Central Collision Center Welcomes Broadway Auto

Central Collision Center, a multi-location, Mokena-based collision repair business, and Broadway Auto Body Rebuilders, Inc., a South Chicago Heights collision repair business, are proud to announce a new business venture.

Beginning March 1, 2013, Broadway Auto’s customers can receive service at any of the six Central Collision locations in Peotone, Mokena, Crete, New Lenox, Oak Forest and Tinley Park.

“I remember touring Broadway Auto Rebuilders when I was just starting out in this business and asking Tom (Cellini, now in stage 5 of Huntington’s disease) for advice,” said Mike Caruso, president and owner of Central Collision Center. “My family and I are honored to care for the Broadway customers while the Cellini family focuses their efforts on the Thomas Cellini Huntington’s Foundation.”

Broadway Auto would like to thank its customers and communities for their support for the past 55 years.

“We value your loyalty,” said Barb Cellini of Broadway Auto. “We have our customers’ best interest at the forefront of whatever we do, and know they will be taken care of at Central Collision Center as we have taken care of them.”

Broadway Auto’s former facility will be donated to the Thomas Cellini Huntington’s Foundation. To learn more about Huntington’s disease or to donate, visit www.ourTCHFoundation.com.

For more information about Central Collision Center, visit www.centralcollision.com.

View from a Young Manager: Earning Respect and Learning in the Industry

As a young manager in the collision repair industry, earning the trust and respect of veteran employees, insurance adjusters and other business partners can be difficult. Many people may assume you are uneducated when it comes to a car -- how it is put together and how repairs should be handled -- because you are young.

Matt Caruso, 25, currently
manages Central Express.

However, being young and new in today's market can have its advantages. With the way vehicles are being manufactured today, many designs and materials have never been seen before, especially considering electronic parts, advanced high strength steels and lighter materials. This works to my advantage since I am learning the new materials for the first time versus trying to relearn from years past.

Many old repair methods no longer apply new vehicles. For example, many high strength steels, such as boron, are not repairable and damage to these parts requires replacement. Lighter materials, such as aluminum, are also being used. Lighter materials are used to compensate for the additional electronic options and increased safety features available, including navigation systems and multiple airbags around the car. Understanding the requirements for these updated repair standards is critical to the success of repairs. Aluminum, for example, requires a separate quarantined area in the shop. If not repaired in a quarantined area, contaminants can cause the aluminum repair to fail. These are just a few examples of how trends in the manufacturing process affect my day-to-day decision-making in the repair process.

Along with learning the new vehicles firsthand in the shop, I also have the opportunity to take different classes within the industry. These classes help me to understand the type of changes being made by the manufacturers in upcoming vehicle models. Classes held by industry organizations like I-CAR and ATEG help me gain the general knowledge of cars before I encounter them during a repair. All managers, estimators and master technicians at Central Collision participate in these training classes to stay up-to-date with vehicle and repair trends. My most recent class was one of the best I have taken; it was a hands-on class for plastic repairs. It walked us through the whole process of prepping and repairing plastic parts, such as bumper covers. Staying on top of trends within the industry can improve our customer service and repair quality by being prepared for new concerns that will arise from owners of newer vehicles.

Being new to the industry gives me a different vantage point to how this business operates. My fresh perspective -- whether from limited years in the industry or just a new set of eyes -- helps me question standard procedures and practices. Even though I am gaining more vehicle knowledge each day at Central, I hope to always view our operations with this same, fresh perspective so our company can continue to improve.

Is Your Car Making You Sick?

With the number of flu cases on the rise in Illinois it is important to take preventative measures. One of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's top three tips to fight the flu is to prevent the spread of germs. Believe it or not, one place packed with germs is your car.

More than 50% of car owners in an Aston University study reported being unsatisfied with the level of cleanliness in their cars. The car owners also admitted they would never allow their houses to become as dirty as their cars.

Are there crumbs between your seats? Dirt on your car mat? Spilled coffee in your cup holder? If you answered yes, bacteria is growing in your car. Bacteria thrives in dark, warm places. Your car is full of ideal spots for bacteria to grow.

