I-CAR ® TO INTRODUCE TWO NEW COURSES TO THE
COLLISION INTER-INDUSTRY IN AUGUST

HOFFMAN ESTATES, IL – July 8, 2009 – Collision repair professionals and insurers will have the opportunity to learn important collision repair considerations for some of the most popular vehicles on the road as well as information about emerging technology in today's vehicles. I-CAR, The Inter-Industry Conference on Auto Collision Repair will launch two new classes on these topics. On August 3, I-CAR will launch the Collision Repair for Select High Volume Vehicles (POP01) Live training program and on August 10, the Vehicle Technology and Trends 2010 (NEW10) Live training program will be available.

Inter-industry interest in popular vehicles and new trends continues to grow as repairers and insurers look for ways to identify and work on the vehicles of today and tomorrow.

“Keeping pace with change is important to stay competitive in today's collision repair inter-industry,” said Jeff Peevy, I-CAR Director of Field Operations, North America. “These courses offer a comprehensive look at a variety of vehicles with special attention on future innovations that may soon become common on most vehicles and a greater understanding of newer vehicles commonly seen in collision repair facilities today in an effort to turn knowledge gained into less rework, improved cycle time, and overall greater efficiency in the workplace.”

The I-CAR Collision Repair for Select High Volume Vehicles course details:

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The I-CAR Vehicle Technology and Trends 2010 course details:

•  Features and technologies that distinguish newer models from their predecessors

•  The newest technologies found on North American, Asian, and European vehicles

•  Outside influences that contribute to rapid changes in vehicle technology

•  A review of some of today's newest innovations including the use of high-strength steels, hydroforming, safety features, park-assist systems, collision-avoidance systems, alternative fuel systems, and more

Registration is currently open for classes beginning in August for Collision Repair for Select High Volume Vehicles and Vehicle Technology and Trends 2010 and new classes are being added to I-CAR's class schedule on a continuing basis. Information on classes scheduled in your area can be found on the I-CAR web site at www.i-car.com through the class search feature or by contacting I-CAR Customer Care at 800-422-7872.

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I-CAR, founded in 1979, is an international not-for-profit training organization dedicated to improving the quality, safety, and efficiency of auto collision repair for the ultimate benefit of consumers.

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I-CAR ® NAMES NEW REGIONAL MANAGERS

Hoffman Estates, IL – July 6, 2009 – I-CAR, The Inter-Industry Conference on Auto Collision Repair, has named six individuals that will move into the newly-created Regional Manager roles for the not-for-profit training organization on August 1.

Gene Lopez will join I-CAR to head the Southwest region and will be located in Glendora, CA. Since 1998 Lopez has been the Director of Development for Seidner's Collision Centers and has also been an active part-time instructor for I-CAR. His experience extends from material inventory management in aerospace, and medical implant devices to automotive refinish sales. Lopez has received numerous awards and recognition in management, sales, and personal development. He is the recipient of the Automotive Management Institute (AMI) “Tom Babcox Award” for his desire to improve the automotive service industry through management education. He has been certified by the California department of Insurance to facilitate Continuing Education course work to insurance agents. Lopez has earned the AMI accreditation; AAM (Accredited Automotive Manager). He has also held several volunteer positions in the collision repair industry including serving as a committee chairperson for I-CAR, participating on several high school and college advisory boards, and serving as a member of the South Coast Air Quality Management District's task force on Monitoring, Recording, and Reporting Volatile Organic Compounds.

German Mejia will head the Southeast region from Atlanta, GA. Since 1990, Mejia has been active in marketing and sales in the southeast U.S., Latin America, and Caribbean markets, developing channels of distribution for resins, dispersions, automotive refinish paint, and collision repair equipment and products. Mejia's experience includes roles with AK Finishes, Valspar, and Akzo Nobel. In 2005, he founded Automotriz Colisiones a magazine dedicated to the automotive refinish and collision repair industry for the Caribbean and Latin America. Mejia holds a degree in International Business from Florida Atlantic University, and specialized in international economics at Cambridge University in Cambridge, England.

Bob Mickey, currently with I-CAR as the Western Zone Manager, will head the Northwest region based in Mukilteo, Washington. Mickey has been with I-CAR for 15 years, managing I-CAR training for the western and northwestern regions of the U.S. Prior to coming on board with I-CAR, Mickey served as Executive Director for the Autobody Craftsman Association for eight years. Mickey holds a degree in Management from the University of Oregon.

