Third Annual Bodywork Bowl Draws Large Crowds

In just three short years, the NORTHEAST Bodywork Bowl Collision Repair Skills Competition has become a highlight on the show floor!

The third iteration of the fun and friendly competition once again drew crowds of spectators to watch as collision repair professionals jumped into the ring to test their skills in the areas of estimating, painting and welding. The Bodywork Bowl was inspired by the Texas Auto Body Trade Show Big Shots Competition hosted by the Auto Body Association of Texas (ABAT). Jill Tuggle, executive director of ABAT, returned to NORTHEAST to serve as a coordinator once again! 

There was some serious competition in the estimating category as previous winners came back to defend their titles. Tyler McNee (Ultimate Collision and Repair; Edison) took home the first place title, beating out last year’s winner Doug Begin (Vendetti Motors; Franklin, RI) who took second place this year, while previous third place winner Kelly Bauer (Gifford’s Auto Body Repair; Manville) came in third once again. 

It was McNee’s first time entering the competition. He noted his background in estimating, which includes “training from some of the best around,” and was happy to take home the prize. “I have a newborn at home, so any money helps. I’m really grateful.”

Riki Ventura (O’Neil Collision Center; Hatboro, PA) did not expect to place – let alone take home the top prize in the painting competition. “I really surprised myself,” he said, noting that he feels relatively new to the industry having gotten his start in 2018. “I entered the competition on a whim, and I didn’t expect to win. I knew there had to be a lot of guys taking part who had been in the industry a lot longer.” 

Hugo Morales (Ferraro Body and Fender; Brooklyn, NY) beat out the competition in the body/welding category taking home a mig welder machine. 

Various vendors took part in the competition by providing equipment and prizes, helping to make the event a huge success! CCC Intelligent Solutions and Enterprise Rent-A-Car provided the materials for the estimating competition. Prizes included $500 in cash for the first place winner, $200 and a swag bag for the second place winner, and the third place recipient received a $100 cash award. AkzoNobel sponsored the painting competition with the first place winner receiving a paint gun set, the two winners who tied for second and third place received swag bags. The body/welding competition was supported by sponsors including Metropolitan Car-o-liner and Nitro Innovations, with the first place winner taking home a brand new mig welder courtesy of Chief Collision Technology / Collision Equipment Consulting, second place receiving a fender stand, and third place taking home a welding jacket provided by Solidus Equipment Systems.

2025 NORTHEAST Bodywork Bowl Winners

Estimating 

1st place: Tyler McNee

2nd place: Doug Begin

3rd place: Kelly Bauer

Painting

1st place: Riki Ventura

2nd place (tie): Avihash Budram and Matthew Spicer 

Body/Welding

1st place: Hugo Morales

2nd place: Phil Hendrickson

3rd place: Mike Keenan 

Special thanks to all sponsors who helped support this year’s competition:
AkzoNobel
CCC Intelligent Solutions Inc.
Chief Collision Technology
Collision Equipment Consulting
Metropolitan Car-o-liner
Nitro Innovations
Solidus Equipment Systems

Want more? Check out the April 2025 issue of New Jersey Automotive!