Dan Ott, manager of North Texas Collision Center, in front of the business.

North Texas Collision Center is located in Sherman, Texas, 60 miles north of the Dallas/Fort Worth area, across the street from a major shopping mall. This prime location has afforded North Texas good visibility and accessibility. Dan Ott is the collision center's manager and says the business is known for its perfect cycle time and quality repairs.

The business currently works with 10 major insurance companies under their direct repair programs. For smaller jobs, North Texas averages a 24-hour cycle time; for larger repairs, three days. “We are known as the fastest shop with the best quality in the area,” said Ott.

Along with Ott, North Texas employs a staff of three body techs, one bodyman helper, one estimator, one painter, one detailer and a porter. The shop is 15,000 square feet and performs approximately 20 to 25 repairs per week. “We have a good productive shop, not too big, not too small. The guys do a great job,” said Ott.

Ott has served as manager of North Texas Collision Center for five years, having worked in the collision repair industry the majority of his life. Starting out in his father's business, along with his two brothers, Ott has taken the knowledge his father gave him, as well as new technologies, to hone his skills as a collision repair professional. Through his continued drive to improve himself and the business, Ott was named the recipient of the 2001 Emil Stanley Merit Award by the Automotive Management Institute (AMI) and the Automotive Service Association (ASA). As the award recipient, Ott received complimentary registration, air transportation and hotel accommodations to attend NACE 2001, Nov. 29-Dec. 2, in Las Vegas.

Staying abreast of the latest technologies and advancements of the industry is a top priority for North Texas Collision Center. Ongoing training is offered to its staff through numerous industry sources including the Inter-Industry Conference on Auto Collision Repair (I-CAR), AMI, the International Mobile Air Conditioning Association (IMACA), and the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE). In addition, Ott serves as the publicity coordinator for I-CAR's southwest region, is a member of the PPG VIP roundtable group, and has been a member of ASA since March 2001. “We chose to join ASA because we wanted our customers to know and recognize that we are involved with the best organizations in the industry,” said Ott.

Inside the shop.

By taking advantage of the professional organizations and educational avenues that are available, North Texas and its staff strive to provide its customers the best possible service. In addition to providing quality repairs, the business offers many services to make the collision repair process as worry free as possible. “We go above and beyond with our customers in that we will furnish transportation and work around their schedules as much as possible. We take great pride in offering our customers quality repairs and honest advice to help them with their stress,” said Ott.

Other services include a lifetime guarantee, free pickup and delivery, and detailing the vehicle. North Texas makes all rental car arrangements and performs the legwork with the insurance agencies. Customers may also check the status of their repairs online and they have access to free wrecker services.

To advertise these services, North Texas uses several advertising methods. The business runs an ad in the local paper, airs radio commercials and has several billboard advertisements. “We also have what we call a 'cookie run' in which we visit our local insurance agents to let them know that we are there for them and the customer. This gives us the opportunity to talk with them about concerns and answer questions they may have,” said Ott. As with most industry businesses, North Texas also relies heavily on customer referrals. “We view this particular method as one of our biggest assets,” said Ott.

Participating in the community brings North Texas and its staff great joy. Recently the business donated a vehicle to a local family that was unable to afford reliable transportation. “We also contribute to local charities in the area that cater to families in need, battered spouses, and to children who are less fortunate,” said Ott. He also works closely with the Grayson County College to employ students as apprentices to the collision repair industry. North Texas currently employs one apprentice, but has had a total of three apprentices working in the shop this year.

When asked what he liked best about his job Ott said, “The diverse array of people that come to our shop. We get to hear all kinds of unusual and comical explanations for damages. Yet we are also involved with families who are dealing with very stressful situations and who are unaware of what steps to take to get through the situation. Helping families through the process is very satisfying.”

Future plans for North Texas Collision Center include the opening of another location in Denton, Texas. “We are also in the process of becoming I-CAR Gold Class certified,” said Ott.

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