Expert Details
Automotive Collision Damage and Repair Valuations, Appraisal, and Diminished Value Assessment
ID: 730350
Florida, USA
Expert provides industry consultation services to auto body repair business professionals, claims handling practices, and other inter-industry-related issues. He has been called upon to testify as an expert in many civil claims regarding the diminished value, repair quality, and property damage insurance claims.
Expert's provided services are often as unique as the clientele he serves. From the typical individual consumer, fleet unit to the one-of-a-kind custom, exotic, and/or a rare collectible, Expert has been there to assist those in need expeditiously and professionally.
Collision Repair Management includes all elements including sales, marketing, liability avoidance, and management -- including hiring and termination, human-resource-related issues, marketing / sales / branding, set-up of processes and procedures, and increased productivity and efficiency without loss of quality and moral. Increase in sales, gross profit, and bottom-line profitability.
Expert's key experience in Consumer Empowerment has consisted of providing information to consumers to understand their rights of repair, how to protect those rights, and assert them -- not to forfeit them. His critical work in Insurance Consulting regards claims practices -- how to best serve the consumer while avoiding unnecessary and avoidable liabilities. He works with Legal Professionals to educate stakeholders on the benefits derived from the inspection, assessment, and documentation of property/collision damages to provide a clear understanding and assessment of loss-related damages to better support and substantiate claims for loss-related personal and bodily injury. Expert has accrued experience with Governmental Agencies has relative to understanding the collision repair industry and the relationship of insurance carriers to the repair process.
Education
| Year | Degree | Subject | Institution |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year: 2010 | Degree: ASE Master Technician Certification | Subject: All Disciplines of Auto Body Repair/Refinishing, Auto Glass Replacement , Appraisals for Sustained Damages, Associates of Science | Institution: Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) |
| Year: 2003 | Degree: AAM, Associate in Science, | Subject: Automotive Management | Institution: Automotive Management Institute |
| Year: 1976 | Degree: Accredited Automotive Manager (AAM) | Subject: Base Instruction and Assessment of collective Knowledge | Institution: Pinellas Vocational Technical Institute (PVTI) |
| Year: 1973 | Degree: A.S. | Subject: Collision Repair and Refinishing and all related activities (i.e. A/C, Welding, Electrical, Suspension, mechanical etc.) | Institution: St Leos College (on U.S. Air Force Base Educational Office while serving) |
Work History
| Years | Employer | Title | Department |
|---|---|---|---|
| Years: 2000 to Present | Employer: Undisclosed | Title: Founder, CEO, and President | Department: |
Responsibilities:Currently the CEO and President of the auto damage assessment firm he founded, Expert began providing much-needed and sought-after automotive damage and repair forensics, as well as related services, 30 years ago -- beginning in 1993.Expert fulfilled the void left by the following dynamic: Most appraisers and their organizations provide services to insurers, leaving an existing need. Expert founded his company to meet the specific requirements and requests of consumers, as well as industry professionals, for a truly independent and unbiased service provider. Capable of providing a high degree of professionalism, accuracy and an ethical commitment, Expert began serving those who require its services, regardless of their positioning. This commitment has afforded Expert countrywide recognition by legal professionals, local and state governmental overseers and corporations, and the individual consumer in need of assistance. Since the inception of his firm over 20 years ago, Expert has performed all duties and responsibilities associated with start-up enterprises. |
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| Years | Employer | Title | Department |
| Years: 1993 to 2008 | Employer: (Undisclosed) Paint and Body, Inc. | Title: President, Senior Partner | Department: Management, Marketing, Sales, and Production |
Responsibilities:Thirty years ago, Expert entered a new venture as President and CEO of an incorporated paint and body institution. He creates significant and steady revenue growth for this high-quality collision and restoration facility in Florida. Over the course of 15 years, the company enjoyed exceptional growth in sales, profitability, and reputation as being ranked among its peers and quality-oriented insurers as one of the nation’s “Top-Shops.”The company was nominated and received numerous local and regional awards, including two local Chamber of Commerce “Small Business of The Year Awards” and “The Greater Tampa Chamber of Commerce Small Business of The Year Award.” In addition, the company has been recognized nationally throughout the collision repair and related industries. In step with his dual roles as President and Senior Partner, Expert's official departments included Management, Marketing, Sales, and Production. |
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| Years | Employer | Title | Department |
| Years: 1994 to 1992 | Employer: Hi-Tech Collision, Inc. | Title: Managing Partner | Department: |
