Episodes

  • Repair Quality: Why Systems Beat Talent

    Repair Quality: Why Systems Beat Talent
    Jul 7 2026

    Welcome back to The Collision Vision Roundtable. I'm Cole Strandberg.

    Coming off my conversation with Israel Garcia of Merced Auto Body, we wanted to continue exploring a topic that affects every collision repair business, regardless of size, location, or business model: quality and consistency in the refinish department. Joining me today are regular panelists Sheryl Driggers and Erin Solis, along with Tony Larimer from SATA.

    Israel shared how a relentless focus on continuous improvement — from process and training to air systems, filtration, and equipment — helped his team improve consistency and eliminate recurring challenges. Today, we're taking that conversation a step further. We'll discuss what actually drives quality, how operators can reduce variability, and why some shops consistently outperform others when it comes to refinish operations.

    Let's get into it.

    Connect with Tony:

    Email: Tony.Larimer@satausa.com

    Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SATAUSA

    YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCeemQbCv6Mtc7m5tacP-NPQ

    Connect with Erin:

    LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/erin-killcoyne-solis-534470105

    Website: https://squareonesystems.com

    Connect with Sheryl:

    LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sheryldriggers/
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    46 mins
  • Small Fixes, Big Gains: How One Shop Sharpened Its Paint Process

    Small Fixes, Big Gains: How One Shop Sharpened Its Paint Process
    Jun 23 2026
    Welcome back to The Collision Vision, driven by Autobody News. I'm your host, Cole Strandberg. In collision repair, we spend a lot of time talking about technology, ADAS, consolidation, and the future of the industry. But at the end of the day, success still comes down to something much more fundamental: doing great work consistently. Today's guest is Israel Garcia of Merced Auto Body, a shop that has built a reputation around quality, craftsmanship, and a relentless commitment to continuous improvement. Whether it's refining paint processes, investing in better equipment, improving air quality and filtration, or simply eliminating the small frustrations that get in the way of great repairs, Israel and his team are constantly looking for ways to get better. We'll talk about his journey in the industry, the culture they've built at Merced Auto Body, and some of the operational changes that have helped improve consistency, efficiency, and quality in the refinish department. Because sometimes the biggest gains don't come from doing something completely different — they come from doing the fundamentals exceptionally well. Connect with Israel: https://www.instagram.com/mercedautobody/
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    41 mins
  • Starting From the Shop Floor: What One Operator Learned Working Across Collision

    Starting From the Shop Floor: What One Operator Learned Working Across Collision
    Jun 9 2026
    Welcome to another episode of The Collision Vision, driven by Autobody News! I'm Cole Strandberg, and today I'm joined by David Black, chief operating officer of Body by Cochran and an industry veteran who has worked nearly every side of this business: independent owner, consolidator leadership, and now a dealer-owned MSO.

    We trace Dave's road from a "grunt kid" in his dad's West Virginia shop to helping grow Body by Cochran from five separate dealer body shops into a 13-location, roughly $80-million MSO. We get into the operational rebuild behind that growth including a collision-only parts warehouse that cut parts cycle time from 11.5 days to 1.3 — why the business now runs like an independent while keeping its dealer backing, his approach to brand specialization and developing the next generation of technicians, and the legacy he hopes to leave the industry. Let's get into it.
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    53 mins
  • More Than a Final Step: Rethinking Alignment in Collision Repair

    More Than a Final Step: Rethinking Alignment in Collision Repair
    May 26 2026

    Welcome back to The Collision Vision Roundtable. I'm Cole Strandberg.

    Coming off my conversation with Dan Stander, we wanted to continue exploring a topic that's becoming increasingly critical in collision repair: alignment. Specifically, how alignment now touches everything from repair planning and suspension geometry to ADAS performance, liability, and customer safety.

    Joining me today is regular panelist Erin Solis and guest panelist Justin Allen from Hunter Engineering. Together, we're going to unpack why alignment can no longer be viewed as just a final mechanical procedure and why the shops that integrate it deeply into their repair process are gaining a real operational advantage.

    This conversation is ultimately about precision, discipline, and process — and why the details matter more than ever in modern collision repair.

    Let's get into it.

