A Year in Review
by Jill Tuggle, ABAT Executive Director
2023 was a beautiful year for ABAT. I am so proud of the things we accomplished and where we are headed. The question I hear so often is “What is ABAT doing for me?” Let’s take a quick journey backwards to see just what we were up to all year.
So, let me tell you:
January 10: Because of the advocacy work done by ABAT and its partners, Texas Office of Public Insurance Counsel (OPIC) makes a recommendation that legislature be passed to INCLUDE the Right to Appraisal in every insurance policy in Texas.
January 12: HB 1321 is filed, addressing safe and proper parts and repairs, and introduced to the Texas Legislature.
January 18: HB 1437 is filed, addressing the consumers’
Right to Appraisal, and is introduced to the Texas Legislature.
February 23: Nearly 30 collision repair professionals from every corner of Texas traveled to the state capitol to raise awareness for our bills, visiting over 150 offices.
March 1: ABAT attends career day at a local high school to raise awareness of the vast array of employment opportunities that exist in every area of the collision repair industry.
March 3: Collin College receives a Level 2 Glue Pulling System donation from KECO because of ABAT’s nomination.
March 18: ABAT brings the BIG SHOTS Competition to the NORTHEAST® Automotive Services Show after it has garnered national attention from other trade shows.
May 11: ABAT hosts another record-breaking Clay Shooting event – the Dean Griffin Memorial Skeet Shoot, raising over $5,000 in scholarship funds for the daughter of late Board member, Dean Griffin.
August 25: More attendance records broken at the 2023 Texas Auto Body Trade Show with over 800 in attendance and sold-out educational classes. ABAT secures its place in the top three auto body trade shows in the US.
September 22: Large Austin news outlet airs a story on a customer who was under-indemnified by her insurance carrier, and shops are interviewed on the importance of making safe repairs.
October 1: ABAT announces year-end monthly webinar series aimed to equip shops to “Finish Strong in ‘23.”
October 31: ABAT wins Affiliate Association Award from the Society of Collision Repair Specialists (SCRS) at the Collision Industry Red Carpet Awards ceremony. This was a very high honor that we are extremely proud of. (See page 16 for the full story!)
November 1: AUTEL offers a major giveaway to an ABAT member…a $10,000 ADAS equipment package! The prize is drawn on the SEMA floor and announced on Facebook Live. New ABAT member McCarley’s Hail & Collision wins the prize.
November 9: ABAT hosts Topgolf FUNdraiser in Houston, which is an awesome opportunity to engage with the local collision industry.
December 13: ABAT to close 2023 with its last installment of “Finish Strong in ‘23” full of bite-sized tips on how to start the new year with financial fitness, risk assessment and a full staff.
Whew! I’m tired just typing that all up!
As you read the timeline and accomplishments above, you can see that ABAT stays busy all year long investing in future talent, advocating for safe and proper repairs, providing training and product solutions and partnering with other organizations on a national level to advance the industry. We are often given accolades for our hard work, which doesn’t always lead to the outcome we expect, but it always brings awareness and education to the important issues we rally behind and that, to us, is still success.
Want more? Check out the December 2023 issue of Texas Automotive!