Former MABA President Ed Nalewanski Recalls Tons of Fun as an Association Leader

by Chasidy Rae Sisk

The history of the Commonwealth’s collision repair industry is filled with not-so-common repair professionals whose devotion to proper repairs and improving the field for everyone goes above and beyond expectations, and although many have spent recent years in retirement, their legacy lives on.

Continuing its mission to catch up with some of these collision repairers who have left their mark on the Massachusetts auto body world, New England Automotive Report recently caught up with Ed Nalewanski, former owner of Ed’s Auto Body in Easthampton, to get the scoop on what he’s been up to.

New England Automotive Report: When and how did you first get into the industry?

Ed Nalewanski: I enjoyed working on cars from the moment I bought my first car in high school. I was lucky enough to meet Frank Fournier, the owner of Wayside Auto Body, who gave me my very first job and mentored me. I learned a lot from him.

NEAR: Tell me about your experiences and how that led to you becoming a shop owner.

EN: Back in those days a technician would perform the repairs from start to finish – disassembly, assembly, body work, paint work and even final detail. I got proficient at all stages and decided to take the leap and start Ed’s Auto Body. Frank was a huge help in guiding me through the process. I am still in touch with him to this day. In fact, we met him for lunch in Marathon, FL not too long ago.

NEAR: Tell us about your shop. How long did you own it?

EN: I started Ed’s Auto Body & Repair, Inc on May 1, 1978. I had $1,000 in my pocket and grew it from strictly collision repair to collision and mechanical repair with 14 employees. I operated the business for 44.5 years until it burned down on December 11, 2022.

NEAR: How did you get involved with the association (MABA at the time)? What roles did you serve within MABA and later AASP/MA?

EN: I joined MABA shortly after I started my shop in 1978. I felt the only way to be successful was to produce a quality job at a reasonable price. Repairing cars to pre-accident condition was easy for me; I took a great deal of pride in not only the quality of the repair but also in providing exceptional customer service.

I felt that joining MABA would guide me on the business side. It was very helpful to sit with other shop owners on a monthly basis and talk about the industry. At these meetings, we weren’t competitors; we were business owners helping business owners. I honestly feel that any shop owner who isn’t part of an association is missing out on some valuable information. My business would not have been as successful as it was without MABA and AASP/MA.

I was actively involved in MABA and served as Western Chapter president, statewide president and a director for many years. During that time, I helped to spearhead the paint and materials initiative. I traveled throughout the state with our lobbyist, and together, we spoke to shop owners directly at all four chapter meetings. It was a huge success. This regulation paved the way for shop owners to be fairly compensated for paint and materials.

Once MABA merged with AASP/MA, I was a director for many years. All in all, in the 44.5 years I was in business, I was a MABA and AASP/MA member for at least 42 years.

NEAR: Is there anything memorable from your time with the association that you’d like to share or reflect on?

EN: There are so many memories. The camaraderie of the members was probably number one. Then, there were our monthly chapter meetings – between 30 and 40 shop owners gathered once a month for dinner and conversation on relevant topics. Our theme was shop owners helping shop owners.

The Annual Clambake that MABA legend Mike Beal originally organized was huge. It was a night for 300 shop owners, managers, technicians and families to come together as one unified group. Once Mike was nearing retirement, the Western Chapter stepped up and continued the tradition. It took many people to replace Mike, but that’s the way the Western Chapter rolled. Despite being extremely busy with the day-to-day events of running a business, Dan Lamontagne, Don Vermette, Mike Boucher, Andre Marcoux, Peter Langone, myself and [my wife] Joann organized 15 clambakes and introduced the infamous “goody bags” and “big checks” which our vendors really appreciated.

Developing the Tool Award was a rewarding experience. The Western Chapter recognized the need to attract more vocational students to the industry. At that time, I was the president of the Western Chapter, and with the help of my wife and several shop owners (including Dan, Mike, Andre and Peter), we started a vocational student tool award. Seven students from seven different vocational schools each received more than $2,500 in tools. This lasted seven years until we unfortunately ran out of students!

