I have been humbled and flattered to be the Collision Industry Conference (CIC) chairman for 2021 and 2022. As a result of immersing myself in the role, I can share insight on this long-standing institution of our industry. And considering it will reach the milestone age of 40 years in 2023, I thought it was appropriate to talk about it.
In case you are not aware of CIC (whose content is often covered in the trade press), the official description as listed on the website as follows:
The Collision Industry Conference (CIC) is a forum made up of participants from all industry segments for the expressed purpose of discussing and exploring the issues that occur among them. Through discussion and research during meetings and extensive interim committee work, CIC attempts to form consensus on various issues, aware that all such findings are nonbinding and voluntarily accepted. CIC is not a trade association.
The meetings are open to all interested individuals of all segments of the industry to include repairers, insurers, paint and material companies, equipment, vehicle manufacturers, data providers, representatives of trade associations, anyone with an interest in creating a more professional industry. Each agenda has time set aside for participants to publicly address their concerns that are not on the published agenda through the time set aside as “open microphone”.
Vision Statement:
A collision industry in which all segments work together to enable a complete, safe, and quality repair.
Mission Statement:
A forum where collision industry stakeholders come together to discuss issues, enhance understanding, find common ground and communicate possible solutions to the industry.
Origins and history
In 1983, an inter-industry collision repair event was attended by some of our founders, including Jeff Hendler. California shop owner Al Estorga became upset after being told that it was “not the appropriate time or place to discuss” an issue he had raised. As a result, he became determined to create a forum in which it was “always the right time and place” to discuss the issues most important to the collision industry.
The Collision Repair Conference (CRC) was formed through the work of people like Jeff and Al. Early meetings were small, often attended by only 10-20 shop owners. Participants soon realized that in order for the conference to be effective, other segments of the industry had to be included. As the size and diversity of the conference grew, it was renamed the Collision Industry Conference (CIC) to reflect the participation of the variety of industries involved in the collision industry.
Al Estorga became the first chairman and served two years. It was decided to change to a one-year term, and Jack Caldwell become the second chairman in 1986. The decision was made to return to a two-year chairmanship. Jeff Hendler became the third chairman and served 1987-88.
There was a structure established where the past chairs oversee some of the management aspects of the organization. At one point, Jeff Hendler incorporated the structure to minimize risk for the past chairs and to establish formal management of income, expenses, liabilities, and event logistics. To this date, active past chairs provide input (debate and vote on) the selection of the next chair, coach and assist the incoming chair, and help oversee meetings to assure proper structure and avoidance of anti-trust discussions.
In the past, the new incoming chairperson has been announced at the last meeting of the year. In more recent years, the incoming chairperson has been announced during the third meeting of the year, typically in July. The idea is that the incoming chair has more time to acquaint themselves with the various committees, current activities, trends, and all the various aspects of CIC. Among the chairperson’s responsibilities are the committees and their chairpeople. Often new CIC chairs choose the start of their term to change committee chairs or even committees themselves, although it is within the chairperson’s authority and responsibility to make changes at any time during their term.
As mentioned before, the CIC chairperson’s term is two years, but the past chairs have the responsibility and authority to review the performance of the chair after one year and to end their term if they deem appropriate. I don’t believe any CIC chair has had their term ended early. I know speaking for myself, I was motivated to not be the first!
The CIC chair is responsible for meeting introductory remarks and announcing each presentation. The chair, with the assistance of the CIC administrator and the audio/video people, monitors the agenda and adjusts timing for each presentation and breaks. The chair has the authority to shorten or extend time allotted for presentations, breaks, question and answer periods (Q & A), and open mic.
The event locations have been varied, sometimes next to other events such as SEMA, NACE, or others to provide logistical convenience and efficiency. Each location is typically selected years in advance.
Having all industry segments represented can at times bring spirited debate over volatile topics. There have been times in past years when some of the rhetoric became “over the top,” and in a few cases, people had to be calmed, asked to maintain dignity, and even in a few cases they were asked to leave the room. (Sometimes ushered out.) In most recent years, though, no such extreme examples come to mind. Higher levels of vehicle sophistication, business demands and sophistication, and a concerted effort for professionalism have played a role in creating a more professional culture and atmosphere than in some years past.
Current structure
The majority of CIC’s work is performed within its committees. While the CIC chair is responsible for committees and the selection of committee chairs, each committee has a great deal of authority and responsibility for their own work. Each can set their own structure for regular committee meetings (typically electronic video such as Zoom). Each committee identifies their own topics of discussion and presentation. Each CIC chair has their own style, but I like to sit in on nearly all of the committee calls. I try not to interfere with their discussions, but instead try to play the role of support by informing members of the next meeting status, other related committee activities, and providing any other information that may help. And sometimes I find myself helping the committees by not getting off track in their mission to provide regular presentations in line with their committee’s topic. I sometimes remind them that in our passion we all want to "fix’ the industry issues, but instead it is our job to present topic matter that informs and stimulates, creating thoughts and ideas and concerns that hopefully result in solutions and improvements. While there have been many work products adopted, and definitions published, CIC as a body does not typically take a position on an issue.
Instead, CIC exists so that people from all industry segments can be heard. We exist to present issues and thoughts and ideas and concerns and possible solutions.
