need for skilled workers.”

As traffic levels and collision frequencies return to normal, shops who might have resorted to layoffs during the pandemic might again face the kinds of tech shortages that have historically plagued the industry. So it should be interesting to hear what Puegeot and Helterbrand have to say.

An improving economy and greater familiarity with running a business during a pandemic might also allow repairers the mental room to mull still other industry issues. SCRS will bring some guests on that front too.

“The Industry Issues committee will include topical contributions from John Eck, Collision Manager for General Motors, who will be joined by Chris Blackmore, CRN and MPL Manager for General Motors; Brandon Laur, Vice President Business Development and Client Experience at ClaimsCorp, Inc.; and Patrick McGuire, Esq. (Law Offices of Patrick J. McGuire),” SCRS wrote in a news release.

Finally, the open board meeting will feature an update on SEMA by trade shows director Tom Gattuso. The mammoth trade show is still slated to be held live in November as always, as is SCRS’ Repairer Driven Education series.

SCRS also will discuss its own initiatives. Virtual meeting attendees will hear about the recently released Blueprint Optimization Tool software, which suggests operations a shop might be doing but forgot to include on an estimate. Virginia Asset Management partner Scott Broaddus will also give an update on SCRS’ multiple-employer 401(k), which launched last spring and offers a means for repairers to pursue a better benefits program by pooling their combined size. The “BOT” is open to everyone but available at a discount to SCRS members, while the SCRS 401(k) requires membership to participate.

Repairers will also hear from Danny Gredinberg, administrator of the SCRS-Alliance of Automotive Service Providers’ Database Enhancement Gateway resource. The service, which is free to everyone, allows repairers, insurers and other users to ask questions about and suggest changes to the estimating services.

Finally, the meeting will also offer a chance for eligible voters and the rest of the industry to hear from the five candidates vying for three available SCRS board seats in the  election scheduled the same day. Eligible SCRS members who plan to vote in the July 20 election must attend the open board meeting too, according to SCRS.

More information:

Register for July 20 SCRS open meeting

Biographies of candidates for 2020 SCRS election

“Pre-Register for SCRS Open Board Meeting”

Society of Collision Repair Specialists, July 6, 2020

Featured image: Society of Collision Repair Specialists Executive Director Aaron Schulenburg, left, and Chairman Brett Bailey (A&B) participate in a Jan. 15, 2020, open board meeting. (John Huetter/Repairer Driven News)