Resurfacing in 2026: AASP/MA Rebrands as MABA

by Alana Quartuccio

When you really look at it, AASP/MA really has always been THE Massachusetts auto body association.

All these years, there has only been one group working for the auto body industry of Massachusetts. Names may have changed over the past few decades, but the mission to advocate for collision repairers and consumers always remained unchanged. 

Following one of the strongest years in the history of the Alliance with real movement toward labor reimbursement rate reform, the association is entering 2026 with a new but “old” – and perhaps – more recognizable name. From here on out, the association will again be known as the Massachusetts Auto Body Association aka MABA. 

MABA is one of the founding fathers of the association everyone knows today. About 15 years ago, a decision was made to unite multiple independent collision repair groups under one unified umbrella that was provided by the national organization known as the Alliance of Automotive Service Providers (AASP). At that time, it made sense for the local groups to come together as a way to unite as one voice under an association that had national strength and pull. When AASP National disbanded at the close of 2024, it opened the door for the Massachusetts chapter to consider rebranding under the old, more recognizable name of MABA.

Executive Director Lucky Papageorg believes it’s a logical move for the association now that the national organization affiliation is gone. “Stating that you represent the Massachusetts Auto Body Association, MABA, basically says it all. I always found myself having to explain what AASP was when I’d visit shops I hadn’t been in before. They wouldn’t recognize the acronym. It’s about embracing our true identity by recognizing who we really are and going back to our roots.”

The name has always been there, Papageorg points out, as the AASP/MA logo features the words “Your Massachusetts Auto Body Association,” but returning to the old name eliminates the need for further explanation. In fact, returning to the old name is something the Board has talked about over the years, even before the disbanding of AASP National.

Board President Matthew Ciaschini (Full Tilt Auto Body; West Hatfield) agrees with the mission behind the name change. 

“The goal is to make ourselves more recognizable to the entire industry. People don’t have to question what the acronym stands for and what’s most important is that we are here to focus on the issues in Massachusetts. Not having our name tied to a national organization puts further focus on that.” 

Although it’s not a rebirthing in the sense that the association is in a good position having built a strong foundation the past several years as AASP/MA, returning to a name that really says it all is helping to resurge energy to its existing membership and is expected to generate a wave of new members into the fold. 

“I personally think that we will see a strong growth in membership,” Papageorg believes. “The new identity is relatable to the fact that we are strictly the auto body association for Massachusetts.” 

He hopes that it will inspire people in the industry to “rethink the way they look at their business and to look at them as an auto body business that has to do what it takes to stay viable and get a decent return on their investment, even if that means having to resort to balance billing customers because the insurance industry is stuck in the dark ages. Insurers can’t possibly look in the mirror and honestly say to themselves that what we pay now is a fair and reasonable rate. If they do, they are the ONLY ones who believe that to be the case!” 

Papageorg believes the MABA name always held weight when it came to representation and addressing issues back in the day. “There was a lot of forward movement under the MABA title, and hopefully, we’ll be able to pick up on that again. People will be proud of the fact that they are MABA members, and it’s something they can easily explain to customers. I am happy to say that I represent the Massachusetts Auto Body Association and its members. Not that I wasn’t happy to represent AASP/MA, but the MABA name just makes more sense.” 

Existing and future members can expect the same benefits, guidance and educational events the association has always offered and then some as it continues to grow. Plans are already underway for MABA’s Spring General Membership meeting, set for Wednesday, April 29, and the annual Golf Outing, which will return Wednesday, September 9 at the Heritage Country Club in Charlton. 

The MABA name has a lot of history, and paired with the momentum the association has generated as AASP/MA, there is really no stopping the association from continuing to fight hard for this industry. The work of the association will always be devoted to its most crucial mission to bring four decades of labor rate suppression to an end. MABA will also continue to put efforts behind moving the Auto Damage Appraisal Licensing Board away from the Division of Insurance to the Division of Occupational Licensure to eliminate insurance industry bias. 