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Keith Risley will become Regional Manager of the Northcentral region and will be based in Aurora, IL. Risley joins I-CAR with experience in the collision repair industry and over 15 years of experience in the insurance industry, having worked for both Nationwide Insurance and Allstate Insurance. In addition to serving as Auto Claims Manager and Claims Trainer for Nationwide, he also was successful heading a start-up agency.

Doug Schlueter will manage the Southcentral region and will be based in Overland Park, KS. Schlueter brings over 20 years of operations and sales management leadership to the organization and most recently served as Vice President of Sales and Marketing for a national cleaning company. Prior to that he held positions as Director of Auctions for Yellow Corporation, General Manager for Copart and IAA, and Manager for Hertz and Enterprise Rent-A-Car. Schlueter received his bachelor's degree in marketing from the University of North Texas.

Allan Smith will lead the Northeast region and will be based in Media, PA. Smith comes to I-CAR with extensive Automotive Paint Sales experience. His recent experience includes his role as Regional Sales Manager for Sharpe Spray Equipment (a division of Graco) where he worked directly with NAPA stores, Snap-on dealers, as well as automotive warehouse distributors along the east coast. Smith also held Territory Manager and Trainer positions for PPG Industries and for Sherwin-Williams.

“Ultimately this new structure is for the benefit of the inter-industry,” said Jeff Peevy, I-CAR Director of Field Operations. “This will allow for greater efficiency and an even better support structure for volunteers and instructors as they receive the added support they deserve.”

“The Mission and Vision of I-CAR are key in this move,” said John Edelen, I-CAR President and CEO. “By providing a framework that meets and exceeds the needs of the inter-industry, the inter-industry will have an even greater capacity to achieve safe, cost-effective repairs and to provide a quality experience for the collision repair consumer.”

The new Regional Managers will spend a month in training with I-CAR and will officially assume their new roles on August 1.

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I-CAR, founded in 1979, is an international not-for-profit training organization dedicated to improving the quality, safety, and efficiency of auto collision repair for the ultimate benefit of consumers.

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I-CAR ® BOOSTS LEADERSHIP SUPPORT TO
FIELD INSTRUCTORS AND VOLUNTEERS

Hoffman Estates, IL – July 6, 2009 – As part of its commitment to providing effective support to its volunteers and instructors, I-CAR, The Inter-Industry Conference on Auto Collision Repair, today established six regions in the United States that will replace the current three-zone structure. The new structure will provide enhanced leadership and support for I-CAR training for the collision inter-industry.

As part of the realignment, I-CAR has named six Regional Managers to provide support to volunteers and instructors. Those named to the regional positions are Bob Mickey (Northwest), Gene Lopez (Southwest), Keith Risley (North Central), Doug Schlueter (South Central), Allan Smith (Northeast), and German Mejia (Southeast).

The new Regional Managers will report to David Coffey, Director of National Market Development, and will be responsible for leading the support and development of volunteer committees and local part-time Program Instructors. They will officially take on their new roles on August 1.

“Through these changes, our objective is to strengthen the environment within I-CAR and our ability to work together to serve the needs of the collision industry,” said Jeff Peevy, I-CAR Director of Field Operations. “This is true not only for those in the field, but applies to the valued team members in the Training Support Center in Hoffman Estates, IL and the Tech Centre in Appleton, WI.

Peevy continued, “Ultimately, this structure establishes a strong team of individuals who, together, can deliver on our single goal of providing the training and knowledge necessary to the inter-industry to achieve safe, cost-effective repairs and to provide a quality experience for the collision repair consumer.”

Current Zone Manager and Area Training Coordinator positions will be phased out over a nine-week period as part of the re-organization and will report to David Coffey during the transition.

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Johnny Dickerson, Area Training Coordinator, will be taking on new responsibility through the newly created position of Performance Training Coordinator. Dickerson will support the I-CAR Welding Qualification Test programs and work closely with Tech Centre staff in the exploration and development of future hands-on, performance-based training programs. Dickerson will report to Mike Miller, I-CAR Field Support Manager.

John Edelen, I-CAR President & CEO said, “I am confident that, as we continue to evolve as an organization, I-CAR will advance through the development of strong teams supporting well-designed and well-coordinated training activity across the country. This is our commitment to the inter-industry, as we continue to pursue achieving our Mission.”

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I-CAR, founded in 1979, is an international not-for-profit training organization dedicated to improving the quality, safety, and efficiency of auto collision repair for the ultimate benefit of consumers.

(See Headlines)

I-CAR ® EXTENDS CONFERENCE REGISTRATION DEADLINE TO JULY 24

HOFFMAN ESTATES, IL – July 2, 2009 – I-CAR, the Inter-Industry Conference on Auto Collision Repair, has announced that it will extend its registration deadline to July 24 for the upcoming I-CAR 30 th Annual Industry Conference at the Omni Shoreham hotel in Washington, DC, July 28 – 31 as the training organization continues to receive interest from the inter-industry.

