For this week's episode, we staring a new series on OEM certification. To kick off the OEM discussion, we have industry legend Mike Anderson returning to the show. Mike is the President and Owner of CollisionAdvice, Collision Industry Trainer, Consultant, Facilitator, and host of the new podcast "On The Road with Mike Anderson." Today, we’ll cover why shops should consider OEM certifications, how to choose the right ones, the steps to get certified, and how to maximize the value of those credentials.

If you’re looking to strengthen your shop’s credibility, improve repair quality, and position yourself for long-term success in an evolving industry, this episode is for you. Let’s get started! 

Connect with Mike:

Social: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mike-anderson-1124ba48/

Website: https://collisionadvice.com/

Contact: https://collisionadvice.com/contact/

This episode is sponsored by: asTech

asTech is dedicated to safety, precision, and innovation in vehicle diagnostics. With industry-leading scanning and calibration solutions, asTech ensures every repair meets OEM standards, enhancing safety and customer satisfaction. Continuously testing and scanning new vehicles, asTech refines its technology to stay ahead of modern repair challenges. A tool stack covering 40+ brands and a network of 400+ ASE and I-CAR certified technicians provide fast, accurate diagnostics that maximize efficiency. asTech—driven by precision, powered by safety. 

Visit https://astech.com/ today or call 1-888-486-1166.

On the episode with week is Ryan Brown, Western Technical Manager at AkzoNobel, and a leader in helping body shops implement smarter, greener, and more efficient practices through product innovation and hands-on support.

Today, we’ll talk about why sustainability is a business imperative, how AkzoNobel is helping shops reduce their environmental impact, and the role of new product innovations—like Autowave Optima—in pushing the industry forward. Whether you’ve been following the series closely or you’re just jumping in, this conversation will leave you with a clear picture of what it means to go green—and how to take action in your shop.

Connect with Ryan:

email: [email protected]

This episode is sponsored by: asTech asTech is dedicated to safety, precision, and innovation in vehicle diagnostics. With industry-leading scanning and calibration solutions, asTech ensures every repair meets OEM standards, enhancing safety and customer satisfaction. Continuously testing and scanning new vehicles, asTech refines its technology to stay ahead of modern repair challenges. A tool stack covering 40+ brands and a network of 400+ ASE and I-CAR certified technicians provide fast, accurate diagnostics that maximize efficiency. asTech—driven by precision, powered by safety.

Visit https://astech.com/ today or call 1-888-486-1166.

Joining the show today is Cinthia Gutierrez, Premium Segment Manager Americas for Automotive Refinish Coatings Solutions at BASF. BASF has been a leader in sustainable innovation, helping collision repair businesses reduce waste, improve efficiency, and meet the growing demand for eco-friendly practices.

In this episode, we’ll discuss why sustainability matters for shops of all sizes, how it impacts hiring and retention, and the latest innovations from BASF that are shaping the future of collision repair. Whether you're looking to lower costs, attract top talent, or position your shop for long-term success, this episode will give you insights on how sustainability can be a competitive advantage. 

Connect with Cinthia:

Social: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cinthia-gutierrez-75b624218/

Website: https://refinish.basf.us/

This episode is sponsored by: asTech

asTech is dedicated to safety, precision, and innovation in vehicle diagnostics. With industry-leading scanning and calibration solutions, asTech ensures every repair meets OEM standards, enhancing safety and customer satisfaction. Continuously testing and scanning new vehicles, asTech refines its technology to stay ahead of modern repair challenges. A tool stack covering 40+ brands and a network of 400+ ASE and I-CAR certified technicians provide fast, accurate diagnostics that maximize efficiency. asTech—driven by precision, powered by safety.

Visit https://astech.com/ today or call 1-888-486-1166.

Welcome back to the show. Joining us for this episode is Bill Brower, an industry leader in vehicle lifecycle management and AI-driven claims automation. Bill has been at the forefront of integrating sustainable estimates, helping insurers and repairers reduce their carbon footprint while improving efficiency. We’ll explore how touchless claims processing, AI, and automation are shaping a more sustainable and profitable repair ecosystem. We’ll also break down how insurers are measuring carbon emissions in the claims process, the role of Scope 3 emissions, and what all of this means for collision repair businesses.

If you’re wondering how sustainability initiatives can impact your bottom line, improve efficiency, and future-proof your business, this is an episode you won’t want to miss. Let’s get started! 

Connect with Bill Brower:

Social: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bill-brower-mba-9426b51/

Website: https://www.solera.com/

Email: [email protected]

This episode is sponsored by: asTech

asTech is dedicated to safety, precision, and innovation in vehicle diagnostics. With industry-leading scanning and calibration solutions, asTech ensures every repair meets OEM standards, enhancing safety and customer satisfaction. Continuously testing and scanning new vehicles, asTech refines its technology to stay ahead of modern repair challenges. A tool stack covering 40+ brands and a network of 400+ ASE and I-CAR certified technicians provide fast, accurate diagnostics that maximize efficiency. asTech—driven by precision, powered by safety

Visit https://astech.com/ today or call 1-888-486-1166.