Responsibilities:Expert became a partner and managing partner for a new venture: An independent, high-quality collision repair facility located within a new/used car and light truck GM dealership. After a very successful start-up, Expert sold his shares after the first year and entered into another new venture closer to home. |
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| Years | Employer | Title | Department |
| Years: 1977 to 1992 | Employer: Progressive Insurance Company | Title: Senior Claims Adjuster | Department: Claims |
Responsibilities:Expert provided the opportunity to learn the claims practices, joined a national auto insurer, and worked his way to Senior Claims Adjuster. His primary responsibilities were evaluating vehicular damages and repair, including motorcycles and commercial vehicles and recreational vehicles, and other personal property.Expert's claim resolution responsibilities included evaluating, assessing, and resolving property damage issues, including pre-loss condition evaluations, pre-repair damage assessments/estimates, total loss valuations, liability investigations, accident scene reconstruction, post-repair inspections, and diminished value claims, among other related work. His additional activities included the assessment and settlement of property damage issues including -- but not limited to -- private and commercial structure, miscellaneous personal property repair and/or replacement valuation, first and third-party bodily (personal) injury, and other loss-related assessments, including loss of use, temporary dwelling and others as called upon. After five years, Expert left the insurance industry to re-enter the collision repair industry. In this capacity, he successfully carried out the responsibilities of an independent high-production collision facility manager, followed by joining two GM new/used car dealerships as collision center operations manager. His duties included all day-to-day operations including, equipment acquisition/maintenance, advertising, interacting with upper management, team members, vendors/suppliers, consumers, and insurance claims people. |
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| Years | Employer | Title | Department |
| Years: 1965 to 1972 | Employer: Family-Owned and -Operated Collision Repair Companies | Title: Helper | Department: All Production |
Responsibilities:In this auto collision and repair facility, Expert was responsible for assisting body technicians and painters in preparation, maintenance, and clean-up |
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Career Accomplishments
| Associations / Societies |
|---|
| ASA, ASE, I-CAR, ICAN-2000, CCRE |
| Licenses / Certifications |
|---|
| • completed the nationally recognized 3M (ARMS) Automotive Collision Repair Shop Management Program. • Certified by Mitchell International in Advanced Computer Assisted Auto Collision Estimating and Management Program. • Certified by ADP in Computerized Automotive Collision Damage Repair Assessments. • I-CAR (Inter-Industry Conference on Auto Collision Repair) trained, including “Collision Repair 2000” (8 part course), aluminum welding, and plastic repair (3 part course). • ASE Master Certified in Collision Repair and Refinishing; Structural Analysis and Damage Repair; Nonstructural Analysis and Damage Repair; Mechanical and Electrical Components, and Damage Analysis and Estimating through 2010. (ASE = Automotive Service Excellence). • completed and achieved academic accreditation for the Accredited Automotive Manager (Expert) professional designation from the Automotive Management Institute (AMI, 2003 graduate). The Expert designation is the Collision industry's first business education accreditation. AMI courses concentrate on five core areas of business management education: financial management, marketing and sales, operations and service, management and administration, and personnel and human resource development. |
| Professional Appointments |
|---|
| • Ex-officio and past President-Elect for the Greater Seffner Area Chamber of Commerce (2 years). • Past member of ASA (Automotive Service Association) National organization. • Past Vice President of the Collision Division, ASA Pinellas County • Past ASA Vice President of Collision Division ASA State of Florida (2 consecutive terms) • Past President ASA Hillsborough County Inc. (2 consecutive terms) • Past Vice President of the Collision Division of ASA Hillsborough County Inc. • Charter Member of ACRA (Americas Collision Repair Association). A national organization of Collision Industry professionals. • ICAR (Inter-Industry Conference on Auto Collision Repair) served (2 years) on the ICAR training Committee assisting in the development, promotion, scheduling, and training of collision repair in the Hillsborough County area. • Involvement in Cooperative Education Clubs of Florida thru the Division of Vocational, Technical, and Adult Education for the State of Florida Department of Education. Previously on board of Directors for ADAPT (The Automotive and Diesel Apprenticeship Program for Tomorrow). A youth apprenticeship program for Hillsborough County Schools. • Advisory Counsel Member University Technical Institute (UTI). Invited several years to lend advice to their management staff members, students, and faculty’s programs and curriculum by representing the unbiased independent segment of the collision repair industry. • Member of the CCRE (Coalition for Collision Repair Excellence) and former National Advisory Committee member. • Founder and past Chairman for the Hillsborough County Collision Steering Group. There is an association of quality collision facility owners and managers in Hillsborough County to discuss the industry and related business issues. • An active and long-time member of the Plant City Church of God participating in activities such as choir member and past, “Caregiver,” Worship Arts Council member and team leader, Family Care Ministry member, and other programs in providing services as visitor host, usher, etc. • Past Officer and longstanding member of a local chapter of Business Network Manager (BNI), a professional business-to-business referral organization. • Member of the Christian Business Connection, a local business-to-business referral group, consisting of local Christian businesspeople. |
