ASA Members Among 'Most Influential'

Two representatives of ASA-member shops are among this year's five "Most Influential Women in the Collision Repair Industry." That announcement comes from AkzoNobel Automotive & Aerospace Coatings Americas, which sponsors the honor.

They are Jennifer Justice-Hayley of Valley Paint & Body Inc., Amelia, Ohio; and Sharon Mazanec of Sterling Collision Centers Inc., Northbrook, Ill.

All five honorees will be recognized at a special awards gala July 19 in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Foundation Names Eight

Geralynn Kottschade	Stacy Bartnik

Eight representatives of ASA-member shops are included in the Collision Repair Education Foundation's announcement of trustees and executive committee for 2011.

Geralynn Kottschade of Jerry's Body Shop is a member-at-large on the executive committee.

On the board of trustees are Terry Angell of Warren Tech; Guy Bargnes and Stacy Bartnik of CARSTAR; and Nick Notte of Sterling Collision Centers.

Trustee Emeriti includes Chuck S. Sulkala of Acme Body and Paint Inc. and the late Russell Verona of East Rockford Collision Center.

Clark Plucinski of True2Form Collision Repair Centers is chairman emeriti.

Poll Shows Business Increase

A recent poll conducted by the International Automotive Technicians' Network (iATN) indicates 41.3 percent of members had an increase in business in 2010 compared to 2009.

Of the 41.3 percent, 28.7 percent report business increased slightly, while for 12.6 percent, business increased significantly. Business stayed about the same for 18 percent of members.

The online poll concluded in February 2011 with 4,282 votes from iATN members. iATN's website is www.iatn.net.

I-CAR Has New Offerings

New service offerings and courses being introduced by the Inter-Industry Conference on Auto Collision Repair (I-CAR) include Equivalency Testing and additional online training courses that satisfy I-CAR ProLevel 1 requirements, enhanced customer support tools, and new user-friendly capabilities on the I-CAR website.

"Each of these offerings will enhance the value of the I-CAR Professional Development Program and make 'training for your role' more convenient and effective," said John Van Alstyne, I-CAR president and CEO.

Senate Passes Repeal of 1099 Reporting Mandate;
ASA Supports Repeal

The U.S. Senate has passed H.R. 4, the "Small Business Paperwork Mandate Elimination Act of 2011," which repeals the 1099 reporting mandate in the new health care law by a vote of 87-12.

The reporting mandate requires small businesses to file a 1099 form with the Internal Revenue Service for every vendor that businesses pay more than $600 in a year, and would have created a heavy burden for small businesses through unnecessary paperwork that takes time, energy and resources, instead of helping to create jobs.

For more information on the repeal of the 1099 mandate, visit ASA's legislative website at www.TakingTheHill.com.