The Society of Collision Repair Specialists (SCRS) will host an open board meeting, 2-5 p.m. Jan. 16 in the Tapestry room at the Hilton Palm Springs, in Palm Springs, CA, which will include a special session from the California Department of Insurance (DOI).
SCRS invites industry members to learn about the current state of the association and to receive updates on programs and initiatives the association has been working on for the collision repair industry.
"There is a tremendous amount of activity taking place in the industry today and our open board meetings are important conduits to our members," said Amber Alley, SCRS chairman and manager of California-based Barsotti’s Body and Fender. "Kicking off the year in-person, highlighting work the association has prioritized, information we’ve collected, and garnering more perspective about the challenges that are present in the industry is key to our contributions in delivering education, information and advocacy for collision repairers."
The meeting will include updates on core member programs such as the SCRS benefits offerings to improve quality of life for members of the industry, as well as presentations from SCRS staff and committees, outlining current and future work initiatives.
The SCRS Education Committee is also prepared to deliver the annual presentation of "Kool Tools from the SEMA Show and Beyond."
In collaboration with the California DOI, the SCRS Board of Directors will welcome Tony Cignarale, deputy commissioner of consumer services and market conduct for the DOI, to present about the activities his office engages in to serve auto insurance consumers.
This special session during the open meeting will be a continuation of similar conversations held early last year with Virginia Commissioner of Insurance Scott White and North Carolina Commissioner of Insurance Mike Causey.
In his position, Cignarale directs the statewide activities of the department’s consumer call center and assists in market conduct functions. Cignarale is also co-chair of the department’s Fair Claims Settlement Practices Task Force, which monitors claims settlement practices and effects regulation changes when necessary.
The session will elaborate on the mission and objectives of the department, the tools and resources available to help consumers and businesses when they encounter challenges in the insurance claims process, and create distinction in the various and unique relationship between various agencies in California.
Topics may include policy language review and approval, the relationship between the CA DOI and the CA Bureau of Automotive Repair (BAR), ongoing education and connection to market practices, and specific issues such as storage fee disputes in California that have garnered the focus of national news stories this past year.
The presentation should leave attendees with a better understanding of DOI areas of responsibility, and opportunities to remedy difficult experiences for California consumers navigating the auto claims process.
Attendees are not required to be a member of SCRS to participate. There is no cost, and pre-registration is not required.
Seating will be first come first served; this event is anticipated to fill up quickly.
The Collision Industry Conference (CIC) will follow from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Jan. 17 at the same venue in the Horizon Ballroom.
The room block at the Hilton Palm Springs has already sold out, and an additional room block at the Renaissance ends Jan. 8. Book your room today at the Renaissance Booking Link, $229/night. Pre-registration for CIC closes Jan. 10.
For more information about SCRS, or to join as a member, visit www.scrs.com, call 1-877-841-0660 or email info@scrs.com.