| Awards / Recognition |
|---|
| • Paint and Body shop nominated and subsequently selected as a finalist for “Small Business of the Year Award” for 3 consecutive years. • Paint and Body shop awarded the “Brandon Small Business of The Year Award.” • Paint and Body shop nominated and selected as semi-finalists for The Greater Tampa Chamber of Commerce’s Small Business of the Year Award. • Paint and Body shop selected as a nominee for “Collision Business of The Year” for several years. This program was developed to recognize the “Best of Industry” and is sponsored by the Business Development Group (BDG), a Collision Industry leader in management tools and information. This selection was made from over 50,000 automotive collision/cosmetic repair facilities throughout America and its territories. |
| Publications and Patents Summary |
|---|
| Numerous articles in industry trade journals relative to sales, marketing, liability avoidance, etc. |
Additional Experience
| Expert Witness Experience |
|---|
| Expert has been called upon by both plaintiff and defendant counsel to offer expert testimony as a deponent and Expert witness in civil and small claims litigation. Case history includes both plaintiff and defendant clientele. His expert professional testimony regarding collision and cosmetic repair/refinishing, auto valuations, pre-and post-repair inspections, diminished value assessments, and other automotive-related forensic efforts have been recognized and accepted in numerous jurisdictions throughout Central Florida, including 7 counties. |
| Training / Seminars |
|---|
| • Graduate of Honors from Pinellas Vocational Technical Institute in Auto Body Repair & Refinishing Technology. • completed the nationally recognized 3M (ARMS) Automotive Collision Repair Shop Management Program. • Certified by Mitchell International in Advanced Computer Assisted Auto Collision Estimating and Management Program. • Certified by ADP in Computerized Automotive Collision Damage Repair Assessments. • I-CAR (Inter-Industry Conference on Auto Collision Repair) trained, including “Collision Repair 2000” (8 part course), aluminum welding, and plastic repair (3 part course). • ASE Master Certified in Collision Repair and Refinishing; Structural Analysis and Damage Repair; Nonstructural Analysis and Damage Repair; Mechanical and Electrical Components, and Damage Analysis and Estimating through 2010. (ASE = Automotive Service Excellence). • completed and achieved academic accreditation for the Accredited Automotive Manager (Expert) professional designation from the Automotive Management Institute (AMI, 2003 graduate). The Expert designation is the Collision industry's first business education accreditation. AMI courses concentrate on five core areas of business management education: financial management, marketing and sales, operations and service, management and administration, and personnel and human resource development. |
| Vendor Selection |
|---|
| In the daily activities of managing and operating large collision repair facilities, Expert interacted and developed long-term and successful relationships with manufacturers, distributors, and vendors of parts and materials consistently. |
| Marketing Experience |
|---|
| The Collision Repair Industry and the various services provided are often found foreign to the average consumer who is unaware and unprepared to deal with proper and thorough repair and pricing issues. Expert believes few entities and/or organizations lookout for the welfare and well-being of the uninformed relative to collision-related repair issues. While services are rendered to all parties, Auto Damage Experts Inc. representatives have no business alliances, agreements, or relationships with any insurance carriers, repairers, or others. Expert has been actively involved with Florida and National Collision Industry organizations in presenting proposals to the Florida House of Representatives and the Florida State Senate for consumer protection-related bills. He has championed consumer rights regarding the disclosure and mandated use of aftermarket crash (nonoriginal equipment) parts as well as protecting the consumer’s freedom and legal right to select a collision repairer facility of their choosing (vs. a facility chosen by an insurance carrier) for the repair of their vehicle. Expert aims to protect all parties from the harmful practices and effects of repair and/or insurance fraud and/or poor workmanship. |
| Other Relevant Experience |
|---|
| Expert possesses key experience in writing published articles and in professional speaking and presentations. |
Fields of Expertise
vehicle damage assessment, automobile damage appraisal, auto insurance, automotive insurance, collision, collision repair, Vehicle collisions within the premises, vehicle collision, vehicle repair, vehicle body, vehicle paint, vehicle body and paint, vehicle evaluation, new and used vehicle, used vehicle, new vehicle, Customer Service, customer service development, automobile sales, sales, marketing, business leadership, leadership, senior leadership, Team Leadership, consumer empowerment