FROM THE DESK OF JIM SMITH, ABPA PRESIDENT:

This year’s convention is coming together to be an outstanding event thanks to the hard work of Ed Salamy, our Executive Director, and our Convention Committee headed up by Dolores Richardson!!!

One of the new opportunities this year is for ABPA convention attendees to participate in the I-CAR Atlanta Committee golf outing to support local tech schools through the Collision Repair Education Foundation. This golf outing will have over 200 participants with industry people from paint companies, MSOs, local collision repair shops, rental car companies, estimatics companies, Farmers Insurance and more. The organizer of the event is Gerry Poirier. Gerry is the National APD Strategy Manager for Farmers and the I-CAR Georgia State Chairman and Atlanta Committee Chairman. This event will be a first class golfing event that will follow a “scramble” format (everyone plays from the best shot in the foursome) allowing low and high handicap golfers to enjoy the day!

The ABPA believes very strongly in this opportunity for its members and has secured a very generous sponsorship from the accounting firm Kutchins, Robbins & Diamond, LTD (Gene Barinholz!) to allow golfers to play in this event at the reduced fee of $75 (plus rental club costs if you need them)! This is an incredible value and we all owe Gene a major thanks! Additionally, we have reserved 30 spots for ABPA members to participate.

Gerry and others from the golf outing will also be attending the ABPA convention and what better way to break the ice than to talk about the golf outing.

So what are you waiting for? Make sure you sign up ASAP for the convention and this golf outing to make the most of your networking opportunities at this year’s convention! Remember, we have only secured 30 guaranteed spots and they likely will go quickly. Visit the 2017 ABPA Convention Hub page for more information and to sign up!

If you have any questions about the golf outing, feel free to reach out to either Ed or me, and we will be happy to assist you!

Jim Smith, ABPA President