About I-CAR - Current Events/News: E-newsletter: E-newsletter: August 30, 2004

Volvo Cars of North America, LLC and I-CAR have formed a training relationship that incorporates I-CAR collision repair training and a qualification test into the new Volvo Body and Paint Service Center Program. Volvo vehicle-specific training developed and conducted by I-CAR is also a component of the program to help Volvo technicians to achieve quality repairs for owners of Volvo vehicles.

The Volvo vehicle-specific training is an open program and will be made available to the entire collision industry. Students will be awarded all applicable Gold Class points for each program upon successful completion.

"Our goal when we launch the Volvo Certified Body & Paint Service Center Program earlier this year is that all Volvo Retailers should offer a body & paint repair service to their customers through their own collision repair facilities or a virtual/approved arrangement. By doing so, we take care of the customer in a way that embodies our Care by Volvo philosophy," says Joe Conforti, Volvo’s Aftersales Development Manager who along with David Weir, Volvo’s Body & Paint Development Manager are working to get 80% of Volvo’s Retailers on the program by the end of 2005. Ed Spirko, Volvo’s Manager of Service Training and Development added, "We chose I-CAR as a training partner for the Volvo Certified Body & Paint Service Center Program because of their ability to produce, market, and deliver cost effective training and materials for our retailers and their collision repair facilities. The availability of Volvo vehicle-specific training will also benefit I-CAR in offering quality training to the collision industry at large."

Volvo collision repair technicians will have the same inter-industry classroom experience and take the same program post-tests as all industry-wide I-CAR students. As such, they will receive the most up-to-date training offered in collision repair. In addition to the 12 required I-CAR and 6 Volvo-specific programs that I-CAR will develop, Volvo has also incorporated over 20 I-CAR programs into their certification levels that have been designated as "highly recommended" depending on the results of a web-based assessment test that is available online.

"The relationship Volvo provides the opportunity to provide training to Volvo dealer technicians through our existing delivery network of volunteers and instructors. It is also important for the industry which includes independent collision repair facilities, insurers, and career and technical school and college students to be able to have access to the Volvo recommended training programs and qualification tests," stated Tom McGee, I-CAR Executive Vice President and CEO. "We also look forward to the opportunity to expand this relationship through the development and delivery of Volvo vehicle-specific training."

Additional information and a complete listing of the I-CAR collision repair training programs recognized by Volvo are available online.

LOWER TRAINING FEE FOR GOLD CLASS PROFESSIONAL BUSINESSES IN CANADA

I-CAR Canada Effective September 1, 2004 I-CAR has lowered the pre-paid class payment coupon cost in Canada for the benefit of Gold Class Professionals businesses. Training for I-CAR Gold Class Professionals businesses in Canada is now even more affordable!

The new Canadian price structure is as follows:

	Gold Class	Non-Gold Class	At The Door
I-CAR Coupon	$80CDN	$100CDN	$125CDN

"I-CAR is committed to continue to add value to the Gold Class Professionals program in Canada. Offering this further discount shows that commitment," stated I-CAR Canadian Manager Tracey Blouin.

"I am pleased that we are able to reduce prices for Gold Class Professionals in Canada," added Rick Tuuri, I-CAR Director of Business development and North American Operations. "I-CAR is a not-for-profit organization that is committed to offering the best value possible in collision training. As such, we constantly reevaluate our pricing structure and are very happy that we are able to make this change."

For additional information, please contact I-CAR Canadian Manager Tracey Blouin at 416.299.4227 or 800.422.7456.

I-CAR DIRECTOR OF BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT AND FIELD OPERATIONS RICK TUURI NAMED COLLISION INDUSTRY CONFERENCE (CIC) CHAIRMAN

Rick Tuuri, I-CAR Director of Business Development and North American Operations was appointed Chairman of the Collision Industry Conference (CIC) at its meeting on August 5, 2004 in Chicago, Illinois. Tuuri will succeed the current CIC Chairman, Roger Wright, and is eligible to serve two, one -year terms beginning in December 2004.

Tuuri will focus on the CIC vision for the industry, and plans to work with the conference participants to identify that vision. "Defining the vision for the industry is key to determining which issues to address and the priority in which to address them", said Tuuri. "The CIC has all of the talent and skills required to develop its vision and make it a reality for the collision industry."