ABC News researched just how much bacteria was growing in a busy mom's car. Watch this video to find out the results:

Many of us have on-the-go lifestyles, but it's important to clean on-the-go, too. Here are some tips to eliminate germs in your car:

• Vacuum regularly, especially under car mats and in between seats
• Replace air filters, which may be sending germs into the air 
• Sanitize commonly touched surfaces such as:
• Steering wheel
• Door handles
• Cup holders
• Radio buttons
• Gear stick
• Keep sanitizing wipes in the car so wiping surfaces becomes a habit
• Keep a small trash bag in your car. Collect trash as it accumulates and throw it out immediately. A good rule of thumb is to check your car for trash every time you stop for gas

It's important to take preventative measures this flu season to keep you and your family safe. If you have questions on how to best car for you car this season, please call one of six Central Collision Center locations.

Riding in Cars with Pets

January 2, 2013 marks the third annual National Pet Travel Safety Day. Founded by Celebrity Pet and Safety Expert, Behaviorist and former Los Angeles Paramedic Colleen Paige, National Pet Travel Safety Day raises awareness of the importance of pet safety in all modes of travel. 

Pet safety while driving is not only critical for the animal, but also the driver. Unrestrained pets in cars is one of the top reasons for distracted driving. According to Paws to Click, unrestrained pets cause more than 30,000 accidents a year. An accident occurs every 18 minutes as a result of an unrestrained animal. 

A 2010 survey by AAA and Kurgo asked 1,000 dog owners who had driven with their dogs in the last 12 months about their habits. The survey reported the percentage of dog owners who take their dogs:

• On leisure rides:  88%
• On local errands:  85%
• To the pet store:  81%
• On day trips:  80%

Of the 60% of dog owners who reported driving with distractions by their pets, only 17% reported using animal restraints or harnesses.

An unrestrained animal in the car can cause a driver to become distracted. There are three forms of distracted driving:  visual, taking your eyes off the road; manual, taking your hands off of the steering wheel; and cognitive, taking your mind off of what you're doing. Looking away from the road for just two seconds doubles the risk of an accident, according to the AAA Foundation for Safety Traffic.

Here are some tips from The Humane Society of the United States to help you and your pet stay safe while driving together:

1. Update your pet's identification information on his/her collar before traveling
2. Identify a contact person to pick up your pet in case of an accident in case you are unable to leave the scene or become injured
3. Bring an up-to-date picture of your pet. If you are involved in an accident, your pet may become frightened and run away. Keep a picture on hand to help others locate your pet
4. Help your pet get use to traveling by beginning with short trips and gradually increasing time spent in the car
5. Place your pet in the back seat. Never travel with your pet in the front seat. If the front passenger side airbag deploys during an accident it could hurt your pet
6. Restrain your pet while driving. Dogs should be restrained using a harness that buckles into a seat belt. Place a blanket or towel under your dog to protect your interior. Cats should be restrained in a carrier so they don't bounce around. Secure the carrier with a seatbelt
7. Do not let your dog stick his or her head out the window while driving. The force of the air can injure the dog's lungs 
8. Make frequent rest stops so your pet can stretch his/her legs
9. Never leave your pet in an unattended vehicle. A car can reach up to 102 degrees in just 10 minutes on a hot summer day. In the winter, a car can become and icebox, causing hypothermia

Many states are beginning to enforce laws regarding driving with animals. For example, New Jersey recently began issuing $250 to $1000 tickets for driving with loose pets in cars, which is a violation of an animal cruelty law. Other offenses include allowing pets to hang his/her head out the window, pets riding in the back of a truck or pets sitting on the driver's lap. Col. Frank Rizzo, Superintendent of the New Jersey Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, summed up the reasoning behind the new laws. "You wouldn't put your child in the car unrestrained so you shouldn't put your pet in the car unrestrained either."

For more information about pet travel safety, visit Paws to Click or The Humane Society of the United States.

Some of our furry friends at Central Collision Center:

Aubry
Jen, Office Manager at Central Collision of Mokena

Norbu
Kristen, Office Manager at Central Collision of Crete

Wrigley
Kristie, Customer Service Representative Manager

Preparing For Winter

Many times after the first snow of the season, drivers wish they would have taken the time to prepare their cars for the winter. Instead of waiting until the first snow fall, Central Collision Center encourages you to be proactive this winter. Our managers shared their best practices for preparing and maintaining cars during the winter weather. Here is our managers' advice:

Before winter:

1. Create a winter emergency kit to keep in your car. Include the following:
• Jumper cables
• Blanket
• Extra clothes, gloves, hats and scarves
• Snow scraper
• Snow shovel
• Flashlight
• Bottled water
• Snacks, such as granola bars
2. Do a car check-up. Here's what you should check:
• Air pressure and wear of tires
• Radiator coolant level
• Washer fluid level
3. Wax headlights and taillights
4. Program local safety numbers in your cell phone 