The conference begins with a Collision Inter-Industry Tradeshow on July 28 and officially opens on July 29 with keynote speaker Dr. Martin Regalia, Chief Economist for the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. His address will be followed by a panel discussion offered by industry leaders that will focus on the strategies and actions that can be taken to improve business efficiencies and retain customers in an economically challenging time, and how training can help achieve those goals.

As a part of its commitment to volunteers and instructors, a day of hands-on training is scheduled that will focus on providing the tools and building the skills necessary for successfully offering training in each local market. A highlight of the conference will also include the recognition of volunteers and instructors who have contributed their time over the past 30 years.

I-CAR also plans to introduce two new training programs at the conference location on August 1. The programs will be announced in early July.

“The I-CAR 30 th Annual Industry Conference will be information-rich for general attendees as well as volunteers and instructors, said Jeff Peevy, I-CAR Director of Field Operations, North America. “Those planning to attend or have yet to register can expect to take home information they can use to enhance their roles in the collision inter-industry.”

The registration fee is $510 for general attendees for the four-day conference. There are also reduced fees for instructors and volunteers and for spouses and guests.

For conference and registration information, visit www.i-car.com/meetings .

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I-CAR, founded in 1979, is an international not-for-profit training organization dedicated to improving the quality, safety, and efficiency of auto collision repair for the ultimate benefit of consumers.

(See Headlines)

With small shops facing significant financial burdens in buying new equipment to meet the requirements of water-based paint application, Industry Canada has announced a program that should help.

"One of the issues we continually raised with Environment Canada during the low-VOC paint discussions, was the real difficulties that small shops were experiencing at the bank or their financial institution where credit rules have been toughened." said John Norris, NATA Collision Chair." This program allows lenders a much high degree of safety and security in lending equipment financing monies to shops."

The program under the Small Business Financing Directorate of Industry Canada (CSBF) will allow small for-profit businesses with gross annual revenues of less than $5 million, to better access up to $350,000 for purchasing leasehold improvements or improving leased property or purchasing or improving new or used equipment (like a spray booth).

Discuss your business needs with a financial officer at any bank, caisse populaire or credit union in Canada. The financial officer will review your business proposal and make a decision on your loan application. Once the decision is made to offer financing under the program, the financial institution will register the loan with Industry Canada.

Loans can be used for financing up to 90% of the cost. You can use the money to finance buildings and lands, commercial vehicles and production equipment. Maximum chargeable rate by your financial institution is the lender's prime lending rate plus 3% for variable rate loans with fixed rate amounts being lender's single-family residential mortgage rate plus 3%.

A registration fee of 2% of the total amount loaned under the program must also be paid by the borrower to the lender, and can be financed as part of the loan. Lenders are required to take security on the assets financed. The registration fee and a portion of the interest are submitted to Industry Canada by the lender to help offset the costs of this program for the government.

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Summer-The Best and Worst of Times for Young Workers
MOL blitz focuses on this vulnerable group in June

School's out and summer jobs beckon. Young workers, some of them entering the job market for the first time in their lives, start out eager to please and breathtakingly inexperienced.

It can be a formula for tragedy.

Between 2001 and 2008, workers aged 15 to 24 sustained 573 critical injuries. During that period, 27 individuals died as a result of workplace injuries-shattering the lives of families, friends and colleagues.

Rob Ellis lives this reality daily. His 18-year-old son David died 10 years ago as a result of a preventable workplace incident on his second day at work, a heartbreaking example of the fact that injuries are four times more likely to occur during the first month on the job than at any other time.

That's why Ellis, president of Our Youth at Work, and a former president of a business servicing the food and restaurant industry, applauds the MOL's decision to focus on young and new workers in June . "The blitz tells us that the Ministry of Labour is protecting the health and safety of Ontario's future leaders," he says. "It knows that the way to achieve The Road to Zero [injuries, illnesses and fatalities] is by transferring knowledge to young workers, and making sure they understand that the government cares about and respects them."

Keep kids safe by emphasizing the basics

Since David's death, Rob has become a tireless advocate for the well-being of other people's children. He knows that managing risk doesn't have to be a costly proposition, and continually encourages employers to revisit the basics of what he calls "OT"-orientation and training.

What does great OT look like? "Show new workers every possible place where they might slip, fall, or get cut or burned," says Ellis. "There's no need to hand out a thick training manual. Just set up a really good buddy system. Make the buddy responsible for never leaving a new worker's side-especially in the first 30 days when most of the injuries occur."