Our “fun”-raising bus trips to the casino were truly great fun! The bus sold out every year, thanks to our amazing vendors who donated prizes for the games we played enroute. Because we had the most generous vendors who supported us with sponsorships, prizes, tools – whatever we needed – it was only fitting that we organized a Vendor Appreciation Night, complete with filet mignon, stuffed shrimp, open bar and an engraved portfolio.

And who could ever forget Casino Night?! I remember sitting at a Board meeting when someone mentioned that we should do a state-wide “fun”-raising event. When I got home that evening, I mentioned it to my wife, and her eyes lit up. Within 24 hours, she had a proposal for the Board to run a Casino Night. It was instantly approved. The event ran for seven years and sold out every year. The goody bags were famous, and the prizes were plentiful, thanks to our generous vendors. We had professional dealers, amazing food and contagious camaraderie. I really miss those days!

We also enjoyed the Mike Beal Appreciation Dinner. Mike unselfishly served our industry for more than 35 years. After his retirement, he continued to support our events until he became ill. Joann and I organized an appreciation dinner in his hometown for 30-plus shop owners. It was a wonderful, emotional evening. Sadly, Mike passed away shortly after.

NEAR: When did you decide to retire, and why?

EN: The decision was made for me when my shop burned down on December 11, 2022. I was not able to rebuild due to ongoing insurance delays, supply chain issues, permitting issues, etc.

NEAR: Do you think the industry has changed since you stepped away?

EN: It’s been two years since my shop burned down, and although I read about our industry in NEAR and speak to several shop owners from time to time, I don’t think it has changed much.

NEAR: Looking back now, what comes to mind when you think about your time in the body shop industry?

EN: It was a lot of work, a lot of time, a lot of satisfaction and a whole lot of aggravation, but it was 100 percent worth it. I was one of those guys who couldn’t wait to get to work in the morning – I was always first in, last out – and I truly enjoyed it, especially all the great people I met along the way.

NEAR: What do you miss most?

EN: Helping my customers to not only get their vehicle back to pre-accident condition, but also guiding them through the insurance process. I also miss mentoring my employees; two former employees ultimately became very successful shop owners (Dan Lamontange, White Lightning – now retired and Zac Ciaschini, Full Tilt Auto Body – who is crushing it) and establishing long-term relationships with my vendors. In fact, we often meet up with our longtime MOPAR dealer, Don Cushing and his wife Penny here in Florida. 

NEAR: What do you miss the least?

EN: Negotiating with the insurance companies. It was frustrating to explain to a “booksmart” appraiser (who never actually repaired a car) how to properly repair a vehicle to pre-accident condition. I always had “right” on my side, and I usually ended up with what I needed to do a job correctly.

NEAR: What is the one thing you think you got out of this industry that you would not have gotten if you didn’t pick this career?

EN: Knowledge…how to repair a car, how to negotiate with insurance companies

NEAR: Anything you want to say to your old body shop colleagues?

EN: Life is short. I retired at 70 and wish I retired sooner. Waking up to sunshine and having coffee in our lanai overlooking the water and fairway is something we will never get tired of.

NEAR: What are you doing now? Do you have any hobbies you’d like to share?

EN: We bought a new construction home on the 16th Fairway of Stillwater Golf and Country Club in northern Florida. I golf three or four times per week. (Practice makes perfect…I got my first hole-in-one here at Stillwater!) I participate in all the activities our community has to offer – swimming, bocce, men’s night out, trivia nights, birding, card games, Taco Tunesdays (musical bingo), golf cart parades, all sorts of themed parties, member mixers, and my wife even has me doing chair yoga with her! Our new clubhouse opened March 22, and when our fitness center opens in two weeks, I plan on attending the fitness classes. Joann and I are living our best lives!

Want more? Check out the July 2025 issue of New England Automotive Report!