The National Auto Body Council (NABC) voted Nov. 2 to establish an inter-industry
initiative to explore and address the needs of the growing
number of non-English-speaking employees within the collision industry.
The goal of the initiative is to facilitate equal access to
industry training, services and products for non-English
speakers, supporting NABC’s core mission of enhancing the
image of the industry. Under the auspices of NABC, the
inter-industry will develop strategies to enhance the working
experience and quality of work product of non-English
speakers.
Practicality dictates that one non-English speaking
population be the initial focus of the inter-industry effort.
Because the Spanish-speaking community was identified as the
largest and fastest growing segment of the U.S. population,
NABC will start there.
The concept of language outreach within NABC started at the
organization’s July 2009 annual planning meeting. George
Avery, then NABC president, suggested that a “Knowledge
Community” be established to answer three basic questions:
Is there a need for in-language outreach in the
collision industry?
If so, what are those needs?
Is there anything NABC can do, in accordance with its
mission, to meet these needs?
Avery recruited fellow board member Karen Fierst to spearhead
the initiative. Fierst then set out to find interested,
informed people willing to serve on the Knowledge Community.
The Knowledge Community has worked together for over a year
now. It consists of Active Co-Chair Javier Avalos (Ina Road
Auto Collision), Advisor/Co-chair Al Estorga (Estorga’s
Collision Repair), German Mejia (I-CAR Southeast Regional
Manager), Gene Lopez (I-CAR Southwest Regional Manager),
Denise Pina (Brea Auto Body), and Ben Mendoza (Kelly's Body
Shop). Fierst serves as NABC’s board member and the
initiative’s facilitator.
The group has already begun discussions regarding several
pertinent issues. These include the fact that Spanish
speakers from different geographic areas use different
terminology and the challenges that surface when
translators/interpreters have no background in the automotive
or collision industry.
NABC’s in-language initiative will conduct its first formal
meeting of said stakeholders during CIC Week in Palm Springs,
California this coming January.
For more information visit www.autobodycouncil.org.