If the MOL arrives at your door, will you be ready?

OT is a critical component of your health and safety program that MOL inspectors will be looking for during the blitz. You'll need to demonstrate that your young and new workers are properly trained, supervised and meet minimum age requirements. The MOL suggests employers ask themselves five questions to get ready:

1. Is the workplace prepared for new workers? Are you in compliance with the Occupational Health and Safety Act? Do workers meet minimum ages for work, and do you have competent supervisors?
2. Are new workers ready for work? Have you checked workers' prior education, experience and qualifications? Do workers know their rights and responsibilities?
3. Is there comprehensive safety orientation? Have you showed new workers where to find health and safety instructions? Put emergency procedures and personal protective equipment in place?
4. Is job-specific training well done and validated? Do workers understand the training you've provided before new tasks are assigned? Are your trainers competent?
5. Are workers supervised adequately? Are your supervisors providing regular instruction and supervision?

MOL zeroing in on the service sector

The service sector is a magnet for young workers, especially during summer months. Inspectors will be honing in on a wide range of workplaces where new and young workers can be found; for example:

• Retail stores
• Wholesalers
• Restaurants
• Vehicle sales and service outlets
• Hotels and other tourism outlets

Lost-time injuries hurt more than people

• According to the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB), young workers employed in occupations such as sales and service, transport/equipment operators, and labourers in processing, manufacturing and utilities, had the highest number of allowed lost-time claims for on-the-job injuries.
• In 2007, the average cost (direct and indirect) to employers of a lost-time workplace injury was $106,500.
• Between April 1, 2004, and March 31, 2008, declining rates of lost-time workplace injuries have saved employers more than $5 billion in direct and indirect costs.

For more information

Check out these resources for insights and answers:

• The MOL news release and backgrounder on the young worker blitz: check out "Headlines" or "News Releases" at www.labour.gov.on.ca
• The WSIB Young Worker Awareness Program: www.ywap.ca
• The Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety (CCOHS) "Young Workers Zone": www.ccohs.ca/youngworkers/
• The Ontario Service Safety Alliance (OSSA): search on "young workers" at www.ossa.com .
• Find out how being a workplace champion at one of Rob Ellis's "My Safe Work" Simulcasts events can reach thousands: www.mysafework.com .

The Ontario Service Safety Alliance (OSSA) is your WSIB-approved provider of health and safety solutions, and your trusted advisor in developing a prevention program for your organization that will help keep new and young workers healthy and safe. Call OSSA at 1-888-478-6772 or email info@ossa.com .

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COLLISION REPAIR TRADE ASSOCIATION OFFERS TRAINING
COURSES FOR LESS THAN $3 EACH

WHMIS, ISOCYANATES and AUTOMOTIVE LIFT TRAINING
are some of the courses being offered.

Calling it a major shift in how training is offered in the collision repair industry, the Collision Industry Information and Assistance.com (www.ciia.com ), representing Ontario-based collision repair associations, today started offering online training in 23 different courses for less than $3.00 each. "Our members have been asking about isocyanate and Vehicle Lift Safety in order to meet Ministry requirements in their shops, and we wanted to provide for them a quick, easy inexpensive training solution. In cooperation with E.A.G.L. Enterprises in Pickering, Ontario, we are now able to offer health, safety and management training courses online that shops and staff can access at any time," says Mark Timson, a Caledonia area shop owner and a director of www.ciia.com "Our instructor-led WHMIS course and our six-night Basic Estimating course are popular and are taken at our training centre or at a shop location. Also, we wanted to offer programs to help member shops that were more geographically distant. Vehicle Lift Safety courses are important and we could not arrange for a physical delivery of that course to date." Member shops can access the collision repair industry web site at http://www.ciia.com/provinces/ontario/itraining.html .  Registration forms can be faxed, e-mailed or completed online.  Member shops can call Monica at 1 866 309 4272 for more information.  Member shops pay $60.00 plus GST and get access to any or all of the courses for a full year.  Completion documents are provided after the member successfully completes an individual course exam online.  A training certificate identifying all courses taken is issued annually. Other courses offered include Fire Safety, Back Safety, Due Diligence, Joint Health and Safety Committee, Understanding Bill C-45, Safety Inspections, Office Ergonomics, Stretches and Heat Stress.

For more information or to access online training courses call 1 866 309 4272 or e-mail info@ciia.com

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----------------------Autobody Profitability Workbook (82 pages)-------------------------

-------Issues Facing The Canadian Collision Repair Industry (39 pages)------------

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