Tuuri has been in the collision industry for over 25 years and has numerous professional achievements and recognitions. He is a member of the prestigious Collision Industry Hall of Eagles and served two terms as the Chairman of NACE Exhibitor Advisory Council (2001 - 2002). Tuuri also served two terms as the Chairman of the I-CAR International Board of Directors (1999-2001), six years on the I-CAR International Board of Directors, six years on the National Auto Body Council Board of Directors (1996-2002), two years on the I-CAR Education Foundation Board of Trustees (2002-2003) and five years as a member of Independent Auto Damage Appraisers (IADA) Advisory Council (1998-2002).

"Rick will provide CIC with the necessary leadership and direction to remain focused on discussing and addressing industry issues and trends," said I-CAR Executive Vice President and CEO Tom McGee. "As an industry, we also need to recognize and thank Roger Wright for his time, effort, direction, and dedication that he has provided to CIC for the last two years."

SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS AND AWARDS DURING THE I-CAR 2004 INTERNATIONAL ANNUAL MEETING

The highlight of the General Session during the 2004 I-CAR International Annual Meeting was a presentation given by Doug Middleton entitled "The Genesis of I-CAR." This presentation highlighted I-CAR’s 25 years from its infancy in 1979 to its current position in the collision industry.

Doug Middleton presents during the I-CAR General Session.

As part of this presentation, those individuals and companies that have continued their support of I-CAR were highlighted. Hall Of Fame awards were also presented to those individuals who have given 20 and 25 years of service to I-CAR. They were awarded 20-year pins and 25-year pins and jackets.

20 and 25 Year Hall of Fame Award winners were presented on stage.

I-CAR Executive Vice President and CEO Tom McGee then highlighted the impact Jeff Silver has had on the growth of his career, and his impact on I-CAR on instructors and volunteers, and I-CAR overall. McGee presented Silver with a special I-CAR Founder’s Award.

(left to right) Jeff Silver, Jeanne Silver, and Tom McGee stand during Jeff's I-CAR Founder's Award presentation.

Past Chairmen of I-CAR and the I-CAR Education Foundation were also recognized for their service to I-CAR.

New to the I-CAR International Annual Meeting this year was the display of past award winners on special plaques. These were highlighted and on display to show those past individuals that have been recognized for their contributions.

Two other special awards of recognition were presented. I-CAR Instructor Todd Hoffman, who has been recently traveling around the country and presenting emergency extrication and safety training programs to firefighters and emergency first responders, was presented with the Chairman’s Award. The Chairman’s Award is presented to the individual or organization that has made significant or extraordinary contributions to the I-CAR organization during the past fiscal year. This award is selected by the I-CAR Executive Committee.

(left to right) I-CAR Past Chair Gene Hamilton and I-CAR Chair Nick Notte present the Chairman's award to Todd Hoffman (center).

Past I-CAR Chairman Roger Wright was presented with an I-CAR Founder’s Award to recognize his service as Chair and on the I-CAR International Board of Directors and dedication to I-CAR.

Past I-CAR Chairman Roger Wright accepts his I-CAR Founder's Award.

I-CAR would like to thank all those who attended the 2004 I-CAR International Annual Meeting – 25^th Anniversary Celebration by making it one to remember and celebrating the shared vision for the next 25 years of continued technical training for the collision industry.

I-CAR EDUCATION FOUNDATION RELEASES 2004 "SNAPSHOT" OF THE COLLISION INDUSTRY SURVEY

The I-CAR Education Foundation has released its 2004 "Snapshot" of the collision industry survey. In 1995, 1998 and 2001, The Foundation conducted "Snapshot" surveys, providing Collision Industry professionals with crucial information about collision repair technicians, such as their average incomes, benefits, and opportunities in the collision repair field. Another focus of the survey was to compare small, large, and super collision repair businesses and examine their differences. The survey results help industry leaders determine what they need to do to ensure the industry's long-term health.

The 2004 Snapshot results were presented during the Collision Industry Conference (CIC) meeting on August 4, 2004 by Ron Ray, Executive Director of the I-CAR Education Foundation. Ray said, "The 2004 Snapshot showed positive results and trends that should encourage a student to consider collision repair for a career. Most notable is the sizeable increase in the number of entry-level technicians that had been hired in the last twelve months that had pre-employment training learned at a career and technical school or college. The number of technicians is up from 22.3% in 2001 to 36.7% reported in 2004.

