"Jeff has given nearly 40 years of his life to this industry," Elder said. "He was president for 12 years and secretary for God knows how many years. He is amazing...We couldn't have found a better person to take the first award. Jeff has given his all to this industry."
Reflecting on his friendship with Vetland, McDowell said, "We went way back to the Central Jersey Auto Body Association...When I was a young man starting my shop, we were both in Woodbridge. He told me to buy real estate. I listened to him, but maybe I didn't listen as good as I should have [laughs]. So, thank you Lee, wherever you are. I still have that house that you made me keep."
The Stan Wilson/New Jersey Automotive Body Shop of the Year Award went to Robbie Berman of Robbie's Automotive and Collision Repair Specialists of Dover.
"This really couldn't come at a better time, as Saturday I celebrate my 37th year. It really seems like yesterday; it went so quick," commented Berman, whose young son Bryce joined him at the podium to accept the award.
Additional awards included the Russ Robson Scholarship Award, named in memory of the former AASP/NJ president and presented this year to Alberto Figueroa of Livingston Collision (Livingston, NJ).
Keith Krehel, AASP/NJ mechanical chairman, was inducted into the association's Hall of Fame.
"Keith has been very supportive of [AASP/NJ], even when many of the mechanical shops turned away from the association. He works as hard as anyone else, even though he doesn't have a body shop and hears us speaking mumbo jumbo," joked McDowell upon presenting Krehel with the award.
Following the ceremony, Gredinberg took the floor to give a thorough overview of the indispensable and free tool that lies in the DEG. He went over the basic steps and benefits of submitting successful Database Inquiries to the Information Providers and how to use the site's estimating toolbox to access information on non-included and included operations to assist in building an accurate repair plan.
"The more information you give to the DEG, the better we can help you," he suggested. "It's not just helping you; it's helping others industrywide."
Gredinberg reminded the technicians that their voice is critical. The more concerns they bring forward, the better chance these concerns have at being escalated up the chain and eventually getting into the hands of those who can make change happen.
"Don't think that just because you didn't get a change, it didn't work. Your voice is not unheard."
For more information on AASP/NJ and to learn about upcoming events, please visit aaspnj.org.
During its October 17 Annual Meeting at Gran Centurions in Clark, NJ, the Alliance of Automotive Service Providers of New Jersey (AASP/NJ) conducted a special awards ceremony recognizing many longtime members, held its Board of Directors election and heard an engaging presentation by keynote speaker Danny Gredinberg, administrator of the Database Enhancement Gateway (DEG).
