FenderBender

The 2018 FenderBender Awards: Robert Molina

September 4, 2018

Robert Molina built a $12 million body shop beloved by his Miami community by investing in people and technology and instituting a customer-first mentality. Here's how he built his massive, technologically advanced operation.

The 2018 FenderBender Awards: Travis Fitchie

September 5, 2018

Melissa Steinken

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Travis Fitchie, a 20-year-old shop up-and-comer who turned a shop into a $1 million business, is the 2018 FenderBender Award winner in the Manager category.

The 2018 FenderBender Awards: Cynthia Varnell

September 1, 2018

Travis Bean

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The thoughtful attention paid to both the team members in her shop and the people in her community makes Cynthia Varnell an absolutely essential aspect of Gustafson Brothers Inc.'s culture and brand.

The 2018 FenderBender Awards: Derick Ware

September 1, 2018

Travis Bean

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Derick Ware isn't only posting top-tier numbers in his extremely profitable paint department, but teaching up-and-coming painters how to replicate his processes as well.

The 2018 FenderBender Awards: Craig Dale

September 6, 2018

Melissa Steinken

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A man behind the scenes, Heppner Auto Body's facilities maintenance manager has been a driving force behind the six-shop Minneapolis operation's long-term success. That's why Craig Dale is the 2018 FenderBender Award winner in the Wild Card category.

How Your Paint Department Affects Self-Driving Technology

August 10, 2018

Melissa Steinken

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LiDAR technology on self-driving vehicles requires a certain amount of light reflected back to their sensors in order to detect surrounding objects. And your paint department can compromise that light. Here’s how LiDAR technology and paint interact on autonomous vehicles.

Q&A: ABRA’s ‘People Expert’ on Growing through Leaders

August 7, 2018

Melissa Steinken and Travis Bean

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ABRA Auto Body & Glass has made moves to becoming not only the repairer of choice but the employer of choice. FenderBender sat down with Carmen Thiede, chief people officer for ABRA, and dived further into how the company goes about finding, retaining and developing leaders.

The Software Driving the Most Profitable Shops

September 1, 2018

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In the 2018 FenderBender Industry Survey, shops claim to utilize varying electronic systems in their shops. Here’s how each of those softwares affected profitability.

A Budget Balancing Act

August 6, 2018

Melissa Steinken

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Edward Bao, financial planner, teaches how to take steps to interpret a balance sheet correctly and make informed business decisions.

Create Confident Conversations with Customers

5 Steps for Inspiring Confidence in Your Customers

August 13, 2018

Melissa Steinken

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You and your staff's soft skills are incredibly important when interacting with customers. Here are five steps for engaging customers in rapport and establishing lifetime clients.

Creating a Multi-Year Shop Investment Plan

August 16, 2018

Melissa Steinken

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In order to successfully revamp his shop without incurring significant debt, Tim Kilkeary put into motion a five-year capital reinvestment plan in order to update the facility and the shop’s equipment.

How to Help an Employee Through a Loss

August 9, 2018

Melissa Steinken

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A shop leader should not assume an employee going through a major loss is going to shy away from wanting to talk about it. Psychologist Lisa Kaplin shares tips for how to help an employee through a loss in a thoughtful and appropriate manner.

Cultivating a Long Career

July 30, 2018

Melissa Steinken

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Rob Wisniewski says the factor that kept him successful at a shop that is producing close to $1 million per year has been following his motto: “Treat every car like it is your own.”

How I Work: Donielle Lopez

August 23, 2018

Kiley Wellendorf

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When it came to turning a flailing shop around after taking over, Donielle Lopez looked for intimate ways her mom-and-pop shop could find success. As a result of her daily approach to management, she doubled revenue in just one year.

How It Works: LeanTec

July 26, 2018

Kiley Wellendorf

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A shop manager reviews LeanTec, which is a smart cabinet that both keeps track of the shop’s supplies and places orders when inventory is low.

Snap Shop: Auto Body on the Run

August 3, 2018

Melissa Steinken

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Take a virtual tour of Auto Body on the Run, which has invested nearly $50,000 to keep up to date on new collision repair technology.

Engaging with Your Employees

September 1, 2018

Steve Morris

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Steve Morris on the value of empowering employees to speak the truth.

The Language that Shapes Your Shop's Culture

September 1, 2018

Jason Boggs

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A focus on language is key for introducing new processes, writes Jason Boggs.

Having the Freedom to Leave Your Shop

September 1, 2018

Kevin Rains

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Kevin Rains explains how he was able to take 30 days (in a row) off this summer.

Adding Employees Without Disrupting Your Shop

September 1, 2018

Ryan Cropper

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Ryan Cropper on how to add employees—without disturbing your core group.

FenderBender 20th Anniversary Series: Nick Notte

September 1, 2018

Kaylee Shields

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As part of FenderBender's 20th anniversary celebration sponsored by PPG, we take a look back at the collision repair industry through the eyes of some of its largest influencers. Nick Notte, senior vice president of sales and marketing at I-CAR, is an industry leader who continues to inspire and support those in the collision repair industry.

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September 2018

Features

The 2018 FenderBender Awards: Robert Molina

The 2018 FenderBender Awards: Travis Fitchie

The 2018 FenderBender Awards: Cynthia Varnell

The 2018 FenderBender Awards: Derick Ware

The 2018 FenderBender Awards: Craig Dale

Trends+Analysis

How Your Paint Department Affects Self-Driving Technology

Q&A: ABRA’s ‘People Expert’ on Growing through Leaders

The Software Driving the Most Profitable Shops

Strategies

A Budget Balancing Act

5 Steps for Inspiring Confidence in Your Customers

Creating a Multi-Year Shop Investment Plan

How to Help an Employee Through a Loss

Departments

Cultivating a Long Career

How I Work: Donielle Lopez

How It Works: LeanTec

Snap Shop: Auto Body on the Run

Columns

Engaging with Your Employees

The Language that Shapes Your Shop's Culture

Having the Freedom to Leave Your Shop

Adding Employees Without Disrupting Your Shop

FenderBender 20th Anniversary

FenderBender 20th Anniversary Series: Nick Notte

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Our Publications

FenderBender

September 2018

Features

Trends+Analysis

Strategies

Departments

Columns

FenderBender 20th Anniversary