June 10, 2019—At the most recent Collision Industry Conference meeting in Nashville, I-CAR announced changes to its governance model. The model had been in discussion for some time and parallels a need for a stronger, more modern framework that keeps pace with the growth in the training portfolio of products and services.
The new model gives members more representation. The past old model had the executive committee make the majority of decisions and pass it on to the board members.
FenderBender asked Tim O'Day, chair, I-CAR board of directors, the reason behind the decision and what it means for the collision repair industry going forward.
Why did I-CAR choose to keep the same amount of collision repair seats even through the switch?
The updated governance model reflects more than 18 months of research, design and debate, incorporating insights from Quantum Governance L3C, including industry benchmarks of other organizations of similar sizes and makeup. We also had the valued input of our current board members throughout the process.
Through the assessment process, we determined the board of directors size and composition would be reduced in size, overall, but maintain solid inter-industry representation with focus on the collision repair segment as the principle end user. There is secondary focus on OEM and insurance as they are also principle stakeholders. The result is for four collision repair seats, three OEM seats, three insurance seats, one equipment, tool and supply seat, one related services seat, one education seat and between 0-4 hybrid seats.
Hybrid seats allow the board of directors to elect members who bring functional expertise in support of I-CAR's strategic business needs.
Can you explain the new components of the model including membership program expansion and the new member council?
There was significant expansion in the membership program to include automatic membership status for Gold Class shops, sustaining partners, platinum individuals, career and technical schools, and volunteer committee chairs. Others interested in becoming more involved in I-CAR's work can do so as general members, which is a fee-based membership status. That status also applies to industry associations, industry societies or other not-for-profit organizations.
The new member council takes the principles of I-CAR’s ISAC (Industry Segment Advisory Council) process to an expanded representation across the industry for a total of 29 members, each with three-year, two-term limits.
Members will provide a voice to the customer as it relates to current and future service offerings to the industry, serve as a sounding board to review and provide feedback to I-CAR service and program planning, and be an ambassador of goodwill and advocacy in pursuit of the industry’s adoption and betterment. Membership comprises a 2:1 ratio versus the Board construct plus adds I-CAR Committee voice.
The Member Council, combined with expanded and recurring segment-level voice of the customer (VOC) programming, will allow for sunsetting of the organization’s ISAC programs in the coming year.
