About I-CAR - Current Events/News: E-newsletter: E-newsletter: November 19, 2001

The volume of I-CAR training has increased 41% in its first fiscal quarter, which ended September 30, 2001, compared to the same period last year. Executive Vice President and CEO Tom Mack stated, "this increase in training continues the rising trend that began last year and has been gathering strength each month." October 2001 numbers maintain this trend and show an increase of 47% compared to last October.

Mack attributes the increase to a growing industry recognition of the need for and benefits of technical training. "The introduction of new Enhanced Delivery training programs, the creation of the Industry Training Alliance and the corresponding expansion of the Gold Class Professionals program have been very well received," stated Mack. "These initiatives have expanded the opportunities for technical training and contributed to an increased awareness of training in the industry. We are seeing increased demand and interest in all segments of the collision industry."

Director of Field Operations Dave Heckeler notes that this increase in training volume could not have been achieved without the strong commitment and dedication of I-CAR volunteers and instructors. Heckeler stated, "I-CAR’s volunteers and instructors have always put in a great amount of time and effort to train the industry. The recent increases in I-CAR training are a further testament to their outstanding contributions."

REGISTER ONLINE FOR I-CAR 2002 REGIONAL CONFERENCES

On November 15, 2001, I-CAR introduced online registration for its 2002 regional conferences. Attendees will now be able to complete all meeting registration and housing forms online and provide credit card payments through a secure connection. The registration fee for each conference is $75 for conference attendees, and $25 for guests. Online registration will provide optimal efficiency for attendees and allow housing and meeting registration to be accomplished together. It will also allow I-CAR to gain valuable information to improve future conferences, through automated attendance tracking and the ability to perform post-conference surveys.

The 2002 I-CAR regional conferences provide a unique opportunity to meet with I-CAR volunteers, instructors, and other industry professionals and learn more about I-CAR programs. Each regional conference will include an annual awards banquet to honor I-CAR volunteers and instructors, along with a variety of local activities. Registration information and complete agendas for the conferences are available online.

The conferences planned for 2002 are:

South Central Region (IL, IN, KY, OH, TN):
January 18 – 20, 2002 Crowne Plaza Hotel, Columbus, OH
North Central Region (IA, MI, MN, MO, ND, NE, SD, WI):
January 25 – 27, 2002 Radisson Paper Valley Hotel, Appleton, WI
Northwest Region (AK, Northern CA, CO, ID, MT, OR, UT, WA, WY):
February 1 – 3, 2002 Doubletree Columbia River Hotel, Portland, OR
Southwest Region (AR, AZ, KS, LA, MS, NM, OK, TX):
February 8 – 10, 2002 Stockyards Hotel, Fort Worth, TX
Southeast Region (AL, FL, GA, NC, SC, VA, Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands):
February 15 – 17, 2002 Westshore Marriott, Tampa, FL
Northeast Region (CT, DE, MA, ME, NH, NJ, NY, PA, RI, VT, WV):
February 22 – 24, 2002 Woodloch Resort, Hawley, PA
South Pacific Region (Southern CA, HI, NV):
March 1 – 3, 2002 Hilton San Diego Mission Valley, San Diego, CA

CAR-O-LINER JOINS INDUSTRY TRAINING ALLIANCE

Car-O-Liner Company has been added as the newest member of the Industry Training Alliance. Their approved training programs include: Three Dimensional Mechanical Measuring – Collision Damage Analysis And Repair, Computerized Electronic Measuring – Collision Damage Analysis And Repair, and Advanced Structural Analysis And Repair – Unibody / Full Frame.

A complete listing of Industry Training Alliance members and their approved programs is available online. To receive Gold Class points for Alliance training programs you’ve completed, fill out the online student application.

NEW! DEMONSTRATION PROP CLASSIFIEDS FOR INSTRUCTORS

Instructors, have you ever wondered what you were going to do with all those airbags you have lying around, or where you could find an air conditioning condenser that you could use as a prop during class instruction? If so, we have created a new database just for you called Demonstration Prop Classifieds, which has been added to the Instructor Technical Support Area of the I-CAR web site.

This database was developed to give you an opportunity to share props, give props away, and locate props. You can post and respond to demonstration prop classified ads. Specific information will be requested, including details about the prop and contact information. All transactions, including shipping expenses, are between instructors, not I-CAR.

So, if you fall into the "need" or "need-to-get-rid-of" category, check out this new area today!

GOLD CLASS SHOP OF THE MONTH: SIMONE’S AUTO PLAZA, LAS VEGAS, NV

Simone’s Auto Plaza of Las Vegas, Nevada has been selected as November’s Gold Class shop of the month. Their Las Vegas location has been open for two and a half years. Simone’s Auto Plaza has another collision repair shop in California that has been around for 27 years. Since their shop in California was extremely successful as a Gold Class Professionals business, Simone’s Auto Plaza in Nevada decided to follow their lead and achieve the Gold Class designation too.