These crucial issues will continue to be paramount in the new year. “We will stay on top of these issues and continue to look at what are the biggest issues plaguing our industry,” insists Ciaschini. MABA will continue to listen to members and encourage them to come forward with issues to examine, such as the ever-growing total loss problem which is affecting every body shop daily and what can be done about the “biggest and daunting task” of trying to incentivize new talent into the industry. “It may sound like a broken record, but it’s a never-ending problem. The industry is aging out, and we have to figure out how to get new people involved.” 

Ciaschini also believes increasing membership is an important goal. “We really have to come together from all sides. We represent the entire collision repair industry in this state. There is something of value here for every business – whether they are independent or if they participate in referral programs. MABA membership offers something for everyone, and it will pay for itself many times over.” 

Dana Snowdale (D & S Auto Works; Abington) has been involved with the Massachusetts association for more than 30 years. During the old MABA days, he was the youngest Board member. Today, he’s one of the veterans. For the past several years as AASP/MA, he’s been serving as treasurer. He’s enthusiastic about the return to MABA. 

Although there were benefits to being part of the national organization, Snowdale says the national benefit became watered down over the years, and the name didn’t indicate it was about the auto body industry. 

“People didn’t really know what AASP was and what it stood for,” Snowdale acknowledges. “The Massachusetts Auto Body Association is direct. It hits the nail on the head that we are collision repairers in this state. It rolls off the tongue and has a better bite to it. The MABA name commands and deserves respect which is important, especially when speaking with legislators and other body shops.”

He believes the name is something people can relate to and feels strongly about the association’s goals. “We have a good Board, and hopefully, we’ll continue to make progress and headway for the survival of this industry.”

Board member Jeff White (North Andover Auto Body) believes strongly in an “organization that really pushes for improvement in the collision repair industry” and hopes it will inspire others to come on board and actively get involved. Regardless of the amount of shops on board currently, he only sees a small group of those members putting in the time and effort into “taking an interest in the issues and challenges we all face. I envision the future MABA as a group of collision repairers who are done with the nonsense and the unfairness we have tolerated for the past four decades. What we tolerate sets the bar.

“Collision repairers who are willing to accept substandard rates are also willing to deliver substandard repairs,” White continues, addressing those in the industry who aren’t taking the time to become involved and therefore educated. “They must be, because they cannot afford to educate and update if they accept such low rates. I don’t see how any repairer can repair today’s vehicles without proper education and the necessary equipment. Insurance carriers know this. The trouble is that repairing vehicles correctly would cut into their profits, so they turn a blind eye. The safety of the consumer is not being considered as the top priority.”

Although every business may be different, White “envisions an Alliance which is willing to help any shop reach the level of excellence required to protect the consumer.” 

Board member John Studer (Whitman Auto Body Works; Abington) expresses his excitement for the future with the reclaiming of the MABA name. “I believe our best days were at the tail end of MABA when we hit the insurance companies hard in every direction. There was a lot of collaboration among the shops, and we were a serious thorn in their side.” 

Studer believes in the weight the name holds. “I think the association now is probably as strong as it’s ever been, but there is something about the MABA name that puts fear into the hearts of insurance companies.” He suspects many in the insurance industry believed it was the “best thing that ever happened to them” when MABA went away. “This is a real positive thing for us, and we need everything we can in this battle,” he adds.

“When I was a kid and my father was on the Board, it was the Massachusetts Auto Body Association. It’s simple,” expresses Immediate Past President Kevin Gallerani (Cape Auto Body; Plymouth). He agrees the name holds substance and brings about a sense of nostalgia. Gallerani says everyone still talks about the MABA days, even the legislators he interacts with at the State House. When the change to AASP/MA came about all those years ago, he admits he was a bit sad to lose the MABA label, but the national organization offered perks and benefits they needed at the time. “Now that we are on our own, it’s back to MABA. The name reminds people that we are a no-nonsense association, that we mean business and that we will play hardball.”

Gallerani is enthused about the future. “In my heart, we have always been MABA, and I look forward to bringing MABA back officially.”

Want more? Check out the January 2026 issue of New England Automotive Report!