During the 2004 survey, a random sample of 4,000 collision repair businesses were contacted. Four hundred-sixteen, or about 10.3% of those businesses responded with completed survey forms. The 2004 survey features updated information, along with comparisons to the 1995, 1998, and 2001 surveys. This new information is useful in establishing validity and analyzing developing trends. The data is also used to help recruit new technicians, support school-to-work programs, and bring to focus existing career and technical school and college technical programs.

A four-page executive summary of the 2004 Snapshot can be downloaded free from the I-CAR Education Foundation web site. Please contact the Education Foundation at 888-722-3787, X282 to request quantities of the printed document for career days, job fairs, or other recruiting events. The entire Executive Summary will be available in PDF format in October at the Education Foundation web site.

The I-CAR Education Foundation would like to thank Allstate Insurance Company for sponsoring the survey and supporting this project.

The I-CAR Education Foundation, founded in 1991, is a non-profit organization dedicated to improving the quality and number of entry-level employees for the collision industry. Its IRS 501(c)(3) status allows it to accept grants and donations from government agencies, individuals and businesses. The mission of the

I-CAR Education Foundation is, "To attract entry-level candidates and assist in preparing them for careers in the collision industry."

Education Foundation Snapshot of the Collsion Industry -12/02/2009 (177K) in Adobe Acrobat Format

ASE AWARDS PRESENTED DURING I-CAR 2004 INTERNATIONAL ANNUAL MEETING

Industry Service Award

(left to right) Tony Molla, Tom McGee, Teresa Bolton

Acknowledging the contribution made by I-CAR to the collision industry over the past 25 years, ASE presented I-CAR with the ASE Industry Service Award on Saturday, August 7, 2004 during the I-CAR 2004 International Annual Meeting – Awards and Recognition Banquet. Tony Molla, ASE Vice President of Communications, and Teresa Bolton, ASE Collision Technical Specialist, presented the ASE award to Tom McGee on behalf of all I-CAR volunteers, instructors, committees, board members, and staff.

"For the past quarter-century, I-CAR has helped improve the image and professionalism of the collision industry by providing some of the best technical training available," said Molla. "I-CAR’s strength is its people—the volunteers, instructors, and others who together have made a commitment to excellence. It is this commitment that we honor with this award.

The ASE Industry Service Award is given to individuals or organizations whose contribution to the automotive service industry has had a profound effect on improving the image and professionalism of automotive professionals, while simultaneously promoting excellence. It is not an annual award, but is given on the occasion of a significant milestone, such as the I-CAR 25^th Anniversary."

"I-CAR is very honored to have received this award from ASE on behalf of the volunteers, instructors, committees and the board of directors. The recognition by ASE of the positive contributions that the many I-CAR instructors and volunteers have made to the collision industry for the past 25 years makes this award very significant," said I-CAR Executive Vice President and CEO Tom McGee.

ASE/I-CAR Instructor of the Year Awards

(left to right) Tony Molla, Fern Larochelle, Tina Larochelle, Tom McGee, Mike Loy accepting on behalf of Ronald Rheubert, Rod Kohlhepp, Jim Swanson, and Teresa Bolton

I-CAR and ASE recognized four I-CAR instructors who became ASE certified or recertified during this past fiscal year (July ’03 – June ’04) with the ASE/I-CAR Instructor of the Year Awards that were awarded for the first time at the 2004 I-CAR International Annual Meeting. These instructors not only passed the ASE exams during the past fiscal year, they also achieved the highest overall scores on their ASE exams compared to all I-CAR instructors. This is an outstanding personal accomplishment and I-CAR and ASE are proud to recognize the following instructors:

ASE Certified/Recertified Estimator

Certified – Fernand Larochelle – Northeast Region

Recertified – Jim Swanson – Northwest Region

ASE Certified/Recertified Master Collision/Refinish Technician Collision Repair

Certified – Ronald Rheubert – South Central Region

Recertified – Rod Kohlhepp – North Central Region

INDUSTRY PROFESSIONALS INVITED TO COLLISION INDUSTRY TRADESHOW IN NORTHLAKE, ILLINOIS

Collision industry professionals are encouraged to attend the 3^rd Annual Collision Industry Tradeshow on Tuesday, October 12, 2004 at the Midwest Conference Center in Northlake, Illinois. The tradeshow will be open from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.