Simone’s Auto Plaza became Gold Class in September 2000, immediately after they opened their shop. Simone’s has proven to the industry that they are dedicated to ensuring their customers complete and safe repairs. They chose to become Gold Class because they know how important this designation is to the industry and their consumers. General Manager Tony LeaVitt believes that it is imperative to be a Gold Class Professionals shop and to maintain the designation throughout the years.

When Simone’s Auto Plaza advertises to hire new employees, they stress that I-CAR training is necessary to get the job done right. LeaVitt commented, "Because we are an I-CAR Gold Class business, we tend to attract more qualified and trained candidates. The individuals who always stand out are the ones who are willing to invest in themselves." Simone’s Auto Plaza is confident that they have the best technicians working for them because they are trained with the most current information available to the industry.

When asked who LeaVitt felt deserved special recognition at his collision repair shop, he said that all of his employees should be rewarded. Since they all have invested a great amount of time into their training, they should all be recognized for their ambition to keep current with up-to-date collision repair training. I-CAR would like to take this opportunity to thank Simone’s Auto Plaza for their passionate commitment to the I-CAR Gold Class Professionals program and the rest of the collision industry!

Every month, one Gold Class shop is chosen as the shop of the month. If you have any recommendations or requests, please contact Marketing Specialist Jennifer Wilkens at jennifer.wilkens@i-car.com.

AWARD WINNER PROFILES: CANADIAN REGION

Congratulations to Canada’s John Poot of Ontario and Jim Coates of New Brunswick!

John Poot is winner of the Instructor of the Year Award for Canada and has been involved with I-CAR for twenty years. John said, "I taught the very first I-CAR classes offered. In those days, we used slides and audio tapes as props." With a bachelor’s degree in psychology and a master’s degree in vocational education, John had just the experience I-CAR was looking for. At the time, he was a vocational school instructor for Mohawk Vocational Technical College in Ontario.

Although John retired from Mohawk two years ago, his son is now an instructor at the same school. John says it is very helpful to have his son involved in the industry as well. Even though he’s now "retired," he works hard to keep up with constant advances in industry technology. John is excited to see the advancements I-CAR has made and is teaching a full schedule of classes in the coming months, including many Enhanced Delivery courses. He commented that his students "like the active involvement of the Enhanced Delivery programs." John says it seems like he’s working harder and longer now than he was when he was working!

John travels extensively as an I-CAR instructor, teaching classes wherever he is needed. He has taught classes throughout Canada and even crosses into the Northeast Region to teach classes in border states such as Vermont. John says what keeps him motivated are the students he teaches. "When I come in to teach an 8:00AM class, some of the students have already traveled four hours that morning to get there. Knowing that class may be the only location in that state or area where a class is available is one of the reasons I continue to do it."

His travels to remote areas have brought John a few surprises over the years. He remembers a winter class he taught in an isolated area of the Yukon Territory. The hotel assured him over the phone that they were "two blocks away" from the college where he was teaching the class. Unfortunately, their definition of "block" meant a section of land over two miles long. John managed to find a ride to the college through five miles of snow, although his class materials never arrived. However, he says the experience was worth it, because each of his four classes that weekend had more than 25 students awaiting him.

John’s dedication to I-CAR is clear and very much appreciated. Thanks for all your hard work, John!

Jim Coates is the winner of this year’s Founder’s Award in Canada. Jim began his involvement with I-CAR in 1981, when he joined the founding committee in New Brunswick. In 1995, his region lost their lead instructor, and Jim was encouraged to become an instructor. He had extensive experience as a leader and instructor for Scouts Canada, and decided to become an I-CAR instructor as well.

Jim now enjoys teaching a variety of I-CAR classes, and is constantly adding to his technical knowledge. He is currently preparing to teach the newly introduced CR3000. As one of the final steps, he recently attended Corrosion Protection Program 1, which was taught by Instructor of the Year John Poot.

In addition to his work with I-CAR, for the past fifteen years, Jim has worked as an independent insurance appraiser. Jim has also been involved in the collision industry in a number of other ways over the years. He began his career as a body shop manager, and then later managed a salvage yard. He first became involved with I-CAR at that time, as they were looking for someone from that segment of the industry.

Jim said the best part about being involved with I-CAR is the people that he meets. He has found that "people don’t know I-CAR is out there. Once you sit down and discuss I-CAR’s vision, they are excited about it." Jim added, "Just enlightening people about what I-CAR is doing is my biggest thrill."

Congratulations, Jim, and thank you for your continued support of I-CAR!

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