Today's guest is Eddie Hightower, Senior Vice President of Sustainability & Social Responsibility at Caliber Collision, to discuss the steps Caliber is taking to lead the industry toward a more sustainable future. While sustainability in collision repair often brings to mind environmental efforts, it’s much bigger than that. Today, we’ll explore Caliber’s sustainability initiatives, how they’re reducing waste, cutting emissions, and ensuring long-term business viability—all while making a positive impact on the communities they serve. Sustainability isn’t just for big MSOs either —independent shops and smaller operators can take meaningful steps toward a more responsible and forward-thinking business model.

If you’re wondering what sustainability means for your business, this episode is for you!

Connect with Eddie:

Social: https://www.linkedin.com/in/eddiehightower/

Download: https://www.caliber.com/dA/e0d44f8677/fileAsset/2023+Sustainability+Report+-+Caliber+-+FINAL+-+ADA+(3).pdf 

This episode is sponsored by: asTech

asTech is dedicated to safety, precision, and innovation in vehicle diagnostics. With industry-leading scanning and calibration solutions, asTech ensures every repair meets OEM standards, enhancing safety and customer satisfaction. Continuously testing and scanning new vehicles, asTech refines its technology to stay ahead of modern repair challenges. A tool stack covering 40+ brands and a network of 400+ ASE and I-CAR certified technicians provide fast, accurate diagnostics that maximize efficiency. asTech—driven by precision, powered by safety.

Visit https://astech.com/ today or call 1-888-486-1166.

Our guest for this episode is Mary Mahoney, Vice President, Replacement & Leisure Division at Enterprise Mobility and a key leader in the Collision Engineering Program. Enterprise has been a driving force behind this initiative, which is designed to bridge the technician gap by providing structured, hands-on education and career pathways for aspiring collision repair professionals. We’ll discuss why programs like Collision Engineering are critical to solving the technician shortage, how they’re expanding to make an even greater impact, and what shop owners can do to engage with and benefit from this growing talent pipeline.

If you’re looking for ways to bring new talent into your shop and support the next generation of technicians, this is an episode you won’t want to miss. Let’s dive in!

This episode is sponsored by: asTech

asTech is dedicated to safety, precision, and innovation in vehicle diagnostics. With industry-leading scanning and calibration solutions, asTech ensures every repair meets OEM standards, enhancing safety and customer satisfaction. Continuously testing and scanning new vehicles, asTech refines its technology to stay ahead of modern repair challenges. A tool stack covering 40+ brands and a network of 400+ ASE and I-CAR certified technicians provide fast, accurate diagnostics that maximize efficiency. asTech—driven by precision, powered by safety.

Visit https://astech.com/ today or call 1-888-486-1166.

Joining us today are three incredible industry leaders—Kristle Bollans (National Sales Director at CSN Collision), Olivia Peterson (An Instructor Trainee with I-CAR, as of very recently), and Kayla Clark (SVP of Business Development at Classic Collision)—who are here to discuss how we attract, onboard, and retain top talent in collision repair.

In this episode, we’ll explore what shops can do to create a more welcoming and supportive work environment, how we can modernize hiring and training practices, and why it’s critical to move away from outdated mentalities like “earning your stripes” in ways that discourage new talent. And of course, we’ll talk about how to make the industry a great place to work for women, and what shop owners can do to create a more inclusive and supportive workplace.

This is going to be an insightful, honest conversation—enjoy!

Our guest for this episode is David Dart, Chief People Officer at Caliber Collision. With over 1,700 locations nationwide, Caliber has developed some of the most comprehensive and innovative workforce development programs in the industry. We’ll explore how Caliber attracts new talent, builds world-class technicians, and creates career growth opportunities that keep employees engaged. We’ll also discuss the broader industry implications of workforce development and what independent shop owners can learn from Caliber’s approach to building a skilled and sustainable workforce. If you’re looking for strategies to strengthen your team, this episode is packed with insights you won’t want to miss.

Let’s get started!

In this episode, we’re tackling one of the most pressing challenges in the collision repair industry: the technician shortage. Joining me is Jay Goninen, Co-Founder and President of WrenchWay, and owner of his family’s longtime repair shop. We explore the root causes of the technician shortage, highlight innovative solutions to bridge the skills gap, and discuss how shop owners can recruit, train, and retain top talent in an increasingly competitive market. If you’ve ever wondered how to stand out as an employer or build a world-class team, this is the episode for you. Connect with Jay Goninen:

Websites:  https://wrenchway.com/ https://wrenchway.com/pay Social: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jaygoninen/

Today we’re continuing our Technology Takeover: The Impact of ADAS & Calibration series.

In this episode, we’re joined by Lance Bull and Steve Davis from Techmotive, a company dedicated to helping collision repair shops navigate the complexities of ADAS calibration with the right tools, technology, and expertise. ADAS calibration has become one of the most critical—and sometimes daunting—services in collision repair, and Lance and Steve are here to demystify it.

We’ll dive into what shops need to succeed in this space, discuss the role of proper equipment and processes, and explore how Techmotive is making it easier for operators to thrive in this rapidly evolving industry. If you’ve been thinking about entering the ADAS calibration game or want to improve your shop’s current processes, you won’t want to miss this conversation. Let’s jump in! 

Links: https://techmotive.co/