CCIF Halifax 2019 – May 23-24

Patrice Marcil: Industry-Education Connection project update
Patrice Marcil, N-A Customer Experience Director Axalta Coating Systems Patrice started his career with Axalta as a Technical Training Instructor in 2000 moving to Training and Customer Care Centre Manager, then adding Strategic Planning and Refinish Performance Management responsibilities for Canada. His current role is Learning & Development Director for North America. He graduated from I’Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières in Science of Education in 1996. Patrice started in the automotive Industry in 1979 as part time technician in his father’s shop, advancing to shop manager in 1985 until 1989. He began a second career as a Collision Repair Instructor from 1990 to 2000. During that period, Patrice also worked as Assistant-Editor for a Collision Repair Magazine and an industry consultant for various automotive industry organizations. Patrice is still involved in the Industry representing Axalta Coating Systems at the Canadian Collision Council and the Canadian Collision Industry Forum (CCIF). He has been contributing with I-CAR between 1993 and 2015 from Instructor to Chairman of the I-CAR committee in the province of Québec.

Annabelle Cormack: Panel Discussion on Talent Management in the 21st Century
Annabelle Cormack is President of Cormack Recruitment, Talent Acquisition Experts. She graduated from Simon Fraser University as a Certified Career Development Practitioner and has over fifteen years’ experience in the recruitment industry.

In collaboration with businesses of all sizes, and along a broad spectrum of industries across Canada, Annabelle and her team create and execute short and long-term recruitment strategies to secure top talent for specialty roles, and all levels of management on behalf of their clients.

Annabelle is a strong advocate for the recruitment industry. Her online articles, editorials in the Collision Quarterly Magazine and speaking engagements across Canada promote proactive recruitment and talent management strategies suitable for any company. She is a regular at CCIF, having spoken on recruitment issues in the past as well as facilitated a panel discussion on Women in the Industry (Auto Repair Collision).

Jeff Peevy: US Industry Trends, Challenges and Opportunities
Jeff has worked fulltime in the collision repair industry since 1981. He is the President of the Automotive Management Institute (AMi) since 2015. Jeff has spent the last 20 years advancing learning in the industry while studying and globally advocating the concept of learning as a sustainable competitive advantage. He is currently leading the AMi “next generation” project, collaborating with hundreds of industry training providers to increase the acceptance of professional, verifiable credentials. Peevy began his industry career as a technician, and then held positions as PBE Manager at Crow Burlingame, Director of Technical Training and Application Research at Valspar and Senior Director of Field Operations and Collision Segment Development at I-CAR. He has served on numerous CIC committees, recently co-chairing the Education and Training Committee. He is a former board member of the National Auto Body Council (NABC) and Collision Industry Foundation (CIF) within the industry and the American Liver Foundation outside the industry. He is supported by a wonderful family, including his wife, Marie Peevy, owner of Automotive Training Coordinators, LLC and WIN board member, as well as six children ranging from 34 to 6 years of age. When not working in the industry, he and his family spend most of their time on the water, enjoying nature and a variety of water activities.

Tyler Brunatti: Stand Out in the Crowd
Tyler Brunatti is the Director of Automotive Service Sales at Podium. Podium helps local businesses interact with their customers through SMS text messaging, as well as generate and manage online reviews for businesses.

Tyler has a wealth of experience in digital marketing from his years working at Domo as a senior sales director and at Fidelity Investments.

He enjoys spending his free time with his wife and 4 kids in the mountains of Utah or coaching little league sporting events.