    Connect with Erin:
    LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/erin-killcoyne-solis-534470105
    Website: https://squareonesystems.com

    Connect with Justin:
    LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/justin-allen-85209949
    Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jallen.hunter
    YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@jallenhunter
    TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@jallenhunter
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    44 mins
  • How One Shop Builds Alignment Into the Repair Process

    How One Shop Builds Alignment Into the Repair Process
    May 19 2026
    Welcome back to The Collision Vision, driven by Autobody News. I'm your host, Cole Strandberg. Today we're diving into a topic that, in many ways, sits at the center of modern collision repair, but still doesn't always get the attention it deserves: alignment. As vehicles become more technologically advanced, proper alignment is no longer just a final step before delivery. It's tied directly to repair planning, suspension geometry, ADAS functionality, vehicle safety, and ultimately liability. Shops that still view alignment as a simple back-end procedure are increasingly finding themselves behind the curve. Joining me today is Dan Stander of Fix Auto Highlands Ranch, a longtime operator, industry leader, and someone deeply passionate about proper repair processes and developing the next generation of talent. Dan has spent decades evolving alongside the industry, and he brings a thoughtful perspective on how alignment, process discipline, training, and consistency all connect in today's repair environment. This is a conversation about doing repairs the right way...and why the details matter more than ever.
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    56 mins
  • ADAS In-House: What It Takes to Make It a Shop Capability

    ADAS In-House: What It Takes to Make It a Shop Capability
    May 12 2026
    Coming off my conversation with Mike Ambrosino of ADAS Diagnostic Solutions, we wanted to continue digging into one of the most important operational shifts happening in collision repair today: the move from ADAS as a sublet task to ADAS as a core repair capability. Joining me today is regular panelist Sheryl Driggers, and special guest Stewart Peregrine from Autel, one of the companies helping shape how shops think about diagnostics, calibration, workflow, and documentation in this rapidly evolving environment. Today's conversation is bigger than tools and equipment. This is about process, liability, repair planning, technician readiness, and ultimately how shops gain more control over the repair itself. Because at this point, ADAS isn't "coming." It's here. And the shops that build disciplined systems around it are going to separate themselves from the ones still treating it like an afterthought. Let's get into it.

    Connect with Stew: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stewperegrine Connect with Sheryl: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sheryldriggers/
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    41 mins
  • Partnerships: Where Shops May Leave Value on the Table

    Partnerships: Where Shops May Leave Value on the Table
    May 5 2026
    Welcome back to The Collision Vision Roundtable. I'm Cole Strandberg. Coming off my conversation with Mike Schoonover, we wanted to go deeper on one of the biggest themes from that episode: partnerships. Not just vendors, not just suppliers, but the idea that the best operators are leveraging their partners as a real extension of their business. Joining me today are our regular panelist, Erin Solis, and for this conversation, Jim Lovejoy, who brings a great perspective on what strong operator-partner relationships actually look like in the field. We're going to break down what shops should expect from their partners, where value is being left on the table, and how partnerships can become a true driver of growth, not just a line item. Connect with Jim: Email: jim.lovejoy@akzonobel.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jim-lovejoy-1831071/ Connect with Erin: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/erin-killcoyne-solis-534470105/ Website: https://squareonesystems.com/
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    44 mins
  • Built to Last: How Strategic Partners Power a Legacy Shop

    Built to Last: How Strategic Partners Power a Legacy Shop
    Apr 21 2026

    Welcome back to The Collision Vision, driven by Autobody News. I'm your host, Cole Strandberg.

    Today's episode is about something every operator wants but very few truly achieve — building a business that lasts, not just for a few years but across generations. I'm joined by Mike Schoonover of Schoonover Bodyworks, a third-generation business that's been serving its community for over 85 years. What's remarkable isn't just the longevity. It's how the business has continued to evolve. From integrating collision, mechanical, and glass into a true one-stop model, to staying on the leading edge of training and technology, to building deep, strategic partnerships that actually move the business forward. And that's really where we're going to spend time today: partnerships. Not just vendors, not just suppliers, but true partners like AkzoNobel who contribute to training, process improvement, and growth. What should you expect from your partners? And just as importantly, are you actually leveraging them the way top operators do? This is a conversation about legacy, evolution, and the idea that great businesses aren't built alone. Let's dive in. Connect with Mike: https://schoonoverbodyworks.com/ https://www.facebook.com/schoonoverbodyworks
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    43 mins