LAS VEGAS – The theme of AkzoNobel’s 10th annual Most Influential Women in the Collision Repair Industry awards ceremony was “Defining moments.” This year’s recipients were honored for moving from industry participants to leaders who are all providing a fresh vision for collision repairers. Recipients for 2008 are:  * Judell Anderson, Executive Director of the Alliance of Automotive Service Providers, Minn. (AASP-MN). AASP-MN represents over 600 independently-owned mechanical and collision repair shops. This year, Anderson represented their interests to state legislators who passed a law proposed by AASP-MN that prohibits insurers from disregarding costs and repair operations identified by an estimating system. She also helped prevent a measure that would have increased the number of vehicles that insurers can write off as a total loss. *Denise Caspersen, Collision Division Manager of the Automotive Service Association. Caspersen is active in I-CAR, Collision Industry Electronic Commerce Association (CIECA), Collision Industry Conference (CIC) and serves on the URG Recycler’s Board, promoting automotive recycling. Caspersen also is active in her community, initiating a campaign to repave the streets in her neighborhood as part of a community rejuvenation.*Lillian Maimone, Chief Executive Officer of Marco’s Auto Body in Monterey Park, Calif. Maimone joined her husband’s business in 1984 and helped drive it to be an eight-location business with 180 employees. Honored as a Pepperdine distinguished alumna and an inspiration to others, Maimone was invited to speak at a graduation ceremony. She speaks frequently at high schools and colleges and has mentored women who are pursuing careers in the auto body industry. *Gloria Mann, Vice President of Industry Relations for Media Matters Inc. in Thornhill, Ontario. Mann publishes Collision Repair magazine. Mann has turned much of her attention to auto recycling, leading insurers on educational tours of recycling yards and launching a new magazine on the auto recycling industry, Canadian Auto Recycler. She also has helped start up Waterworx, a Web site and special magazine supplement devoted to the promotion of the ease of conversion to low-VOC refinishes. *Rochelle Wicklund, co-owner of Wicklund CARSTAR Collision in Liberty. Mo. Wicklund’s shop became the first member of the CARSTAR franchise in 1989, receiving the CARSTAR Franchisee of the Year Award in 2006. Her shop has held I-CAR Gold Professional Training Status for 15 years. Wicklund is on the KC I-CAR Central Committee, which is responsible for planning and bringing classes to Missouri. Speaking at the ceremony, Marcy Tieger of Symphony Advisors presented advice for the industry to both improve shops and level the playing field for women and anyone wanting to work in collision repair. “Run your business like a business. Fearlessly hire the best people,” she says.
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