Farzam Afshar: What the future holds for the collision repair industry?
In 2002, Farzam Afshar co-founded VeriFacts Automoitive which, at the time, was the only 3rd party independent onsite repair quality verification option available to auto body repair shops. Farzam’s vision is for all vehicles to be safely and economically repaired so that all parties benefit – insurers, shops, manufacturers but especially the consumer. Mr. Afshar is widely recognized as a man of integrity and for being one of the true pioneers and thought leaders in the collision repair industry. He organizes and hosts unique and highly appraised events such as the annual VeriFacts Symposium which invites leaders from insurers, shops and manufacturers to collaborate and improve our industry through transparency and a hosts a monthly Guild 21 Conference call which features guest speakers to promote continued open communication and education. Farzam entered the auto repair industry in 1989 as an owner/operator of Sterling Automotive Group. He successfully expanded the business to multiple locations throughout Southern California. He has served as Senior Vice President of Business Development and co-owner of EZ-Image, an electric claims and imaging solution. He has owned Expres Lube, Oil and Smog franchises. Farzam serves in key leadership positions and generously donates his time to many organizations in the collision industry. He’s been on the Board of Directors of the Collision Electronic Commerce Association (CIECA) as Chairman and Vice-Chairman, served on the Board of Directors of the Society of Collision Repair Specialists (SCRS) from 1992-2008, one-year as Chariman, as well as participating on several other industry committees. Additionally, he’s served on the board of I-CAR and is an active participant of CIC. Since 2007, Farzam has enjoyed being a national judge for SkillsUSA. He has a Bachelor of Science Degree from Cal State University in Electrical Engineering. Farzam lives in Southern California and is happily married with two children. He enjoys hiking and swimming and is an avid reader.

Dave Giles: Integration of New Vehicle Technologies and How it Can Impact Today’s Collision Repair
For the last decade, Dave Giles has served as a faculty member at Nova Scotia Community College (NSCC). Working with the School of Trades & Technology, his work has been focused on developing and delivering customized training courses. He currently holds a Red Seal in Interprovincial Certification and teaches courses in Automotive, Truck and Transport and Collision industries. Dave has been developing and teaching courses on advanced vehicle systems, electric vehicles, aftertreatment systems, HVAC and any new systems for which the College is called by industry to support. He has been in the education field for over 20 years, working for companies such as SPX Corporation and CARQUEST Technical Institute, and owned and operated his own training company before joining NSCC. Dave’s passion for innovation and problem-solving has connected him to projects with the College’s Applied Research Division and the Renewable Energy Storage Lab at Dalhousie University. He has also assisted with challenges faced by local businesses with innovative solutions which have contributed to their growth and, in turn, their contributions to the local economy. When Dave is not working, teaching, building, innovating or supporting his Campus community, he enjoys spending time with his family in Halifax, Nova Scotia. He also enjoys simply taking in the beauty of the East Coast through hobbies that include sea kayaking, running and just enjoying the outdoors.

Peter Sziklai: CCIF Subcommittee Report: Accreditation and Certification – Definitions and Facts
Peter Sziklai has been a collision shop owner in BC since 1983 and has owned Tsawwassen Collision Ltd. since 1995.

He has been active in the BC ARA including serving on the board of the Collision Repair Division with one a term as chair.

He currently serves on the CCIF Steering Committee. Independent of his involvement with CCIF Sziklai maintains Ready For Its Next Accident where he posts commentary related to the dramatic changes that modern vehicle technology has brought to the collision repair industry.

Leanne Jefferies: Haiti Arise Update
Leanne Jefferies is Vice President, Canadian Operations, Assured Performance Network, and Director, Skills Canada Collision Repair Program. Over her 20+ year career, Leanne has dedicated her time and energy to working with industry stakeholders across Canada to collaborate and develop solutions to create a better, more sustainable future.

Working with Skills Canada for the past 10 years, she has helped to promote careers in collision repair to young people across the country, increase engagement between education and industry stakeholders and increased the visibility of women in collision repair. Leanne manages the Certified Collision Care business in Canada, which has driven increased investment and upgrades in repair centers across Canada as they become OEM certified. Leanne was honoured by Women’s Industry Network (WIN) as a 2014 Most Influential Woman in Collision Repair.

Her career began with 12 years ownership of a collision repair facility, followed by five years in publishing. She was instrumental in restructuring CCIF and managed the program from 2014 – 2016. She has been a regular contributor to industry publications, and an advocate for women in the collision repair business.