During winter:

1. Use a snow scraper, not windshield wipers, to clear away snow on your windshield
2. DO NOT use hot water to melt ice on windows. The hot water will cause the windows to shatter
3. Use a spray bottle to spray a 3 parts vinegar 1 part water mixture on your windows to prevent ice. The acetic acid in the vinegar prevents the water from freezing
4. Leave more distance between you and other vehicles
5. Charge your cell phone before you begin to drive in bad weather

Before the snow hits, please take the time to follow through on these tips. We hope this information can help keep you safe this winter. If you have any questions on how to better prepare your car for winter, please feel free to call any of our six locations.

17 Years and Counting

Today marks Central Collision Center of Mokena's 17 year anniversary. Central Collision of Mokena opened on December 12, 1995 and was originally located at 8501 W. 191st Street in Mokena. We moved to our current location, 9646 W. 196th Street, in 2000. This spring, we expanded our facility with a marketing office and training center that holds 100 people.

To celebrate our anniversary today, we shared some of our favorites memories and traditions (over cake, of course). Here's what some of our team had to say:

Mike Caruso, Owner/President of Central Collision Center:

Central Collision of Mokena was a huge step for our organization. It is our second location. Our team had to learn together how to run more than one location at a time and communicate well between the two. Our biggest goal was to make sure we still treated our customers as friends, even though we were dealing with many more.

My favorite memory was when Fitz (Mike Fitzpatrick, Central Collision's Chief Operations Officer) dressed up as Santa and Jill, our office manager at the time, dressed up as Mrs. Claus in 1995. Fitz still can't believe he did that!

Sandi White, Bookkeeper:

My favorite tradition at Central Collision of Mokena is Donut Day. Every Thursday, we have donuts from Fleckenstein's Bakery in Mokena. It's a tradition that started at Central Collision of Peotone and came with when we opened Central Collision of Mokena. Now, several of our locations have Donut Day.

Kristie Cooper, Customer Service Representative Manager:

I have a few favorites. One of my favorite memories is when Fitz received his official parking space on his 25th anniversary with Central Collision. 

Another is the demolition derbies we used to compete in. Every summer, some of our employees participated in the Will County Fair Demolition Derby in Peotone. We would stay after work to work on the cars together and then we would have a big family party the day of the derby before we went to the fairgrounds.

Our new classroom is also very special because it shows how far we've come since Central Collision of Mokena opened 17 years ago.

Jen as the Queen of Hearts in this
year's Halloween costume contest.

Jen Perales, Office Manager:

I have two favorites memories. First, we had a Cinco de Mayo celebration and George, facility manager at the time, rode around on our pinata.

My other favorite is this year's Halloween costume contest when we dressed up as Alice in Wonderland. 



Marissa Caruso, Public Relations:

My favorite memory has to be participating in the Frankfort Fall Festival Parade this year. We weren't completely sure what to expect because it was our first parade. But it was so much fun decorating the truck and throwing out candy to all the kids. The best part was watching my dad play "baseball" with some kids in the parking lot while we were waiting for our turn to start walking.







Thank you to all of our employees and customers who have supported us through 17 years of business. We couldn't have made it this far without you. We're looking forward to being a part of the Mokena community for many years to come!

Educating Local First Responders

On Wednesday, Feb. 20th, Central Collision Center is hosting a free, educational course to share our vehicle knowledge with local first responders. The course will be held in our training center, located at 9646 W. 196th Street Unit C in Mokena, from 5-7 p.m.

The first responder course will cover the following:

The course will be held in our new training center
at our Mokena location.

• Types and locations of advanced metals in a vehicle and what first responders can expect from each type
• Construction of door and roof areas and what first responders can expect from each type
• Types and locations of restraint items and potential problems first responders may encounter from each type
• Safety concerns while disarming batteries
• Location of high voltage components and disarming high voltage components
• Do's & don'ts of hybrid vehicles at the scene of an accident
• Types of educational apps that first responders can use at the scene of an accident

Steve Melton from Automotive Technical Education Group (ATEG) will lead the course. ATEG provides training seminars for the collision repair and insurance industries. Melton has over 30 years in the collision repair business, as a technician and collision repair shop manager. 

Please respond to Marissa at marcaruso@centralcollision.com to reserve your spot by Wednesday, Feb. 13th.