The tradeshow will offer a multitude of industry-related information. Highlights of this tradeshow meeting include vendors representing all segments of the industry, updates on I-CAR programs and initiatives, and informative presentations from industry leaders. In addition, attendees will have the opportunity to attend the I-CAR Structural Aluminum Design And Repair Processes (SPA01) training program at the discounted rate of $60.

The tradeshow meeting, hosted by the Naperville, Illinois I-CAR District Committee, is open to the entire collision industry. All of the proceeds from this event will benefit the I-CAR Education Foundation, a not-for-profit organization that attracts entry-level candidates and assists in preparing them for careers in the collision industry.

For additional information regarding the tradeshow, please contact I-CAR South Central Regional Manager Mike Miller at 800.422.7456 or Committee Chair Keith Eichensehr at 630.541.4116. To learn more about the efforts of the I-CAR Education Foundation, please contact the Education Foundation Products and Services Administrator Michelle Shotkoski at 888.722.3787, Ext. 283.

I-CAR NORTHEAST "PATRIOTS" TAKE HOME HUBCAP TROPHY AWARD

The I-CAR Northeast Region, who carries the nickname of the ‘Patriots,’ received the distinguished Hubcap Trophy Award during the 2004 I-CAR International Annual Meeting.

The Hupcap is awarded to the region or country that teaches the most I-CAR student units over the course of the year. It symbolizes continued leadership, hard work, and dedication to the collision industry.

(left to right) I-CAR Past Chairman Gene Hamilton, Collette Coffey, I-CAR Northeast Regional Manager Dave Coffey, and Lead/Southern Regional Manager Jeff Peevy pose with the Hubcap Trophy Award.

"Accepting the hubcap award was one of my proudest moments since I joined I-CAR 3 years ago. However, it was the dedication, determination and enthusiastic spirit of the volunteers and instructors in the northeast region to catapult us from 4th to 1st place in the final four months of fiscal '04. They deserve the award and should be extremely proud of themselves," added I-CAR Northeast Regional Manager Dave Coffey.

Congratulations "Patriots" on your successful year and helping train the industry!

STATIONARY GLASS (GLA02) - ONE OF SIX I-CAR TRAINING PROGRAMS AVAILABLE DURING NACE

Do you plan to attend NACE 2004? If so, would you like to take advantage of I-CAR training at a reduced rate? I-CAR will be conducting six training programs this year at NACE 2004, which will be held at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center in Las Vegas, Nevada from November 3-6, 2004. The programs will be offered at a reduced rate of $60 for each four-hour program.

One of the available I-CAR training programs is Stationary Glass (GLA02) on Wednesday, November 3^rd from 8 a.m. – 12 p.m.

Topics that will be covered during this program include:

Stationary Glass Issues
Windshields
Pinchweld Preparation
Adhesives
Glass Repair

Completing this class will help prepare you for the ASE B4 Structural Analysis And Damage Repair Certification Test!

A full schedule of available I-CAR training programs and registration information available during NACE are available through the NACE web site. Register today and enhance your professional skills through I-CAR training!

COLLISION TV INTERACTIVE DISTANCE COLLISION REPAIR TRAINING AVAILABLE TO ENTIRE CANADIAN COLLISION INDUSTRY

Are you looking for easily accessed and convenient training? Look no further than Collision TV! I-CAR, CARSTAR Canada, and Canadian Automotive Repair & Service (CARS) Network have produced this interactive distance-learning platform, which is available to the entire Canadian collision industry.

The upcoming month’s schedule of Collision TV training programs is:

Class Date		Training Program

9/07/04		Fundamentals Of Collision Repair (FCR01)
9/14/04		Vehicle Identification, Estimating Systems, And Terminology (DAM01)
9/21/04		Frontal Impact Analysis (DAM02)
9/28/04		Mechanical Systems Analysis (DAM03)

Satellite training locations for these programs and an extended Collision TV training schedule are available online. For additional information and registration, please call 800.422.7456.

ENHANCED DELIVERY STATUS

As we introduce new Enhanced Delivery training programs, we will continue to update you on recently completed programs, as well as those in development. For a list of the latest Enhanced Delivery programs available, you can view or download the PDF below. Available programs are highlighted in red. You can also search our online class schedule to find an Enhanced Delivery program near you.

		Enhanced Delivery Courses and Programs Development -12/02/2009 ( 32K) in Adobe Acrobat Format

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