Over the years, the participants of CIC have created some amazing work products. These are not formal position statements nor directives. Instead, they are simply tools that could be employed to help the industry. Examples include a list of definitions, golden rules of data protection and sharing, a calibration workflow process document, and a glossary of terms. These can be found on the CIC website.
There have been times in the past where the work of a committee takes on a life of its own, where it has been removed from CIC efforts to maintain CIC’s independence, as well as providing a more appropriate home and structure for the concept. A good example would be the work regarding the electronic exchange of data, which was split off and became the Collision Industry Electronic Commerce Association (CIECA).
Here is a brief description of each of the current committees:
Definitions: This committee’s activities are to look at frequently used key collision repair industry terms and propose a definition to the CIC body . Their work is voted on by attendees and, once approved, is listed on the CIC website with other work products. Since a relatively extensive list has already been created, this committee only works on new terms that come into our industry.
Emerging Technologies: This committee can trace its roots back to the time when vehicle electronic scans became a hot topic. The committee was enhanced to look at all new technologies coming into our industry, including electronic and vehicle structure technologies, metallurgical changes and other changes such as new welding/ bonding/riveting advancements. They’ve also addressed new repair procedures and more.
Estimate and Repair Planning: Thanks to increasingly complex vehicles and increased demands in the file handling aspects of collision repair, this committee has immense topic matter to address. Between the increased usage of vehicle manufacturer repair procedures and other needs to prepare and document a proper repair plan this committee has been presenting eye opening information on how time consuming and demanding this part of our industry has become.
Future Disruptions: When this committee was formed, there were a few topics of such significance to our industry that it made sense to highlight them. And the committee continues to analyze the big changes that we see now and will effect major change in the future. Examples include artificial intelligence, augmented reality, virtual reality, electric vehicles, 3D printing, new business models, and more.
Governmental: This committee reviews legislative and other regulatory changes and trends and their impact on our industry.
Human Resources Task Force: This is not a committee, but instead the work of one passionate HR attorney who presents regulations and trends relevant to employment relations, and more recently covered the Covid-related employee issues during the pandemic.
Industry Relations: Evolving from the insurer/repairer relations committee this committee addresses issues that have impact on the many relationships within our industry. For example, this year the committee made a few presentations on the topic of ‘total losses’. Especially due to market changes, there are new trends and nuances impacting repairers, insurers, consumers, and vendors, including those in the salvage industry, and even the vehicle manufacturers.
Data Access and Privacy: With the rising number of data breaches, increased extent of electronic communication, and new security regulations this committee has plenty to cover. Recently they’ve looked at how vehicle identification numbers have been shared, as well as third party vehicle reporting and its impact on both the consumer and the repairer.
Parts and Materials: Ripe for controversy, the issues of original equipment parts versus the many alternatives have been covered. They’ve highlighted the different terms used to describe these parts and the reasoning behind them. Most recently they’ve addressed the far-reaching issues of inflationary cost increases on our industry and the extent of its impact for both the parts and materials.
Talent Pool and Education: Of course, this is another hot button issue affecting most, if not all, industry entities. The committee has presented information on some innovative solutions from schools and businesses, including specific examples of people who — through creative thinking and effort — are overcoming staffing shortages and low school enrollment numbers.
Marketing Council: While this is not exactly a committee, it is a small select group of industry people headed up by CIC Administrator Jordan Hendler. They work on ways to market and promote CIC to the industry at-large. This year there has been a very successful effort to promote more through social media and other outlets. The council makes regular brief presentations to keep the audience informed of trends and efforts.
Special Presentations: Sometimes opportunities present themselves to utilize someone other than a committee to present. There may be an expert or a person with a unique perspective that would be of great interest to attendees. The CIC chair, working with the CIC administrator, can elect to incorporate such a special presentation into a CIC meeting agenda.
During my two-year term — including the pandemic — we’ve had virtual meetings, live meetings, and hybrids. While virtual meetings work fine, they represent a whole different set of circumstances for preparing and managing the meetings while delivering relevant topics for discussion. I am sure most would agree, one of the greatest attributes of CIC is the networking as well as ‘the feel’ or the aura in the meeting room, especially when a volatile subject is addressed. And when I say volatile, I don’t only mean controversial. For example, I have seen some presentations on new innovative technologies, especially the most futuristic and changing, that captivate the room (attendees). And that chatter spills into the halls, around the coffee table, and in the reception after the meeting is priceless. Because of the structure and nature of CIC attendees become close, almost like family ; despite the fact that virtually all industry orientations are represented.
The meetings are well attended by the trade press and receive a lot of coverage. It is difficult to measure the extent of CIC’s influence but suffice to say it is great.
I hope you found this in-depth look at CIC insightful.
It has been my pleasure and honor to serve as the chairman for two years.
I wish to specifically acknowledge Jordan Hendler, who has now taken the lead in administering CIC. Her talent and understanding of the event and the industry are second to none. Her work ethic, drive, diligence, innovation, and caring are immense. It has been a delight to work with her and she will always receive my respect and admiration and appreciation.
Now, please join me in wishing CIC a happy 40th anniversary! And many more!
