The Collision Vision

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/

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/

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.

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

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.